Mental health pilot program for Texas foster kids underway
A new pilot program led by Gov. Greg Abbott’s office aims to provide specialized care and services for 500 of the most emotionally traumatized foster children in Texas. Full Story
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Greg Abbott appoints new Dallas County district attorney
Republican Faith Johnson, a former state district court judge, will finish the term of Dallas District Attorney Susan Hawk, who resigned in September after taking medical leaves to treat depression and mood disorder. Full Story
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![Faith Johnson, newly named district attorney for Dallas County.]()
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Greg Abbott: Convention of states to amend Constitution still needed under Trump
Gov. Greg Abbott squared the new political reality Tuesday with his long-standing crusade to amend the U.S. Constitution by arguing President-elect Donald Trump "epitomizes exactly why we need a convention of states." Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the Convention of States gathering at the Texas Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott taps Texas Racing Commission chairman as secretary of state
Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday named Rolando Pablos, the chairman of the Texas Racing Commission, the next secretary of state, following the resignation of Carlos Cascos. Full Story
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Abbott vows to cut funding for "sanctuary campus" schools
Though the definition of a "sanctuary campus" is murky, Gov. Greg Abbott Thursday made it clear they are not welcome in Texas. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to a large crowd of state leaders at the Texas Education & Workforce Summit Sept. 19, 2016 at the AT&T Center.]()
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Is it legal to burn a U.S. flag? A Texplainer.
President-elect Donald Trump believes those who burn the flag should be jailed. Is it legal to burn the American flag? Full Story
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Abbott: Campus carry could have prevented Ohio State attack
Commenting on the knife attack at Ohio State University that left 11 people injured, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that someone would "think twice" about carrying out such an attack in Texas due to its campus carry law. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a Rotary Club of San Antonio luncheon on March 23, 2016.]()
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Texas moves forward with cuts of therapy services for disabled children
In two weeks, Texas will officially enact cuts of Medicaid reimbursement rates for disabled children's therapy services. Full Story
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![Lauretta Jackson, a physical therapist from Any Baby Can, works with Sara weekly to improve her body strength. Nonprofit therapy providers are worried budget cuts made by lawmakers will put them out of business.]()
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Analysis: Some politicians want your attention and some don’t
It makes political sense for statewide officials like the governor and the lieutenant governor to do things that attract favorable attention from voters. Speakers of the House live a little farther from the limelight. Full Story
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![Joe Straus, Texas Speaker of the House, at an 85th Legislative Session preview at the Dallas Regional Chamber on Sept. 13, 2016.]()
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For fifth time, lawmakers to decide ban on texting while driving
Texas remains one of four states without a statewide ban on texting while driving, but Rep. Tom Craddick and Sen. Juddith Zaffirini plan to try again. Full Story
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In latest voter ID filing, feds argue Texas discriminated on purpose
The Obama administration is arguing that Texas lawmakers intentionally discriminated when they passed a strict voter ID law in 2011. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton refuted the arguments in his own filing. Full Story
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![Voter ID regulations posted at a south Texas early voting location on Oct. 26, 2016.]()
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Trump administration could boost voucher push
A Trump administration may put wind in the sails of Texas lawmakers pushing for "school choice," allowing parents to use taxpayer money to send their children to charter, private and religious schools. Full Story
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![Donald Trump rallies a crowd of veterans at Drake University on Jan. 28, 2016, while other Republican presidential candidates hold a final Des Moines debate prior to the Iowa caucuses.]()
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Analysis: Texas political changes in the wind — or the snow blower
The assembly of a Trump administration in Washington, D.C. could send a ripple through the political waters in Texas, particularly if the president-elect hires from within the state's congressional delegation. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to the Texas delegation at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on July 21, 2016.]()
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Analysis: Take it from Texas — an election sweep carries no guarantee
Winning isn't everything when it comes to party control. If it was, Texas lawmakers would have nothing to do. But they still have plenty to fight about, and Republicans in Washington, D.C., will, too. Full Story
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![The 84th legislative session ran from Jan. 13 through Jun. 1. State lawmakers enhanced gun rights, allowed epilepsy patients to use medicinal cannabis oil and outlawed local bans on fracking.]()
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Analysis: Finding out exactly what the election winners have in mind
It won't change the color of the leaves on the trees, but the civics seasons in Texas have changed. Say goodbye to the elections and hello to the legislative session. Full Story
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![Monday was the first day lawmakers could pre-file legislation for the upcoming 83rd Texas Legislative Session.]()
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With Trump in D.C., Texas might spend less on border
If President-Elect Donald Trump delivers on his promise to dramatically beef up security on the U.S.-Mexico border, leading Texas lawmakers say they might quit spending so much state tax money on it. Full Story
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![From Roma, Texas, Border Patrol Agent Isaac Villegas looks out over the Rio Grande and into Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Mexico, on March 8, 2016.]()
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Analysis: Texas GOP, no stranger to facing off with feds, now faces a shift
They might not have predicted this, but Republicans won full control of the federal government in Tuesday's elections. For Texas Republicans, that removes a major political foil. Full Story
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Houston schools measure lags, Austin transit bond leads
Harris County elected a Democratic district attorney, Houston ISD voters thumbed their noses at the Texas school finance system and Austin voters backed a $720 million transportation bond. Full Story
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![As the doors open at 7 a.m. on Election Day 2016, people stream into the George Washington Carver Library in Austin, Texas to cast their vote.]()
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Analysis: An election without a mandate for Texas lawmakers
Some elections are referendums on issues, public votes that give lawmakers a good idea of what voters want. This election isn't one of those. Full Story
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![From left: Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are shown on May 21, 2015.]()
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GOP operative John Colyandro to lead "school choice" lobbying group
Longtime GOP political operative John Colyandro has been tapped to head a new organization that will aggressively push Texas lawmakers to approve education savings accounts. Full Story
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![Executive director of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute and the Texas Conservative Coalition, John Colyandro gives testimony during a September 13, 2016 Select Committee on State & Federal Power & Responsibility]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera