State government

On June 26, 2003, the Supreme Court struck down a Texas law banning gay sodomy — a watershed moment for gay rights. But 15 years later, same-sex couples face another court case that aims to roll back their rights.

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As young, educated professionals push away old ideas about how to move around Texas cities, transportation planners’ vision for the future is still largely influenced by the past.

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Former state Sen. Wendy Davis' 2013 filibuster of anti-abortion legislation was an unforgettable event for lawmakers and political observers on both sides of the aisle. Five years later, listen in as key players in the debate reflect on their longest night.

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Party delegates in Fort Worth also decided to back required paid sick leave for working Texans and oppose building a wall on the Texas-Mexico border. Many platform ideals contradict those of Republicans, who hold every statewide office and control both chambers of the Legislature. 

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The decision comes years after the state found that Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership, a subsidiary of Xerox, allowed workers with limited expertise to approve dental claims for the state's Medicaid program. 

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The state's highest civil court has ruled that Laredo's ban on plastic bags violates state law.

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A company official told Texas lawmakers Thursday that parents and children have the opportunity to be in contact. But it's still not clear how that may lead to family reunification.

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Texas loses an estimated $1.1 billion each year in uncollected sales tax from online retailers that don't have a physical presence in the state. 

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Texas' Hispanic population increased from 9.7 million in 2010 to 11.1 million last year, according to new census population estimates. Meanwhile, the state's white population has increased by about 458,000 people.

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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order he says will "keep the families together" when they're apprehended illegally crossing the border. But that does little for families who have already been split apart.

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After a report from the newspaper revealing mishaps in the state's managed health care program, lawmakers pushed for answers from representatives from state agencies and private companies involved in the matter. 

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How exactly are families being separated at the border? Here's where parents and children go after they're apprehended.

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Taxpayers have paid more than $1.5 billion to private companies operating shelters accused of serious lapses in care, including neglect and abuse.

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State Sen. Sylvia Garcia referred to the warehouse — which most recently housed families displaced by Hurricane Harvey — as a planned "baby jail."

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Four months after he was convicted of 11 felonies, Texas state Sen. Carlos Uresti announced Monday that he will resign from the Texas Legislature, where he's served for more than two decades.

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As part of his school and gun safety plan, Gov. Greg Abbott wants to explore a law that would allow local officials to take guns away from people if a judge declares them a danger — while also protecting Second Amendment rights. It's an issue that has previously gone nowhere in the Texas Legislature.

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Churches, especially in deep-red Texas, often sit out partisan squabbles. But the issue of family separations is not a political one, some faith leaders say — it's a humanitarian and moral crisis.

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There were lots of speeches, a contentious race for state party chair and a debate over the party's platform. Check out scenes from the 2018 Republican Party of Texas convention.

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After a few hours of relatively mild debate, Texas Republicans approved multiple legislative priorities and backed a platform that includes more than 300 planks.

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During this week's state Republican Party convention, various speakers took turns praising President Donald Trump. But the bitter race for state party chair and a debate over censures illustrated divisions among Texas Republicans.

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