The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
On Thursday, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice presented a legislative appropriations request to its governing board that offered $28 million in cuts. Officials added that they would seek an exemption from further cuts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Jail-Prison-Bars-1.jpg)
Arizona. Georgia. Utah. Indiana. As Donald Trump's poll numbers collapse across the country, could he actually lose Texas to Hillary Clinton? No, say a raft of state and national Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/05/TrumpTexas.jpg)
Undocumented immigrants in Texas are taking a glass-half-full approach as a 2012 initiative that has benefited hundreds of thousands of immigrants marks its four-year anniversary. But will that optimism last after the November election? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/11/19/HuttoStills-4.jpg)
A state appeals court has struck down a plastic bag ban in Laredo in a high-profile fight over local control that could ultimately impact similar laws in other Texas cities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/24/BagInTree.jpg)
State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, a staunch conservative, is trying to stop the upcoming execution of Jeff Wood, who was sentenced to death even though he killed no one. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/17/LeachWood.jpg)
The state of Texas might not be requiring sponsorship disclosures on political radio ads right now, but the Federal Communications Commission is. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/17/RepDemConvo.png)
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is not ruling out challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in 2018, but he's emphasizing that he is not focused on it for now. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/18/_BDA5025.jpg)
A new poll suggests there is at least one fellow Republican who could unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018: former Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/23/PerryCruz.jpg)
After more than 50 years of tension, normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba is going to take a while, and businesses eager to trade with the island nation best be patient, officials say. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/16/KidOnStreet-Cuba.jpg)
A regulatory wrinkle could strip an important piece of information from the political radio ads you hear in Texas between now and Election Day: Who’s paying for the commercials? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/09/18/Capitol_Sunset_1.jpg)
Former Gov. Rick Perry is defending Donald Trump's war of words with the family of a fallen Muslim soldier, saying the father "struck the first blow" against the Republican presidential nominee and is not above criticism in return. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/06/7C2A9793.jpg)
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is leading Democratic rival Hillary Clinton by just 6 percentage points in deep-red Texas, according to a new poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/31/ClintonTrump-Split.jpg)
Donald Trump has tapped half a dozen well-known Texans — including the state's former governor — to advise him on agriculture policy in his campaign for the White House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/01/CMS_TrumpCB0426.jpg)
As Texas takes on another hurricane season, Gov. Greg Abbott’s office has nearly committed all of the 2016-17 emergency funds reserved for state disaster recovery efforts in the aftermath of floods and other natural disasters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/04/18/IMG_0163-2.jpg)
Facing off again in the state's only competitive congressional race, former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego hopes strong turnout from Hispanics angered by Donald Trump will help him reclaim the 23rd district seat from Republican Will Hurd. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/16/GallegoHurd-CD23-update.jpg)
Businessman Phillip Huffines has won election to chair the ailing Dallas County GOP, just under two weeks after its former leader abruptly resigned. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/03/Philip_Huffines_TT.jpg)
Texas health regulators are starting from scratch in designing a project to store massive amounts of data — after spending millions of dollars trying to roll out a version that’s now been scrapped. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/15/StateAffairs0379TT_.JPG)
The only person on Donald Trump's campaign who can overshadow the boss and keep her job is Katrina Pierson — the Texan and Trump spokeswoman who has made waves over a pair of embarrassing on-air flubs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/14/Pierson_and_Trump_TT.jpg)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is seeking answers from U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch over potential links between the Clinton Foundation and the U.S. State Department when Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was secretary of state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/13/_BDB1603Cornyn.jpg)
This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott review Hillary Clinton's troubles on the campaign trail — and talk about how Donald Trump's own mistakes appear to be giving her a pass. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/12/TT-theticket_leadart-sside.png)