In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Renu Khator, the president of the University of Houston, about a difficult 12 months of disruption and dislocation for the more than 47,000 students on her campus — and what state lawmakers can do to help.
Politics
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Texas voters’ views shifting on abortion, pot, gambling and Confederate monuments, poll finds
According to the latest UT/TT Poll, most Texas voters support expanded gambling and would legalize marijuana. Half would leave Confederate statues and monuments where they are. And they’re divided on whether to change state abortion laws or leave them as is.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Pandemic response tops Texas voters’ legislative priorities, poll finds
Texas voters also think the state spends too little on mental health, and public education, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
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Winter Storm 2021
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls for resignations at Public Utility Commission, power grid operator over winter storm
Patrick’s statements come after the officials testified for hours late last week in committee hearings as state lawmakers grilled them over the power grid failures.
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COVID-19 Recession in Texas
U.S. House passes $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package, but minimum wage hike isn’t likely to survive
The provision to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour isn’t likely to make it through the Senate. But the package the House passed offers a blueprint for what is expected to be a staggering round of government spending.
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Winter Storm 2021
Watch live: Texas House and Senate holding hearings about last week’s winter storm
Lawmakers will continue asking a litany of officials and executives how last week’s power outages happened. Legislators in both chambers spent more than 12 hours investigating the disruptions Thursday.
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Coronavirus in Texas
In first visit, President Joe Biden commits to being “true partners” with Texas through storm recovery, vaccination effort
Biden was joined by Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, among other officials.
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Winter Storm 2021
Another ERCOT board member resigns as lawmakers criticize power grid operator for massive electricity outages
Texas lawmakers have questioned and criticized the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for days about the near-collapse of the state’s power grid last week.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas judge rules federal eviction moratorium unconstitutional. Lawyers and advocates disagree on what that means for tenants.
The judge opted against issuing an injunction that would block the federal ban on evictions, instead signaling that he expected the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to withdraw its moratorium.
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Politics
Sen. Ted Cruz declares Trumpism among Republicans “ain’t goin’ anywhere” at Florida conference
Cruz appeared at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, as President Joe Biden headed to Texas to see the state’s recovery from last week’s storm, which left millions of Texans without power and potable water.