The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
A legal opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that facilitating state employees' donations to Planned Parenthood falls under a 2019 state law prohibiting government entities from entering into "taxpayer resource transactions" with abortion providers or their affiliates. Full Story
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The senator's backers now include three state representatives, several Texas city council members and local political organizers. Full Story
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For four years, local and state governments in Texas were allowed to keep a lot of public business hidden. New laws make more of that information public. But what did they get away with in the meantime? Full Story
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The Texas governor said DPS will place additional patrols within two blocks of state buildings downtown and around the University of Texas. Full Story
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The pop star's contract with the city — long hidden by what critics described as gaping holes in the state's open-records laws — became public this week after new legislation governing the public's right to know went into effect. Full Story
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State agencies are seeing an increase in cyber security threats as Iranian officials vow revenge against the U.S. for killing a top general. Full Story
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It's possible for a political candidate to win by losing — to rise in prominence as a result of a losing campaign for office. Beto O'Rourke tried and failed to do that. But keep an eye on Julián Castro, whose profile rose as his presidential bid fell apart. Full Story
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It's still unclear if Abbott will join nearly 40 other governors who have decided to stay in the program. Full Story
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Candidates and campaigns start the year at full speed, sprinting their way to primary election voting that begins in less than two months. It's the start of what should be a momentous and turbulent presidential election year. Full Story
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Election results from 2018 and prospects for the 2020 election led by President Donald Trump’s reelection bid provided a steady and strong undertow for political and policy conversations in Texas. And they still do. Full Story
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The immigration and humanitarian crisis continues at the Texas-Mexico border, where things have persistently been made worse by harsh government policies. Full Story
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Here's a look back at our favorite photographs by freelancers, fellows and our new photography department. Full Story
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Shootings in El Paso and Odessa prompted fresh questions and conversations about gun violence in Texas, even among some of the state’s elected Second Amendment advocates. Full Story
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The Democratic presidential candidate is staffing up in Texas and planning to open a Houston headquarters and 16 field offices. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers, convinced that 2018’s voters were telling them to get some serious work done, steered (mostly) away from social and cultural issues to concentrate on “meat and potatoes” items voters demanded, starting with schools and property taxes. Full Story
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The Tribune's data visuals team published more than 100 graphics about Texas politics and policy this year. Here's a look back at some of our favorites. Full Story
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Our reporters crisscrossed the Texas Capitol and traveled to the Panhandle and East Texas — as well as the Netherlands and Honduras — to tell stories about the state's politics, people and places. From a story on a migrant's desperate journey to a look at how coal companies are leaving behind contaminated land, here is a selection of their best work of the year. Full Story
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Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen went from his January election to hero of the legislative session to historical footnote in less than a year. Several of the year's columns analyzed the politics of a speaker quickly losing the trust of the House that elevated him in the first place. Full Story
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The Texas 2020 primary will take place on March 3. See the full list of candidates statewide, and find out who's on your ballot based on where you live. Full Story
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Big election campaigns take years to mount. So some politicians aren't thinking about the 2020 elections. They're dreaming and planning for 2022. Full Story
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