The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
After Denton voters decided to ban fracking, other Texas cities could weigh similar moves. Legislators are expected to look at ways to avoid a city-by-city fight over drilling regulations. This is the fourth video in our eight-part State of Mind series. Full Story
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At our 1/22 conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about how the legislature was likely to proceed on pre-K funding and policy. Full Story
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At our 1/22 conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about the likely prospect of vouchers resurfacing as a hot-button issue in the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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At our 1/22 conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about possible legislation to redesign the state's school finance system. Full Story
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Full video of my 1/22 conversation with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
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The Texas Department of Transportation has spent about $10.6 million in education costs since 2002, nearly half what state agencies have spent in total on tuition reimbursements and other educational programs. Check out our breakdown. Full Story
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Texas hospitals want legislators to find a way for the state to draw down billions in federal Affordable Care Act dollars to cover the uninsured and alleviate the burden on local taxpayers. This is the third video in our State of Mind series. Full Story
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A New Mexico man convicted for a drug-fueled triple murder in San Antonio in 1993 was executed on Wednesday, the first Texas inmate to be put to death under Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
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Texans celebrated the inauguration of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick with plenty of fanfare Tuesday in Austin. Here's a look at some of the festivities and what the new officials said about how they’ll lead. Full Story
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This slideshow features the work of our photographers, who covered Tuesday's parade, speeches and inauguration of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, along with the inaugural ball at the Austin Convention Center. Full Story
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In a moment he called "highly improbable," Greg Abbott officially became the 48th governor of Texas in a ceremony on the south steps of the Texas Capitol on Tuesday. His wife, Cecilia Abbott, became the first Latina first lady of Texas. Full Story
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For the fifth straight legislative session, Texas lawmakers will consider bills proposing a statewide ban on texting while driving. There’s more momentum to get it passed, but a difference of opinions among the state’s new leadership could stand in its way. Full Story
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Gov.-elect Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick will officially drop the "elect" from their titles on Tuesday during an elaborate daylong inauguration celebration that has been months in the making. Full Story
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Here's video of the inauguration of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who took their oaths Tuesday at the Texas Capitol. In their following speeches, Abbott and Patrick talked about how they hoped to help Texas continue moving forward. Full Story
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Sure, it's early to talk about the 2018 governor's race. But think about this legislative session and the new faces in state offices and the issues that are developing: This is what you'll be looking back on when that 2018 race starts to form. Full Story
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This week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey leads off with an interview with Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick. Full Story
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Travis County prosecutors said Saturday they dropped several criminal investigations — including one first reported by the Houston Chronicle involving no-bid state contracts — after Gov. Rick Perry vetoed their state funding in 2013. Full Story
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This week was marked by a big turnover in state government, so we’re launching our playlist of the news with "Changes," played here by the Band of Gypsys. Full Story
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With the 84th Legislature underway, we've renewed our State of Mind video series, a look at various issues that communities across the state are talking about. First up, a look at some issues from the last session. Full Story
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Already placed on leave, the deputy chief of staff to Health and Human Services Commission chief Kyle Janek resigned Friday, and has started paying back half the $97,050 tuition paid by the state. Full Story
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