First draft of Legislature’s map of new State Board of Education districts shores up Republican majority
The Republican-dominated, 15-member board determines what millions of public school students in the state are taught in classrooms. Full Story
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![The State Capitol on Nov. 19, 2020.]()
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Texas doctor who admitted to violating the state’s near-total abortion ban sued under new law
At least two lawsuits were filed after Dr. Alan Braid said he performed an abortion prohibited by the law earlier this month. One of the people suing Braid reportedly wants Texas’ new abortion law to be ruled unconstitutional. Full Story
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Shell sells off its oil and gas business in Texas’ Permian Basin, seeking to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels
Texas-based ConocoPhillips bought Shell’s Permian Basin assets for $9.5 billion, its second major purchase in the oil-rich area over the last year. Full Story
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![A drilling rig at sunset operates a couple hundred yards north of Fasken Elementary School on the north side of Midland, on May 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune -
Border patrol agents criticized for treatment of Haitian migrants in Del Rio as U.S. tries to dissuade more from coming
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned would-be migrants that “your journey will not succeed” and promised to investigate the actions of mounted agents at the Rio Grande. Full Story
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![U.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback agents detered Haitians from returning to the U.S. on the bank of the Rio Grande after migrants crossed back to Mexico for food and water on Sept. 19, 2021, in Del Rio.]()
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Texas sues Biden administration over guidance saying transgender workers can use bathroom of their choice
A federal document also says that misusing a person’s preferred pronouns could be considered harassment in some instances. Texas Republican officials have tried to pass state laws targeting transgender people’s access to bathrooms and school sports teams. Full Story
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![LGBTQ activists and supporters blocked the street outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard arguments in a major LGBTQ rights case in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 8, 2019.]()
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Texas Republicans have the redistricting tools to preserve their power. Here's how they can do it.
Lawmakers must redraw the state’s political maps to account for a decade’s worth of growth, but the process leaves enough room for political manipulation. Here’s how it’ll work. Full Story
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![Chairs on the Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.]()
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Analysis: Texas’ foster care problems are clear. The response from state leaders isn’t.
The state’s foster care system has been dangerous to children and embarrassing to the state for years. But with state officials constantly chasing other issues, it’s still suffering from neglect. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Watch former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd discuss the Republican Party, the nation’s challenges and more at The Texas Tribune Festival
Hurd, R-Helotes, who served three terms representing Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, also talked about the challenges and opportunities of our tech-fueled future. Full Story
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![Former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd.]()
Credit: Samuel Corum/Pool via REUTERS -
Feds work to reduce size of camp under Del Rio bridge that’s housing thousands of migrants who fled unrest and natural disasters
Agents moved 3,300 of the migrants as of Sunday. That left more than 12,000 people still waiting to be processed. Full Story
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![Migrants cross the Rio Grande between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña to bring supplies back to a temporary migrant camp under the international bridge in Del Rio on Sept. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Scott Sanford, a McKinney Republican, announces he’ll retire at the end of his term
Sanford’s announcement came a day before the Texas Legislature reconvenes for a third special session of 2021. Full Story
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![State Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, announced that he would not file for re-election on Sept. 19, 2021.]()
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Doctor says he violated Texas' restrictive anti-abortion law to challenge it
Alan Braid, a San Antonio OB/GYN, says he had performed an abortion that is illegal under the state’s restrictive new law to force a test of its legality. Full Story
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![Protesters chanting during the Bans Off Our Bodies protest at the Capitol on Sept. 1, 2021.]()
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Biden administration speeds up deportation flights for Haitians in growing Texas migrant camp
The situation in Del Rio spiraled this week as more than 15,000 migrants, many of them from Haiti, arrived at the border in recent days, settling in a makeshift camp as they waited for CBP agents to process their petitions to stay in the U.S. Full Story
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![Makeshift shelters at a temporary migrant camp under the international bridge in Del Rio on Sept. 17, 2021.]()
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Texas Senate opens redistricting debate with proposed map one senator labels “intentional discrimination”
The first draft of the Senate map was authored by a Republican who chairs the Senate Redistricting Committee. It immediately drew fire from a Democratic member who said her district was being redrawn to dilute voting power of people of color. Full Story
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![The Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
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Delta variant, lax mask policies delay Plano family’s return to school
Parents remain divided over whether to require masks in the classroom. For Carmen Campbell, there’s just too much uncertainty right now to feel comfortable sending her son back. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
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![Students and teachers walk between classes at Blanco Vista Elementary School in San Marcos on Aug. 23, 2021.]()
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Federal government announces funding for emergency contraception for Texans impacted by near-total abortion ban
The Biden administration also issued memorandums detailing two federal statutes officials says they would enforce to provide protection for patients who may need an abortion and health care providers who assist pregnant patients in certain situations. Full Story
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![Information and diagrams inside a medical room at a Planned Parenthood in south Austin on Jan. 14, 2020.]()
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Thousands of Haitian migrants fleeing disaster and unrest seek asylum at Del Rio bridge
With an estimated 12,000 migrants already crowded under the international bridge and thousands more expected, Del Rio’s mayor declared an emergency Friday and requested state assistance. Full Story
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![Migrants cross the Rio Grande with food, water, shelter, clothing, and other supplies as they prepare to spend the night under the International Bridge in Del Rio on Sept. 16, 2021.]()
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After Texas A&M student died from COVID-19, students and faculty rally for more safety precautions
University leaders have encouraged mask-wearing and getting vaccinated, but they say Gov. Greg Abbott has prevented them from requiring either. Full Story
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![Texas A&M students gathered to protest a lack of protections against COVID-19 on campus in College Station on Sept. 14, 2021.]()
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Bill tripling Texas’ border security budget and allocating $750 million to wall construction becomes law
Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas was stepping up to do the federal government’s job after Biden’s immigration policies had “opened the floodgates” to illegal immigration and crime. Full Story
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![A portion of an unfinished border wall stands near the U.S. and Mexico border in Del Rio on July 22, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill restoring the funding that he vetoed for the Texas Legislature and its 2,100 state employees
Abbott vetoed the funding earlier this year as retribution for the House Democrats’ walkout to block the GOP elections bill at the end of the regular session. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks with lawmakers on the House floor during the legislative session on Sunday, May 23, 2021.]()
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The Texas GOP lawmaker behind the abortion ban, voting restrictions bill and more
State Sen. Bryan Hughes authored the six-week abortion ban and the elections bill and carried other conservative priorities that grabbed national attention. Full Story
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![State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, speaks in favor of Senate Bill 1 on Aug. 11, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune
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