How plans for a West Texas drag show turned into a war over the First Amendment
In the staunchly conservative Panhandle, LGBTQ+ Texans say political and legal battles overlook their humanity. Full Story
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![From left, Marcus Stovall and Bear Bright stand of the sidewalk across the street from the courthouse Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 in Canyon, Tx.]()
Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune -
Texas artists discuss art and democracy at Tribune event
During the panel conversation, the panelists talked about what inspires them to do the work they do and how they see their role in driving dialogue, activism and change. Full Story
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![Promo image for an April 10 conversation on Art and democracy discussing how artists are driving dialogue, activism and change in Texas.]()
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U.S. Supreme Court declines to intervene in lawsuit over West Texas A&M drag shows
The decision means university President Walter Wendler could cancel an on-campus drag show next week. He canceled a previous show last year. Full Story
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![Students rallied against the university president’s decision to cancel a drag performance at West Texas A&M University on March 23, 2023.]()
Credit: David Bowser for The Texas Tribune -
Texas counties lead the U.S. in population growth, Census says
Kaufman County, east of Dallas, grew faster than any other in the country from 2022 to 2023. Harris County added the most new residents. Full Story
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![A roofing crew begins to shingle a home under construction in the new Pavilion Park housing development in North Midland Monday, March 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Vicente Gonzalez compares Latino Trump supporters to “Jews for Hitler”
The South Texas Democrat said Latinos who support former President Donald Trump are voting against their self interest, but Republicans recoiled at the comparison. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, at his election night watch party in Brownsville on Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
“This school district has failed him”: Trans Katy teen drops out after gender policy passes
The district’s new approach to gender identity has dramatically impacted students like Kadence Carter, who left Mayde Creek High School after it went into effect. Full Story
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![Kadence Carter, 17, a transgender teen and former Mayde Creek High School student sits for a portrait at his father's workplace Dec. 8, 2023, in Houston. Kadence unenrolled from the school in August 2023 after constant bullying and a teacher misgendering him following passage of a new Katy Independent School District gender identity policy.]()
Credit: Marie D. De Jesús/Houston Landing -
Panelists at Tribune event discuss how to keep downtowns vibrant post-pandemic
The Texas Tribune partnered with the LBJ School of Public Affairs Urban Lab for a panel conversation on the challenges and opportunities facing Texas downtowns. Full Story
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Interfaith collaboration is vital to solving today’s massive challenges, community leaders say
During a conversation hosted in Houston by The Texas Tribune, panelists talked about the importance of building bridges among different faiths despite politics often causing divisions within institutions. Full Story
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![In this Texas Tribune conversation, which is part of our “We the Texans” project looking at the state of democracy in Texas, we’ll talk with faith leaders about improving their communities, getting past the daily vitriol we hear in public discourse and what guidance they give to people who are losing faith in our systems and institutions.]()
Credit: Alfredo Palacios/The Texas Tribune -
Republican voter turnout far outpaces Democrat turnout in 2024 primaries
About 3.2 million Texans voted in the state’s primary election, down from 4.1 million during the 2020 presidential primary. Democratic turnout accounted for the entirety of the decline. Full Story
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![A 'Vote Here' sign is located inside of the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility on Mar. 1, 2024. These signs guide voters into the room where they can cast ballots.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Years before Texas conservatives painted them as criminals, Colony Ridge residents sought help from state agencies
Texas has little to show for conservative leaders’ uproar — or previously unreported complaints about the community developer. Full Story
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![An overhead view of the Colony Ridge development on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in New Caney, Texas.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Judge says Texas school district can punish Black student for length of his hairstyle
After a short trial, a Texas judge ruled that Barbers Hill school officials are not violating a new state law prohibiting hair discrimination. Full Story
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![Darryl George with members of his family. Barbers Hill school district has punished George for his hair.]()
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In El Paso, panelists stress area’s collaboration, slam false portrayals
During a Texas Tribune symposium, speakers discussed how the region’s mind-set of working together to solve problems can benefit other parts of the state. Panelists also said inaccurate narratives around immigration and border security only hurt progress. Full Story
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These three “bandidas” are changing the face of Texas barbecue
With menu items like birria brisket ramen, the Bar-B-Que Bandidas in Lubbock are challenging the norm of Texas barbecue and a male dominated industry. Full Story
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![Raquel Lopez, left, Simone See, center, and Jewel Hill, right, season ribs before putting them on the smoker at Hill Barbecue Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in Lubbock, Texas. (Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Three years after BLM protests gripped nation, a police shooting in Lufkin draws little attention
Texas police killed 141 people last year, according to a database. At least 22, including Aaliyah Anders, were Black. Full Story
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![Lufkin Great Oaks Apartments at 3205 Old Union Road, Lufkin, Texas. Aaliyah Anders, a resident at the complex, was fatally shot by Lufkin police after they responded to her 911 call on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Joel Andrews for the Texas Tribune -
Texans discuss health of state’s democracy at Tribune event
Sessions at the event, held at the University of Houston-Downtown, tackled voter turnout, local governance, community news and more. Full Story
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Feds asked to overhaul school discipline at North Texas school district after students jailed
The complaint claims Bonham ISD and a city court discriminated against both Black students and disabled students by creating a hostile environment at school. The groups also filed a separate complaint against Corpus Christi ISD with the Texas Education Agency. Full Story
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![Students and teachers walk between classes at Blanco Vista Elementary School in San Marcos on Aug. 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
From couch surfing to sleeping in a car: What one teen’s story tells us about homelessness in rural Texas
Georgia DeVries, an East Texas 17-year-old, shared her experience living in a car for one month last year on TikTok. Full Story
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![Georgia DeVries, 17, at a Lufkin-area park on Jan. 18, 2024. Teens in rural areas experiencing homelessness like DeVries face a dearth of services available in cities and often go uncounted.]()
Credit: Leslie Nemec for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court hears legal challenge to ban on gender-transition care for kids
A fight over allowing transgender children to access puberty blockers and hormone therapies could hinge on justices’ interpretation of parental rights. Full Story
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![People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ+ bills on March 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Child care costs in Texas pose a major challenge. These panelists discussed potential solutions.
At a Texas Tribune event held with the LBJ School of Public Affairs’ Urban Lab, experts discussed a unified approach to working with the Texas Legislature to secure funding that would benefit employers, working parents and the broader Texas economy. Full Story
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Texas attorney general requests transgender youths’ patient records from Georgia clinic
This is at least the second time Ken Paxton’s office has sought such records from an out-of-state provider since Texas banned transition-related care for kids. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Collin County Labor day picnic in Plano, Texas on Sept. 2, 2023, just days before his impeachment trial.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribune