Lawsuit proceeds against Gov. Greg Abbott over mock nativity display
A lawsuit is moving forward against Gov. Greg Abbott over his order to remove a satirical nativity scene from the Texas Capitol last year. Full Story
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![Winter Solstice scene on display in the Capitol. It was ordered removed after Gov. Greg Abbott objected to it.]()
Credit: Courtesy State Rep. Charlie Geren -
Abandoned Texas oil wells seen as "ticking time bombs" of contamination
Texas is among several states grappling with a surge of abandoned drilling sites and dwindling funds to clean them up. Full Story
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![Ty Edwards, assistant general manager of the Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District, points to brackish water flowing from one of several flowing abandoned wells— originally drilled for oil, but later used for irrigation — that no state agency plans to plug.]()
Credit: Rafael Aguilera for The Texas Tribune -
Trump, women's health, child welfare top Texas news in 2016
Here’s a look at the top health and human services storylines The Texas Tribune tracked this year. Full Story
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![Jill Ramirez, the director of outreach for the Latino Healthcare Forum, passes out flyers and explains components of the Affordable Care Act on Oct. 5, 2013. With Donald Trump's election to the White House, the health law faces an uncertain future.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Texas officially kicking Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid
Texas health officials on Tuesday delivered a final legal notice to nix the funding Planned Parenthood receives through the Medicaid program. Full Story
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Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
Analysis: On transgender Texans and bathrooms, a call to stay calm
Some Texas lawmakers were in a hurry to require transgender Texans to use the restrooms that match the genders listed on their birth certificates. But the policy and politics are complicated enough to prompt the governor to tap the brakes. Full Story
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![An accessible unisex bathroom at The University of Texas at Austin.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang/The Texas Tribune -
Trump selects Perry to lead U.S. Department of Energy (video)
In the Roundup: Donald Trump selects former Gov. Rick Perry to lead the U.S. Department of Energy, Gov. Greg Abbott takes a wait-and-see approach on anticipated bathroom legislation and Attorney General Ken Paxton takes on a new fight over Christmas. Full Story
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Backers hopeful Texas ready to screen welfare recipients for drug use
While Texas already has some of the strictest eligibility requirements in the country for welfare benefit applicants, some lawmakers plan to try again next year to add required drug screenings or testing to the process. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Federal health officials issue Zika warning for Brownsville
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging pregnant women to avoid Brownsville if they can and for those visiting the area to be tested for the virus, which is known to cause birth defects. Full Story
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Analysis: Why rising property values don’t lower school taxes
Rising property values in Texas should have lowered school property tax rates. But they didn't, and you can thank the folks who write the state budget for that. Full Story
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Credit: The Texas Tribune -
When asked, won't tell: top three officials duck specifics on illegal hiring
The state's top elected officials are happy to go on about border security, but they get tongue tied if the conversation turns to cracking down on employers of undocumented immigrants. Full Story
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Credit: Texas Tribune staff -
Gov. Greg Abbott on proposed bathroom legislation: Wait and see
Gov. Greg Abbott is adopting a wait-and-see approach about anticipated legislation that would prohibit transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the Convention of States gathering at the Texas Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Center for Reproductive Rights sues Texas over fetal remains rule
The center had pledged in August to take legal action if the new fetal remains rules were adopted. Full Story
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![Health care providers, reproductive rights activists and anti-abortion groups attended a hearing on a proposed state rule that would require the cremation or burial of fetal remains.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The state’s declining support for public education in Texas
Had the state kept its share of school funding constant for the past 10 years, voters might not be griping about rising property taxes. The state is spending more than it used to, but it's spending less per student. Full Story
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![Chairman of House Committee on Public Education Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, on April 14th, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas officials confirm 4 more locally transmitted Zika cases
State and local officials have identified four more locally transmitted cases of Zika in Cameron County, weeks after the first such case in Texas was reported there. Full Story
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Analysis: The challenge of making a property tax cut pitch pay off in Texas
It's hard to get property tax relief out of a state government that does not levy a property tax. But it's tempting turf for politicians in Texas, and they're going to try again when they meet in January. Full Story
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A&M protests white nationalist speaker, businesses oppose anti-LGBT bills (video)
In the Roundup: Protesters turn up for a white nationalist speaker at Texas A&M University, a business lobbying group says anti-LGBT bills will hurt the Texas economy and Gov. Greg Abbott calls for a convention of states. Full Story
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Patrick's bathroom priority is schools, incoming senator says
An incoming state senator suggested Thursday that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will focus on schools, not businesses or sporting venues, with his "bathroom bill." Full Story
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![Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith moderated "A Conversation with Dawn Buckingham" on April 21, 2016.]()
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Government Salaries Explorer adds Fort Worth, updates University of Houston
We've updated the Tribune's Government Salaries Explorer with new data for the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Houston's campuses and system offices. The city of Fort Worth is a new addition. Full Story
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Mental health pilot program for Texas foster kids underway
A new pilot program led by Gov. Greg Abbott’s office aims to provide specialized care and services for 500 of the most emotionally traumatized foster children in Texas. Full Story
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Boomtown, Flood Town: Unchecked development and the risks for Houston
Rapid development continues in Houston, creating some economic gains but also contributing to flood risks. This project, done in partnership with ProPublica, looks at those risks and the debate over what to do. Full Story
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![Aerial shot of downtown Houston from the Montrose neighborhood during the "Tax Day Flood" on April 18, 2016.]()
Credit: Jordan Anderson (DoubleHorn Photography)