Texas lawmakers target property taxes, abortion in bills filed ahead of 2025 legislative session
Tuesday marked the first day lawmakers could file bills for next year’s legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34f1fea26c67fad90d69db426b8128a7/Lege%20Budget%20Day%20JV%201.jpg)
-
![Members vote to approve an anti-voucher amendment brought by state rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, during a marathon session on the House floor to approve HB-1 at the Capitol in Austin on April 06, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
How disagreements about a Texas death row inmate’s guilt became a legal battle between branches of government
The Texas Supreme Court is considering whether a legislative subpoena of a death row inmate infringed on the executive branch’s power to carry out the execution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f2b787577fd076b180639d2578b427f0/Criminal%20Jurisprudence%20SF%20TT%2006.JPG)
![Former Detective Brian Wharton testifies during a Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on death row inmate Robert Roberson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 in Austin, TX. Wharton was an investigator in the case of the death of Nikki Roberson and has expressed his doubts of Roberson's guilt and agrees with stopping his execution. With his scheduled execution drawing closer, a hearing debating the certainty of Robreson's guilt and there is a bipartisan push to stay his execution. Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
A growing and aging population is forcing Texas counties to seek state EMS funding
Although Texas counties are not required to provide ambulance services, many are digging deep to pay for their own fleet or to contract out services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/47f413ca33b98fdcf6d39f650e6a8a86/1108%20County%20EMS%20ST%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The interior of a CareFlite ambulance vehicle outside the Johnson County County Commissioners office in Cleburne on November 8, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
How “wildly successful” anti-trans ads fired up Texas voters for Republicans
The barrage of ads focused on trans kids playing youth sports motivated the Republican base as Democrats struggled to respond. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9838375d95a4e4c35615ddf40184d6b0/0327%20Trans%20Rights%20Rally%20EL%20TT%2001.jpg)
![People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ bills on March 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
How zebra mussels and a Lake Texoma pump station spurred Texas to redraw its border with Oklahoma
The two states agreed to a land swap to ensure that a Dallas-area water district’s pump station lies wholly within Texas. Neither state gained in size from the small change. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a2eb1e91017143006fc84dffc91a9e89/Lake%20Texoma%20LS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![A raw water pump station at Lake Texoma on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013. The station is bisected by the state line between Texas and Oklahoma, complicating the transportation of water to its intended destination in Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
How to stay politically engaged in between election cycles
From engaging with representatives to joining advocacy groups, there are numerous ways to continue participating in democracy and shaping policy after the polls close. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/76700b7805c9866dd584cb9fbc4a7e9b/0801%20Irving%20City%20Council%20BT%2018.jpg)
![An Irving City Council meeting on Aug. 01, 2024 in Irving, Texas.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature will approve school vouchers and boost public education funds next year, Abbott says
Last year, Abbott refused to give public schools a major raise without passing a voucher program. His tone was more conciliatory after Election Day. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0952819333315205e1bde43fef87fdff/1106%20Abbott%20Voucher%20Victory%20MC%2002.jpg)
![Governor Greg Abbott speaks about school choice during a visit to the Kingdom Life Academy private school on Wednesday November 6, 2024, in Tyler.]()
Credit: Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribune -
Texas voter turnout falls in 2024 election despite record registration numbers
A historic 18.6 million Texans were registered to vote in the 2024 election, and 61% cast ballots, a nearly 6% drop from the 2020 presidential race. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/393b1e32443eda938284c20549f2336b/1105%20Election%20Day%20El%20Paso%20JH%20TT%2025.jpg)
![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election at the Esperanza Acosta Memorial Library. Voters waited in line in upwards of two hours in El Paso, Texas on November 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Republicans maintain majority on the Texas State Board of Education
Republicans Tom Maynard, Pam Little, Aaron Kinsey and Brandon Hall prevailed in contested races. Democrat Gustavo Reveles won in the District 1 race. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/379a1ff05c6f5387096d78233dc967ff/SBOE%20MXAM%20Textbooks%2007%20TT.jpg)
![State Board of Education chambers during the SBOE hearing on the controversial Mexican-American studies textbooks in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 13. Scholars who have reviewed Mexican American Heritage have pointed out that the textbook is riddled with factual errors, promotes offensive ethnic stereotypes and disparages Mexican Americans and their contributions to this country.]()
Credit: Martin do Nascimento for The Texas Tribune -
Election Day updates: South Texas continues dramatic shift toward Donald Trump, GOP
Texas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b0951cca85203b3f597b1e1a5ed0b34/1105%20Election%20Day%20Houston%20MF%20TT%2024.jpg)
![Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Abortion, the economy, immigration and transgender rights: Voters across Texas explain their vote
Texans from across the state went to the polls early with plenty on their mind. The Texas Tribune partnered with other news organizations to hear from a diverse cross-section of voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9f10323b94f3cf07620e9c33a92bb8aa/1022%20EARLY%20VOTING%20MCALLEN%20VCG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Political signs outside the polling site at the Lark Branch Library in McAllen on Oct. 22, 2024.]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriel Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
9 million Texans voted early in 2024. Here’s how that compares to previous years.
The turnout rate dropped more than 8 percentage points compared to four years ago — a high-water mark for the Lone Star State. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d8bdfedc623ddaf4fe7d05431feed125/1021%20Early%20Voting%20East%20TX%20MC%20TT%2016.jpg)
![Voters visit the Gilmer Civic Center during the first day of early voting on Monday October 21, 2024, in Gilmer.]()
Credit: Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribune -
Electoral misinformation in Texas: What you should know to avoid it.
Disinformation spikes during major U.S. elections. Experts urge verifying sources, fact-checking and careful content sharing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7aefc806d47ad38f42fa0345db081df0/DTX%20Early%20Voting%20Feb%2025%20ST%20TT%2008.jpg)
![Voters wait in line at the Lakewood Branch Library in Dallas on Feb. 25, 2022, the last day of early voting in the Texas primary. Dallas County voting centers’ hours were extended till 10 P.M. on the last day of early voting to make up for early closures due to icy weather.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: How the race for sheriff on the border became a referendum on immigration
Del Rio Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez’s run for reelection provides a glimpse at how new patterns of immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border have coincided with, if not driven, changing attitudes among voters who live there. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/df7c0c6101467b09726398cce0d42e8c/Poster-DelRIo-Hztl.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
A pro-gun, anti-abortion border sheriff appealed to both parties. Then he was painted as soft on immigration.
Immigration is not part of Joe Frank Martinez’s job. But in Del Rio, like in other majority Latino communities across the country, the issue is high on voters’ minds and is disrupting long-standing political allegiances. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0cee3c698ba4e9622ed438703cec88fb/immigration%20del%20rio%20PROMO_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_quality_95_embedColorProfile_true.jpg)
![The memory of nearly 20,000 primarily Haitian immigrants arriving at the border is seared into the minds of Del Rio residents. Many fear it could happen again, making immigration one of the key issues in Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez’s race for reelection and disrupting local politics.]()
Credit: From left: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune, Liz Moughon/ProPublica, Gerardo del Valle/ProPublica -
Dan Patrick debunks claims about Texas voting machines switching votes
Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump said Texas had fixed an error with voting machines, but Patrick quickly said there was no problem to fix. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/91628c14db5ffd7871a4e2c4119b78df/0918%20Hays%20Voting%20Testing%20LW%2022.jpeg)
![Polling equipment during a public testing event at the Hays County election office on Sept. 18, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Texas withdraws request to block U.S. Justice Department from monitoring state’s elections
The federal agency agreed their monitors would remain outside polling locations and wouldn’t interfere with voting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08706a0e7a5dc5b7d36f1bdb254e24c5/1108%20Houston%20Election%20Day%20MS%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Voters check in to vote at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston, Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
State oil regulator requests $100 million to tackle West Texas well blowouts
Abandoned wells in the Permian Basin are increasingly erupting with briney, polluted water. The Texas Railroad Commission says it needs emergency money to respond. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e0c5c97fe537c63df4392efcb488f741/RRC%20Hearing%20DS%2005.jpg)
![Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Christi Craddick, then-Chairman Wayne Christian, and Commissioner Jim Wright listen during an RRC hearing in Austin on Nov. 30, 2021.]()
Credit: Dimitri Staszewski for The Texas Tribune -
A pregnant teen died after trying to get care in three visits to Texas ERs
It took 20 hours and three ER visits before doctors admitted the pregnant 18-year-old to the hospital as her condition worsened. She’s one of at least two women who died under Texas’ abortion ban. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8c777c7c8e76de3c6102ce1e003c27e7/20241024-Villasana-AbortionDeathsNevaeh-29.JPG)
![Candace Fails poses for a portrait holding a picture of her late daughter, Nevaeh Crain, at her home in Vidor, Texas on October 24, 2024. Crain passed away on October 29, 2023 at 25 weeks of pregnancy due to preventable causes, including hemorrhaging, after seeking medical help at various hospitals.]()
Credit: Danielle Villasana for ProPublica -
Fairgoers join Ken Paxton in suing Texas State Fair for allegedly violating their gun rights
Three fairgoers are requesting up to $1 million in damages and to allow guns at the State Fair. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d38dda65a90cafb96627ef9ceaf654f1/1012%20Texas%20State%20Fair%20LW%20TT%2019.jpg)
![The Texas State Fair in Dallas on Oct. 12, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune