In Texas, early voting begins in extraordinary election season
On Nov. 8, Texans will finally find out what impact Donald Trump's presidential campaign has had on their reliably Republican state. Full Story
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![Campaign signs outside a polling place at Zilker Elementary School in Austin on March 4, 2014.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Analysis: High property taxes start in Austin, not in school districts
State lawmakers complain that local property taxes need to be leashed. But state lawmakers are more responsible for the increases than they let on. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Warring ads turn up heat on competitive Dallas County House race
An out-of-district house and a Child Protective Services vote are the topics of competing campaign materials from incumbent Republican Rep. Kenneth Sheets and his opponent, Democrat Victoria Neave. Full Story
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![Democrat Victoria Neave is challenging state Rep. Kenneth Sheets, R-Dallas in House District 107.]()
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Analysis: Rising local school property taxes ease state budget woes
State officials would like to lower local school property taxes, but they've got a secret: Some of those local school tax revenues make it easier to balance a tight state budget. Full Story
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![Ramon Cavazos teaches a middle school business class in the Olfen Independent School District in Rowena, Texas, on Jan. 20, 2016.]()
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick doubles down on school choice fight
Days after a House hearing in which lawmakers gave the issue skeptical treatment, Patrick made clear private school choice topped his list of legislative priorities. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick offers a preview of the 85th legislative session at a Dallas Chamber of Commerce event at the Belo Mansion on Oct. 20, 2016.]()
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Candidate offers, then rescinds, polo match invitation to state lawmakers
“Unfortunately you were provided with 4 tickets which were not intended for your office,” read the letter slipped under legislators’ doors. Full Story
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![September 15, 2016 Conversation event Kyle Biedermann R-New Braunfels]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Dan Patrick offers faith-based plan to ease foster care crisis
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants faith-based communities to help find foster and adoptive homes for kids in need. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick assures the audience at the Freedom, Faith and Fellowship event May 12, 2016 that he will uphold conservative principles as leader of the Texas Senate in 2017.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune/Bob Daemmrich -
Despite boasts, state has not blocked Planned Parenthood funds
Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials are largely silent on why they haven't fulfilled their vow to cut off funds to women's health programs offered to poor Texas women by Planned Parenthood. Full Story
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Analysis: A lavish benefit for Texas lawmakers could get even bigger
Regulators are deciding how much lobby wining and dining Texas lawmakers can accept without revealing their names. Hint: It's a lot. Full Story
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![State senators and staff listen to testimony at a Senate Committee on State Affairs hearing reviewing current ethics laws governing public officials and employees on Oct, 5, 2016.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang for The Texas Tribune -
Competitive statehouse races come to light in finance reports
A new wave of campaign finance reports is bringing into focus how competitive some state legislatives races are. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol, May 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Texas agencies want option of keeping departed employees on payroll
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and four other agencies were questioned Wednesday about granting departing employees “emergency leave” as a form of separation payment. Full Story
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![The inside of the Texas Capitol Building on March 29, 2016.]()
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Trooper's attorneys might ask judge to toss indictment in Bland case
Attorneys for the state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland are considering asking a judge to throw out his indictment for perjury. Full Story
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![Former Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Brian Encinia leaves court after his arraignment at the Waller County Courthouse in Hempstead, Texas Tuesday, Mar. 22, 2016.]()
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Analysis: Register to Vote and Give Yourself an Option for Election Day
Registering to vote doesn't mean you have to vote, but not registering means you can't. Tuesday is the deadline in Texas. Full Story
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![Students listen to Secretary Cascos during a UT undergraduate course about what they need to know to vote in November.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In Texas, Lawmakers Regulate Their Own Regulators
The Texas Ethics Commission regulates legislators. Legislators control the commission's laws and budget. It's a complicated relationship. Full Story
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![State Sens. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, listen to testimony at a Senate Committee on State Affairs hearing reviewing current ethics laws governing public officials and employees on Oct, 5, 2016.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang for The Texas Tribune -
East Texas Children Lose Therapy Services in Budget Cut Fallout
Lawmakers wanted the state to pay less for children's therapy services without cutting off access to care, but that balance is proving impossible in some cases. Full Story
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![Lauretta Jackson, a physical therapist from Any Baby Can, works with Sara weekly to improve her body strength. Nonprofit therapy providers are worried budget cuts made by lawmakers will put them out of business.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Help Wanted to Investigate Student-Teacher Relationships
Faced with growing state attention on improper student-teacher relationships, the Texas Education Agency is asking lawmakers for hundreds of thousands of additional dollars to help investigate them — plus new legislation. Full Story
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![Texas Education Agency investigator Doug Phillips testifies on punishing educators for inappropriate student-teacher relationships during a public hearing Dec. 7, 2015 before the Senate Education Committee.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
New Position Will Oversee Abstinence, Abortion Programs
The state health commission has begun advertising for someone to fill a new executive job overseeing “women’s education services” — including abstinence education and counseling on alternatives to abortion. The position could pay six figures. Full Story
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![A hallway at the Whole Woman's Health clinic in Austin.]()
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Analysis: In Texas, You Can Fight City Hall
The Texas Legislature has become the court of last resort for companies and industries fighting local regulations in the state's cities and counties. And for those interests, Austin can be a very favorable venue for appeals. Full Story
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![A gas well is shown in 2014 sitting less than 400 feet from a home in Denton.]()
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Texas Lawmakers to Highlight Education Spending Divide
The state’s escalating dependence on local tax dollars to fund public schools is expected to be a focus during a joint hearing of two House committees Wednesday and Thursday. Full Story
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![House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, pulled down a school finance bill during the 84th legislative session on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
African-American Monument Being Installed at Texas Capitol
After more than two decades of effort by lawmakers to install a monument at the Capitol celebrating African-Americans, the main components of a bronze and granite memorial were quietly lowered onto the south lawn on Tuesday. Full Story
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![Sculptor Ed Dwight talked with workers who were installing the Texas African-American History Memorial Monument at the Texas Capitol on Sept. 27, 2016.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera