How to stay politically engaged in between election cycles
From engaging with representatives to joining advocacy groups, there are numerous ways to continue participating in democracy and shaping policy after the polls close. Full Story
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![An Irving City Council meeting on Aug. 01, 2024 in Irving, Texas.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Republicans win Tarrant County, moving local government further to the right
Former state Rep. Matt Krause’s win may push the commissioners court even further away from the bipartisanship on which it once prided itself. Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots at the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus polling location in Arlington on primary election day, March 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
9 million Texans voted early in 2024. Here’s how that compares to previous years.
The turnout rate dropped more than 8 percentage points compared to four years ago — a high-water mark for the Lone Star State. Full Story
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![Voters visit the Gilmer Civic Center during the first day of early voting on Monday October 21, 2024, in Gilmer.]()
Credit: Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribune
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Dan Patrick debunks claims about Texas voting machines switching votes
Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump said Texas had fixed an error with voting machines, but Patrick quickly said there was no problem to fix. Full Story
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![Polling equipment during a public testing event at the Hays County election office on Sept. 18, 2024.]()
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Fairgoers join Ken Paxton in suing Texas State Fair for allegedly violating their gun rights
Three fairgoers are requesting up to $1 million in damages and to allow guns at the State Fair. Full Story
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![The Texas State Fair in Dallas on Oct. 12, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Texas turnout rate slightly down after first three days of early voting
State data shows just two of Texas’ most populous counties have surpassed their voter turnout rate in 2020. Full Story
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![Voters line up outside of the Rosenberg Annex as early voting begins in Texas on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Rosenberg.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Former President Donald Trump to make stop in Austin on Friday
The GOP presidential nominee will hold a press conference and appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast during his first visit to the capital since 2022. Full Story
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![Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event sponsored by conservative group Turning Point USA, in Duluth, Georgia, U.S., October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Barria]()
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Republicans want to flip this last competitive South Texas senate seat
State Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-Palm Valley, faces off against Republican Adam Hinojosa in the only competitive race for the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![State Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-Palm Valley, left, and Republican challenger Adam Hinojosa.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton sues Dallas pediatrician over providing hormone treatments to teens
In the first test of Senate Bill 14, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has accused Dr. May Lau of providing testosterone to at least 21 teens. Full Story
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![A transgender flag sits on the desk of state Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, D-Houston, and Rep. Rhetta Andrews Bowers, D-Rowlett, during discussion of a Point of Order brought against SB 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Ag Commissioner Sid Miller’s former political consultant pleads guilty to bribery
Todd Smith’s plea comes days before he was set to go to trial, where Miller was subpoenaed to testify. Full Story
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![Todd M Smith.]()
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In Texas’ biggest purple county, this far-right Republican is creating a playbook for local governing
From cutting social services to changing election rules, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare has pushed his agenda with an uncompromising approach. Full Story
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![Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare listens to Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks after Brooks tells the attendees of the meeting that O’Hare “broke the system” in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023. Following a conversation between O’Hare and Elections Administrator Heider Garcia, Garcia announced his resignation. O’Hare denied responsibility, saying “I did not ask Heider to resign. I did not put pressure on Heider to resign. I did not threaten to fire Heider, I did not threaten to bring him before the election commission for review to determine if he would keep his employment. He chose to resign on his own.”]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller subpoenaed to testify in his former political consultant’s criminal trial
Todd Smith was indicted in 2022 on felony charges of theft and commercial bribery related to taking money in exchange for hemp licenses that are issued by Miller’s office. Full Story
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![Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller speaks during a "Make America Great Again" rally on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Caldwell. The rally was one of Miller's stops on his "Gas and Groceries Truth Tour,” during which he visited various swing states to denounce President Joe Biden’s management of the economy.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
Texas can investigate people for alleged vote harvesting as legal battle over 2021 law continues playing out
A federal judge had ruled Senate Bill 1 unconstitutional, but an appeals court says the law can remain in effect as Texas appeals that previous decision Full Story
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![Voter registration forms at a registration event in Austin, on Sept. 27, 2020.]()
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Texas doesn’t have to place LGBTQ foster youth in homes that affirm their identities, court rules
A federal judge has blocked a Biden-era rule that said providing foster children with “safe and proper care” required placing them in gender-affirming homes. Full Story
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![Scenes from Austin Pride 2024 on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, on Congress Ave in Austin. The day-long celebration featured drag performances, booths and floats of Austin’s businesses and many Texans clad in rainbow.]()
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Takeaways from the Texas Tribune-Associated Press report on 24 hours along the Texas-Mexico border
Reporters from both organizations spent a day documenting the reality on the border. Here’s a summary of what they found. Full Story
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![A private border wall that extends nearly three miles is seen in Mission, Texas on Aug. 9, 2024.]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court leaves State Fair’s gun ban in place
Attorney General Ken Paxton had turned to the high court to overturn the ban after other lower courts declined to intercede. Full Story
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![Children enjoy a ride at the State Fair of Texas on Oct. 20, 2016 in Dallas.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for The Texas Tribune -
Cards Against Humanity says in new lawsuit that SpaceX has destroyed some of its South Texas property
The card game company crowd-funded money to buy the land in an attempt to block a portion of Donald Trump’s border wall. Full Story
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![SpaceX rockets at the launch pad at the Brownsville facility on Oct. 20, 2021. On Oct. 22, Elon Musk said via Twitter the Starship rocket would be ready for an orbital launch by next month.]()
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Public education takes center stage at Houston lawmakers discussion
Lawmakers reflected on Houston ISD takeover and prospect of the Legislature creating subsidies for private school tuition Full Story
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Judge allows Texas State Fair’s gun ban to stand for now
Texas AG Ken Paxton says the fair's gun ban violates state law, which bars most government bodies from prohibiting weapons. Full Story
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![The State Fair of Texas in Dallas on Oct. 20, 2016.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for The Texas Tribune -
What you need to know about the Venezuelan gang that Texas is targeting
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared the Venezuelan gang a foreign terrorist organization and asked the Department of Public Safety to create a strike team targeting them. Full Story
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![Members of the Chilean Armed Forces participate in a security operation against suspects with links to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, on May 29, 2024.]()
Credit: Patricio Cortés B./Ulan/POOL via REUTERS