Straus earthquake could shake up Texas politics for years
The impact of House Speaker Joe Straus' departure from the Capitol can't be understated, according to one political scientist: "The political center of the state collapsed today." Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, announced Wednesday he will not run for re-election.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Democratic lawmaker faces $3 million legal malpractice judgment
Texas state Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr. owes a legal company nearly $3 million after a federal judge ruled against the Democratic lawyer from Palmview in a malpractice case. Full Story
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![State Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr.]()
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As long lines persist, state winds down food assistance program for Harvey victims
Long lines — and criticism about how the program was handled — plagued the sign-up period for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Houston. Full Story
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![People line up for food at an open grocery store in Houston Tuesday Aug 29, 2017.]()
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State Rep. Victoria Neave pleads no contest to June DWI charge
The Dallas Democrat, who was arrested for driving while intoxicated in June, said Friday she will pay a fine and be put on 12 months of probation. Full Story
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![Mugshot of state Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, arrested for DWI in Dallas late Tuesday, June 6.]()
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State says Harvey's death toll has reached 88
Hurricane Harvey took the lives of at least 88 Texans, according to preliminary numbers released Friday morning by the Department of State Health Services. Full Story
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![A man walks through floodwaters after surveying his property in Rockport, which was hit by Hurricane Harvey, on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017.]()
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Texas payday lenders face tougher standards with new federal rules
Payday loans have been criticized as a debt trap for middle and low-income Texans. With new rules from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, borrowers may be armed with new protections. Full Story
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New school finance commission member discusses the road ahead
Doug Killian, the current superintendent of Pflugerville ISD, was recently named to the Texas Legislature's interim commission to study school finance. Read what he had to say about the challenges facing the commission. Full Story
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![Pflugerville ISD Superintendent Doug Killian will serve on the Legislature's interim commission to study school finance.]()
Credit: Pflugerville ISD -
How much has been raised for Harvey relief — and how's it being spent?
Between the federal government, the Red Cross and private charities, billions of dollars will be spent to help Hurricane Harvey victims in Texas. The Tribune is tracking how it's spent. Full Story
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![Debris from Harvey flooding is removed from a Port Arthur neighborhood on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton under probe for legal defense gift
A district attorney has been probing whether Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton broke any laws by accepting a $100,000 gift from a CEO whose company was being investigated for alleged fraud, according to news reports. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a news conference on Jan. 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texans shouldn't expect enough federal money to fully rebuild after Harvey
State officials estimate that it will take $60 billion in long-term federal funds to repair and replace the houses, buildings and infrastructure Harvey damaged. Full Story
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![Clarke Godkin bought an RV to use at his hunting lease about two years ago. Now it’s become his semi-permanent home while he attempts to make repairs to his flood damaged house in Rose City. Here he is trying to connect the trailer to electricity. "I feel blessed, even though we’ve lost everything. We’ve been here 20 years, and lost everything. But some folks, they’ve lost everything and have nowhere to go.”]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott to meet this month with Dallas lawmaker on Confederate markers
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will meet with state Rep. Eric Johnson, a Dallas Democrat, on Oct. 27, according to the governor's office. Johnson has called for an inaccurate Confederate plaque to be removed from the Capitol. Full Story
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![The "Children of the Confederacy Creed" plaque was highlighted in a letter state Rep. Eric Johnson sent to the State Preservation Board, asking that it be taken down.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Low-income Texans' insurance at risk after failure to renew CHIP
Insurance coverage for more than 400,000 Texas children and pregnant women is in jeopardy after Congress failed to renew authorization for the Children's Health Insurance Program. Full Story
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![Patients wait to be seen at the People's Community Clinic in Austin, on Nov. 8, 2010.]()
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Texas officials respond to shooting in Las Vegas that left at least 50 dead
After a gunman opened fire on a crowd of concert attendees at a country music festival in Las Vegas, Texas officials condemned the violence while offering condolences and prayers. Full Story
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![A body is covered with a sheet in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1, 2017.]()
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Amid staff exodus at health agency, some say chief has political agenda
Dozens of experienced senior staff members have left Texas' health and human services agency, saying morale has sunk under the new executive director, and critics say it's hampered the state's ability to aid victims of Hurricane Harvey. Full Story
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![Charles Smith, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, testified Aug. 15, 2016, before the House State Affairs Committee on contracting procedures.]()
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Live: Watch Abbott, Turner news conference on Harvey relief
After a week of trading jabs in the media on funding for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, watch Gov. Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner address the media together from Houston. Full Story
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Harvey recovery czar says insurance agencies should "write a damn check"
Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp, charged with leading the state's Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, called on insurance agencies to "step up" in an interview with The Texas Tribune. Full Story
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![Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp, named by Gov. Greg Abbott as hurricane czar, talks with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith on Sept. 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
New Texas law lowers fees for handgun licenses
A new law reduces the first-time fee for a license to carry from $140 to $40 and the renewal fee from $70 to $40. Full Story
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Houston mayor hits on highs and lows of Hurricane Harvey recovery
Watch Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's wide-ranging interview with The Texas Tribune, one month after Hurricane Harvey dumped more than 40 inches of rain, flooding entire areas of the city. Full Story
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New state law seeks to reduce the number of child brides in Texas
A new state law prohibits anyone under 16 from getting married and requires people under 18 to get a judge's consent before marrying. Full Story
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City, state officials spar over funding Harvey recovery efforts at Houston meeting
While several Texas officials have thrown support behind some expensive flood control projects, a Houston City Council meeting Monday highlighted the political and financial hurdles that may await such efforts. Full Story
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![Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner listens to State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, during a Sept. 25, 2017 public hearing on a proposed property tax rate increase that aims to cover city costs for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby