After overlooking O’Rourke, national Democrats show early confidence in Allred
Six years after Beto O’Rourke nearly toppled Ted Cruz, Democrats outside Texas are expressing confidence in Colin Allred’s 2024 challenge. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, speaks at a U.S. Senate debate in Austin on Jan. 28, 2024. The Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention hosted the debate ahead of the March 5 primary elections.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Despite Texas’ “aggressive” well-plugging program, there’s still a backlog of orphaned oil and gas wells
No state has punched more holes in its bedrock than the Lone Star State. The environmental risks are staggering, and so are the clean up costs, especially in the Permian Basin. Full Story
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![The head of an abandoned well sprouts from the ground on Stuart Carter's cattle ranch in Luling. For years, he has pushed the operator who took over a mineral lease to plug the well. The operator refuses to do so, saying it's not his responsibility.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Six Texas freshwater mussels, the “livers of the rivers,” added to endangered species list
Freshwater mussels can pump and filter eight to 15 gallons of water a day, cleaning rivers and streams. Six of the 50 mussels that call Texas home are federally protected by Monday’s listing. Full Story
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![Endangered freshwater mussels.]()
Credit: Ryan Hagerty/USFWS -
Border mayors heading to Washington, D.C. for Biden immigration announcement
President Joe Biden is expected to announce a major policy change to limit how many asylum seekers are allowed into the country. Full Story
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![Brownsville Mayor John Cowen delivers remarks during a presidential visit to the southern border on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville as President Joe Biden looks on. NO ARCHIVE]()
Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci -
How new regulations impact abortion and birth control access in Texas
More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Texas continues to be the largest state in the nation to ban nearly all abortions. But some questions and changes to abortion and birth control access have arisen since then. Full Story
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![An exam room at Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas in Austin, Texas on August 8, 2023.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
National Republicans target Henry Cuellar’s South Texas seat after indictment
The move is a shift in strategy for Republicans who previously focused on other South Texas races even after federal authorities filed criminal charges against the Democrat. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, at a Get Out the Vote rally in San Antonio on May 4, 2022.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
How a chance meeting helped Texas become the nation’s top beekeeping state
Twelve years after a state law gave tax breaks for keeping bees on at least five acres, people are still getting into the trade — or throwing in the towel and hiring professionals to do it for them. Full Story
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![A student learns how to inspect a hive of bees at Entomolgist Molly Keck’s house during a bee keeping class in Boerne on Friday, May 10, 2024]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas legislators want to help property owners deal with squatters. But the changes could affect tenants.
Housing advocates say Texas laws fall short when it comes to property trespassers but they warn changes could worsen the state’s evictions crisis. Full Story
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![Terri Boyette, a homeowner in Mesquite, poses for a photo after testifying on squatting before the Senate Committee on Local Government on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 in Austin. Boyerte fought for months to get a squatter out of her home but laws regarding squatters prevented her from doing much for months.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee says she’s being treated for pancreatic cancer
Lee, a Houston Democrat, said she plans to continue serving but could have some occasional absences from Congress. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, speaks at her victory party on March 5, 2024 in Houston.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunne -
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UT-Austin open rift among Jewish students
Some Jewish students see the protests as inherently antisemitic. Others say Jewish history and values make them empathize with Palestinians. Full Story
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![A pro-Israel student listens as University of Texas professors Pavithra Vasudevan and Karma Chavez lead students in a discussion on scholasticide during a pro-Palestinian teach-in on the South Lawn of UT campus on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Majority of incoming Texas House Republicans calls for end to Democratic committee chairs, narrowing path for Phelan
House Speaker Dade Phelan has stuck to the tradition of appointing chairs from the opposing party, drawing fierce pushback from the GOP’s right wing. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, gavels the House into session on the House floor during session at the state Capitol in Austin on April 11, 2023.]()
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First Texas National Guard troops move into new Eagle Pass base
Gov. Greg Abbott inaugurated the base, which will be able to house at least 1,800 troops when construction is finished. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott arrives at a press conference with several other state leaders at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Feb. 04, 2024.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
Strict rules over delta-8 and delta-9 likely for Texas’ booming hemp industry
Lawmakers are struggling to balance demands for medicinal cannabis products with a wildly growing market that is outpacing meaningful regulation. Full Story
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![A product containing Delta-8 at Oasis CBD Shop in Brownsville on Nov. 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
How Texas Speaker Dade Phelan turned the tide to keep his seat
After coming in second in the primary, Phelan was at a disadvantage heading into the runoff. With record breaking cash infusions, Phelan blanketed airwaves and hired an army of campaign staffers. Full Story
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![Dade Phelan listens while being interviewed after declaring victory on May 28, 2024 at JW’s Patio in Beaumont, Texas.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for the Texas Tribunne -
Texas Supreme Court rejects challenge to abortion laws
The court ruled against 20 women who said they were denied medically necessary abortions, saying the medical exceptions in the law were broad enough. Full Story
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![Amanda Zurawski, middle, addresses the press following the first day of testimony for Zurawski v. State of Texas outside the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility in Austin on July 19, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Meet our newest reporter: Kayla Guo
Kayla Guo, after a successful yearlong fellowship covering Congress for The New York Times, joins The Texas Tribune. Full Story
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![Kayla Guo, interim evening/afternoon general reporter.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Kayla Guo -
Here’s how school vouchers, Paxton impeachment affected the Texas GOP primaries
Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton crusaded against House Republicans who voted against school vouchers and in favor of impeachment, respectively. Full Story
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![State Representatives and their families gather on the House floor on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
“A sham”: Texas Republicans defend Trump after guilty verdict
Republicans across the party’s political spectrum denounced Trump’s guilty verdict on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. Full Story
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![Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits at the defense table as the jury in his criminal trial is scheduled to continue deliberations at New York State Supreme Court in New York, New York on May 30, 2024. Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.]()
Credit: Justin Lane/Pool via REUTERS -
Texas education leaders unveil Bible-infused elementary school curriculum
The proposed curriculum overhaul was released a week after the Texas GOP proposed requiring the Bible to be taught in public schools. School districts that opt to use them will get more funding. Full Story
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![Mrs. Eden's fourth grade class practice reading tables during a lesson on April 24, 2024 at Jack Frost Elementary School in Georgetown.]()
Credit: Sara Diggins/American-Statesman via REUTERS -
State Rep. Shelby Slawson says she’s running for House speaker in letter condemning Phelan
The announcement came two days after Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, narrowly survived a runoff challenge from the GOP’s hard right. Full Story
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![State Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, moves to final passage her bill that would ban abortion procedures at six weeks among other strict limitations, on May 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune