State government

A year before Fort Worth ISD fired a teacher over her tweets about immigrants, students say she threatened to call the FBI on them

by Chase Karacostas

Fort Worth ISD fired Georgia Clark after she asked President Trump on Twitter in May to "remove the illegals from Fort Worth." The Texas Education Agency reversed their decision late last month mostly on procedural grounds, but the school district plans to appeal. Full Story 

Analysis: In Texas elections in 2020, national issues could trump local ones

by Ross Ramsey

Some elections are local; some are about state issues. The 2020 election in Texas is probably not going to be either of those things — national issues and personalities are leading the parade. Full Story 

Analysis: A Houston police death and the debate over who should have guns in Texas

by Ross Ramsey

The proliferation of mass shootings has opened up the debate about gun laws among politicians in Texas, and about whether new restrictions are needed. But not among all Texas politicians. Full Story 

Accusations of shoddy hiring practices dog Texas State University police

by Shannon Najmabadi

The school's former police chief and his top deputy were accused of hiring unqualified officers to patrol the San Marcos campus — including one who allegedly slept with a sexual assault victim while investigating her case — university records show. Full Story 

Analysis: The Texas Senate will be a quiet zone in a noisy, important election year

by Ross Ramsey

In what promises to be a tumultuous and competitive election year, races for the Texas House are going to be a lot more interesting than those for the Texas Senate. Full Story 

State Rep. Mike Lang opts against reelection for second time

by Patrick Svitek

The Granbury Republican filed Monday evening for Hood County commissioner. Full Story 

Analysis: In a leaked memo, a peek at Texas GOP’s concerns

by Ross Ramsey

Political plans aren't necessarily clever or novel, as a recently leaked memo from the Texas GOP illustrates. But they do provide some insight into what worries the plotters. Full Story 

Analysis: A changing political climate in Fort Bend County and a politically fatal blunder

by Ross Ramsey

When state Rep. Rick Miller said two of his opponents were running because they're Asian, the real news was in the result, not in the gaffe. Top Texas Republicans reacted, publicly and quickly. Full Story 

Appointees claim Gov. Greg Abbott ousted them from board for voting to sanction judge who refused to perform same-sex marriages

by Emma Platoff

After those two appointees left the commission, it handed down just a warning to the judge, Dianne Hensley. Full Story 

Analysis: This U.S. Senate race in Texas isn’t like the last one

by Ross Ramsey

Two years ago, nobody knew who Beto O'Rourke was. It turned out not to matter in a race with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. But the current race for Senate is different. Full Story 

State Rep. Rick Miller drops reelection bid after saying opponents were challenging him because they’re Asian

by Alex Samuels and Patrick Svitek

The Sugar Land Republican faced fast and fierce backlash after he accused his opponents of running against him because they are Asian in a district with a sizable Asian population. Full Story 

Pipeline giant sues Railroad Commission, alleging lax oversight of natural gas flaring

by Kiah Collier

A subsidiary of Tulsa-based Williams Cos. is suing Texas' oil and gas regulatory agency after it approved a request from Dallas-based Exco Operating Co. to burn off natural gas from wells in South Texas while they were hooked up to Williams' pipeline system. Full Story 

Analysis: Texas candidates have one week left to sign up or shut up

by Ross Ramsey

Candidates have one more week to officially declare their 2020 campaigns. In the Texas House — a key partisan battleground — as many as 31 districts, out of 150, could be competitive. Full Story 

Austin Mayor Steve Adler watched Pete Buttigieg court Chasten. Now Adler’s helping him court America.

by Alex Samuels

Austin Mayor Steve Adler has become Pete Buttigieg’s most notable supporter in Texas, and one of the most prominent elected officials in America supporting the South Bend mayor. Full Story 

Analysis: Almost nothing in Texas government has unanimous consent

by Ross Ramsey

State officials say local governments shouldn't use taxpayer funds for things some taxpayers don't support. That describes just about everything government does. Full Story 

UT-Austin investigating former procurement official

by Shannon Najmabadi

The former assistant vice president is the second University of Texas official to face scrutiny in recent months for allegedly running afoul of the university’s financial processes. He now holds a similar position with Austin ISD. Full Story 

Prison health care costs are higher than ever in Texas. Many point to an aging prison population.

by Davis Rich

Although there are fewer people in prison than there were a decade ago, costs have surged along with the share of inmates who are older — and sicker. Full Story 

Analysis: Why Texas Republicans are launching trial balloons on gun laws

by Jim Henson and Joshua Blank

Two University of Texas/Texas Tribune pollsters say top state officials edging into slightly tighter gun control laws are taking their cues from the changing electoral climate — not from changing attitudes among voters. Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott orders state agencies to reduce licensing regulations, cut fees

by Emma Platoff

Abbott has set a Dec. 1 deadline for agencies to tell his office how they plan to limit regulations, reduce fees and, "where appropriate," remove licensing barriers for people with criminal records. Full Story 

Trump EPA eases safety requirements enacted after West explosion

by Kiah Collier

Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the new rules, saying they would make Texans safer. The Obama-era regulation was meant to improve chemical safety practices and prevent tragedies like the deadly 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in the tiny Central Texas town of West. Full Story