State Rep. Ryan Guillen switches to GOP in latest blow to South Texas Democrats
The Rio Grande City lawmaker was the least liberal Democrat in the Texas House this year, according to a political scientist’s rankings of lawmakers. Full Story
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![State Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, speaks on the phone on the House floor during a session at the Capitol on April 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Tribcast: Parsing through Texas GOP officials’ hunt for “pornographic books” in public schools
In this week’s episode, James talks with Jolie and Patrick about Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for an investigation into books at public schools and the ramping up of the 2022 election season as candidate filing season begins. Full Story
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![The library at Blanco Vista Elementary in San Marcos on Nov. 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas abortion law complicates San Antonio group’s mission to help undocumented immigrants — even those raped en route to the U.S.
Unsure of how broadly the “aiding and abetting” portion of the law could be applied, Sueños Sin Fronteras — which helps women with an array of basic needs — is launching a legal defense fund. Full Story
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![Laura Molinar, Founder of Sueños Sin Fronteras, in San Antonio on Nov. 3, 2021.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Texas said delta-8 is illegal. But state troopers haven’t made a single arrest.
Texas health officials insist delta-8 is an illegal substance and has been for 40 years. Full Story
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![Products containing Delta-8 at Oasis A CBD Wellness Shop in Brownsville on Nov. 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
North Texas principal resigns to end fight over whether he was teaching “critical race theory”
James Whitfield, the first Black principal at mostly white Colleyville Heritage High School, chose to resign but remain on paid administrative leave until 2023 in a settlement with the school district. Full Story
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![James Whitfield, 43, principal at Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, who has been placed on leave by the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his high school. Photographed at his home in Hurst, on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for the Texas Tribune -
In wake of Astroworld tragedy, Texas creates new task force on concert safety
The state appears to have minimal oversight over events like the Astroworld concert. And some cities are more stringent than others. Full Story
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![A makeshift memorial for the concertgoers who died in a stampede during a Travis Scott performance at the 2021 Astroworld Festival, in Houston, on Nov. 9, 2021.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare -
Democrat running for Texas agency that regulates the energy industry focusing his campaign on furor over power grid failure
Luke Warford, a 32-year-old former Texas Democratic Party staffer, is challenging Republican incumbent Wayne Christian for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission. Full Story
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Credit: Courtesy of Luke Warford -
Analysis: Texas Republican lawmakers pleased most of their own voters, most of the time
They didn't make a majority of Texas voters happy on a single issue, but the Republican majority in the Legislature made most of their own voters happy — and then drew maps that minimize political threats to them in the November general election. Full Story
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![Voters at the Alvord City Hall, an early voting site in Alvord on Oct. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert exploring run against Attorney General Ken Paxton in increasingly crowded GOP primary
Land Commissioner George P. Bush, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and state Rep. Matt Krause are also vying for the GOP nomination next year. Full Story
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TribCast, special edition: Our pollsters analyze the latest UT/TT Poll on the 2022 candidates and issues
In this edition of TribCast, Ross talks to pollsters Joshua Blank, James Henson and Daron Shaw about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, focused on the 2022 elections and this year’s legislative issues. Full Story
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![Snow at the Capitol in Austin on Feb. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas voters say the state and country are worse off than a year ago and heading in the wrong direction, UT/TT Poll finds
Thirty-eight percent of respondents said the state economy is doing worse than a year ago, further evidence that Texans are still feeling the pandemic’s consequences. Full Story
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![A view of the U.S. and Texas flags flying on the south side of the Texas Capitol from the Capitol Dome on Aug. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Delta-8 is legal in Texas — for now — after Travis County judge blocks state from criminalizing the cannabis extract
A Travis County judge temporarily blocked the state from listing delta-8 as a Schedule I drug, which effectively made it illegal. The cannabis extract became popular because users say it produces the “high” effect of marijuana. Full Story
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![Products containing Delta 8 THC on the counter at GR8 Vapes in San Marcos on Oct. 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott tells state agencies to develop standards to block books with "overtly sexual" content in schools
Abbott targeted two books that have been removed by schools recently that center on LGBTQ characters. One of the books includes a graphic illustration and the other includes depictions of sex. Full Story
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![Shelves filled with books at a school library in San Marcos.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
More Texas voters unhappy than satisfied over power grid, abortion and property taxes, UT/TT Poll finds
Most voters approve of using state money to add border barriers between Texas and Mexico. But 57% disapprove of a new abortion law’s provision allowing lawsuits against people who help someone get the procedure. Full Story
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![The main switchyard at Vistra Corp.’s Midlothian Power Plant on October 15, 2021. This is where the power produced at this plant is transformed into usable energy.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Early signs point to another Republican-dominated election cycle in Texas
Republican incumbents enter their reelection campaigns well ahead of their Republican challengers and with most voters unacquainted with the Democratic challengers in the field, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Greg Abbott leads Beto O’Rourke by 9 percentage points in hypothetical matchup, UT/TT Poll finds
The poll also found that potential candidate Matthew McConaughey is not universally beloved by Texans. About a quarter of respondents had an unfavorable opinion of the movie star who has flirted with running for governor. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas voters split on whether voting laws should be more strict, UT/TT Poll finds
The October poll found that the percentage of Democrats who said voting rules should be less strict increased significantly, with 64% of voters taking that position compared to the 51% in August. Full Story
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![People vote inside the gym at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center in Houston on Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Citing overwhelming demand, Texas Rent Relief Program will stop taking new applications after Friday
Housing advocates worry some Texans won’t get the help they need as the state enters the cold winter months. Full Story
![[Neighborhood scenes - Justice Court Pct. 5 Place 1 under Honorable Russ Ridgway] Clarewood Gardens Apartments of the Chimney Rock neighborhood in southwest Houston. Aug. 21, 2020.](https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/cqlcz8vc9Ox_TpFvfCFmEvEKTK0=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0e5bdc9b3997bbcc3ea29d12b1bf43b3/Houston%20Evictions%20PYH%20TT%2010.jpg)
![[Neighborhood scenes - Justice Court Pct. 5 Place 1 under Honorable Russ Ridgway] Clarewood Gardens Apartments of the Chimney Rock neighborhood in southwest Houston. Aug. 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Justice Department sues Texas over new voting law, targeting restrictions on mail-in ballots and voter assistance
The elderly, voters with disabilities and voters with limited English proficiency risk disenfranchisement under sweeping legislation Texas Republicans pushed through earlier this year, the justice department argues in its legal challenge to Senate Bill 1. Full Story
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![Ballot by mail clerk Jim Ragland organized ballot packages at the Travis County Elections Division in Austin in 2014.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats went "all in" to protect a San Antonio-area House seat from flipping. The GOP still took it.
Republican John Lujan attributed his victory in the House District 118 race to a “perfect environment.” It came the same night Republicans captured the Virginia governorship in a contest widely seen as a referendum on Joe Biden’s presidency. Full Story
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![John Lujan, Republican nominee for House District 118, poses for a photograph at an election night watch party in San Antonio on Nov. 2, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune
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