Here’s how the federal government shutdown is affecting Texas
Court cases are slowing down and it’s taking some people longer to buy a home, but national parks are open and the Border Patrol is still working. Full Story
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"I don't do this for fun." Patients are hopeful Texas will expand access to medical cannabis
The Texas Legislature is about to kick off its first session since three licensed marijuana dispensaries opened in the state, providing cannabis products for hundreds of patients. Now advocates are hopeful that lawmakers are ready to dramatically expand that program to thousands more Texans who stand to benefit. Full Story
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![Joshua Raines, an Afghanistan combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, smokes from his marijuana vape pen after returning home early from his son's choir performance due to experiencing PTSD symptoms.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson -
Democratic states appeal ruling declaring Obamacare unconstitutional
A federal judge ruled last month that the sweeping health care law is unconstitutional in its entirety. Full Story
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![Obamacare sign in east Austin on Dec. 1, 2015.]()
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In Poland, midwives play a significant role in childbirth. In Texas? Not so much.
Poland and Texas have comparable populations and conservative governments. But they differ significantly in how health care is delivered for women. Revisit our July report about the role midwives play in the childbirth process in the two places. Full Story
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![A midwife cares for a newborn baby at the Independent Public Health Care Center in Myślenice, Poland.]()
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Catch up on some of The Texas Tribune's top projects from 2018
The Texas Tribune produced several deep-dive investigations in 2018 that examined various issues that affect Texans across the state. Here's a look at some of those standout projects. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Reynaldo Leal / Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
By gutting Obamacare, Judge Reed O’Connor handed Texas a win. It wasn’t the first time.
The Texas Attorney General's Office has made a habit of filing lawsuits against the federal government that land in O'Connor's court. Full Story
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In Texas, "a perception that tuberculosis no longer exists" raises alarm for legislative attention
Tuberculosis is a rare disease, but public health experts are urging Texas legislators to invest in expensive medication, nurses who can help patients and supporting local health departments to test and treat people who may have been exposed. Full Story
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![Nurse Paul Chege prepares to deliver meals to patients at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease in San Antonio on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Texas still hasn't expanded Medicaid. That's leaving a gap in coverage for hundreds of thousands.
More and more states have decided to expand Medicaid, but Texas has not budged. With more than a half million Texans in the so-called health coverage gap, will the politics of the issue shift in next year's legislative session? Full Story
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![Tanya Walker, who now lives in Wichita, Kansas, said it was difficult to manage her diabetes without having health coverage.]()
Credit: Jason Massingill for The Texas Tribune -
Federal judge rules Obamacare unconstitutional, handing Texas an early win
Fort Worth U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that the individual mandate — a critical component of Obamacare — is unconstitutional, rendering the rest of the law invalid as well. Full Story
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![Dr. Javier Saenz, who has a medical practice in the Rio Grande Valley town of La Joya, prepared his clinic’s X-ray machine in 2012.]()
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Watch: A conversation on health care and Texas' 86th Legislature
We're livestreaming our conversation in El Paso on the health care agenda heading into the 86th legislative session. Full Story
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Texas Reps. Sheffield and Coleman discuss the opioid epidemic
The Texas Tribune hosted a conversation with state Reps. J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville, Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and Dr. Stephanie Jones from the UT Southwestern Medical Center. The discussion was moderated by Tribune health and human services reporter Marissa Evans. Full Story
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![The Texas Tribune hosted a panel on opioid abuse in Texas in Arlington on Dec. 5, 2018. Left to right: moderator and Tribune health reporter Marissa Evans, state Rep. J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville, Stephanie Jones, assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain management at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
House committee says Texas faces "significant challenges" in curbing substance abuse
In a report released Friday, the House Select Committee on Opioids and Substance Abuse wrote that Texas "must remain vigilant" when it comes to ongoing issues around addiction and drug abuse. Full Story
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Texas has the highest number of uninsured kids in America, report finds
A Georgetown University Center for Children and Families report released Thursday found that Texas had about 835,000 uninsured children in 2017, an increase of 83,000 kids from the previous year. Full Story
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![A father holds his child in a public health clinic outside of McAllen, Texas.]()
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Anti-vaccine Texas families may take their fight to day cares next
A leading anti-vaccine group claims that day cares are breaking the law by denying kids who haven't been vaccinated. Experts say the group is misinterpreting the law. Full Story
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They wish there were more jobs, but rural Texans are happy where they are, poll finds
Rural Texans like the places where they live — the environment, the pace, the lifestyle — but they'd like to have access to better jobs, a new poll finds. Full Story
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Facing challenges from Texas and D.C., a new Affordable Care Act enrollment period begins
This year, there's no penalty for people who don't sign up for insurance, and the federal government isn't spending as much to promote enrollment. Full Story
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Texans’ top issues facing the state? Immigration and border security, says UT/TT poll
Immigration and border security continue to top the list of Texas voters' concerns, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Why the candidates are arguing more about health care than Trump in Texas' top races for Congress
With early voting underway, health care is enduring as a central issue in Texas' most competitive contests for the U.S. House. Full Story
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![Top: Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, Democratic challenger for CD-7 and U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston; middle: Colin Allred, Democratic challenger for CD-32 and U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas; bottom: Gina Ortiz Jones, Democratic challenger for CD-23 and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes.]()
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Texas doctors seek more opioid addiction treatment options under Medicaid
The state’s Drug Utilization Review Board is taking public comment on whether to expand Medicaid’s preferred drug list to include medication-assisted treatments for opioid addiction besides Suboxone. Full Story
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![Sublingual Suboxone tablets.]()
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Business groups launch coalition to push for statewide pre-emption of paid sick leave ordinances
Several members of the new coalition are also part of a legal challenge to Austin's paid sick leave ordinance. Full Story
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![Austin City Council members and staff listen to testimony on paid sick leave on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018. After hearing from more than 200 people, council members passed the ordinance, the first of its kind in Texas, by a vote of 9-2.]()
Credit: Waylon Cunningham for The Texas Tribune