Latest Contributions

• Llano County officials must offer library books they’d removed, judge orders

  By Alejandro Serrano March 31, 2023

  Local officials are appealing the order in a lawsuit that drew national attention. Seven library patrons say the book removals infringed their First Amendment rights. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers’ attempts to ban school library books deemed inappropriate for kids spur confusion — and concerns

  By Alejandro Serrano March 31, 2023

  The authors of bills in both legislative chambers say their bills’ aim is simple: keeping sexually explicit content off school bookshelves. But opponents say the legislation is vague and broad enough to wreak havoc. Full Story 

• Texas lawmaker again tries to block discriminatory hairstyle bans in schools and workplaces

  By Alejandro Serrano March 21, 2023

  Texas lawmakers could prohibit race-based hair discrimination at schools and workplaces. At least 20 states have already passed similar legislation, according to a group that champions the laws. Full Story 

• Houston ISD families blast the state’s takeover of the district as an intervention that won’t improve student learning

  By Alejandro Serrano March 15, 2023

  Parents and students of the Houston Independent School District decried the state’s decision to take control of the school system. Despite the news, many questions remain about how it would affect them. Full Story 

• Ken Paxton’s campaign against election crimes ensnared a Texas justice of the peace three times before judges thwarted the efforts

  By Alejandro Serrano March 15, 2023

  Many of the illegal voting cases the Texas attorney general has boasted about are unraveling after a key court ruling. But Tomas Ramirez III said the pursuit of charges against him has taken its toll. Full Story 

• Texas bill requiring 10-year prison sentences for gun felonies faces opposition from criminal justice and firearm advocates

  By William Melhado and Alejandro Serrano March 9, 2023

  Under Senate Bill 23, all felonies involving a gun would incur a mandatory 10-year prison sentence. It’s meant to curb crime, despite the lack of correlation between harsher sentences and crime rates. Full Story 

• Former Texas House Speaker Rayford Price dies at 86

  By Alejandro Serrano Feb. 22, 2023

  The Texas Democrat served as speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 1972 to 1973. Full Story 

• Uvalde’s state lawmakers face an uphill battle raising the age limit for semi-automatic guns. They’re trying anyway.

  By Alejandro Serrano Feb. 15, 2023

  Many relatives of Uvalde victims back bills that state Rep. Tracy King and Sen. Roland Gutierrez are pushing in the Legislature. But limits on gun access don’t fare well at the Capitol. Full Story 

• New family and child welfare commissioner foreshadows change as agency plans to outsource case management

  By Alejandro Serrano Feb. 10, 2023

  Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Stephanie Muth told lawmakers Friday the agency will require a different set of skills from its employees as it changes how foster children’s cases are managed. Full Story 

• Texas executes John Balentine for killing three teens in Amarillo

  By Alejandro Serrano Updated: Feb. 8, 2023

  Though he confessed to the murders, Balentine’s lawyers argued he might have been spared a death sentence if not for pervasive racial bias at his trial. Full Story