Analysis: Season of speculating on Trump effect in Texas is over
We've reached the eve of the election, with many political fortune-tellers predicting big changes in Texas. Here's a way to measure it, if it happens. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/26/Trump_Clinton_1_TT.jpg)
-
![Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during their first presidential debate
at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Sept. 26, 2016.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Pool -
Rematches might see two Texas House districts flip
Republicans wrested away seats in Pasadena and San Antonio districts last election, and the ousted Democrats are trying to get them back. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/24/PerezPenaCortezGalindo_TT.jpg)
![Democrat Mary Ann Perez is challenging state Rep. Gilbert Peña, R-Pasadena (top right), in House District 144; in another rematch, Democrat Philip Cortez (bottom right) is attempting to regain his seat from state Rep. Rick Galindo, R-San Antonio.]()
Credit: Facebook -
Analysis: High property taxes start in Austin, not in school districts
State lawmakers complain that local property taxes need to be leashed. But state lawmakers are more responsible for the increases than they let on. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/21/TxTrib-LanierClass-Sized.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: In Texas, Lawmakers Regulate Their Own Regulators
The Texas Ethics Commission regulates legislators. Legislators control the commission's laws and budget. It's a complicated relationship. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/05/Birdwell_and_Frazier_Ethics.jpg)
![State Sens. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, listen to testimony at a Senate Committee on State Affairs hearing reviewing current ethics laws governing public officials and employees on Oct, 5, 2016.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang for The Texas Tribune -
Help Wanted to Investigate Student-Teacher Relationships
Faced with growing state attention on improper student-teacher relationships, the Texas Education Agency is asking lawmakers for hundreds of thousands of additional dollars to help investigate them — plus new legislation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/01/BD7_6562Phillips-crop.jpg)
![Texas Education Agency investigator Doug Phillips testifies on punishing educators for inappropriate student-teacher relationships during a public hearing Dec. 7, 2015 before the Senate Education Committee.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
As Inquiry Lingers, Rep. Dawnna Dukes Resigns, Citing Health Concerns
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, is resigning in January, she said in a statement Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/20/Dawnna_DukesTT.jpg)
![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin.]()
-
Hearings Will Address Criminal Justice Reforms in Sandra Bland's Name
Texas lawmakers will meet Tuesday to discuss the push for reforms in Texas jail standards, police training and care for mentally ill inmates in the wake of Sandra Bland's death in the Waller County Jail. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/07/24/Sandra_Bland_Candlelight_Vigil_Erika_Rich_07.JPG)
![Ayana Flewellen speaks to a large crowd assembled at The Texas Capitol for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Sandra Bland on Thursday July 23, 2015.]()
Credit: Erika Rich -
A Conversation with Incoming House Members (Video)
Full video of our 9/15 conversation with three incoming members of the Texas House: Republican Kyle Biedermann of Fredericksburg and Democrats Lina Ortega of El Paso and Gina Hinojosa of Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/NewGuys-Screencap.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Analysis: Welcome to the Home Stretch of the 2016 Texas Elections
It’s both unofficial and traditional to call Labor Day the beginning of the intense action in a general election year, and it still carries a shred of truth. The slates are set. Summer vacations are over. This election is on. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/11/06/Horse_Race_TT.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Analysis: Hot at the Top of the 2016 Texas Ballot, Cool at the Bottom
That big political race on the surface hides a very quiet state ballot down below. In fact, a surprising number of the members of the Legislature and of the Texas delegation to Congress face no major-party opposition in November. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/14/IMG_9754.jpg)
![The House of Representatives on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: For Some Texas Republicans, Useful Distractions Back Home
Republicans who want to stay out of the national conversation about the presidential race — the speaker of the Texas House, to name one — there are a handful of races at home that offer plausible excuses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/07/19/Straus-RNC.jpg)
![Texas House Speaker Joe Straus is shown at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016.]()
Credit: Alana Rocha / The Texas Tribune -
Texas Lawmaker: Legislature Should Invest in Maritime Ports
The state Legislature should increase its focus on maritime ports and dedicate money to increasing their capacity during next year's session, said state Rep. Larry Gonzales during a House committee hearing Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/houston_shipchannel.jpg)
![Shipping container cranes in the Port of Houston]()
-
Lawmakers Ask Whether Agencies Abused Emergency Leave Policy
Lawmakers peppered policy experts with questions about whether state agencies who keep departing employees on the state payroll by placing them on "emergency leave" violated state law, during a hearing on Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/07/12/_BDE4621_legislators.jpg)
![State Reps Todd Hunter, Lyle Larson and Chris Turner listen as representatives of the State Auditor's Office testify before the House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics July 12, 2016. The committee is investigating the use by state agencies of emergency leave and settlement payments to departing employees.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: No Political Benefit if Voters Can't Feel Property Tax Relief
Texas lawmakers want to get a leash on property taxes, which requires them to restrain local governments. The local governments point to expensive state government mandates that drive up their costs. It's hard to fix blame, or credit. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/12/07/BD7_6507Bettencourt.JPG)
![Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lawmaker Wants Federal Investigation of Austin Ride-Hailing Rules
Republican state Rep. Jason Isaac has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Austin's rules for ride-hailing companies, raising concerns that the city's "burdensome regulations" are anti-competitive. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/28/IsaacJason1_TT_crop.jpg)
![State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, on the floor of the House on May 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lawmakers Seek Roadmap For Ride-Hailing Regulation
State lawmakers are poised to discuss ride-hailing for the second time in two weeks on Thursday, attention many expect to carry into the upcoming legislative session as some legislators attempt to wrest regulatory power from cities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/06/15/RideHailApp-Lege.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Ståle Grut / Flickr -
With Uber and Lyft Gone, Ride-Hailing Startups Swarm Austin
Less than a month after Uber and Lyft left Austin over the city's regulations, at least six new companies offering similar services have launched in the city and are fighting for market share. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/06/06/RideShareReplacements.jpg)
![Since Uber and Lyft left Austin, the city has opened its doors to an influx of new companies including Arcade City, getme, RideAustin, InstaRyde, zTrip, Wingz, Fasten and Fare.]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Lt. Gov. Patrick Suggests Legislature Might Step In on Bathroom Guidelines
Declaring that "this fight is just beginning," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Tuesday escalated his battle against guidelines in Texas and across the country that allow students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/13/_BDE9841Patrick.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick addressed transgender bathroom rules during a news conference in Dallas on May 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
State Rep. Wayne Smith Now Wants Recount in House District 128 Runoff
In a reversal, state Rep. Wayne Smith is now pursuing a recount in his narrow loss in Tuesday's Republican primary runoff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/10/Smith_v_Cain.jpg)
![State Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, faced off with lawyer Briscoe Cain in the May 2016 GOP primary runoff for House District 128.]()
-
Liveblog: 2016 Texas Primary Runoff Results
Throughout Tuesday night, Tribune reporters will keep you updated on the results of Texas' Republican and Democratic primary runoffs, from the first early voting totals through the last ballots counted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/03/01/IMG_0016.jpg)
![Voters wait in line at the University of Texas Co-op to cast their ballots in the March 1, 2016 primary elections.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber