Speaker Dade Phelan abandons bid for third term amid bruising leadership battle
Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Houston Rep. Gene Wu to lead Texas House Democrats through GOP-dominated legislative session
Wu defeated incumbent Trey Martinez Fischer on Thursday to become the next chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. Full Story
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![Texas Rep. Gene Wu looks on during a press conference in opposition to Senate Bill 147 outside of City Hall on January 23, 2023, in downtown Houston, Texas.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges
A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill prohibiting minors from using social media accounts as school districts become a “hunting ground” for online dangers. Full Story
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![In this photo illustration, the Social Media icons and Facebook, Messenger and Instagram logos seen displayed on a smartphone.]()
Credit: Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images via REUTERS -
After Texas banned puberty blockers and hormones for trans kids, adults lost care, too
As limitations on trans teens increase, doctors have left the state, weakening an already threadbare system for trans adults. Full Story
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![Colin Zicko on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas on November 20, 2024.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
Texas conservatives plan to further restrict trans lives this legislative session
Emboldened by the recent election, some Texas lawmakers are already filing bills that would dictate bathroom use, limit gender identity markers on documents and restrict funding for surgeries. Full Story
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![People hold signs in front of the Texas Capitol during a protest for transgender kids' rights on Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Maternity care in rural Texas needs a rescue, groups say
Almost half of Texas counties have nowhere to get prenatal care, let alone deliver a baby. This plan offers legislative proposals to shore up what’s left. Full Story
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![CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Jasper Memorial hospital in Jasper on Jan. 3, 2023.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas has billions pledged to expand broadband. Spending it is taking a while.
Despite the efforts of local governments and others, the move to provide internet access to millions of Texans has been slow and faces new challenges. Full Story
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![A sign welcoming visitors to Big Lake. Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Mitch Borden for The Texas Tribune -
Houstonian Mark Swidan to be released from Chinese imprisonment
The Texan has been imprisoned in China for 12 years on charges of drug trafficking. Full Story
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![Mark Swidan.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Swidan Family Free Mark Campaign -
Meet the new Texans in Congress
Five Texans were newly elected to Congress this year, four of whom are set to serve in January. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol surrounded by cherry blossoms on Monday, March 25, 2024 in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
A third woman has died under Texas’ abortion ban as doctors reach for riskier miscarriage treatments
Porsha Ngumezi bled to death as she was miscarrying after her doctor opted against an emergency procedure used to end pregnancies. Full Story
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![Hope and Porsha Ngumezi pose together in a family photo.]()
Credit: Danielle Villasana for ProPublica -
How David Cook went from Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s ally to lead the movement to replace him
The two-term Republican caught many Capitol observers off guard when he emerged as the standard-bearer for a coalition that wants to depose Phelan and reshape how the House operates. Full Story
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![State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico could devastate border region, Texas economists warn
The president-elect said he intends to levy a 25% tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada until drugs and undocumented migrants stop crossing the border. Full Story
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![Shipping containers are seen at the container terminal of the port of Oakland, California on October 28, 2021.]()
Credit: Carlos Barria/REUTERS -
Texas offers Trump administration more land and support for mass deportations
Two events in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday made clear Texas officials will work with the Trump administration on immigration. Full Story
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![Incoming Trump administration appointee Border Czar Tom Homan speaks to DPS Troopers and National Guard troops at a Thanksgiving dinner event in Edinburg on Nov. 26, 2024.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
"Somebody needs to get fired": Vicente Gonzalez blasts Dem strategy on abortion, trans issues
After Democrats underperformed nationally and in Texas, the McAllen Democrat had some sharp commentary for his party and said he won't be taking their advice. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, in his office the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Gonzalez defeated former Republican Representative Mayra Flores to secure the seat for Texas' 34th District in the U.S. House.]()
Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas bill would reclassify abortion drugs as controlled substances
The bill is modeled after a Louisiana law that doctors say has created chaos for other gynecological issues best treated by these drugs. Full Story
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![Boxes of mifepristone, the first pill given in a medical abortion, are prepared for patients at a clinic in New Mexico on Jan. 13, 2023.]()
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Texas ballot secrecy issue draws attention in Legislature, courts
One bill has been filed so far, while a pair of lawsuits focus attention on the issue. Full Story
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![Poll workers return voting equipment to central county station workers at the Brazos Center in Bryan on November 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for Votebeat -
Trump picks Texan Brooke Rollins to lead Agriculture Department
Rollins, who grew up in Glen Rose and once led the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will need Senate confirmation before becoming agriculture secretary. Full Story
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![AFPI President & CEO and Former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Brooke Rollins, speaks during the America First Agenda Summit organized by America First Policy Institute AFPI, on July 25, 2022 in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Oliver Contreras/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Trump nominates former Texas lawmaker Scott Turner to lead Housing and Urban Development
Turner served in the Texas House for four years and was also executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in the first Trump administration. Full Story
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![State Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, gives a personal speech on the House floor in Austin in January 2015 after losing the speaker's race to Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton can’t be deposed in whistleblower suit, court says
The attorney general has agreed not to contest a lawsuit brought by former employees accusing him of retaliation after they said he abused his office. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
A tuition freeze without more state aid could leave Texas universities strapped
Regional colleges rely more on tuition revenue to operate than flagship campuses. Gov. Greg Abbott’s desire to pause increases could create tight financial conditions. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus on the first day of classes at the University of Texas at Arlington on Aug. 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune