Texas lawmakers want to end state holiday commemorating Confederate veterans
For the third straight legislative session, state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston, has filed a bill to end Confederate Heroes Day as a state holiday. Full Story
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![A monument to the 8th Texas Cavalry, also known as Terry's Texas Rangers, is located on the south side of the state Capitol grounds.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn eyes the seemingly impossible: a bipartisan deal on immigration
Riding the success of his historic congressional session last year where he helped pass the first gun safety bill signed into law in a generation, Cornyn is hopeful that his ability to strike deals across the aisle will help Congress achieve another elusive legislative goal: an immigration deal. Full Story
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![U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, center, and James Lankford, R-Okla., were shown items displayed by a Border Patrol agent after two Chinese nationals were detained upon entering the U.S. in Sunland Park, New Mexico on on Jan. 9, 2023. The senators were on a night tour of the border led by the National Border Patrol Council.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
T-Squared: Texas Tribune 2022 diversity report shows progress
Varied backgrounds and points of view among staff members help the Tribune to better connect with the diverse residents of Texas. Full Story
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![The Texas Tribune staff at their office in Austin on Nov. 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang/The Texas Tribune -
Texas teens embark on an idealistic quest to shut down the state’s last five youth prisons
Spurred by reports of inhumane conditions at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities, Austin-area teenagers are lobbying the Legislature to reform the system. Full Story
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![Members of the Finish the 5 Coalition visit the Texas State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 in Austin, TX. The members gathered at the south gate and spoke before entering the capitol to try and meet with lawmakers to discuss closing the 5 remaining youth prisons in the state. (Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott energizes supporters with vows to focus on education and the border as his third term begins
Texans came from all corners of the state to watch Abbott’s inauguration Tuesday. Even those who don’t completely agree with the Republican leader reveled in the ceremonies. Full Story
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![Attendees cheer and photograph Lt. Gov. Dan Patrcik after he takes the Oath of Office at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 17, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Feds won’t seek death penalty against alleged El Paso Walmart gunman
The federal government has largely avoided pursuing the death penalty under President Biden. Full Story
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![A memorial at the Walmart where a gunman opened fire on shoppers on August 4, 2019, in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Texas universities block access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks
Students and faculty will not be able to access the popular social media app while connected to university internet servers. It’s the latest step to limit access to the service after Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to ban the app on government-issued devices citing cybersecurity risks. Full Story
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![The University of Texas at Austin campus. (Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says in inauguration speech Legislature will prioritize budget surplus, schools and power grid
Abbott is on track to becoming Texas’ second-longest-serving governor, behind Rick Perry, who served more than 14 years. Abbott enters his third term after a decisive reelection win in November. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott gives his Inaugural address after taking the Oath of Office at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 17, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Four new Texas House members discuss immigration, property taxes and public school financing
They talked about their campaigns and journey to the Legislature, what has stood out to them so far about working in the House and what they hope to accomplish this session. Full Story
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Environmentalists push for tougher oil and gas restrictions to protect rare whale in Gulf of Mexico
Environmental scientists say Rice’s whale, discovered in 2021, faces extinction unless the federal government sets tougher restrictions on oil and gas activities in the gulf. Full Story
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![A Rice’s whale surfaces in the Gulf of Mexico.]()
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Conroe brewery receives flood of threats, harassment after canceling Kyle Rittenhouse event
The CEO of Southern Star Brewery said the cancellation was prompted primarily by concerns from local patrons rather than pressure from a “woke mob” or distributors such as H-E-B. Full Story
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![Kyle Rittenhouse waits for the jury to enter the room to continue testifying during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Nov. 10, 2021.]()
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Conroe brewery pulls out as venue for Kyle Rittenhouse rally against censorship
Southern Star Brewery, which had been listed as the event host, said it “is an apolitical organization, but we feel that this event doesn’t reflect our own values and we could not in good faith continue to rent out space for the event.” Full Story
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![Kyle Rittenhouse looks over to his attorneys as the jury is dismissed for the day during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Nov. 18, 2021.]()
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TribCast: The Texas Legislature is off and running
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Patrick about the fight over Democrats chairing committees in the Texas House and other highlights of the first week of the legislative session. Full Story
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![Dade Phelan begins his second term as Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 88th legislature on Jan 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Afghan soldier jailed in Texas for crossing border should receive presidential pardon, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee says
The Houston Democrat said she has sent a letter to the White House asking the Biden administration to ensure Abdul Wasi Safi starts his life in America without a criminal record. Full Story
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![Sami-ullah Safi, brother of detained Afghan soldier Abdul Wasi Safi, speaks during a press conference with U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, in downtown Houston on Jan. 13, 2023.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
As lawmakers begin a new session, Texas mayors want to maintain control of local issues
Mayors from the state’s most populous cities presented their legislative wish list, including economic development and workforce programs, broadband infrastructure and violence prevention. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
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Texas Supreme Court clears way for state’s education agency to take over Houston ISD
The decision from the state’s highest court would allow the TEA to move forward with its plan to replace Houston ISD’s school board members over low academic scores. Full Story
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![The Supreme Court of Texas on the Capitol grounds in Austin on Jan. 9, 2023.]()
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A new bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers wants to highlight the state’s fragile water infrastructure
So far there has been an average of six boil-water notices a day across Texas in 2023. Full Story
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![Volunteers unload water during a water distribution and free flu vaccination event at the Holman Street Baptist Church in Houston on Nov. 28, 2022.]()
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More than 70 Texas prisoners are 3 days into a hunger strike protesting harsh solitary confinement practices
Prisoners have refused food to protest practices that have kept more than 500 people in isolation for more than a decade. Full Story
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![The Gurney Unit prison, operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Tennessee Colony, in 2016.]()
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EPA moves away from Permian Basin air pollution crackdown
The oil industry pushed hard against the proposal to issue an ozone nonattainment designation, which would have required that companies reduce oilfield emissions. Full Story
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![A natural gas flare operates less than 200 yards away from a family home on March 14, 2022 in Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
COVID-19 upended Texas schools’ finances. Now they’re calling for a new funding system.
Districts like Pflugerville ISD, which is struggling with a $12 million deficit and weighing school closures, say the pandemic and rising inflation have eroded the value of the state’s last effort to overhaul its public education finance system. Full Story
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![Members of the Parmer Lane parent teacher organization advertise an informational meeting about the potential closure of the elementary school to parents during student-pickup in Pflugerville on Jan. 9, 2023. According to the volunteers, many parents still don't know or understand the situation involving the school, and the meeting is meant to address any questions parents might have.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune