TribCast: Texas rushes to get more residents vaccinated
On this week's Tribcast, Matthew talks to Karen, Patrick and Ross about the race to reach herd immunity in Texas and the early maneuverings in the 2022 election cycle. Full Story
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![Dr. Annamaria Macaluso Davidson holds a COVID-19 vaccine registration card at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center in Houston on Dec. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Senate Democrats support conservative-backed Texas bill requiring pro-sports teams with state contracts to play national anthem
10 of the 13 Texas Senate Democrats voted in favor of the "Star Spangled Banner Protection Act," which Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named a legislative priority after the Dallas Mavericks stopped playing the national anthem before games. Full Story
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![Fans stand during the playing of the National Anthem before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks at the American Airlines Center on Feb 10, 2021, in Dallas.]()
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Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush "seriously considering" run for attorney general, lays out case against Ken Paxton
Bush said the state's top law enforcement official "needs to be above reproach." Full Story
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![From left, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee advances bill that would make it a crime for election officials to send unsolicited vote-by-mail applications
Like other Republican proposals, the measure would target Harris County’s initiatives from the 2020 general election, including a shift to proactively send out vote-by-mail applications. Full Story
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![A polling location in the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos during early voting on Oct. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar joins lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of inciting Capitol riot
The suit says Trump and his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, violated the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, speaks during a House Judiciary Committee markup of Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 12, 2019.]()
Credit: Matt McClain/Pool via REUTERS -
Texas investigating allegations that unaccompanied migrant children are being abused, sexually assaulted in San Antonio
The governor did not know the identities of those who alleged assault, nor did he provide many details. He said he was concerned more than one child may have been assaulted. Full Story
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Texas’ rent relief program has been plagued by problems that slow payments and could prompt evictions
According to a legislative report, of the 176,000 people who have begun applications for rental assistance, just over 1,000 have had their applications approved. And only 250 of payments have been sent. Full Story
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![Carl Nickerson shows his eviction papers outside of of Harris County Courthouse in Houston, Texas on Aug. 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Republican state House speaker backs expanding Medicaid to cover mothers for a year after they give birth
The number of reported maternal deaths has increased nationwide in recent decades. Health experts and advocates say giving low-income moms Medicaid coverage for a year after delivery, rather than two months, could save lives. Full Story
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![Patients wait to be seen at the People's Community Clinic in Austin, which provides state-subsidized women's health services to low-income women on July 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves a $250 billion state budget — but questions remain about how federal aid will be used
The budget does not factor in over $35 billion in federal aid. Senators said they don't yet know when that money will come in and what strings could be attached. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
After falling short of Texas ambitions in 2020, national Democrats target two seats for 2022
The smaller battlefield — at least initially — comes after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted 10 seats last election cycle in Texas and flipped none of them. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C., in December of 2020.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott bans state agencies and state-funded organizations from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination
This comes as vaccine credentials, often referred to as vaccine passports, are being developed around the world as a way to quickly prove someone’s vaccination status, particularly with private companies. 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 -
Point of Order: Democratic leaders on a challenging year for their party
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Chris Turner and Carol Alvarado, the chairs of the Democratic Caucuses of the Texas House and Texas Senate, about a challenging year for their party. Full Story
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Texas Republicans have long pushed to allow “constitutional carry” of guns. Proponents say this year is their best chance.
The momentum follows a shake-up in House leadership and comes as the practice is gaining traction in statehouses across the country. Meanwhile, gun control advocates are sounding the alarm about making it easier to carry guns after recent mass shootings. Full Story
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![Terry Holcomb waits to ask a question while open carrying at the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio on June 14, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Democrat Mike Collier is set to challenge Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick again in 2022
Collier was the 2018 Democratic nominee against Patrick and lost by 5 percentage points. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor Mike Collier spoke at a candidate rally in Lakeway for statewide and congressional candidates on Sept. 30, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will boycott Major League Baseball events after the league pulled its All-Star Game from Georgia
Abbott also said Monday he was declining to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Texas Rangers' home opening game. Full Story
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![A view of the stands and the open roof at Globe Life Field.
Sep. 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS -
When the power went out, Texas oil and gas regulators rushed to defend the industry’s image
Members of the Texas Railroad Commission were quick to blame renewable energy for power outages across the state. All sources of energy struggled to produce power during the storm. Full Story
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![Standing at right, Carmen Pena, 75, waits for a ride at the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center in Austin on Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Corporations aren’t buying what GOP leaders are selling in voting debate
Corporations generally stay out of legislative fights that don’t directly affect their business, but some are weighing in against proposed Republican restrictions to voting laws. Full Story
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![American Airlines jets fill Terminal A at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April of 2019.]()
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After saying he has “no plans” to run for governor, Beto O’Rourke quick to clarify he might
“Nothing’s changed and nothing I said would preclude me from considering a run in the future,” he told the Tribune. Full Story
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![Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke delivers a campaign address in El Paso on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2019. The speech marked his return to campaigning, suspended after the mass shooting in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Texas Legislature considers voting restrictions
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Alexa, Patrick and Kate about proposed new restrictions on voting being considered in the Texas Legislature and more news on “The Eyes of Texas.” Full Story
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![The Travis County Tax Office in Austin was the only drive-thru location open for hand delivery of mail ballots in the county during early voting in the fall of 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas’ proposed voting restrictions have more to do with 2018 than 2020
New voting restrictions working their way through the Texas Legislature have more to do with the 2018 election cycle than the one in 2020. Full Story
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![Cars lined up to vote in the drive-thru line at NRG Stadium in Houston during the first day of early voting on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune
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