Some smoke shops say the flurry of court actions since March 31 has already forced them to scale back hours, cut staff and prepare to shut down.
Politics
Stay informed with The Texas Tribune’s in-depth political coverage, including Texas elections, state government, policy debates, and the leaders shaping the future of the state.
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2026 Texas Elections
Here are the megadonors and dark money groups bankrolling John Cornyn and Ken Paxton’s Senate primary
The incumbent senator has dominated financially, thanks to an array of megadonors and dark money groups. The Tribune assembled a guide to the money behind the most expensive Senate primary ever.
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Criminal Justice
Texas executes 600th inmate since death penalty was reinstated in 1976
Edward Busby was executed by lethal injection Thursday, reinforcing Texas’ position as the nation’s leader in capital punishment.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott’s public safety wish list includes statewide prosecutor, more bail restrictions
Some items on Abbott’s agenda would require amending the Texas Constitution, meaning they would need supermajority support in the Legislature.
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State Government
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton blocks more than 130 cities from raising property taxes
Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the cities, most of them small, of violating a state law aimed at preventing cities from unduly raising property taxes.
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2026 Texas Elections
Outside cash floods U.S House runoffs in Texas
PACs have accounted for 89% of ad spending in Texas’ congressional runoffs as crypto, AI and mystery groups flood the contests.
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2026 Texas Elections
Cornyn and Paxton bury each other in negative ads as Senate GOP runoff enters final stretch
The incumbent senator and his allies have massively outspent the pro-Paxton side, though polling points to a tight finish in the May 26 election.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Here are the megadonors and dark money groups boosting James Talarico’s anti-billionaire Senate bid
As the Austin Democrat campaigns against big money in politics, he is being supported by a super PAC bankrolled by several billionaires, as well as nonprofits that do not have to disclose their funders.
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Immigration
Parts of Texas immigration law are likely unconstitutional, federal judge signals
The law, which gives state law enforcement and judges a role in immigration enforcement, is set to go into effect in two days.
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Criminal Justice
Greg Abbott expands task force targeting repeat offenders from Houston to other large cities
The effort, which combines federal, state and local law enforcement, will expand to the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas.