Appeals court to weigh reimposing fines for Texas foster care failures, removing judge on case
Texas Health and Human Services could face $100,000-per-day fines for violating a judge's orders. The state wants the judge off the case. Full Story
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![A caseworker's badge hangs off her neck as she prepares to assist on a case for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in June 2018.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the field
Future Texas therapists must complete internships to start their careers, but there’s not enough providers to mentor all of the students. Full Story
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![Psychotherapist Monrovia Van Hoose's office on Friday, Mar. 11, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Texas activist frustrates election officials with lawsuit about threat to ballot secrecy
Laura Pressley claims she found an “algorithmic pattern” that links voters to their ballots. But she won’t make it public. Full Story
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![Laura Pressley and an illustration of public records from court filings.]()
Credit: llustration by Elaine Cromie/Votebeat | Photo by Evan L’Roy/Texas Tribune | Public Records -
Justice Department finds Texas juvenile detention centers violated youth offenders’ rights
The DOJ found that officers overused pepper spray, kept youths in prolonged isolation and failed to protect them from sexual abuse. Full Story
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![Giddings State School, a juvenile correctional facility managed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, in Giddings.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas attorney general says Biden must continue border wall construction after court deadline passes
Texas sued to stop an executive order issued by President Biden on his Inauguration Day to stop border wall construction and divert funds that had already been allocated for the project. Full Story
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![The border wall as seen from a US CBP helicopter in a remote section of southern New Mexico on December 14, 2021.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Unregulated oilfield power lines are suspected of sparking Texas wildfires
No state agency is taking responsibility for making sure the privately built lines that power many oil and gas sites are safe. Such lines have been blamed for sparking two recent Panhandle fires. Full Story
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![Craig Cowden shows parts of his property that are negligent from oil companies using his land, Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Breezy Point Ranch in Pampa, Texas. Cowden has made numerous complaints about the live wires and trash on his property.]()
Credit: Annie Rice for The Texas Tribune -
Former Texas prisoners describe suffocating heat during trial over state’s un-air conditioned lockups
A lawsuit seeks to force Texas to fully air condition its prison system. Inmate advocacy groups say temperatures can push above 120 degrees in some units. Full Story
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![Prison staff and inmates move through the Darrington Unit's main hallway on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.]()
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Weak infrastructure, distrust make communication during natural disasters hard on rural Texas
When disaster strikes, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy takes command of her county’s emergency communication channels, including a text service and Facebook page. Full Story
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![Floodwater accumulates in a residential area following significant rainstorms in Coldspring, on Saturday, May 4, 2024.]()
Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune -
Judge allows parental controls for Texas kids’ social media accounts, but blocks content moderation requirement
The rest of the law goes into effect Sept. 1. It’s been challenged by tech industry groups and a free speech advocacy organization. Full Story
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![FILE: A child uses a cell phone and a tablet on Oct. 18, 2023, in Madrid, Spain.]()
Credit: Eduardo Parra/Europa Press/ABACA via REUTERS -
The wait is over: Here’s our full 2024 Texas Tribune Festival lineup
We’ve added Nancy Pelosi, Janet Yellen, Lyle Lovett, Wes Moore and Daniel Lubetzky to our roster of more than 300 speakers across 100 must-see conversations on the issues facing our state and our nation. Join us. Full Story
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Marijuana decriminalization measures in San Marcos, Austin get early court wins
Three other cities have passed similar measures but the Texas AG and others question whether they can be enforced because of conflicts with state law. Full Story
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![A sign asking for the decriminalization of marijuana is posted outside of an event hosted by Ground Game in Harker Heights on Dec. 3, 2022.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Water Board details how it will spend $1 billion for water infrastructure projects
About $45 million will go to Texas towns with fewer than 1,000 residents — a boon for municipalities without a viable tax base. Full Story
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![Director of the Program Administration and Reporting division of the Texas Water Development Board’s Water Supply and Infrastructure Department Marvin Cole-Chaney speaks to the water development board Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Austin.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Search the newly updated Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of July 1. Full Story
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![Government Salaries Explorer]()
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CenterPoint CEO promises improvements as Texas scrutinizes company’s Beryl response
Jason Wells told regulators the company will launch a new outage tracker by Aug. 1. It will also trim more tree limbs near power lines and hire an executive to focus on emergency response. Full Story
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![CenterPoint President and CEO Jason Wells addresses the Public Utilities Commission
at a hearing in Austin on July 25, 2024. The energy company proposed action plans for improved customer communication and restoring power quickly in future outages.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
Texans, what are your thoughts on the 2024 election?
We want to hear from all Texans – even if you can’t vote or are not sure you want to vote. Full Story
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![A view of the U.S. and Texas flags flown on the south side of the Texas Capitol from the Capitol Dome in Austin on Aug. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Former Uvalde officer pleads not guilty to criminal charges over delayed mass shooting response
Adrian Gonzalez appeared in court Thursday after being indicted over law enforcement’s delay in confronting a gunman. Pete Arredondo previously pleaded not guilty. Full Story
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![The Uvalde County Courthouse on June 2, 2022.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
El Paso County officials say it’s time the state pays for Operation Lone Star arrests
County officials issued a disaster declaration Tuesday, saying the state’s mass arrests at the border have cost the county millions of dollars and overwhelmed its criminal justice system. Full Story
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![An undocumented Mexican migrant waits to board the vehicle where he will be transported after being arrested for trespassing private property by State Troopers as part of Operation Lone Star in Kinney County, on Nov. 9, 2021.]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for ProPublica/The Texas Tribune -
Public Utility Commission releases investigative report on CenterPoint Energy’s Hurricane Beryl response
The company’s power outages in July have drawn the ire of state leaders. Here’s what you need to know. Full Story
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![Electric trucks line up to provide support with major power outages after Hurricane Beryl in Houston, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.]()
Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune -
Texas attorney general can’t question Catholic Charities director over migrant services, court says
Wednesday’s ruling is the second time a Texas judge has ruled against the attorney general for investigating shelters helping migrants. Full Story
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![A table displayed with religious objects for sermons inside the Catholic Charities RGV Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen on April 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Big price cut ordered for inmate phone and video calls across Texas
A new FCC rule means a cap of 5 cents a minute for most inmate phone and video calls in the state of Texas. Full Story
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![Guard towers are located around the Polunsky Unit on Jan. 31, 2024.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune