"Bathroom bill" fizzles as Republican primary issue
With less than a month until the March 6 primaries, it's hard to find a Republican nominating contest for the Legislature where the "bathroom bill" is a central issue. Full Story
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This Texas lawmaker didn't file a campaign finance report for two years. Why didn't the state make him?
State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, went almost two years without filing any campaign or personal financial reports, racking up more than $50,000 in fines. He still hasn't paid anything and it's unclear whether any state agency has the power to make him. Full Story
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![Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, during a House Environmental Regulations Committee meeting on April 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Republican executive committee censures House Speaker Joe Straus
The State Republican Executive Committee voted to censure Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, on Saturday, dinging the outgoing state leader for standing in the way of the party leadership group's priorities. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Joe Straus announces he won't seek re-election in 2018 at a press conference at the state Capitol on Oct. 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Houston-area Reps. Shawn Thierry and Garnet Coleman talk public education, the Texas primaries and sexual harassment
We livestreamed our conversation with Reps. Shawn Thierry and Garnet Coleman. Watch the full video, or check out our recap. Full Story
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In rural North Texas, GOP House primary pits Freedom Caucus member against superintendent
The battle lines in a rural Texas GOP primary race have centered on school vouchers and gun rights, as Jim Largent, a superintendent in Granbury, alleges that state Rep. Mike Lang hasn't properly represented his district. Full Story
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![State Rep. Mike Lang, R-Granbury (left), and one of two 2018 primary challengers, Granbury ISD Superintendent Jim Largent.]()
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Going further than prior proposals, Abbott unveils a plan to slow Texas property tax growth
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday unveiled a plan to limit annual local governments' property tax revenue growth to 2.5 percent. To increase revenue beyond that, governments would need approval from two-thirds of voters. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and appointee Jimmy Blacklock arrive at a press conference at Texas Republican Party headquarters on Nov. 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Criticism builds for Texas DPS decision to lay off 117 older officers
The Texas Department of Public Safety is feeling the heat over a budget-related decision to lay off 117 officers serving in a retire/rehire program. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Public Safety recruit graduation class on April 7th, 2011 in Austin, Texas]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas will give out enough bulletproof vests to equip 40 percent of police in the state
Harris County and Houston top the list of hundreds of Texas law enforcement agencies set to receive bulletproof vests from a state grant. Full Story
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Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott backs GOP primary opponent to state Rep. Wayne Faircloth
Gov. Greg Abbott is wading deeper into the state House Republican primaries, endorsing a challenger to state Rep. Wayne Faircloth, R-Galveston. Full Story
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![State Rep. Wayne Faircloth, R-Galveston, left, and Mayes Middleton.]()
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Amid sexual harassment concerns, lawmakers consider how to check their own power
In their focus on the culture of sexual misconduct that regularly goes unchecked at the Capitol, Texas lawmakers are questioning how to check their own power when it comes to investigating reports of harassment and assault. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas primaries are a 9-week sprint
The early Texas primaries force some quick deadlines on candidates and campaigns. Early voting begins on Feb. 20 — just seven weeks from now and two weeks before Election Day. Full Story
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![Students in line for early voting at the Willie A. Tempton Student Center at Prairie View A&M University on November 2, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Bathrooms, baseball and poetry: The Best of TribTalk 2017
TribTalk is a place for opinions and editorials and even poetry (sometimes, if it’s great) written by people who are usually in the audience instead of on stage. Here are the best columns from this year. Full Story
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In Texas politics, 2017 began with "bathroom bill" fight, ended with wave of retirements
After the national spotlight shined bright on Texas politics last year — with a wild presidential race that drew in the state and its leaders — 2017 brought a focus much closer to home. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott looks on as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (left) and House Speaker Joe Straus shake hands at the Capitol on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Now on the books: What Texas' newest laws mean for you
This year, new laws went into effect in Texas that do everything from lowering fees for handgun licenses to requiring seat belts on new school buses. Learn more about the state's newest laws. Full Story
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Former state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon dies at 74
Ruth Jones McClendon, the former longtime state representative from San Antonio, has died. She was 74. Full Story
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![Sen. Rodney Ellis and State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, celebrate Gov. Abbott's signing of HB48 that establishes the Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission. In background is Cole's brother, Cory Session.]()
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This Texas lawmaker could finish his term from jail
State Rep. Ron Reynolds recently lost his appeal to a 2016 conviction of five misdemeanor ambulance-chasing charges. If his last effort to have his conviction overturned fails, he faces a yearlong jail sentence. Full Story
![Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, during a House Environmental Regulations Committee meeting on April 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Hey, Texplainer: Why does a state as big as Texas have a part-time Legislature?
The state Constitution outlines the duration of each legislative session and how much each lawmaker makes per year. Changing either would require a constitutional amendment. Full Story
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![The House chamber at the Texas Capitol on Aug. 16, 2017, the morning after the end of the special session.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Women's group urges Miles, Uresti to resign after sexual misconduct reports
Annie's List, a group that works to elect Democratic women in Texas, has called on state Sens. Borris Miles of Houston and Carlos Uresti of San Antonio, both Democrats, to resign following reports of sexual misconduct. Full Story
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![State Sens. Borris Miles, D-Houston (left), and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Miles/Bob Daemmrich: Uresti -
Texas senators discuss closing youth lockups amid sexual abuse scandal
Several state senators indicated at a Tuesday committee hearing that they would be open to closing at least some of Texas' five remaining remote lockups for committed youth. Full Story
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![State Sens. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, John Whitmire, D-Houston, and Royce West, D-Dallas, at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Dec. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House revises sexual harassment policy following reports of flaws
The revised Texas House sexual harassment policy includes language that strengthens protections against retaliation and provides specific steps to report inappropriate behavior. It comes about two weeks after The Texas Tribune detailed flaws in the former policy that often left victims to fend for themselves. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, chairman of the House Administration Committee, talks to reporters on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, after the committee voted on an updated sexual harassment policy for the Texas House of Representatives.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune