Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival, Democratic Rep. Donna Howard acknowledged that Republicans have unified around Speaker Dustin Burrows to the point that he “may not need us” to retain the gavel.
State Government
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Posted in
Congress
Fresh off defeating state THC ban, Texas hemp industry faces wipeout under federal deal to end shutdown
The issue roiled Texas politics earlier this year when Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a ban on THC products spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
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Health care
How building a new hospital cost this rural Texas town a place to deliver babies
Olney Hamilton Hospital joins the nearly 60% of rural Texas hospitals that do not deliver babies, leaving large swaths of the state without a nearby place to give birth.
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2026 Texas Elections
Mike Collier to challenge Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick again — as an independent
Patrick has twice defeated Collier, who was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018 and 2022.
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2026 Texas Elections
Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French announces run for Texas Railroad Commission
French will face commission Chair Jim Wright in the Republican primary. The three-person panel is in charge of the agency that oversees Texas’ oil and gas industry.
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Health care
Older Texans among those facing the largest price hikes for Affordable Care Act insurance
About 1 million Texans with ACA health plans are over the age of 45, and many of them will pay monthly premiums that are more than $1,000.
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TribCast
TribCast: Kate Rogers on her ousting from the Alamo Trust
Rogers ran the state’s most beloved historical site until she resigned amid political pressure last month.
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Courts
Texas Latino civic group sues to block AG Ken Paxton from shutting it down
Paxton accuses nonprofit Jolt of an “unlawful voter registration scheme,” but a legal filing provided no evidence that it registers noncitizens to vote.
Posted in
State Government
Cash-strapped Texas city defies AG warning not to raise taxes
Citing a new state law, Attorney General Ken Paxton told four cities to cancel planned tax hikes. But La Marque leaders say their tax increase is critical to keeping the city afloat financially.
Posted in
2025 Texas Elections
Pro-gambling interests struggling to gain foothold in Texas after Senate special election loss
John Huffman was the best-funded candidate in the Senate District 9 special election thanks to casino interests, but failed to make the runoff. Gambling proponents still have millions more to spend on Texas races.