Texplainer

Lack of interest, lack of money and lack of support can all contribute to a major party failing to put a candidate up for election in a given race — especially in heavily gerrymandered districts. Full Story 

The National Rifle Association contributed thousands of dollars to Texas politicians in recent years. But that's not nearly enough to make it one of the most prolific political donors in the state. Full Story 

Lawmakers say local property taxes are getting too high. School leaders say the taxes are increasing because the state is taking on a smaller share of public education funding. Hey Texplainer, what's really happening? Full Story 

How do I know if I’m registered to vote? What am I voting on? How do runoffs work? We've got answers to the basic questions about how to cast a ballot in the March 6 Republican and Democratic primaries in Texas. Full Story 

Participants in party conventions set rules, elect leaders and set the platform. Party leaders say getting involved is easy. Full Story 

We’ve compiled an overview of everything Texans should know about campaign finance reports and why they’re important. Full Story 

Texas liquor laws are infamously complex, and the reason dates back to the end of Prohibition. Full Story 

A shutdown is poised to take place unless Congress passes a new spending bill and President Donald Trump signs it into law by Jan. 19. That could mean closed parks, furloughed workers and the temporary closure of NASA in Texas. Full Story 

No, because the state has no warning system like Hawaii does. Full Story 

In the 2017 budget year, the oil production tax gave the state more than $2 billion in revenue, while the natural gas production tax brought in a little less than $1 billion. But where does this money go? Full Story 

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold announced he wasn’t running for re-election last month, days after the deadline to withdraw his name from the March 6 primary ballot. Yet his name was still omitted. How did that happen? Full Story 

The state Constitution outlines the duration of each legislative session and how much each lawmaker makes per year. Changing either would require a constitutional amendment. Full Story 

During the next two fiscal years, Texas is set to spend roughly $200 per child per month through the Children's Health Insurance Program. Full Story 

One of the reasons lawmakers keep putting changes to the state constitution before voters is because they haven’t taken the necessary steps to draft a new document for more than 140 years. Full Story 

No dollar amount is going to secure a win when it comes to running for office. In fact, some of the most expensive campaigns were run by people you have probably never heard of. Full Story 

Conspiracy theories about the Alamo's future began in 2015 and have reemerged more recently as state and local officials consider plans to “reimagine” the historic site. Full Story 

After two members of the Railroad Commission's board sparred over the fate of the agency's executive director, questions arose about decision-making and transparency within the state agency. Full Story 

State ethics laws grant elected officials wide latitude on how they use their political contributions while in office — meaning there's a lot outgoing House Speaker Joe Straus could do with his $10 million campaign war chest. Full Story 

Monday marks the beginning of early voting for the Nov. 7 election. Here's a look at the seven amendments to the state’s constitution that Texans are being asked to decide on. Full Story 

Texas is home to more than 180 public symbols of the Confederacy, including around a dozen on the Capitol grounds. However, some state lawmakers are making efforts to remove some markers at the Capitol. Full Story