The latest Greg Abbott news from The Texas Tribune.
He's been heavily involved in positive public messaging about the grid’s winter readiness, but the data aren't rosy — and experts fear the grid could fail if there's another winter storm. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c623dae9a850c18985c717f49da3056b/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20EL%20TT%2018.jpg)
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles cited a procedural error for the decision but seemed to leave open the possibility that it would reconsider the issue in the near future. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f7d08ca0deee531dfcdeb70dcd2b541c/George%20Floyd%20Minnesota%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Abbott’s office says vaccines are the best defense to the pandemic, however, the governor has rarely spoken about vaccines in recent months other than to push back against mandates. He did not respond to a question about whether he got the booster. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/172e800c70a43b576cacb9396b44abc3/Abbott%20June%2016%20press%20AAS%20RBB%20TT%2005.JPG)
After nearly two years of navigating life during a pandemic, many Texans are now scrambling for COVID tests, delaying plans and worrying about relatives who have been exposed to the virus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/11b94d7fb4ebe83498b5dcfb894a11d2/DFW%20Airport%20ST%20TT%2013.jpg)
Most local officials insist they still have testing capacity at their public testing sites, but Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said demand has outpaced supply. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f8b88fc2ee52c4088fb6c5af1e09fa00/South%20Austin%20COVID%20Testing%20PH%20TT%2011)
Abbott vetoed legislation in June that would have helped shore up the Universal Service Fund, which supports telecommunications in rural Texas. He said it would have “imposed a new fee on millions of Texans.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/380592600268fa7955ad03e1b520334b/Edingburg%20Telephone%20Pole%20TT.jpg)
Abbott unveiled the first 900 feet of border barrier Saturday. But the state has been mum on where it plans to build additional barriers and how many miles it can afford. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0f8ad20782031c1ee6397ae985844e79/Abbott%20RGC%20Border%20Presser%20JG%20TT%2014.jpg)
Abbott launched the construction of a wall along the Texas-Mexico border using state money and crowdfunded private donations. The state has at least $1.05 billion for the border barriers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc15debd8fc41a7130f312c8310679f1/Abbott%20RGC%20Border%20Presser%20JG%20TT%2008.jpg)
In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Darla and Patrick about the pandemic in Texas and a mysterious candidate named Rick Perry running for governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6c1083e275873c47f082a9e54a463f98/TribCast%20Dec%2017%20TT.jpg)
In a 50-page complaint to the U.S. Department of Justice, immigrant and civil rights groups argued Gov. Greg Abbott’s initiative to arrest migrants on trespassing charges is discriminatory. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5377ea9cda8afd7a8eef9ead3f268eae/Del%20Rio%20Migrant%20Processing%20CS%20TT%2026.jpg)
Advocates are worried that a last-minute law change means that students who need information about dating violence and child abuse will be the least likely to receive it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/845ba618c4ad3550603aedae36a7da5d/EPISD%20Mask%20mandate%20IPA%20TT%201042.JPG)
The fight over race and how to deal with the pandemic has split the Fort Worth community, showcasing what’s being seen across the state and country. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7f497cb5c96e40569ae206a7a6bd7a56/FWISD%20Portrait%20ST%20TT%2004.jpg)
A Springtown man with the same name as the former governor filed Monday to run for the state's top post against Gov. Greg Abbott, raising the prospect of dirty political tricks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a3879826eb677fadf8395367e5251b91/Capitol%20Vault%20Dome%20SP%20TT%2094.jpg)
Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the majority was straying from the court’s precedent to step in when state laws chill the exercise of constitutional rights while allowing other states to follow suit. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ea6d70d1c4b620be0b59dd4c3a799626/SCOTUS%20Nov%201%20EL%20TT%2057.jpg)
Chances are, winter weather won’t be as bad as it was last February. Chances are, Texas won’t have the electric blackouts that caused so much misery then. And chances are, whatever happens will have some influence on the 2022 elections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cd7fd7cc5f0b5f9c567c90c5e729f6d8/Winter%20Storm%20McKinney%20ST%20TT%2010)
Despite a surge of arrests under Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security initiative, a Kinney County judge removed three judges who have been helping him hear the cases. The judges had been letting some of the migrants out after months in prison, and defense attorneys say the action is retaliatory. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/963ebd280f08332486bc996847ed57c2/Del%20Rio%20Migrant%20Processing%20CS%20TT%2036.jpg)
Critics of the Chapter 313 corporate tax incentive program say it lacks accountability and is burdensome to taxpayers in the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f04f3a90766e98c15d7d780ebd84648/Abbott%20Cornyn%20Samsung%20SF%20TT%2008.jpg)
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Mitchell, James and Karen about the status of the power grid and the pandemic heading into winter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2ac6d4524c1a849eea88c1312e94aef4/TribCast%20Dec%203%20V2%20TT.jpg)
Republican leaders defend their record on the power grid, pointing to more than a dozen laws passed during this year’s legislative session to address the grid’s reliability. Gov. Greg Abbott has staked his reputation on a promise that the lights won't go out this winter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3ed3f50e4b6f8086c7998e8a094145f6/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20Feb%2016%20TT%2032.jpg)
The so-called “critical race theory” law prohibits teachers from discussing “a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/18b0c31bf1116c3c6281daacc771b161/Chapa%20Middle%20School%20JV%20TT%2014.jpg)