Beto O’Rourke tours Texas again to rally Congress to take action on voting rights legislation
O'Rourke has visited at least 19 cities this month and plans to hold a final rally Sunday at the Texas Capitol in Austin. Full Story
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![Reagan Van Coutren takes a selfie with former congressman Beto O'Rourke at Stevenson Park in Abilene on June 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News via REUTERS -
Together again: Texans venture out to make up for lost time
With Texans finally stepping out in public again, we asked photographers across the state to give us a look at people enjoying themselves after the long shutdown. Full Story
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![The Ortiz family traveled from McAllen for a viewing at the WesMer Drive-In Theatre in Mercedes in the Rio Grande Valley. The region was hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick waffles over whether he still supports stronger gun background checks
In September 2019, he said he was "willing to take an arrow" and go against the National Rifle Association by pushing for Texas to extend background checks to gun sales between strangers. On Thursday, he sat next to NRA leader Wayne LaPierre as an expansion of gun rights became law. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at a press conference concerning the recently passed Election & Ballot Security Bill, also known as Senate Bill 7, at the Texas Capitol on April 7, 2021. "Senate Bill 7 is about voter security, not about voter suppression, and I'm tired of the lies and the nest of liars who continue to repeat them," said Patrick.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott makes interim Public Utility Commission appointment
The nomination comes the same week that ERCOT asked Texans to cut back their electricity use to avoid outages. Cobos’ term will last until Sept. 1 Full Story
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![Lori Cobos was appointed to the position of Public Utility Commission of Texas by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Image via Texas State Directory -
Critics denounce Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick’s “invasion” rhetoric on immigration, saying it will incite violence
“If people die again, blood will be on your hands,” U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, wrote in a tweet. Full Story
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
A year after Vanessa Guillén’s death, lawmakers and advocates call for Congress to pass military sexual assault reform bill
A federal bill was recently reintroduced, proposing sweeping changes to the way the military investigates sexual assault and harassment allegations. Texas lawmakers are urging Congress to make it law. Full Story
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![Vanessa Guillen's sisters Lupe Guillen, left, and Mayra Guillen speak at a press conference regarding legislation that would designate Sept. 30, Guillen’s Birthday, as ‘Vanessa Guillen Day’ on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott feels the heat
The governor wants to talk about the border. But it’s hot, and recent history has Texans worried about electricity as temperatures climb and regulators call for conservation. Full Story
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says power grid better than ever as Texans asked to cut back electricity use
A number of power plants were inexplicably offline at the same time that Texas was experiencing record June demand for electricity. ERCOT officials are still working to determine why. Full Story
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![Details of electrical transformers at the Austin Energy/Sand Hill Energy Center
in Del Valle on March 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill that would outlaw abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned
The law would almost immediately outlaw abortions in Texas if a court ruling or constitutional amendment gave states the authority to prohibit the procedure. The governor’s signature comes after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that could pave the way for more state restrictions on abortion access. Full Story
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Texans can carry handguns without a license or training starting Sept. 1, after Gov. Greg Abbott signs permitless carry bill into law
Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Republicans who were initially noncommittal about the bill were under immense political pressure this session from conservatives and gun rights advocates, who have long lobbied the Texas Legislature for permitless carry. Full Story
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![A M&P Shield handgun, small enough to be ideal for conceal carry, in Austin on April 23, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott announces Texas is providing initial $250 million "down payment" for border wall
The governor did not specify how long the wall would be or where it would be built. He directed the Texas Facilities Commission to hire a program manager to begin that research. Full Story
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Las Vegas Sands went all in on legalizing casinos in Texas. Here's why the multimillion-dollar effort did not make it far this session.
The legislation — which required voter approval — would have brought a monumental expansion of gambling to Texas, which has some of the most restrictive gaming laws in the country. Full Story
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![Gamblers play slot machines during the reopening of The D hotel-casino, closed by the state since March 18, 2020, as part of steps to slow the spread of COVID-19, in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 4, 2020.]()
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Analysis: The 2021 Texas Senate, from left to right
Based on the votes they cast during the just-concluded regular session, the author ranks the members of the Texas Senate from most conservative to most liberal. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the Senate chambers in Austin on May 30, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas “critical race theory” bill limiting teaching of current events signed into law
Texas is one of a handful of states that have approved legislation that prescribes how teachers discuss current events and prohibits students from receiving credit for participating in civic activities. Full Story
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![Computer station at the library in Wheatley High School on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump to tour border wall with Gov. Greg Abbott on June 30
Abbott announced last Thursday that Texas would build its own border wall to stem the flow of migrants from Mexico. Full Story
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![Former President Donald Trump walks from his flight at Valley International Airport in Harlingen on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Is Texas headed toward another blackout? Did the Legislature fix the power grid? Here are answers to your questions about the grid.
The state’s grid operator indicated that conditions are improving and said that power outages to residents are unlikely. Full Story
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![Electrical power lines near the Sand Hill Energy Center in Del Valle on March 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
After Austin shooting, advocates and Texas Democrats renew calls for action on gun violence
State Rep. Joe Moody, a Democrat from El Paso, said a special legislative session already planned for later this year should also address gun violence. Full Story
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![Austin Police patrol the site of a recent mass shooting. At least 13 people were injured in a shooting on East Sixth Street near Trinity Street in Austin in the early hours of Jun 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll use crowdfunding for his plan to build a border wall
Abbott made national headlines with his announcement Thursday in Del Rio that Texas would build its own wall at the Mexico border, though he provided no further details and said he would lay out the plan this week. Full Story
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![The border fence and levee passes through the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Hidalgo, Texas on Feb. 7, 2017.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
T-Squared: Tickets for the 2021 Texas Tribune Festival are on sale now
As we emerge from the pandemic, our signature annual ideas conference will be a best-of-both-worlds convening. Some of our programming will be virtual. Some of it will be in person. All of it will be awesome. Full Story
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Texas teachers and students, tell us how race and racism are taught in school
House Bill 3979 restricts how teachers can talk about race and current events in public schools. We want to hear from teachers and students on how it could impact what students learn about America's history — and its present. Full Story
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![Students leave the classroom to work in the computer lab at Mata Intermediate School.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune
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