Hey, Texplainer: Do I still have to get my car inspected every year?
A bill to end annual vehicle inspections died during the regular legislative session — but might come back during next month’s special session. Full Story
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![Traffic on Lamar Boulevard in downtown Austin on June 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Why a Colorado case over "religious refusals" could matter to Texas
The Supreme Court’s decision to take up the case of whether a Colorado baker can legally refuse to make a wedding cake for a gay couple could have implications in Texas. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Talk of taking on Straus simmering, but nowhere near a full boil
Between a contentious regular session of the Texas Legislature and a special session that starts in less than four weeks, some lawmakers are talking about the people in leadership, starting with the speaker of the House. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus adjourns the House sine die on May 29, 2017. "Sine die" means without any future date being designated for resumption.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Why don’t local police departments in Texas pay for rape kit testing?
There’s no rule on who foots the bill for rape kit testing across the country — it depends on the state and city you live in. Full Story
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![A sexual assault evidence collection kit.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: You can fight City Hall — if you’re governor of Texas
Local government attorneys in Texas are about to take a page from Greg Abbott, who spent 12 years as the top attorney for the state of Texas — suing a faraway government that has its nose in their business. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Houston is the latest city to join court fight over Texas immigration law (video)
The four largest cities in Texas are now party to a lawsuit that seeks to stop the state’s new controversial immigration law from going into effect. Full Story
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Gov. Greg. Abbott plots aggressive approach to Texas special session
Gov. Greg Abbott is plotting an aggressive approach to the upcoming special session of the Legislature, diverting from his above-the-fray style to try to see through an ambitious 20-item agenda. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017. The session will start on July 18.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: 5 takeaways from the UT/TT Poll
After four days, seven stories, piles of graphics and one podcast about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, a handful of things stuck out. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol at sunset on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ride-hailing nonprofit struggles to survive after return of Uber, Lyft
RideAustin, one of several small companies that started operations in Austin last year after Uber and Lyft left the city, is now seeing its ridership cut in half since the two returned to town. Full Story
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![Andy Tryba, co-founder and CEO of RideAustin, at the company's headquarters in downtown Austin on June 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
UT/TT Poll: Texas voters wary of making changes to the U.S. Constitution
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants a convention of states to consider amendments to the U.S. Constitution, but most Texas voters aren't convinced that's a good idea, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Lawmaker says he was "grossly misled" about white nationalist rally
State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, said his office was "grossly misled" by a white nationalist group that wanted him to sponsor a rally at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, on the House floor on Jan. 11, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Ahead of special session, annexation reform debate gears up
Residents and military officials testified about annexation reform Monday during a meeting of the House Defense and Veteran’s Affairs Committee. Full Story
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![State Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, the chairman of the Texas House Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee, leads a June 19, 2017, hearing in San Antonio on how annexation reform affects area military bases. Next to Gutierrez is committee clerk Margaret Wallace.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
UT/TT Poll: Texas voters weigh in on importance of "bathroom bill"
Most Texas voters don't rate proposals to regulate transgender people's use of public restrooms as an important issue, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva/The Texas Tribune -
UT/TT Poll: Majority of Texas voters back new immigration provisions
The state's new immigration law has the support of most Texas voters, but the differences on partisan and ethnic lines are dramatic, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva/The Texas Tribune -
Beermakers' efforts to get Abbott's veto go flat
House Bill 3287, which Gov. Greg Abbott didn't veto, will force larger breweries to pay a distributor to deliver their beer — even if they're delivering it to on-site taprooms just yards away from where it's produced. Full Story
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![Colorado-based Oskar Blues, which has a tap room in Austin, is opposed to a bill that would require it to pay what critics call an "extortion fee" to beer distributors.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Check what happened to this regular session's most high-profile bills
After 140 days, what did Texas lawmakers actually accomplish? Here's our guide to what happened with the regular session’s most high-profile measures. Full Story
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Abbott signs measure that tightens state law on child brides
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Thursday to prohibit people younger than 18 from marrying unless a judge consents. The measure also prohibits anyone under 16 from getting married. Full Story
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![Trevicia Williams was 14 years old when her mother forced her to marry a man 12 years her senior.]()
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As court scoldings pile up, will Texas face a voting rights reckoning?
A barrage of court rulings has forced Texas leaders to confront whether they strayed too far in enacting voting laws found to have disproportionately burdened minorities. Full Story
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Gov. Abbott signs bill that seeks to end "lunch shaming"
One of the most surprisingly contentious measures of the legislative session — ending "lunch shaming" for Texas public school students — was signed into law Thursday. Full Story
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![State Rep. Helen Giddings, D-De Soto, speaks during a press conference regarding the "lunch shaming" bill on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott OKs religious refusal of adoptions in Texas
Child welfare providers can use their "sincerely held religious beliefs" to decide what homes and services foster and adoptive children should receive. Full Story
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