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Alexa Ura reported for The Texas Tribune from 2013 to 2023. She covered the complex dynamics of race, ethnicity, wealth, poverty and power and how they are shaping the future of Texas and Texans, in the long and short term. Alexa started at the Tribune as a reporting intern before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and joining the staff full time. Originally from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border, she is a native Spanish speaker and is based in Austin.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced Wednesday that families that enter the country illegally to seek asylum will no longer be detained after they’ve established a legitimate claim for relief. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott has signed off on a budget provision that will oust Planned Parenthood from a state cancer screening program for low-income women. Full Story
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A federal appeals court on Friday rejected a request from Texas abortion providers to temporarily put on hold a ruling that could leave Texas with nine abortion facilities. Full Story
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As Texas waits on the U.S. Supreme Court to rule, the state highest civil court ruled Friday that the Texas attorney general's office tried too late to stop a divorce between a couple married in Massachusetts. Full Story
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Legislation related to abortion and gay marriage led to some contentious debates during the 84th legislative session. Use our Texas Legislative Guide to see what lawmakers decided on social issues this session. Full Story
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Attorneys who represented Texas doctors in a lawsuit against the state’s 2011 abortion sonogram law are considering their legal options following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Monday decision not to revive a similar North Carolina law. Full Story
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During the 84th legislative session, Texas lawmakers contemplated a consolidation of the state's health agencies and reforming end-of-life care. Learn about these issues and more with our Texas Legislative Guide. Full Story
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Members of the 84th Legislature rode off into the sunset on June 1 leaving plenty of memorable moments in their trails. Listen to our recap of some of those moments as part of a special episode of Texas Standard. Full Story
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In a blow to the state's abortion providers, federal appeals judges on Tuesday upheld a state law requiring nearly all Texas facilities that perform the procedure to meet hospital-like standards. Full Story
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As Texas' major cities continue their decades-long evolution to minority-majority populations, tracking minority and female ascension to mayoral firsts has almost reached the complexity of a political trivia game. Full Story
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