Texas Sens. Charles Schwertner, Borris Miles silent after new accusations of sexual harassment in report
A Texas Monthly article revealed fresh allegations of sexual harassment against two senators with a history of scandals. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, leaves the Travis County Jailhouse in Austin on Feb. 7, 2023. Schwertner was booked the previous night for dangerous driving while intoxicated.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Body camera footage shows February drunk-driving arrest of Sen. Charles Schwertner
Newly released body camera footage shows state Sen. Charles Schwertner’s February arrest for suspicion of drunk driving. Travis County prosecutors dropped the charge in July. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, takes a field sobriety test, seen in bodycam footage released by the Austin Police Department. Schwertner was arrested in February for suspicion of driving while intoxicated but will not face prosecution.]()
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Travis County won’t pursue driving while intoxicated charges against State Sen. Charles Schwertner
The Republican from Georgetown was arrested in Austin in February. But the county attorney said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prosecute. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, during the last day of the 88th regular session on May 29, 2023.]()
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Texas Senate passes new economic incentive program to lure businesses to the state
Lawmakers hope to hammer out a program to replace the embattled Chapter 313 program before the legislative session ends Monday. Full Story
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![An oilfield scene from Pecos County on Feb. 4, 2023.]()
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Economic incentives clear Senate committee as negotiations continue
Lawmakers are trying hard to come up with an agreement on how to replace an embattled 20-year tax abatement program for big companies that expired in December. Full Story
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![A working pump jack sits near wind turbines on the Cline Shale near Maryneal, south of Sweetwater, on April 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Mark Graham for The Texas Tribune -
Texas leaders want a new way to attract businesses here. But they can’t agree on how to do it.
The two chambers have 10 days to cut a deal before the end of the legislative session, and they are miles apart on some of the very foundations of a corporate tax-abatement bill considered to be a priority for Republican state leaders. Full Story
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![A pumpjack operates nearby a house under construction in a new housing development on March 14, 2022 north of Midland.]()
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Texas House moves to crack down on polluters with stricter penalties and heavier oversight
The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to focus enforcement and increase penalties on repeat violators and increase public outreach. Still, environmental advocates say the effort was too “modest” in its reach. Full Story
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![Residential properties near refineries in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Corpus Christi on January 24, 2017.]()
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State Sen. Charles Schwertner arrested on suspicion of drunken driving
Schwertner, a Georgetown Republican, was booked into the Travis County jail at 2:12 a.m. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, leaves the Travis County Jailhouse in Austin on Feb. 7, 2023. Schwertner was booked the previous night for dangerous driving while intoxicated.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Energy industry showers Gov. Greg Abbott, other Texas politicians with campaign cash after they passed power grid bills
For some energy experts, the increase in donations for the officials at the close of the session looks like a reward for not passing more stringent regulations and raises questions about whether lawmakers let the oil, gas and the broader energy industry off easy for its massive failures. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference regarding Texas’ emergency response to an unprecedented winter storm gripping Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
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Watered-down expansion of Texas’ medical marijuana program signed into law
House Bill 1535 expands eligibility for the Texas Compassionate Use Program to people with cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder. It's effective Sept. 1. Full Story
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![Newly planted marijuana plants at Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation Medical Marijuana facility in South Austin on April 30, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Bill legalizing permitless carry of handguns in Texas on brink of passage after compromise reached
The agreement advances the legislation even closer to becoming law. Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will sign such a proposal. Full Story
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![A M&P Shield handgun, small enough to be ideal for conceal carry, in Austin on April 23, 2021.]()
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick awards committee chair to Texas senator who previously faced sexual harassment allegation
State Sen. Charles Schwertner gave up serving as chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in 2019. This year, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named him chair of the Committee on Administration. Full Story
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![A committee hearing room featuring plexiglass dividers on Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
In 2015, Texas lawmakers rejected effort to upgrade state's disease response
After the Ebola outbreak, a task force recommended stockpiling protective gear and expanding state powers to deal with infectious diseases. "Tinfoil hats" opposed to big government killed a bill that would have done it, its sponsor says. Full Story
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![John Carter, Environmental Services Supervisor, practices the proper technique for putting on safety equipment during a training session in Houston.]()
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A new Texas law criminalizes sending unwanted nudes. Lawyers say it might be difficult to enforce.
The law will make the electronic transmission of unwanted sexually explicit material a class C misdemeanor. But legal experts worry it could be written too broadly under the First Amendment to be effective. Full Story
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Texas Senate passes legislation to prevent surprise medical bills with arbitration, mediation
Surprise medical bills happen when out-of-network health care providers and insurance companies can’t agree on the price of a medical treatment, leaving the patient to pick up the amount insurance won’t pay. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, during a February 21, 2018 Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding.]()
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Texas House votes to strengthen sexual harassment investigations
The chamber voted on a resolution that moves misconduct complaints to a committee with subpoena power. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Following inconclusive harassment inquiry, state Sen. Charles Schwertner asks to give up his committee chairmanship
Schwertner was investigated by the University of Texas at Austin after a student reported that he sent her unwanted lewd texts. He denied the allegation and an investigator determined evidence "does not support a finding" that he violated Title IX. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on the floor of the Senate on April 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: More questions after #MeToo investigation of Texas Sen. Charles Schwertner
An investigation of a state senator accused of sending lewd texts to a college student ended without proving his guilt or his innocence, leaving some tough questions unresolved as the Texas Legislature starts its 2019 regular session. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, leading debate on urban ride-sharing rules in the Texas Senate on May 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Lewd texts and school finance scuttlebutt
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Patrick about the pre-session school finance scuttlebutt, a big Obamacare ruling out of Texas and a state senator facing allegations he sent lewd texts. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown during a March 22, 2018 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services hearing.]()
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UT-Austin says evidence "does not support a finding" that Charles Schwertner violated Title IX by sending lewd texts
Lawyers for Schwertner say the messages were sent by a third party. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, leading debate on urban ride-sharing rules in the Texas Senate on May 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune