INSIDER
Republicans win Tarrant County, moving local government further to the right
Read full article: Republicans win Tarrant County, moving local government further to the rightFormer state Rep. Matt Krause’s win may push the commissioners court even further away from the bipartisanship on which it once prided itself.
Conservative Christians want more religion in public life. Texas lawmakers are listening.
Read full article: Conservative Christians want more religion in public life. Texas lawmakers are listening.Opponents of church-state separation have been emboldened by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and the growing acceptance of Christian nationalism on the right.
Residents sue Llano County officials, library director, board members to end book bans
Read full article: Residents sue Llano County officials, library director, board members to end book bansA federal lawsuit claims Llano County public officials’ efforts to remove library books are a coordinated censorship campaign.
Some Texas Republicans push for Gov. Greg Abbott to use state personnel to deport migrants
Read full article: Some Texas Republicans push for Gov. Greg Abbott to use state personnel to deport migrantsDeclaring an “invasion” under the U.S. Constitution is an incendiary idea that would spark immediate court challenges given that immigration law enforcement is a federal responsibility.
Texas students push back against book bans for censoring LGBTQ, racial justice issues
Read full article: Texas students push back against book bans for censoring LGBTQ, racial justice issuesStudents are forming banned-book clubs and distribution drives to contest restrictions that focus mostly on LGBTQ and racial themes.
ACLU wants North Texas school district to apologize for removing over 100 library books
Read full article: ACLU wants North Texas school district to apologize for removing over 100 library booksMost of the titles focus on LGBTQ, race or identity issues. Though Granbury ISD said most of the books have been returned, the ACLU called on the district to affirm its commitment to inclusivity.
Analysis: Running a Texas election while voters are distracted — by politics
Read full article: Analysis: Running a Texas election while voters are distracted — by politicsWith less than five weeks left in the primary election season, there is no shortage of political issues to debate. But most of the political conversation isn’t about the election.
Gov. Greg Abbott taps into parent anger to fuel reelection campaign
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott taps into parent anger to fuel reelection campaignAbbott promises a “parental bill of rights” amendment to the Texas Constitution. Current education code already provides an array of parent protections when it comes to schools.
Texas’ 2022 races coming into focus as candidate filings close
Read full article: Texas’ 2022 races coming into focus as candidate filings closeEvery statewide office, legislative seat and U.S. House district will be on the ballot next year when the state’s new political maps are expected to be used.
Texas education officials investigating whether Keller school district has books with sexually explicit content
Read full article: Texas education officials investigating whether Keller school district has books with sexually explicit contentThe district appears to be the first one to be investigated since Republicans started raising questions in October about content in public school libraries.
NEISD responds to concerns about book review process
Read full article: NEISD responds to concerns about book review processThe North East Independent School District is clarifying its decision to review hundreds of books currently in their libraries that may be seen as inappropriate to certain school age children.
San Antonio-area school district reviews 400 books flagged by a Texas lawmaker’s inquiry
Read full article: San Antonio-area school district reviews 400 books flagged by a Texas lawmaker’s inquiryNorth East ISD, one of the largest districts in the state, appears to be the first one to respond to state Rep. Matt Krause’s investigation into the kinds of books held in school libraries.
Republican state Rep. Matt Krause drops out of attorney general’s race to run for Tarrant County district attorney
Read full article: Republican state Rep. Matt Krause drops out of attorney general’s race to run for Tarrant County district attorneyKrause had been among the primary challengers to Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose legal problems have made him a target for both parties next year.
UT-Austin professors criticize university for halting antiracism study with preschoolers
Read full article: UT-Austin professors criticize university for halting antiracism study with preschoolersThe decision to halt the study comes after a University of Michigan-Flint professor filed an Office for Civil Rights complaint against the study, arguing it discriminates against children of color. But professors said pausing the study sets a negative precedent that could impact academic freedom.
Penguin parents, anti-bullying tips, teen romance: What we found inside three books flagged by a Texas lawmaker’s schools inquiry
Read full article: Penguin parents, anti-bullying tips, teen romance: What we found inside three books flagged by a Texas lawmaker’s schools inquiryState Rep. Matt Krause is investigating whether Texas school districts have purchased any of nearly 850 books in a list he produced last month.
Gov. Greg Abbott directs TEA to investigate ‘availability of pornography’ in public schools
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott directs TEA to investigate ‘availability of pornography’ in public schoolsGov. Greg Abbott ramped up pressure on public schools Wednesday morning after ordering the Texas Education Agency to investigate “pornographic books” and “obscene content” in Texas public schools.
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert exploring run against Attorney General Ken Paxton in increasingly crowded GOP primary
Read full article: U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert exploring run against Attorney General Ken Paxton in increasingly crowded GOP primaryLand Commissioner George P. Bush, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and state Rep. Matt Krause are also vying for the GOP nomination next year.
Gov. Greg Abbott tells state agencies to develop standards to block books with "overtly sexual" content in schools
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott tells state agencies to develop standards to block books with "overtly sexual" content in schoolsAbbott targeted two books that have been removed by schools recently that center on LGBTQ characters. One of the books includes a graphic illustration and the other includes depictions of sex.
Gov. Greg Abbott chastises school board group with vague accusation of “pornographic images” in library books
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott chastises school board group with vague accusation of “pornographic images” in library booksAbbott’s letter comes on the heels of an inquiry launched by state Rep. Matt Krause, a Fort Worth Republican running for Texas attorney general. Krause sent a letter to certain school districts with an 850-book list that included novels about racism and sexuality.
TribCast: Previewing the Texas abortion law’s day in the U.S. Supreme Court
Read full article: TribCast: Previewing the Texas abortion law’s day in the U.S. Supreme CourtIn this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Reese and Brian about Monday’s oral arguments in the Supreme Court over the state’s near-total abortion ban and a lawmaker’s request to investigate books in school libraries.
Texas lawmaker keeping mum on inquiry into what books students can access as school districts grapple with how to respond
Read full article: Texas lawmaker keeping mum on inquiry into what books students can access as school districts grapple with how to respondCritics say state Rep. Matt Krause's inquiry targets books about women, people of color and LGBTQ people. The lawmaker says providing specifics about his inquiry "could compromise a potential investigation."
Analysis: Matt Krause’s campaign for attorney general comes with a reading list
Read full article: Analysis: Matt Krause’s campaign for attorney general comes with a reading listState Rep. Matt Krause, a Republican candidate for attorney general, wants public schools to explain some of the books in their libraries. He's got questions about content, along with a way to get some attention from voters.
Texas House committee to investigate school districts’ books on race and sexuality
Read full article: Texas House committee to investigate school districts’ books on race and sexualityState Rep. Matt Krause, a candidate for state attorney general, asked school superintendents to confirm whether any books on a list of 850 titles are in their libraries and classrooms.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s three Republican challengers criticize his legal problems — and pitch themselves as the best GOP nominee
Read full article: Attorney General Ken Paxton’s three Republican challengers criticize his legal problems — and pitch themselves as the best GOP nomineePaxton is facing challenges from three fellow Republicans in his bid for a third term. In interviews at The Texas Tribune Festival, they each took him to task for the legal problems he has accrued in office, with two saying he should resign.
House Freedom Caucus member Matt Krause challenges Ken Paxton for Texas attorney general
Read full article: House Freedom Caucus member Matt Krause challenges Ken Paxton for Texas attorney generalThe Fort Worth lawmaker, who has been close to Paxton, is the third serious primary challenger to emerge.
What is gender-affirming medical care for transgender children? Here’s what you need to know.
Read full article: What is gender-affirming medical care for transgender children? Here’s what you need to know.Gender-affirming care, which leading health care organizations in Texas say is the best way to provide care to transgender children, is emerging as a top target of state Republicans and lies at the heart of brewing political and legal battles.
Texas GOP’s bills targeting transgender children have exacted a mental health toll, even if they don’t become law
Read full article: Texas GOP’s bills targeting transgender children have exacted a mental health toll, even if they don’t become lawAs the clock ticks on this year's legislative session, the House scheduled a Tuesday floor debate for a bill that would limit transgender children's sports team participation. Other GOP bills that would restrict or punish transition-related health care, like puberty blockers, missed a key Sunday deadline to advance.