TribCast: Weighing Donald Trump’s support among Texas Republicans
In this week’s episode, we discuss the Texas reaction to the indictment of Donald Trump and check in on how the leaders of the Legislature are getting along. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5170156a839071103229a0ccc75d06c0/TribCast%20March%2030.jpg)
-
![Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his first campaign rally after announcing his candidacy for president in the 2024 election at an event in Waco, on March 25, 2023.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Leah Millis -
“He has a battle rifle”: Police feared Uvalde gunman’s AR-15
In previously unreleased interviews, police who responded to the Robb Elementary shooting told investigators they were cowed by the shooter’s military-style rifle. This drove their decision to wait for a Border Patrol SWAT team to engage him, which took more than an hour. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f1981927d116ea767afff0c9785a81b3/Suspect%20gun%20photo%202.jpg)
![The gunman's AR-15 style rifle lays in a supply closet of Room 111 at Robb Elementary School.]()
Credit: Law enforcement photo -
To tackle high housing costs, Texas lawmakers push to build more homes
Housing advocates, builders and real estate experts agree that the state simply isn’t building enough homes to keep up with its booming population and economic growth. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ea33333ee84393c5da61b2b01fda08ee/Longview%20Housing%20File%20MC%20TT%2003.jpg)
![New home construction at a Longview subdivision on Dec. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribune -
“We just want parity”: Military groups call on lawmakers to give Operation Lone Star troops death benefits
Law enforcement officers who serve on Operation Lone Star get a $500,000 death benefit for their survivors if they die on duty. But National Guard troops on the same mission don’t get a dime from the state for their families if they die. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ed89fb5bb0a9679c80bdd8e167c80bf6/Bishop%20Evans%20Act%20ST%2015%20TT.JPG)
![Jo Ann Johnson goes through awards given to her grandson Bishop Evans, who died while working on Operation Lone Star, inside of her home in Arlington, TX on December 7, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas House and Senate differ on how to cut property taxes. Here’s what their proposals say.
Cuts to school property tax bills. Bigger tax benefits for homeowners. A controversial idea to limit property tax growth. Here’s what you need to know about the brewing property tax debate at the Texas Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/91c66c3846388c43bca287ed4d0d9e68/Aerial%20Suburbs%20JV%20TT%2004.jpg)
![An Aerial image of a suburban neighborhood in San Marcos on October 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
House unveils bill giving state authority to “repel” and return migrants crossing from Mexico
House Bill 20 by state Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, would test the boundaries of the state’s ability to enforce immigration law, which courts have historically ruled falls under federal purview. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d9284ea9562acc18bb3c7569628b1f9c/Operation%20Lone%20Star%20VGC%2039.jpg)
![Department of Public Safety agent arrest an undocumented migrant after he was caught on private property as part of Operation Lone Star in Kinney County near Brackettville, on Nov. 9, 2021.]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for ProPublica/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s new priority bills focus on school safety, requiring districts to adopt active-shooter plans
More than nine months after the Uvalde school shooting, top GOP lawmakers maintain focus on school safety reforms and investments in mental health resources in hopes it will prevent future tragedies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/531efa5a12cd1208fc39fe4ba1f4b55c/Harrold%20GUNS%2001%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
![Mock weapons used to train educators in Harrold in 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers propose historic investments to broadband and water infrastructure — but voters will have the last word
If passed during this legislative session, this would be the state’s biggest investment in broadband, but some local officials question whether it would make the service more affordable in areas with few providers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b13e51b6b4b369c3a645ff896028da4e/Capitol%20File%20Oct%2020%20EL%20TT%2002.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas legislative leaders — Dan Patrick, Dade Phelan — jab each other’s priorities in dueling speeches
During dueling speeches to a conservative think tank in Austin, state House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who have a history of animus, split over property tax relief, criminal justice reform and school choice. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/637f89ac2e0a14454a8d3b79d4b41eb0/Patrick-Phelan%20Split%20TT.jpg)
![House Speaker Dade Phelan, left, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Texas House’s property tax bill calls for $17 billion in cuts, tighter appraisal cap
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s proposal reveals the different roads the Texas House and Senate want to take on property taxes — and the fight that might emerge between the two chambers this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c2362863fae95cd53af8b6a7fc240aa1/Georgetown_Construction_SK_TT.jpg)
![Construction workers build houses in the new Teravista neighborhood in Georgetown on May 18, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Republican Texas lawmakers rally around bill restricting the college sports teams transgender athletes can join
Seventy-seven Texas House Republicans signed on as co-authors to state Rep. Valoree Swanson’s bill extending restrictions on transgender athletes to college sports. Gov. Greg Abbott has expressed support for the legislation, which is also a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e7a9f1e02bc7bec3a796d68469f200bc/Track%20Meet%20Sports%20High%20School%20IS%20TT.jpg)
![Track athletes at a school track meet.]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStock -
Business and legislative leaders push to replace expired tax break with a new one
Business groups warned lawmakers that Texas could lose business to other states without something to replace the so-called Chapter 313 tax break, which gave some companies big breaks on school taxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b2833b3871fd1d9af10fc955952b82e8/Capitol%20File%20Oct%2020%20EL%20TT%2017.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Speaker Dade Phelan endorses Medicaid expansion for new mothers, repeal of “tampon tax” in first batch of 2023 priorities
The leader of the state House also threw his support behind bills to crack down on how companies handle private data and to protect children from “addictive algorithms” by digital companies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f1c20f6ef3a9cb2704777586e2ad572d/Redo%200110%20Lege%20Opening%20JV%20TT%2025.jpg)
![Dade Phelan begins his second term as Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 88th legislature on Jan 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas will revamp economic development program after property tax incentive expires
Abbott told business leaders in Arlington on Wednesday that Texas is already suffering from the end of the tax-break program, recently losing a “massive” computer chip factory to New York. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2a093e88cbb977c0c822ffbd7a8c533b/Abbott%20Site%20Selection%20Presser%20EG%20TT%2018.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup award announcement at the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
What you need to know about education savings accounts, the voucher-like program championed by Gov. Greg Abbott
Texas is the latest state to pitch a version of the program, which lets parents who opt out of their local school districts use tax dollars to pay for private schooling. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e5d4ea6e2adea9d556024bb1ed247781/Isabel%20Suarez%20School%20JV%20TT%20012.jpg)
![Isabel Suarez works on homework prior to the start of the school day from her home in Pflugerville on Dec 9, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ shortage of mental health care professionals is getting worse
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already short supply of therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4306de34e764daa7709143b2c648223/0214%20Therapist%20Shortages%20MM%20TT%2002.jpg)
![AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 14, 2023: Communities in Schools staff members Christy Mitchell, Dorothy Garza and Amara Nitibhon (left to right) pose for a portrait at Langford Elementary School in Austin, Texas on February 14, 2023. (Photo by Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Paxton whistleblowers urge lawmakers not to oppose settlement that will be paid with taxpayer dollars
In a statement, the attorneys for the four former top deputies who accused Attorney General Ken Paxton of crimes said state employees “cannot be expected to report government corruption in the future if they know the Legislature won’t back their rights.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4672364c96d0069820fc6bd701198020/0110%20Lege%20Opening%20EL%20TT%2029.jpg)
![Dade Phelan addresses the House after being sworn in as speaker of the House 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 -
Democrats to chair fewer Texas House committees amid GOP pushback
House Speaker Dade Phelan selected Democrats to chair eight of the 34 standing committees, down from the 13 he appointed at the start of the last legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2e09d1a6b9e9e534db4dfa80aeb1ebdb/0110%20Lege%20Opening%20BD%2023.jpg)
![Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Texas Governor Greg Abbott addressing the House chamber.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texans brace for the end of nearly three years of pandemic Medicaid coverage
Millions of Texans — mostly children, young adults and new moms — stayed on Medicaid for the duration of the pandemic. The state will soon start reevaluating eligibility. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/92ef16f8b09fba6849d4cf24a20d2e15/0202%20Medicaid%20Cliff%20-%20Austin%20LS%20010.jpg)
![Alexandria Robertson shows her daughters Novah and Kellani-Ari Wilson ultrasound pictures from her pregnancies in their home in Manor, TX on Feb. 2, 2023.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune -
Gambling proponents have a new plan to ask Texas voters to legalize casinos
If state lawmakers agree, Texas voters will have the final say on whether the state will expand gambling and casinos this November. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dfd343c2bbc82245c4e7cd21d4885c7b/Casino%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![A woman is seen reflected wearing a protective face mask, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, outside a closed poker room in a casino in New Orleans on Aug. 30, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton