Anti-abortion activists take their fight to small-town East Texas
Five towns have passed ordinances aiming to outlaw abortion. Critics say a legal challenge is likely. Full Story
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Edgar Walters
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Edgar Walters worked at the Tribune from 2013 to 2020, most recently covering health and human services. Before that, he had a political reporting fellowship with the Berliner Zeitung, a daily newspaper in Berlin. He is a graduate of the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked as an editor for The Daily Texan. When not in the newsroom or at the Capitol, he could be found on the volleyball court, standing 6 feet, 7 inches tall.
Past Contributions
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![Lucy Cummings, 67, a 50-year resident of Joaquin and a supporter of the recent anti-abortion ordinance, stands on her front porch with her granddaughter, Brystal.]()
Credit: Ben Fenton for The Texas Tribune -
The number of migrant children in Texas shelters dropped dramatically in 2019
For the sixth month in a row, the number of migrant children in Texas shelters decreased in November. Full Story
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![Southwest Key National Headquarters located in Austin on Oct. 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas almost mandated an HPV vaccine before politics got in the way. Now, the state has one of the country's highest rates of cervical cancer.
The state’s approach stands in stark contrast to that of Australia, where leaders have successfully pushed a nationwide program that has made a sizable dent in cervical cancer rates. Full Story
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![Matthew Holleman, 13, receives his shots at the Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County in Fort Worth, Texas on August 30, 2013. The Immunization Collaboration offers low cost vaccines targeting hepatitis, the flu, chickenpox, measles, mumps and HPV amongst other illnesses. (Cooper Neill / for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
Texas doubled funding for an anti-abortion program. Now lawmakers want to award the money without competitive bidding.
The Texas Pregnancy Care Network, the largest recipient of funding under the state's controversial Alternatives to Abortion program, is poised to receive millions more under the proposal. Full Story
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![Austin Life Care in Austin, Texas July 18, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas is going to court to end Obamacare. It hasn't produced a plan to replace it.
During a legislative session focused on schools and taxes, Texas lawmakers did little to prepare for the possibility that Obamacare will be struck down in its entirety — even as the state leads the charge to have the law declared unconstitutional. Full Story
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![A protester dressed as Death holds a sign during a rally before a hearing in a lawsuit against the Affordable Health Care Act in Fort Worth on Sept. 5, 2018. Democratic nominee for Texas attorney general Justin Nelson (not pictured) was one of the speakers.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Are the billions Texas lawmakers committed for schools and lower property taxes sustainable?
An attempt to raise the sales tax to pay for state leaders' ambitious goals failed, raising questions about long-term effects of the property tax limitations in the school finance bill. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
From property taxes to teacher pay, here's how the Texas Legislature handled spending priorities
Take a look at how Texas lawmakers reconciled major differences in their proposed two-year budgets, including funding for public schools, teacher salaries, women’s health, prison guard salaries and more. Full Story
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![Entrance to the House Floor.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas child welfare chief Hank Whitman announces retirement
He championed staff pay raises in the three years he spent at the helm of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Full Story
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![Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services, Hank Whitman during a March 22, 2018 Senate Committee on Health and Human services]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House, Senate approve budget deal with agreements on school finance, property taxes, Hurricane Harvey recovery
Completing negotiations that have taken place over the last few months, Texas House and Senate lawmakers accepted a compromise on a state spending plan for 2020-21. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, during a budget conference at the Capitol on May 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas legislators strip last-minute $100 million request for border surge
The money had been included in a previous version of the state's supplemental budget, and legislators had intended for President Donald Trump's administration to repay the funds. Full Story
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![Seen is the border fence between El Paso and Juarez on Sunday, February 10, 2019, in El Paso, Texas.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune