Fairfield Lake State Park closes again as land sale negotiations fail
The state is now considering seizing the land to save the park after its purchase offer was rejected by a Dallas developer. Full Story
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![Coots dot Fairfield Lake while people cast their fishing line from a boat during sunset at Fairfield Lake State Park on Feb. 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton’s impeachment hints at shaky support in Collin County, his longtime base of power
The suspended attorney general’s political origins and rise to power began in the suburban North Texas county. But every House member from the county voted to impeach him. Full Story
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![Attendees of Ken Paxton’s primary election results watch party chat after Paxton spoke to the crowd in McKinney on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
For higher education in Texas, this year’s session was a mixed bag of interference and investment
Texas lawmakers made huge investments in community colleges and created new endowments for public universities. They also banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and gave themselves more control over university faculty tenure. Full Story
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![Democratic lawmakers gather at the dias in the House chamber in support of an amendment that would have preserved DEI initiates in Texas’ public universities at the Capitol in Austin on April 06, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Fossil fuels got a boost from lawmakers aiming to fix Texas’ grid, while renewable energy escaped stricter regulations
The bills will give owners of natural gas power plants incentives to build more capacity, but they don’t go as far as originally proposed to change how electricity is created and sold in the Texas market. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan listens to state Representatives on the House floor during Sine Die, the last day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas bill to increase transparency in public records law left in limbo despite passing Legislature
The bill would close a long-standing loophole in state law that allows officials to withhold law enforcement records if no one was convicted in a case. The measure was the only bill sent to the Senate that did not get signed and sent to the governor. Full Story
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![From left: Lt. Gov Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The conservative plan to eliminate school property taxes in Texas
On this week’s episode, we speak to the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s James Quintero, who has been at the center of the debate over property taxes this week. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
With no deal on property taxes in sight, Abbott hints at multiple special sessions
The governor stands behind his support of the Texas House tax plan despite Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s insistence that the Senate has a better deal for homeowners. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton impeachment moves to Texas Senate, where conflicts of interest, political intrigue await
Senators have been publicly silent, citing their role as jurors with a weighty decision: whether to remove one of the state’s top Republicans from office. Full Story
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![The Texas Senate during the last day of the 88th regular session on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
No teacher raises. A failed school voucher push. Armed guards. Here’s what changed for public education this legislative session.
Lawmakers sacrificed school funding to block school vouchers, but the issue could be debated again in a special session. Districts will get new funds for school safety, though Uvalde families were ultimately left disappointed with inaction on gun restrictions. Full Story
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![Students in Mrs. Cazares' third-grade class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Climate proposals withered at the Texas Capitol this year
Proposals to improve energy efficiency failed. Bills that sought to limit greenhouse gas emissions in Texas were ignored, and legislation to block cities from taking action on climate change passed. Full Story
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![Industrial energy-producing wind turbines cover hundreds of acres of farmland in Lyford on May 17, 2023.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
Facing youth prison crisis, Texas lawmakers opt to build new facilities and funnel more kids to adult system
For more than a decade, Texas has been trying to slim down its youth prison system, which has been plagued by years of abuse scandals. This Legislature is reversing that course. Full Story
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![Giddings State School, a Texas Juvenile Justice Department correctional facility, in Lee County on July 20, 2022.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough/The Texas Tribune -
Meet the Texas House impeachment managers who are taking aim at Ken Paxton
Led by Andrew Murr, a West Texas rancher and lawyer, and Ann Johnson, a former prosecutor, the team of 12 includes 11 with law degrees. Full Story
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![House General Investigating Committee impeachment managers, led by Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, answer questions at a press conference on May 29, 2023. From left: State Reps. Erin Gámez, D-Brownsville; Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston; Murr; David Spiller, R-Jacksboro; Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park; Cody Vasut, R-Angleton; and Morgan Meyer, R-University Park.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans are fighting over how to split $12.3 billion in property tax breaks between homeowners and businesses
Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan back a plan that spreads property tax relief among all landowners, while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s proposal would give homeowners a bigger boost than businesses. Full Story
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![A number of homes an Austin's Mueller development have added solar panels, thanks to hefty local and federal incentives.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will not receive his $153,750 salary during suspension
Following Paxton’s impeachment on Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed former Texas Secretary of State John Scott to serve as the state’s top attorney. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement to the press May 26, 2023, a day before the impeachment vote in the Texas House.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House impeachment team taps 2 top Texas lawyers, Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, to lead Ken Paxton case
The Houston-based attorneys are legends in their own right, having participated in numerous high-profile criminal and civil matters. Full Story
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![State Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, head of the House impeachment managers, introduces Houston attorneys Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin as prosecutors in the Senate trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, at the Capitol on June 1, 2023. From left: Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, attorneys Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, Dan McAnulty, an investigator for the committee; Murr, Erin Epley, part of the House investigative team, Rep. Erin Gámez, D-Brownsville; Donna Cameron; Reps. Morgan Meyer, R-University Park, and Oscar Longoria, D-Mission.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers allocated more than $2 billion to increase the state’s water supply and reduce flooding
Texans across the state are affected by declining water supplies, water infrastructure disruptions and flooding in their communities. Full Story
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![Lake Alan Henry in Garza County on April. 27, 2023, in Garza County, about 65 miles southeast of Lubbock.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Texas car safety inspection changes in 2025
Noncommercial cars in 17 counties will still have to pass an emissions test to obtain a state registration. Full Story
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![Inspection stickers will begin disappearing from Texas vehicles when the state rolls out a new single-sticker program for inspection and registration on March 1, 2015.]()
Credit: Ryan McCrimmon for The Texas Tribune -
Harris County elections face state intervention under new Texas voting laws
The bill’s sponsor says greater oversight is needed for Texas’ largest county as county officials have vowed to fight the legislation in court. Full Story
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![Ballots and scanning machines arrive at central counting after polls close in Houston, on Nov 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Tension over property taxes produces rare public clash between Dan Patrick, Greg Abbott
Always happy to castigate the Texas House, Patrick breaks form to criticize the governor as misinformed and unsympathetic toward homeowners. Full Story
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![From left: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott, and Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
North Texas lawmakers talk impeachment, property taxes, school choice
At a Texas Tribune event, Republican state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione said his vote to impeach Ken Paxton was akin to being a grand juror who found enough evidence to warrant a trial in the Senate. Full Story
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