As Texas swelters, crops and cattle are increasingly at risk
One year after a devastating drought, Texas agriculture watchers are wary that the positive effects of a wet spring could be zapped up with extreme heat. Full Story
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![Cotton fields near the High Plains town of Ralls, about 30 miles east of Lubbock, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Like much of Texas, the High Plains and Panhandle are facing drought conditions and extraordinary heat.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
Nearly 64,000 Texas borrowers will have their federal loans forgiven
A U.S. Department of Education review identified 804,000 borrowers across the country with loans taken more than two decades ago and whose debts should have been canceled but were not because of “administrative failures.” 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 -
Long-awaited $18 billion property tax-cut deal heads to Gov. Greg Abbott
House Democrats attempted to insert benefits for renters and more money for public education into the tax-cuts package in a series of floor amendments but were unsuccessful. Full Story
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![An Aerial image of a suburban neighborhood in San Marcos on October 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Limited regulations make Texas workers responsible for preventing on-the-job heat injuries
In triple-digit temperatures, drinking water frequently and resting in the shade are minimum safety measures for avoiding injuries and deaths. But they are not applied to every job site. Full Story
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![Martin Capallera, 50, a construction employee, throws on his neon vest and slips on his neck gaiter after taking a break in his car while working in the late morning heat in Austin’s West Campus neighborhood on July 6, 2023. Capallera specializes in rewiring buildings and currently works on the 24th floor of a new building on W. 21st Street and San Antonio. “We try to keep our people safe,” Capallera said. “We’re all the time under the sun.”]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
The River Walk transformed San Antonio. Could Panther Island do the same for Fort Worth?
An infusion of federal funding puts Fort Worth on a path to pull off its long-awaited waterfront project. History gives clues to what happens next. Full Story
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![Flood control projects have become economic drivers for many American cities. With this in mind, proponents of Fort Worth’s Panther Island look toward San Antonio’s success while creating their own path forward.]()
Credit: Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Report -
Help us report on how the return of student loan repayments will affect Texans
Student loan repayments are set to resume in October. If you’re a Texas student loan borrower, tell us how this will affect you. Full Story
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![Students walk down Speedway Mall at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House and Senate reach a deal on how to cut property taxes
The deal would channel $12 billion to reduce the school property tax rate for homeowners and business properties, increase the homestead exemption, and create a pilot program to reduce taxes on certain residential and commercial properties. The legislation is expected to pass later this week. Full Story
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![A roofing crew begins to shingle a home under construction in the new Pavilion Park housing development on March 14, 2022 in north Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Texas bans homeowners’ associations from discriminating against renters who receive federal housing aid
State lawmakers passed the law after a North Texas homeowners’ association barred landlords from renting to Section 8 tenants. Most of the affected tenants in that neighborhood were Black. Full Story
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![Clouds roll through the sky over the Providence Creek Village neighborhood in Providence Village, Texas on Thursday, June 30, 2022.]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas lawmakers tussle over property tax relief, it’s unclear whether renters will benefit
Texas’ top Republicans are fighting over how to split property tax cuts between businesses and homeowners. Democrats want renters to see relief, too. Full Story
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![An aerial view of the Kelly Village housing complex in Houston on Sept. 16, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
With second special session underway, Texas lawmakers offer opening property tax-cut proposals
A stalemate among Texas’ top Republicans has dragged on for months. Tax-cut proponents in the House and Senate made their first pitches to end the impasse Wednesday. Full Story
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![Residents put up flags for the Fourth of July in a neighborhood on the south side of Pasadena on July 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
As demand for skilled workers rises in Texas, work-based educational programs see a resurgence
Many Texas residents can opt for a variety of different educational programs that are shorter, more appropriate to their needs and often cost less than a bachelor’s degree. Full Story
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![Jule Preiser, a fourth-semester Robotics student at the Texas State Technical College in Waco, works on a troubleshooting assignment during class on Oct. 24, 2022. Students were given no specific instruction - much like how you might be given a problem if out in the field - and tasked with finding a solution through their own problem solving skills.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas to receive $3.3 billion in federal funds to boost broadband expansion efforts
The federal money will be added to the $1.5 billion investment made by state lawmakers this session to increase broadband availability across Texas. Full Story
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![An aerial view of Groveton March 20, 2023, in Groveton, Texas.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
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 -
Texas lowers barrier for food stamps, but many still won’t qualify
A new state law increases what SNAP applicants’ vehicles can be worth before they’re disqualified for federal food assistance. But most states don’t take car values into consideration at all. Full Story
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![Mercedes Bristol, 68, Executive Director of Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, left, and her youngest grandson, Paul Chavez, 12, right, hold each other in their front yard in San Antonio on June 16, 2023. Bristol is the primary caretaker of her five grandchildren, including Chavez, who is the youngest. Bristol has taken care of Chavez since he was five years old. “Paul has attachment disorder, he’s really scared not to have anybody,” Bristol said. “He didn’t see his mother for 10 years until last year when I knew her addiction had gotten better… be doesn’t know anybody but me that’s been there.” Due to the value of her Bristol’s car being too high, even after a recent improvement in House Bill 1287, Bristol and her family are not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits including food stamps starting Sept. 1. “We’re called the invisible foster care, the hidden foster care, nobody knows about this group of people that are raising grandchildren,” Bristol said. “If we die out, it’s just a moment, but if we stay persistent, we’ll see real change,” Bristol said.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas senators include more property tax cuts for businesses in new pitch to break impasse with House
The Senate’s latest proposal is an apparent effort to appease Gov. Greg Abbott and the lower chamber. The state’s top Republicans have been at odds for months over how to use the state’s historic budget surplus to cut property taxes. Full Story
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![A home in a Houston neighborhood on Dec. 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune -
Texas farmers are worried one of the state’s most precious water resources is running dry. You should be, too.
The Ogallala Aquifer serves farming communities in multiple states. When it runs dry, the agriculture industry in Texas and the nation is in jeopardy. Full Story
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![Field Technician Supervisor Billy Barron uses e-line water level meter to check the level of a water well in a pecan orchard in Lubbock County. Barron was checking water levels near the at the High Plains Underground Water Conservation office Friday, Dec. 13, 2023.]()
Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune -
Some conservatives’ long-term goal in property tax fight: get rid of school taxes altogether
Gov. Greg Abbott has thrown his weight behind the idea being pushed by an influential conservative think tank. Many school leaders are worried. Full Story
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![A neighborhood in Austin, in 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles/The Texas Tribune -
As Texas swelters, local rules requiring water breaks for construction workers will soon be nullified
Gov. Greg Abbott approved a law this week that will eliminate city and county ordinances like Austin’s and Dallas’ mandated water breaks. Full Story
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![Construction laborers work in Downtown Austin on June 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Texas towns are starving for capital and lack the resources to apply for grants. This group hopes to help.
Texas Rural Funders hopes a one-stop resource for grant applications and writers could help small towns win money to fund innovation and capital needs. Full Story
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![An aerial view of Groveton March 20, 2023, in Groveton, Texas.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan join forces on property taxes. It might help the push for school vouchers.
Phelan announced the formation of a House committee that could set the tone in favor of vouchers ahead of an expected special session on education. The move comes weeks after Abbott sided with Phelan on a plan to lower property taxes. Full Story
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![Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan greets Gov. Greg Abbott before speaking to the Texas House during opening ceremonies as the 2021 Texas Legislature gets down to work in Austin on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Pool