State Rep. Chris Paddie, chair of powerful state affairs committee, says he won’t run for reelection
The news comes less than a month after Paddie, who has represented House District 9 since 2013, announced he would run for reelection. Full Story
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![State Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, speaks from the podium at the front of the House of Representatives on Sunday, May 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Law enforcement warns of “credible threat” against Texas legislators who voted for abortion ban
The threat was apparently made on Reddit and included the names of House and Senate members who voted for Senate Bill 8 during the regular legislative session. Full Story
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![The House floor on Aug. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott adds property tax relief, bail to special session agenda
Abbott has faced pressure from his right to prioritize property tax relief. One of his challengers in the Republican primary has slammed him for not including it earlier in the agenda, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called it his top priority this session. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol on Aug. 13, 2021.]()
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Austin state Rep. Celia Israel won’t run for reelection, is exploring mayoral run
Israel’s decision creates a vacancy in Austin-area House District 50 with redistricting underway at the Legislature. Full Story
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![State Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin, during the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and House Elections Committee press conference regarding the statements released about the alleged 95,000 non-citizens on the voter rolls, in Austin on Jan. 30, 2019.]()
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UT-Austin attempts to calm faculty concerns over planned Liberty Institute organized with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, conservative donors
Provost Sharon Wood attempted to reassure faculty that the new institute is an investment in politics, philosophy and economics to attract new faculty. But some professors said they’re concerned UT-Austin is allowing the Legislature to politicize the university with the new center. Full Story
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![The University of Texas at Austin emblem on campus on July 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ ban on school mask mandates draws federal investigation for possibly violating the rights of students with disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education announced the inquiry days after the Texas Education Agency quietly updated its guidance to say school districts can’t require masks. Full Story
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![Fifth graders at Jacob’s Well Elementary School in Wimberley work from behind desktop barriers meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on Sept. 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
After losing to a Democrat in 2020, former GOP state Sen. Pete Flores seeks election in newly drawn Republican district
Within hours, Flores got the endorsement of Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway, who is vacating the seat to run for land commissioner, and then Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate. Full Story
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![State Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, on the Senate floor on April 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
John Cornyn eyes Senate GOP leadership role, says House will flip easier than Senate in midterms
Texas’ senior senator was reelected to a fourth term last year. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in November of 2020.]()
Credit: Walsh Susan/Pool via REUTERS -
Gov. Greg Abbott and local officials are fighting several legal battles over mask mandates. Here’s what you need to know.
The Texas fight over mask mandates is confusing. We’re here to help. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott holds a press conference in Dallas on unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border on March 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Carly May for The Texas Tribune -
Watch Peter Hotez and Leana Wen discuss the coronavirus pandemic at The Texas Tribune Festival
Hotez is co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital. Wen is a professor of health policy and management at George Washington University. Full Story
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![Leana Wen and Peter Hotez.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Watch Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar discuss polarization in Washington, D.C., at The Texas Tribune Festival
The former presidential candidate will also talked about why she thinks breaking up big monopolies is good for America. Full Story
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![Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator from Minnesota, speaks with Steve Kornacki at the Texas Tribune Festival in downtown Austin. Kornacki is a political journalist from NBC.]()
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Texas doctor who admitted to violating the state’s near-total abortion ban sued under new law
At least two lawsuits were filed after Dr. Alan Braid said he performed an abortion prohibited by the law earlier this month. One of the people suing Braid reportedly wants Texas’ new abortion law to be ruled unconstitutional. Full Story
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Texas sues Biden administration over guidance saying transgender workers can use bathroom of their choice
A federal document also says that misusing a person’s preferred pronouns could be considered harassment in some instances. Texas Republican officials have tried to pass state laws targeting transgender people’s access to bathrooms and school sports teams. Full Story
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![LGBTQ activists and supporters blocked the street outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard arguments in a major LGBTQ rights case in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 8, 2019.]()
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First draft of Legislature’s map of new State Board of Education districts shores up Republican majority
The Republican-dominated, 15-member board determines what millions of public school students in the state are taught in classrooms. Full Story
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![The State Capitol on Nov. 19, 2020.]()
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Watch former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd discuss the Republican Party, the nation’s challenges and more at The Texas Tribune Festival
Hurd, R-Helotes, who served three terms representing Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, also talked about the challenges and opportunities of our tech-fueled future. Full Story
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![Former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd.]()
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Texas Republicans have the redistricting tools to preserve their power. Here's how they can do it.
Lawmakers must redraw the state’s political maps to account for a decade’s worth of growth, but the process leaves enough room for political manipulation. Here’s how it’ll work. Full Story
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![Chairs on the Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.]()
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Analysis: Texas’ foster care problems are clear. The response from state leaders isn’t.
The state’s foster care system has been dangerous to children and embarrassing to the state for years. But with state officials constantly chasing other issues, it’s still suffering from neglect. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
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State Rep. Scott Sanford, a McKinney Republican, announces he’ll retire at the end of his term
Sanford’s announcement came a day before the Texas Legislature reconvenes for a third special session of 2021. Full Story
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![State Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, announced that he would not file for re-election on Sept. 19, 2021.]()
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Biden administration speeds up deportation flights for Haitians in growing Texas migrant camp
The situation in Del Rio spiraled this week as more than 15,000 migrants, many of them from Haiti, arrived at the border in recent days, settling in a makeshift camp as they waited for CBP agents to process their petitions to stay in the U.S. Full Story
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![Makeshift shelters at a temporary migrant camp under the international bridge in Del Rio on Sept. 17, 2021.]()
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Texas Senate opens redistricting debate with proposed map one senator labels “intentional discrimination”
The first draft of the Senate map was authored by a Republican who chairs the Senate Redistricting Committee. It immediately drew fire from a Democratic member who said her district was being redrawn to dilute voting power of people of color. Full Story
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![The Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
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