Texas allows certain children to get married. Lawmakers may close that loophole.

Latest News

• Ken Paxton says Google will pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle privacy suit

  By Zach Despart Updated: May 9, 2025

  The state attorney general sued Google in 2022, alleging it unlawfully tracked and collected users’ private data. Full Story 

• Texas Democrats cancel planned vote to condemn Rep. Henry Cuellar

  By Katharine Wilson Updated: May 9, 2025

  Concerns about measures to enforce a ban against a lawmaker’s access to voter files led the party to drop the vote, a party leader said. Full Story 

• After a sometimes graphic debate, Texas House advances bill limiting kids’ access to sexually explicit books in libraries

  By Kayla Guo May 9, 2025

  The bill would bar those under 18 from checking out books with sexually explicit material without parental permission. Full Story 

• Texas attorney general wins $60 million judgment in pollution lawsuit

  By Sofia Sorochinskaia May 9, 2025

  A Texas business illegally dumped industrial waste into Skull Creek in Colorado County six years ago, then residents complained to the attorney general’s office. Full Story 

• John Cornyn says tax and spending bill must reimburse Texas $11 billion for border security

  By Katharine Wilson May 9, 2025

  Texas Republicans are pushing the federal government to pay the state’s costs of Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg’s Abbott’s border security initiative. Full Story 

• Texas measles cases grow to 709. Track the spread here.

  By Terri Langford, Yuriko Schumacher and Stephen Simpson Updated: May 9, 2025

  El Paso County added 12 cases in the past week, the most new cases in the state, followed by Gaines County, which had seven. Full Story 

• Texas House advances bill that would prohibit land sales to people and entities from certain countries

  By Sameea Kamal Updated: May 9, 2025

  The legislation had only pertained to countries the government deemed national security threats. A last-minute change would let the governor add more countries to the ban. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers want to lower homeowners' insurance costs, but have few options

  By Joshua Fechter May 9, 2025

  Texans pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the country, putting lawmakers under pressure to tackle rising costs. Full Story 

• After immigration crackdown, international students in Texas self-censor to protect their education

  By Jessica Priest May 9, 2025

  Students told the Tribune they have deleted social media accounts, socialize less and steer clear of charged topics to avoid becoming targets of immigration authorities. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers want to spend millions on Child ID kits. Experts say there’s no evidence they work.

  By Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 9, 2025

  Texas legislators slipped millions for child ID kits into a 1,000-page budget proposal. The move comes two years after they quietly cut funding for such kits following a ProPublica and Texas Tribune report that showed there’s no evidence they work. Full Story 

• UT System announces $100 million investment into civic leadership school

  By Ayden Runnels May 8, 2025

  The money will help pay for a permanent home for the school on UT-Austin's campus. Conservative donors and lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, helped create the school in 2023. Full Story 

• Texas’ measles outbreak is nation’s largest since 2000

  By Stephen Simpson May 8, 2025

  The outbreak that originated in Texas has spread into multiple states. And, the summer will be the real test of how much bigger this outbreak can grow. Full Story 

• State Rep. Dennis Paul announces bid for Texas Senate with backing from Dan Patrick

  By Jasper Scherer May 8, 2025

  Paul is the first candidate out of the gate to succeed incumbent Mayes Middleton in an open seat running from Galveston to the outskirts of Houston. Full Story 

• Texas braces for surge in power demand amid population and industry boom

  By Alejandra Martinez Updated: May 8, 2025

  At a Texas Tribune event Thursday, energy experts discussed how the state’s growing energy demands will impact residential bills and how legislation is trying to regulate new big energy users. Full Story 

• Texas election judges could carry guns if bill OK’d by House becomes law

  By Stephen Simpson Updated: May 8, 2025

  Supporters said the bill would protect poll workers who continue to face violent threats. Full Story 

• Texas has thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells. Who is responsible for cleaning them up?

  By Alejandra Martinez May 8, 2025

  Across Texas, abandoned wells are erupting with chemical-infused liquid and some have created massive lakes of contaminated water. Regulators say they need more money to address the problem. Full Story