Republicans Susan Wright, Jake Ellzey headed to runoff for North Texas congressional district
A runoff date has yet to be scheduled in the race, which drew 23 candidates vying to replace U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington. Full Story
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![Susan Wright and Jake Ellzey are looking to replace the late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, at Texas' 6th congressional district.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Mike Pence, potential 2024 presidential candidates coming to Texas for GOP fundraising blitz, donor appreciation event
The event next week is attracting a who's who of big-name Republicans who could run for the White House in a few years. Full Story
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![Vice President Mike Pence spoke during President Donald Trump’s rally at the Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20, 2020.]()
Credit: Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman via USA TODAY NETWORK -
Special election to replace U.S. Rep. Ron Wright remains highly competitive in final hours, as Donald Trump looms large
Nearly two-dozen candidates are vying to fill the late congressman's seat, and the former president is backing Wright's widow, Susan Wright. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 2, 2021.]()
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Texas mayoral races, Austin homeless measure among key issues on Saturday ballots. Here's what you need to know.
Local elections are happening across Texas on Saturday, some of which have drawn statewide — and even national — attention. Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at the Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center in Austin on the first day of early voting on Oct. 13, 2020. Voters are able to cast their ballots early until Oct. 30, 2020.]()
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Texas House lifts its mask requirement for chamber and committees
The resolution was passed in a 99-46 vote. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still suggest that people wear masks in public places, especially indoors. Full Story
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![Visitors are required to wear masks in the house chambers, but lawmakers will only wear masks at their discretion. Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Bill allowing permitless carrying of handguns advances to Texas Senate floor, where its fate remains uncertain
The bill would nix the requirement for most Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns. Texans would also no longer be required to receive training before carrying a handgun in public. Full Story
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![A M&P Shield handgun, small enough to be ideal for conceal carry, in Austin on April 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Authorities say they won't seek charges after investigating allegation that a lobbyist drugged a Texas Capitol staffer
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Travis County District Attorney’s Office said in a joint statement that they thoroughly investigated the allegation. "No crime occurred in this instance," the two agencies said. Full Story
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![A view of the rotunda at the state capitol. Jan. 8, 2018.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
The criminal penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana would be reduced under a bill passed by the Texas House
The measure likely faces an uphill climb in the Senate, where two years ago Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick opposed similar legislation. Full Story
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Texas House passes package of police reform bills, including measure requiring more substantive disciplinary action for police misconduct
The chamber approved three police reform measures that are part of a sweeping set of legislation following the in-custody murder of George Floyd last year. Full Story
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![State troopers stand guard at the state Capitol grounds to prevent protesters from entering during a protest over the death of George Floyd.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick "optimistic" about allowing permitless carry of handguns as bill appears poised to reach Senate floor
The lieutenant governor said Thursday he still does not have the votes to bring the proposal to the floor of the upper chamber, but he believes that will change by next week. Full Story
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![Hundreds of handguns and rifles for sale at McBride’s Gun’s in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
In push for new Texas voting restrictions, House panel sets up GOP faceoff over which chamber's legislation will advance
The House elections committee gutted the Senate’s priority voting bill and replaced it with language from the House’s preferred legislation, signaling a divide over which new restrictions will make it to the governor’s desk. Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots at the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Freshman GOP Texas congressman made a personal pitch to Joe Biden: Let me help with criminal justice reform
U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, the former sheriff of Fort Bend County, made the request after Biden's joint address Wednesday night. Biden's answer: "I’ll reach out to you." Full Story
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![U.S. President Joe Biden briefly spoke with U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, after delivering an address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., on April 28, 2021.]()
Credit: Doug Mills/Pool via REUTERS -
Analysis: Redistricting is boring, and that’s why it’s hazardous to voters
Most voters don’t pay a lot of attention to the redrawing of political maps every 10 years. That’s just the way legislators like it. Full Story
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![The sun sets behind the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington, D.C., on midterm election day, Nov. 6, 2018.]()
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Texas lawmakers send Greg Abbott a bill that would allow Texans to purchase alcohol to go from restaurants
House Bill 1024 would allow beer, wine and mixed drinks to be included in pickup and delivery food orders, securing a revenue stream made available to restaurants in the last year during the pandemic. Full Story
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![Beer sits in a cooler behind the bar at Hops and Grain Brewery in Austin on June 26, 2019.]()
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Texas releases $11 billion of $18 billion in federal stimulus money for public schools
The newly released funds come after educators and state Democrats urged the governor to unlock the pandemic relief money as schools plan their budgets for the next school year Full Story
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![A student in a classroom at Cactus Elementary School in Cactus on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump makes late push for Susan Wright in special election to fill her late husband's U.S. House seat
The former president is set to appear on a tele-town hall Thursday to get out the vote for Wright in Saturday's contest. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Minden-Tahoe Airport in Nevada in September.]()
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Lubbock voters will decide Saturday if the West Texas city will become the largest “sanctuary city for the unborn”
While proponents of the proposed ordinance view abortion as an “inconceivably wicked action,” detractors say it would be immediately challenged in court and that battles over abortion access are best fought at the state and federal levels. Full Story
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![A banner supporting a proposed city ordinance that would ban abortions inside Lubbock city limits hangs from Southcrest Baptist Church on April 27, 2021, in Lubbock. The ordinance goes to a public vote on the May 1 election.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll sign bill allowing permitless carrying of handguns, believes Senate is “making progress”
The governor broke his silence Tuesday on the legislation that has been building momentum at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![Handguns for sale at a gun store in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gender-affirming medical treatment for transgender kids would be considered child abuse under Texas Senate bill
The upper chamber Wednesday passed Senate Bill 1646, which is among several other bills that advocacy groups say erode the rights of transgender Texans. But it’s unclear what the legislation’s chances are in the House. Full Story
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![People hold up a transgender flag at an event held by Equality Texas at the Capitol on April 14, 2021 in Austin.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Internet is “not a privilege; it’s a right”: Rural Texas students struggle without broadband access
As the Texas Legislature tries to address a lack of broadband internet access for millions of people, students in rural areas are struggling to keep up academically during remote school. Full Story
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![A colonia, unincorporated neighborhoods that lack basic services such as street lights, proper drainage, paved roads or waste management, is seen near Edinburg on March 25, 2020.]()
Credit: Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune