The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Patrick, Matthew and Jay about whenever the heck Beto O’Rourke is going to announce his next move, the admissions scandal facing colleges across the country, including UT-Austin, and "Border Hustle," a big Tribune collaboration with Time Magazine. Full Story
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Hospital leaders say restrictions on their property tax revenue growth could force them to scale back services. Full Story
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After shrinking the population at state-run juvenile lockups, state Sen. John Whitmire wants to move the remaining youth at five facilities to one recently closed adult jail. Full Story
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The announcement, made in an internal email, is part of a new but expected wave of cuts aimed at trimming the system's overhead. Full Story
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The Houston Democrat previously forced an impeachment vote on the U.S. House floor in late 2017, when Republicans held the majority. It was soundly defeated by a 364-58 margin. Full Story
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A now-erased provision in Senate Bill 15 explicitly said a potential new state law would not supersede local nondiscrimination ordinances. Without that language, many LGBTQ advocates fear Texans could be exposed to some discriminatory employment practices. Full Story
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During a screening of a documentary that chronicles O'Rourke's failed U.S. Senate bid, the former Democratic congressman's camp sent an email to supporters alerting them to an impending 2020 decision. Full Story
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If the U.S. Senate confirms Brown, the state's highest civil court would see its second vacancy in a period of months. Full Story
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The longtime congressman was one of the last conservative Democrats to switch to the Republican Party. Full Story
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In the first session since Hurricane Harvey, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and three top senators are pushing a legislative package aimed at preparing the state for natural disasters. Full Story
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The proposals that earned the support of lawmakers of all political stripes included ones that strengthen security and beef up mental health initiatives in schools. Full Story
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We're streaming live interviews with John Kasich, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Bill Weld, Julián Castro, John Hickenlooper and Kevin McCarthy. Full Story
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At a public hearing on Monday, state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst — who has long tried to strengthen protections for landowners facing condemnation — challenged officials from fossil fuel groups who said her latest legislation would drag down energy production. Full Story
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It’s unclear how much it would cost to implement all of Sen. Larry Taylor’s proposals. Senate Bill 11 appears to take an unspecified amount from the rainy day fund to help cover the costs. Full Story
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The repercussions Texans face for possessing small amounts of pot — something several states no longer consider criminal — can all depend on where in the state they live. Some lawmakers want an across-the-board relaxation of criminal charges. But stigma fuels lingering opposition. Full Story
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State Rep. Dustin Burrows, author of the House bill, said the House Ways and Means Committee is "not just trying to get something across the finish line as quick as we can." Full Story
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The bill would also nullify mandates some local city councils in major Texas cities have already tried to put in place. The measure is now eligible to be taken up by the full Senate. Full Story
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Not everyone in the Texas Legislature gets deals done under the dome. Some lawmakers are drawn to bars, clubs and restaurants around the state Capitol for the quiet or the queso. Full Story
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The vote was 4-3 along party lines. Whitley now needs two-thirds support of the full Senate to be confirmed. Full Story
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U.S. District Judge Fred Biery called the review "ham-handed" and ordered counties not to remove voters from the rolls without his approval and "a conclusive showing that the person is ineligible to vote." Full Story
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