Patrick Says He'll Debate Van de Putte in Austin
UPDATED: Lieutenant governor candidates Dan Patrick and Leticia Van de Putte on Tuesday agreed to debate in Austin next month. Full Story
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Alexa Ura
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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.
Past Contributions
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![State Sens. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and Dan Patrick, R-Houston, will face off against each other in the general election for lieutenant governor.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney / Michael Stravato -
Van de Putte Calls for Reducing High-Stakes Testing
Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, calls for reducing high-stakes testing in a new plan for Texas schools. The campaign of her Republican opponent, Dan Patrick, said the plan would do nothing to help turn around underperforming schools. Full Story
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![State Sen. and Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Leticia Van de Putte at the Democratic state convention on June 27, 2014.]()
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Opening Statements Made in Trial Over Abortion Regulation
UPDATED: Attorneys made their opening arguments Monday in a U.S. district court trial over a provision that requires abortion facilities to meet the same regulations as ambulatory surgical centers. Full Story
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![A hallway at the Whole Woman's Health clinic in Austin, which shut down in 2014.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
State Contractor Pulls Out of Foster Care Redesign
Providence Service Corporation of Texas, the lead contractor heading the state’s foster care redesign initiative, has voluntarily terminated its contract with the Department of Family and Protective Services. Full Story
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Health Program Changes Could Increase Access to Contraceptive Products
Texas women who receive state-financed health services may be able to more easily access contraceptive products like intrauterine devices and hormonal implants beginning Friday, when rule changes to the state’s Medicaid program and the Texas Women’s Health Program go into effect. Full Story
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![Patients are shown checking out in 2010 at the People's Community Clinic in Austin, a safety-net clinic that serves Medicaid recipients and the underinsured.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Van de Putte Proposes Five Debates With Patrick
UPDATED: State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, has proposed having five debates with her opponent, Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick. Full Story
![State Sens. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and Dan Patrick, R-Houston, will face off against each other in the general election for lieutenant governor.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney / Michael Stravato -
Future of ACA Subsidies for Texans Unclear After Court Rulings
The future of federal subsidies for Texans who buy insurance under the Affordable Care Act is unclear after two courts on Tuesday issued opposite rulings about eligibility for assistance. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Lawmakers Push to Consolidate Women's Health Programs
Lawmakers are looking for ways to consolidate Texas' various women's health programs in an effort to improve access to family planning, cancer screenings and dozens of other services for the state’s poorest women. Full Story
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Schwertner to Lead Senate Health and Human Services Committee
After appointing Sen. Jane Nelson to chair the Senate Finance Committee, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has picked Sen. Charles Schwertner to replace her as the head of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner R-Georgetown, at a February Texas Tribune event.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Fact Check: Dan Patrick at the State Republican Convention
With help from The Washington Post’s Truth Teller, we’re analyzing the speeches that Texas’ candidates for lieutenant governor gave at their respective state political party conventions. Here we focus on Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. candidate Dan Patrick speaks to the Texas Republican Convention on its final day June 7, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich