Texas schools struggle to stay open as teachers and bus drivers call in sick with COVID-19
School district leaders are desperately trying to fill vacant roles to stay open and some say they have no choice but to close. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/233a6d92db85645a47e369a8d3deb166/Linder%20Elementary%20School%20ML%20TT%2005.jpg)
-
![Teachers guide students outside of Linder Elementary School in Austin on the first day of classes after the winter break on Jan. 5, 2022.]()
Credit: Miranda Lipton for The Texas Tribune -
This was Texas’ warmest December since 1889
Ongoing La Niña conditions have brought warm, dry weather and deepened drought conditions across the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34aec4d47930f8efb1a3f05be0e66e75/Llano%20City%20File%20SF%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Cars pass by the the Llano County Courthouse on Monday, Dec. 14, 2021 in Llano, TX. The Commissioners Court for Llano County voted to close the public library to "inventory and catalog" their books after community pushback related to books that some deemed offensive. The pushback also led to a decision to immediately shut down an online library of thousands of books out of fears that children could access material not appropriate for children.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Video: With abortions restricted in Texas, many leave the state to seek care at crowded Kansas clinic
About half the patients at Trust Women’s Wichita clinic come from out of state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c1cf771aa3bc097fe5d49f178fc32c67/Trust%20Women%20OK%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Taniya, an ultrasound sonographer, performs an ultrasound on a patient before she has a medical abortion at Trust Women clinic in Oklahoma City on Dec. 6, 2021.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
-
The push to ban books in Texas schools spreads to public libraries
Some Texas residents are asking for greater say in what titles appear on public library shelves. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc7a2f5b7d37663d11a659deb8b6d283/Llano%20Public%20Library%20SF%20TT%2019.jpg)
![Books on shelves at the Llano Public Library on Dec. 14, 2021. The Commissioners Court for Llano County voted to close the public library to conduct "inventory and catalog" their books after community pushback related to books that some deemed offensive. The pushback also led to a decision to immediately shut down an online library of thousands of books out of fears that children could access material not appropriate for children.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Texans in U.S. House vote along party lines to pass $1.75 trillion social spending package
After months of contentious negotiations, the U.S. House passed the Build Back Better plan. It would establish universal pre-K and provide funding to combat climate change, among other things. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b6334bf9094943107d1534c113efb31/Build%20Back%20Better%20Pelosi%20TT%20-%20REUTERS%20.jpg)
![U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during her weekly press conference, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, November 18, 2021. Today President Biden will host the leaders of Mexico and Canada for a North American Leaders Summit, as Congressional Democrats continue to debate the President's Build Back Better Agenda. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA)No Use Germany.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters -
State Board of Education approves one sex ed textbook for Texas middle school students
Last November, the board expanded curriculum standards to include birth control in addition to abstinence education. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a4c0f4de8c39917cb5ec472daebaa1d8/15_State_Board_of_Education_EW.jpg)
![State Board of Education members meet in Austin on Jan. 29, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas voters say the state and country are worse off than a year ago and heading in the wrong direction, UT/TT Poll finds
Thirty-eight percent of respondents said the state economy is doing worse than a year ago, further evidence that Texans are still feeling the pandemic’s consequences. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6f5721e39f2566308591f5fd7ce7dd91/UT-TT%20Mood%20TT.jpg)
![A view of the U.S. and Texas flags flying on the south side of the Texas Capitol from the Capitol Dome on Aug. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Texans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz join GOP senators to block voting rights bill that would have protected voters of color
In a final push to secure federal voting rights legislation this year, congressional Democrats failed to secure the necessary votes to avoid a GOP filibuster on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b0b97d0bf001cbd80dda10578487172f/US%20Capitol%20File%20EL%20TT%2007.jpg)
![A U.S. Capitol Police officer stands guard at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune -
Central Texas faith leaders and politicians rebuke antisemitic incidents after fire outside Austin synagogue
Austin fire officials said they’re investigating a Sunday incident that caused about $25,000 in damage as a potential arson. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d72308fa54c2d534a0dd20eef74d1506/Re-edit%20Jewish%20Community%20Center%20Presser%20MGO%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Rabbi Neil Blumofe spoke at a press conference at the Dell Jewish Community Center on Nov. 1, 2021, after a fire outside Congregation Beth Israel.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
How today’s near-total abortion ban in Texas was 20 years in the making
Since 2000, Texas lawmakers have reduced the number of abortions in the state by restricting access to the procedure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e267f6aaab5b41714acf155c15b13e23/Capitol%20File%20Oct%2020%20EL%20TT%2015.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas sues the Biden administration over federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott have been at war with locals and federal officials over vaccinate mandates. Earlier this month, Abbott expanded an executive order to block the requirement for any entity in Texas, including health care facilities and private businesses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34a8b1fcb8af1cf309b170427193d907/CTFB-UT%20Vaccine%20Clinic%20SP%20TT%2008.jpg)
![Joseph Situentes Peña, 13, receives his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic held in partnership between the Central Texas Food Bank and University of Texas in Austin on July 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans want to make the state the center of the cryptocurrency universe
Texas Republicans have largely welcomed the blockchain technology industry with open arms. But skeptics are concerned about cryptocurrency mining’s impact on the environment and energy grid. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/669c08078beedf47988efd5da620d0ec/Whinstone%20Bitcoin%20Mine%20MGO%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Computers mine for Bitcoin at Whinstone's Rockdale facility on Oct. 22, 2021. At capacity, the building can support 22,000 computers.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
After Texas and other states passed new voting restrictions, federal bills could expand ballot access. Here’s what you need to know.
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this week on the Freedom to Vote Act, which would supersede some of Texas’ new elections law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fbf34fd0d43834115384e0656bffbb14/Hays%20County%20Early%20Voting%20JV%20TT%2021.jpg)
![A polling location in the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos during early voting on Oct. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Supreme Court considers taking up abortion providers’ challenge to Texas’ near-total ban on the procedure
Providers want the Supreme Court to take the case before an appeals court hears it. The high court gave defendants, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, until Thursday to respond to the providers’ request. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9894214aba3ce0fde44cc3a7e0749aa0/SCOTUS%20Abortion%20Rally%20REUTERS.jpg)
![Protestors joined several Democratic lawmakers outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2019, to show their opposition to the recent abortion ban implemented by several states.]()
Credit: Stefani Reynolds/CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM via REUTERS -
Biden administration to ask Supreme Court to stop enforcement of Texas’ near-total abortion ban
Court decisions have gone back and forth on the law’s enforceability over several weeks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e4e3aa1496c2480befccfb6b0b0c7104/US%20Capitol%20File%20EL%20TT%2003.jpg)
![The Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas GOP wages war on COVID-19 mandates, lawmakers OK bill that would make companies requiring the shot vulnerable to lawsuits
Senate Bill 51 would make any entity, including hospitals, vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits if they mandate vaccinations for all employees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/26111fce1eb84c05361e91ad19b8892a/CTFB-UT%20Vaccine%20Clinic%20SP%20TT%2003.jpg)
![A COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card sits on a table at a vaccine clinic held in partnership between the Central Texas Food Bank and University of Texas in Austin on July 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
U.S. to reopen land borders with Mexico to vaccinated travelers starting in November
The borders were closed to nonessential travel in March 2020, which hurt businesses in Texas border cities that rely on Mexican shoppers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ab8c091725c4a26b356bb6432ffad54d/El%20Paso%20Closed%20Business%20IPA%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Scenes from downtown near the international bridge on day one of the shelter-in-place order that was put in place by the county judge Oct. 30, 2020, in El Paso. The El Paso mayor and Gov. Abbott are fighting the order in court.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz and John Cornyn opposed a debt-limit increase that will stave off economic catastrophe, but backed previous borrowing hikes
The two Republican senators from Texas have routinely supported more government borrowing when Republicans held the White House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f51a27ef4e1ff356b80e89239bfda165/Cruz_and_Cornyn_KAVANAUGH_REUTERS_TT.jpg)
![U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27, 2018.]()
Credit: Matt McClain/Pool via REUTERS -
Texas has all but banned abortion. But a Mississippi law could be what ends Roe v. Wade.
If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, “trigger laws” across 12 states — including Texas — that ban all abortions will go into effect within months. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1277cad9f3aea3b969c8986ae3c48854/Abortion%20SCOTUS%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Abortion rights activists during a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque -
After minor changes, advocates are confident a bill requiring adequate shelter for dogs can avoid another Gov. Greg Abbott veto
The new proposal, like its predecessor, would amend the health and safety code to make the unlawful restraint of a dog a criminal offense — and more clearly outline proper treatment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4c3ded33633c5cfb53e702584a0fa609/Refugio%20Bloodhounds%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Bloodhounds are held in a pen in Refugio on Aug. 21, 2019. The dogs are trained to use scent in the capture of criminals and migrants that attempt to evade law enforcement.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune