INSIDER
A tuition freeze without more state aid could leave Texas universities strapped
Read full article: A tuition freeze without more state aid could leave Texas universities strappedRegional colleges rely more on tuition revenue to operate than flagship campuses. Gov. Greg Abbottās desire to pause increases could create tight financial conditions.
Ken Paxton adds Dallas to list of cities he's sued over marijuana decriminalization
Read full article: Ken Paxton adds Dallas to list of cities he's sued over marijuana decriminalizationDallas is the sixth Texas city the attorney general has sued this year over marijuana decriminalization measures that he says conflicts with state law.
Could Texas do for Alzheimerās research what it did for cancer?
Read full article: Could Texas do for Alzheimerās research what it did for cancer?Modeled after the stateās $6 billion cancer research fund, the dementia fund ā a legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick ā could pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Texas researchers.
UNT faculty slam university for removing references to race and equity in course names
Read full article: UNT faculty slam university for removing references to race and equity in course namesProfessors and instructors say the university is preemptively censoring itself after administrators removed references to race and equity in dozens of College of Education course titles and descriptions.
A West Texas lawmaker wants to redirect millions of tax dollars to plug abandoned wells, curb emissions
Read full article: A West Texas lawmaker wants to redirect millions of tax dollars to plug abandoned wells, curb emissionsThe proposal comes after the stateās oil and gas regulatory agency said it needs more money to plug wells that are in some instances erupting.
Texas can schedule Robert Robersonās execution ā but lawmakers still expect his testimony first
Read full article: Texas can schedule Robert Robersonās execution ā but lawmakers still expect his testimony firstRoberson was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in a āshaken babyā case that many say led to an innocent manās death sentence.
Texasā top elected officials signal Texas could cut border spending after Trump takes office
Read full article: Texasā top elected officials signal Texas could cut border spending after Trump takes officeWith Donald Trump returning to the White House, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have both recently signaled new openness to winding down the stateā border security operation.
Why Democratsā abortion messaging failed to resonate in Texas, despite unpopular bans
Read full article: Why Democratsā abortion messaging failed to resonate in Texas, despite unpopular bansTexasā strict abortion bans made it āground zeroā for Democrats hoping to rile up their base, but voters prioritized economic issues.
A push to change a 2019 Texas law that bars certain felons from becoming social workers
Read full article: A push to change a 2019 Texas law that bars certain felons from becoming social workersTexas prohibits people with assault convictions, among other felonies, from becoming social workers. A new lawsuit says the ban is unconstitutional.
Texas lawmakers target property taxes, abortion and gender transition care in first bills for the 2025 session
Read full article: Texas lawmakers target property taxes, abortion and gender transition care in first bills for the 2025 sessionTuesday marked the first day lawmakers could file bills for next yearās legislative session.
Texas Supreme Court removes temporary block to Robert Robersonās execution
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court removes temporary block to Robert Robersonās executionThe stateās highest civil court ruled that legislators canāt use subpoenas to block death row inmatesā executions, but suggested thereās still time for Roberson to testify before a Texas House panel.
A growing and aging population is forcing Texas counties to seek state EMS funding
Read full article: A growing and aging population is forcing Texas counties to seek state EMS fundingAlthough Texas counties are not required to provide ambulance services, many are digging deep to pay for their own fleet or to contract out services.
How āwildly successfulā anti-trans ads fired up Texas voters for Republicans
Read full article: How āwildly successfulā anti-trans ads fired up Texas voters for RepublicansThe barrage of ads focused on trans kids playing youth sports motivated the Republican base as Democrats struggled to respond.
How zebra mussels and a Lake Texoma pump station spurred Texas to redraw its border with Oklahoma
Read full article: How zebra mussels and a Lake Texoma pump station spurred Texas to redraw its border with OklahomaThe two states agreed to a land swap to ensure that a Dallas-area water districtās pump station lies wholly within Texas. Neither state gained in size from the small change.
How to stay politically engaged in between election cycles
Read full article: How to stay politically engaged in between election cyclesFrom engaging with representatives to joining advocacy groups, there are numerous ways to continue participating in democracy and shaping policy after the polls close.
Texas Legislature will approve school vouchers and boost public education funds next year, Abbott says
Read full article: Texas Legislature will approve school vouchers and boost public education funds next year, Abbott saysLast year, Abbott refused to give public schools a major raise without passing a voucher program. His tone was more conciliatory after Election Day.
Texas voter turnout falls in 2024 election despite record registration numbers
Read full article: Texas voter turnout falls in 2024 election despite record registration numbersA historic 18.6 million Texans were registered to vote in the 2024 election, and 61% cast ballots, a nearly 6% drop from the 2020 presidential race.
Republicans maintain majority on the Texas State Board of Education
Read full article: Republicans maintain majority on the Texas State Board of EducationTom Maynard, Pam Little, Aaron Kinsey and Brandon Hall prevailed in contested races. The race for District 1 was still undetermined as of Wednesday morning.
Election Day updates: South Texas continues dramatic shift toward Donald Trump, GOP
Read full article: Election Day updates: South Texas continues dramatic shift toward Donald Trump, GOPTexas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans.
Abortion, the economy, immigration and transgender rights: Voters across Texas explain their vote
Read full article: Abortion, the economy, immigration and transgender rights: Voters across Texas explain their voteTexans from across the state went to the polls early with plenty on their mind. The Texas Tribune partnered with other news organizations to hear from a diverse cross-section of voters.
Dan Patrick debunks claims about Texas voting machines switching votes
Read full article: Dan Patrick debunks claims about Texas voting machines switching votesRepublican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump said Texas had fixed an error with voting machines, but Patrick quickly said there was no problem to fix.
Texas withdraws request to block U.S. Justice Department from monitoring stateās elections
Read full article: Texas withdraws request to block U.S. Justice Department from monitoring stateās electionsThe federal agency agreed their monitors would remain outside polling locations and wouldnāt interfere with voting.
State oil regulator requests $100 million to tackle West Texas well blowouts
Read full article: State oil regulator requests $100 million to tackle West Texas well blowoutsAbandoned wells in the Permian Basin are increasingly erupting with briney, polluted water. The Texas Railroad Commission says it needs emergency money to respond.
When will Texas election results come in? Hereās how the process unfolds.
Read full article: When will Texas election results come in? Hereās how the process unfolds.By state law, Election Day totals must be submitted to the state within 24 hours after polls close. Meeting that deadline requires careful but quick work.
In Texas, criminal charges and misdemeanor convictions donāt automatically take away peopleās voting rights
Read full article: In Texas, criminal charges and misdemeanor convictions donāt automatically take away peopleās voting rightsTexans serving time for misdemeanor offenses or who are in jail awaiting trial are eligible to vote but only two counties offer voting in jail.
Texas buys two ranches near the border, including a huge property next to Big Bend National Park
Read full article: Texas buys two ranches near the border, including a huge property next to Big Bend National ParkA Starr County property was purchased to build border wall, while Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said the state has many options for a sprawling ranch in West Texas.
There are warring depictions of Robert Robersonās murder case. Hereās what to know.
Read full article: There are warring depictions of Robert Robersonās murder case. Hereās what to know.Even before the Texas manās death sentence became a political lightning rod, law enforcement and medical experts had differing opinions on the evidence that convicted him.
Ken Paxton calls on Rep. Jeff Leach to resign over texts to judge in Robert Roberson case
Read full article: Ken Paxton calls on Rep. Jeff Leach to resign over texts to judge in Robert Roberson caseThe AG also said heād make a criminal referral against the lawmaker, who apologized for texting a Court of Criminal Appeals judge about a new trial for the death row inmate.
Ken Paxton resisting Texas House membersā bid to hear Robert Robersonās testimony
Read full article: Ken Paxton resisting Texas House membersā bid to hear Robert Robersonās testimonyMembers of a Texas House committee say in a Texas Supreme Court filing that Paxtonās office is blocking the death row inmate from complying with a legislative subpoena.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing freshwater mussels as endangered
Read full article: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing freshwater mussels as endangeredThe lawsuit claims the endangered designation for six mussel species is a misuse of environmental law that threatens Texasā economy.
How 11 Texas cities made housing unaffordable ā and whatās being done to fix it
Read full article: How 11 Texas cities made housing unaffordable ā and whatās being done to fix itTexas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with the demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.
Texas is slashing $607 million in Medicaid funding from program for students with disabilities
Read full article: Texas is slashing $607 million in Medicaid funding from program for students with disabilitiesSchool officials says the state decision to cut federal money likely will hurt their ability to recruit and retain critical staff for students with disabilities.
Long lines but few problems as Texas wraps the first week of early voting
Read full article: Long lines but few problems as Texas wraps the first week of early votingA Bexar County election worker was assaulted Thursday, officials said. In Tarrant County, officials encouraged voters to review their ballots before voting.
Robert Robersonās case spotlights Texasā GOP divide on criminal justice
Read full article: Robert Robersonās case spotlights Texasā GOP divide on criminal justiceTexasā junk science statute has remained hamstrung for the last decade. So too have other criminal justice reforms, despite efforts from the Texas House.
Board cancels costly psychologist licensing exam after pushback led by Texas
Read full article: Board cancels costly psychologist licensing exam after pushback led by TexasThe national licensing board announced it will consider folding the proposed skills test into an existing exam amid worries the additional hurdle would discourage applicants.
Facing election scrutiny, Texas prepares for Nov. 5 with paper ballots and strengthened security
Read full article: Facing election scrutiny, Texas prepares for Nov. 5 with paper ballots and strengthened securityOnly a handful of Texas counties will not have all in-person voters cast paper ballots at the polls. By 2026, all voting machines in Texas must produce a paper trail, per a 2021 state law.
Robert Roberson juror says new evidence would have prevented his conviction in shaken baby case
Read full article: Robert Roberson juror says new evidence would have prevented his conviction in shaken baby caseThe death row inmate was expected to testify before a Texas House committee, but those plans were scrapped amid a dispute over whether he should appear in person or virtually.
As Robert Robersonās execution neared, Gov. Greg Abbott stuck to silence
Read full article: As Robert Robersonās execution neared, Gov. Greg Abbott stuck to silenceItās rare for governors to step in to halt executions. In the case of Robert Roberson, it ended up being state lawmakers who took extraordinary steps.
āMore than our wombsā: Women in conservative Texas cities mobilizing to end GOP dominance
Read full article: āMore than our wombsā: Women in conservative Texas cities mobilizing to end GOP dominanceDemocrats in Lubbock and Amarillo hope Kamala Harrisā candidacy and a backlash to abortion laws will help make their long-held vision of a blue wave a reality.
Texas lawmakers signal push to require proof of citizenship from voters
Read full article: Texas lawmakers signal push to require proof of citizenship from votersGov. Greg Abbott gave an inflated number of noncitizens removed from the stateās voter rolls, officials acknowledged, confirming findings by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, and Votebeat.
Watch: Texas lawmakers discuss noncitizens on the voter rolls
Read full article: Watch: Texas lawmakers discuss noncitizens on the voter rollsHereās what you need to know after a ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and Votebeat investigation found that Gov. Greg Abbott likely inflated the number of noncitizens on voter rolls.
Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water system
Read full article: Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water systemThe South Texas city is the latest to grapple with aging water infrastructure, which officials suggested could have been the cause for the E. coli outbreak.
Republicans raise $1 million targeting South Texas House races as Democrats invest elsewhere
Read full article: Republicans raise $1 million targeting South Texas House races as Democrats invest elsewhereDemocrats have long held an edge in South Texas, but Republicans see an opening there to expand their House majority.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Legislature will review Deloitteās contracts after public loan project scandal
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Legislature will review Deloitteās contracts after public loan project scandalThe examination of Deloitteās existing contracts comes after it failed to catch red flags in a companyās application for a loan to build or upgrade power plants in the state.
Texas is a young state with older elected officials. Some young leaders are trying to change that.
Read full article: Texas is a young state with older elected officials. Some young leaders are trying to change that.The average age of Texans last year was 37, while the Legislatureās average age was 55. Hurdles to voting and the unique challenges young candidates encounter fuel the mismatch.
How Texasā environmental agency weakened a once-rigorous air pollution monitoring team
Read full article: How Texasā environmental agency weakened a once-rigorous air pollution monitoring teamFormer employees say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality gutted the unit soon after the fracking boom swept the state oil industry. The operation never returned to what it was before.
Hereās how to register to vote in Texas before the Oct. 7 deadline
Read full article: Hereās how to register to vote in Texas before the Oct. 7 deadlineOur guide can help you determine how to register, who is eligible to vote, whether youāre still registered and more in advance of Election Day.
Abortion, private school vouchers and legislative control are the key issues in Texasā 2024 election
Read full article: Abortion, private school vouchers and legislative control are the key issues in Texasā 2024 electionTexan voters will have significant influence in November, both within and outside the state. They will be electing a U.S. senator, 38 U.S. House members, 150 state House members, as well as various judges and local elected officials. Additionally, they will have influence over important questions.
Animal welfare advocates will plead with Texas lawmakers to help cities control stray pet population
Read full article: Animal welfare advocates will plead with Texas lawmakers to help cities control stray pet populationOne group estimated more than 568,000 cats and dogs entered shelters in 2023. About 82,000 cats and dogs were euthanized.
Attorney General Ken Paxton targets El Paso nonprofit that offers legal services to migrants
Read full article: Attorney General Ken Paxton targets El Paso nonprofit that offers legal services to migrantsAttorney General Ken Paxton has investigated at least five organizations this year that do immigration-related work.
Despite warnings, Texas rushed to remove millions from Medicaid. Eligible residents lost care.
Read full article: Despite warnings, Texas rushed to remove millions from Medicaid. Eligible residents lost care.Texas officials acknowledged some errors after they stripped Medicaid coverage from more than 2 million people, most of them children. A ProPublica and Texas Tribune review of records shows that these mistakes and others were preventable.
Many Americans say immigration is out of control, but 24 hours on the Texas-Mexico border showed a new reality. Will it last?
Read full article: Many Americans say immigration is out of control, but 24 hours on the Texas-Mexico border showed a new reality. Will it last?The Texas Tribune and The Associated Press visited five locations along the 1,254-mile span to separate the facts from the political narrative during a heated election year.
Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing Texas lizard as endangered
Read full article: Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing Texas lizard as endangeredThe lawsuit claims federal regulators have undermined the Texas oil and gas industry by misusing environmental law, negatively impacting drilling and production.
Republicans who want to oust Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan unanimously back state Rep. David Cook
Read full article: Republicans who want to oust Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan unanimously back state Rep. David CookFour GOP state representatives suspended their bids to challenge Phelan and 48 Republicans backed Cook, which could threaten Phelanās shot at a third term.
Study finds levels of a dangerous gas āoff the scalesā in Central Texas oilfield
Read full article: Study finds levels of a dangerous gas āoff the scalesā in Central Texas oilfieldThe smell of oil wells has long permeated Caldwell County, near Austin and San Antonio. Now researchers have documented wells releasing dangerous amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas.
Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seat
Read full article: Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seatThe first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families.
Judge tosses Ken Paxtonās lawsuit targeting Bexar Countyās voter registration effort
Read full article: Judge tosses Ken Paxtonās lawsuit targeting Bexar Countyās voter registration effortThe county told a state district court judge that the applications were already mailed out and any ruling would be moot.
Texas lawmakers question agency's ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after initial glitch
Read full article: Texas lawmakers question agency's ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after initial glitchLawmakers tasked the Public Utility Commission with overseeing the Texas Energy Fund, though the agency has no experience running a loan program.
Texas officials say theyāve scrubbed the voter rolls. Hereās how to check if youāre still on them.
Read full article: Texas officials say theyāve scrubbed the voter rolls. Hereās how to check if youāre still on them.The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and Votebeat want to hear from people removed from voter rolls.
Amarillo Republican John Smithee joins Texas House speaker race
Read full article: Amarillo Republican John Smithee joins Texas House speaker raceAfter Attorney General Ken Paxtonās failed impeachment trial, his allies touted Smithee, one of the Houseās most senior members, as a speaker candidate.
Ken Paxton agrees to pause its investigation into Texas civic groupās voter registration efforts
Read full article: Ken Paxton agrees to pause its investigation into Texas civic groupās voter registration effortsJolt, which advocates for more Latino voting participation, says the attorney generalās probe spurred threatening comments online.
At this West Texas church, āthe Lordās workā is helping the poor, not rewriting state law
Read full article: At this West Texas church, āthe Lordās workā is helping the poor, not rewriting state lawLed by co-pastors Joe and Dawn Weaks, Connection Christian Church, a 118-year-old congregation in Odessa, has transformed while keeping true to its legacy of helping the community.
Texasā battle against deer disease threatens breeding industry
Read full article: Texasā battle against deer disease threatens breeding industryTexas has seen a record number of chronic wasting disease cases this year. The state is looking for new ways to contain the spread without driving deer breeders out of business.
Texasā prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics say
Read full article: Texasā prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics sayAbout 25% of Texasā correctional officer positions are unfilled. Inmates say the shortages make it harder for them to get respite during hot summer months.
Texas school districts say upgrades to the stateās student data reporting system could hurt their funding
Read full article: Texas school districts say upgrades to the stateās student data reporting system could hurt their fundingThe Texas Education Agency says thereās time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get.
Texas proposes first new rules for oilfield waste in 40 years
Read full article: Texas proposes first new rules for oilfield waste in 40 yearsWhile environmentalists say the new rules donāt do enough to protect groundwater, oil and gas operators are contesting stricter requirements for waste pits near wells.
Families and advocates for disabled Texans pushing for caregiver pay raise
Read full article: Families and advocates for disabled Texans pushing for caregiver pay raiseA state Medicaid program pays caregivers of intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals living in community-based homes. Families, advocates and providers want lawmakers to increase that hourly pay.
Another Republican is challenging Dade Phelan for Texas House speaker
Read full article: Another Republican is challenging Dade Phelan for Texas House speakerThe Texas House speaker race is becoming increasingly crowded. Phelan, who is under fire from his right, says he plans to seek the leadership position again.
Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over voter registration outreach effort
Read full article: Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over voter registration outreach effortThe move escalates Texas Republicansā brewing fight with urban counties over initiatives to proactively send applications to unregistered voters.
What Texas can learn from Italyās big bet on tiny community health homes
Read full article: What Texas can learn from Italyās big bet on tiny community health homesIn Italy, as in Texas, funding hospitals over primary care leaves many feeling āmedically homeless.ā Italyās post-COVID plans show another way.
What Texans need to know about helping people register to vote or cast ballots
Read full article: What Texans need to know about helping people register to vote or cast ballotsTexas officials have launched investigations into voting fraud allegations, but assisting other voters isnāt automatically illegal.
Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas Republicans
Read full article: Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas RepublicansThe county plans to ID eligible voters and send them registration forms. GOP officials say itās an end-run around state law.
Ken Paxtonās vote harvesting investigation in South Texas renews questions over politiqueras
Read full article: Ken Paxtonās vote harvesting investigation in South Texas renews questions over politiquerasSince the 2020 election, Texas Republicans have dramatically rewritten the stateās voting laws, which have made some long-standing practices illegal.
Election experts cautious as Abbott touts voter roll purge
Read full article: Election experts cautious as Abbott touts voter roll purgeFederal and state law already required voter roll maintenance. Experts warn the governorās framing of this routine process could be used to undermine trust in elections.
Texas Latino leaders label voter fraud investigation ānonsense,ā call for federal, state reviews
Read full article: Texas Latino leaders label voter fraud investigation ānonsense,ā call for federal, state reviewsAt a news conference, Texas House candidate Cecilia Castellano did not address any of the allegations Attorney General Ken Paxtonās office laid out in search warrant affidavits.
A Fox News host's debunked election conspiracy appears to have prompted a state investigation
Read full article: A Fox News host's debunked election conspiracy appears to have prompted a state investigationThe Fox News host who shared the allegation online has previously shared election misinformation.
Judge rejects Attorney General Ken Paxtonās attempt to shut down Houston immigrant rights group
Read full article: Judge rejects Attorney General Ken Paxtonās attempt to shut down Houston immigrant rights groupPaxtonās office claimed the group broke rules prohibiting political activity by nonprofits, but the judge rejected the case outright.
Transgender Texans blocked from changing their sex on their driverās license
Read full article: Transgender Texans blocked from changing their sex on their driverās licenseThe Texas Department of Public Safety rule change surfaced in an internal email that also asks driver license staff to compile the names of people seeking a gender marker change.
A West Texas ranch and resort will limit water to residents amid fears its wells will run dry
Read full article: A West Texas ranch and resort will limit water to residents amid fears its wells will run dryResidents at the sprawling Terlingua Ranch near Big Bend National Park will limit residents to 1,000 gallons of nondrinking water per month.
Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Houston immigrantsā rights org over political speech
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Houston immigrantsā rights org over political speechAttorney General Ken Paxton has targeted similar organizations that aid migrants at the border. The lawsuit appears to be the first to focus on political speech and rules that govern nonprofits.
Abbott order will require Texas hospitals to collect patientsā immigration status
Read full article: Abbott order will require Texas hospitals to collect patientsā immigration statusThe executive order from the Texas governor will require hospitals to track the cost of care for undocumented migrants, in order for the state to push for federal reimbursement.