“I want them to haunt you”: Man who killed 23 at El Paso Walmart hears from victims’ families
During the gunman’s sentencing, relatives of those killed nearly four years ago are telling him how he upended their lives. Full Story
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![As U.S. District Judge David C. Guaderrama listens, Francisco Javier Rodriguez, father of Javier Amir Rodriguez, testifies at the sentencing hearing of David Crusius, who killed 23 people and wounded 22 others at an El Paso Walmart on Aug. 3, 2019.]()
Credit: Nacho Garcia Jr./Special to El Paso Times -
Houston sues state in attempt to block new law that erodes cities’ power
House Bill 2127 — dubbed the “Death Star” law by opponents — prevents local governments from creating rules that go further than what’s allowed under broad areas of state law. Houston’s suit says the new law violates the state’s constitution. Full Story
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![The Houston skyline in November, 2017.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: How will Texas universities maintain diversity without considering race in admissions?
In this week’s two-topic TribCast, we discuss the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the consideration of race in college admissions and the dangerous heat inside Texas prisons this summer. Full Story
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![UT Austin students respond to the Young Conservatives of Texas critiquing affirmative action policies on Oct. 26,
2016. The Young Conservatives were met with criticism, which resulted in a protest and several intense conversations among students.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles/The Texas Tribune -
Nearly 1.4 million Texans could be impacted by U.S. Supreme Court decision blocking student loan forgiveness
The court ruled in favor of the six GOP-led states that alleged President Joe Biden overstepped his authority with his loan forgiveness plan. Full Story
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![A student sits by the Littlefield Fountain at the University of Texas on May 30, 2023.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune -
Judge says DPS must release documents related to Uvalde shooting response
The state police agency had been withholding nearly all of its records on law enforcement’s botched response to Texas’ deadliest school shooting. DPS will have an opportunity to redact the files before they are released. Full Story
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![Family members and friends participate in a march in support of those killed and injured in the school shooting at Robb Elementary, in Uvalde on July 10, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
With race-based admissions no longer an option, states may imitate Texas Top 10% Plan
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the practice unconstitutional, admissions experts say other states could look to Texas’ Top 10% Plan as a way to diversify their student bodies. Full Story
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![The Texas flag flies on the south lawn of The Univerisity of Texas at Austin campus on Dec. 3, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
UT-Austin only Texas public university affected by Supreme Court’s ending use of race in admissions
No other public universities use race as a factor, but Texas private schools like Rice and Southern Methodist University will be impacted. Full Story
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![Students walk through the University of Texas campus on May 30, 2023.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune -
New Texas laws favor parents in child abuse investigations as legislators try to limit number of kids in foster care
Legislators also passed bills that will provide foster kids entering the troubled system with duffel bags or backpacks and those aging out of the system with help setting up bank accounts. Full Story
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![The sun sets behind the Texas Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Charges filed against five more people in San Antonio smuggling tragedy that killed 53 migrants
A year after the nation’s deadliest human smuggling event, federal prosecutors say seven people face a maximum of life in prison. One of the suspects, who was not identified, has not been arrested. Full Story
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![Community members gather at a makeshift memorial on Thursday, June 30, 2022 outside San Antonio, TX. Community members paid their respects to the 53 people who died after being left in a truck trailer in a human smuggling operation. Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Judge admonishes Texas foster care officials, saying they don’t properly monitor facilities housing kids
A U.S. district judge has long presided over a court case that found Texas’ foster care system unconstitutionally harms kids. Tuesday’s hearing was the first appearance by the state’s new team of defense attorneys. Full Story
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![The United States District Court in Corpus Christi, Texas on April 11, 2023. This courthouse is home to the Corpus Christi Division of the Southern District of Texas.]()
Credit: Blaine Young for The Texas Tribune -
Twenty years after a breakthrough Texas case launched a new era of gay rights, trans people are still in the fight
The U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for major civil rights victories for queer Americans in the 2003 decision that decriminalized homosexuality. But progress for LGBTQ+ people has been uneven. Full Story
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![People stand with signs and flags as they celebrate the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Lawrence vs. Texas case outside City Hall in Houston on June 26, 2003.]()
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ERCOT can’t be sued over power grid failures during 2021 winter storm, Texas Supreme Court rules
The all-Republican court narrowly found that the nonprofit corporation operating the state’s electrical grid qualifies for sovereign immunity, which protects government entities from lawsuits. Full Story
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![A variety of power lines in Dallas near Greenville Avenue during a winter storm on Feb. 16, 2021. Thousands of Dallas residents have been without power for multiple days.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Supreme Court rejects Texas effort to force Biden administration to change deportation policy
Texas and Louisiana sued after the Biden administration told immigration agents to focus on deporting undocumented immigrants who are convicted of felonies or pose a risk to public safety. The Supreme Court said states didn’t have any standing to sue. Full Story
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![Migrants crossing the border in Roma were apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Aug. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
A year after Dobbs decision, Texas has settled in to a post-abortion reality
The impact of Texas’ near-total ban on abortion is coming into focus as patients and providers leave the state, legal challenges languish and the state’s social safety net braces for a baby boom. Full Story
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![Protesters marched from the federal courthouse to the state Capitol in Austin in opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
A battle over who gets to tell Texas history is brewing into a war over the state historical association’s future
Texas State Historical Association members can’t agree on the makeup of the group’s board. And Executive Director J.P. Bryan, a descendant of Stephen F. Austin, is suing. Full Story
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![Texas State Historical Association merchandise on display at Open Congress during the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Llano County libraries case has lawyers and publishers worried about existing legal precedents
Libraries have been at the receiving end of book challenges, threats and new laws. Now, some worry a federal appeals court could chip away at long-standing protections. Full Story
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![Protestors outside the Llano County Sheriffs office on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The county ruled that the library will remain open after a vote on whether or not to close it due to disagreements over book banning.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
What the possible end to race-conscious admissions means for Texas universities
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s expected ruling on two cases challenging the policy commonly known as affirmative action in college admissions. Full Story
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![Students walk through halls on the University of North Texas campus in Denton on Feb. 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Preference can be given to tribes in adoption and foster placement of Native American children, U.S. Supreme Court rules
Texas had joined with other plaintiffs in arguing that provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act were unconstitutional racial discrimination. Full Story
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![The Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC - Organizers and activists rally as Supreme Court hears a case that challenges the legality of the Indian Child Welfare Act, which prioritizes the placement of Native American children in foster care or adoption with relatives, other tribal members, or in other Native homes on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.]()
Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas AG sues Biden administration over Title IX interpretation
State law that limits transgender student athletes’ participation in sports runs afoul of the updated federal civil rights law, which was expanded to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ students, potentially putting Texas schools at risk of losing federal funding. Full Story
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![A track and field official places a shootout ball down after its use at the UIL State Track and Field meet, on May 11, 2023, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.]()
Credit: Kara Hawley/Austin American-Statesman via REUTERS -
Ken Paxton’s securities fraud trial will remain in Houston, court rules
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruling overturns lower-court decisions that had moved the case back to Collin County, where the suspended attorney general lives. Full Story
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![Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton giving a speech in the Senate chamber during his swearing-in ceremony.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune