Analysis: The Fred Rogers test, for Texas public officials
Texas voters can get some guidance for sorting through the political noise of campaigns from an unlikely source — a comforting tale for children. Full Story
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![Fred Rogers, also known as television icon Mr. Rogers, in the 1980s.]()
Credit: MPTV via REUTERS -
Republicans more than doubled turnout in the Rio Grande Valley compared with the last midterm primary
Democrats in the region still had higher turnout, but Republicans celebrated the narrowing of the gap. Despite the improvement, nearly 87% of registered voters in the Rio Grande Valley did not vote in the primary, similar to the rate in 2018. Full Story
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![People attend the Charro Days Grand International Parade in downtown Brownsville on Feb. 26, 2022. Republicans more than doubled their voter turnout in the Rio Grande Valley, though Democrats still had the higher number.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Houston hospital pauses hormone therapy for transgender children as threats of child abuse investigations loom
Citing potential criminal penalties, Texas Children’s Hospital will no longer provide hormone therapy to transgender patients. Full Story
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![People hold signs in front of the Texas Capitol during a protest for transgender kids' rights on Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Texas far-right conservatives spent millions to oust House GOP leaders, to little avail
In the Texas House, the biggest intraparty attack on Republican leadership came from the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, led by former state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford. Backed by hard-right donors like Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, West Texas oil tycoons, the group spent at least $5.2 million from January onward. Full Story
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![Supporters cheer as Gov. Abbott gives a speech at his watch party in Corpus on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas targets trans kids, their families scramble to find lawyers
Ever since Gov. Greg Abbott directed the state’s child welfare agency to investigate parents who provide gender-affirming care to their children, LGBTQ-affirming family lawyers statewide have been deluged with calls. Full Story
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![Atlas, left, and Sam, right, chant in front of the Texas Capitol during a protest for transgender kids' rights on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Sam said he came "so kids like me don't have to go through the hard strifes of CPS or healthcare procedures to feel like themselves."]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas’ GOP runoffs hinge on a name that’s not on the ballot
Ken Paxton and George P. Bush are in a May runoff for attorney general — the top race on that GOP ballot. But a name that’s not on the ballot might be the biggest name in that race. Full Story
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![State Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at his primary election results watch party in McKinney on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Rochelle Garza is headed into Democratic AG runoff, but her opponent is still undetermined
Former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski and civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt are in a heated battle for second place and a spot in a runoff in May. Full Story
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![ACLU lawyer Rochelle Garza has announced she will be running for Texas Attorney General.]()
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George P. Bush, Ken Paxton prepare for a bitter primary runoff battle for Texas attorney general
Bush is the underdog in the race. He had fewer votes than Paxton in the primary, and Paxton carries the coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump. But the incumbent is still battling his felony indictment and a newer FBI investigation. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and George P. Bush at their election night watch parties on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Several Texas Republicans against “critical race theory” advance in State Board of Education primary races
All 15 seats of the State Board of Education are up for grabs in November, and there were more than 50 candidates vying for their parties’ nominations. Full Story
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![Students and teachers walk between classes at Blanco Vista Elementary School in San Marcos on Aug. 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Thousands of Texas mail-in votes still in jeopardy under new GOP voting restrictions
How many voters were effectively disenfranchised by new ID requirements for mail-in voting won’t be known for another week. Voters can still try to correct defective ballots. Full Story
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![A Harris County Elections Staff member at the Elections Technology Center warehouse in Houston on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
A year after feds allocate funds, Texas launches program to help homeowners avoid foreclosure because of COVID-19
Twenty-five states, including California and New York, preceded Texas in getting federally backed programs up and running to help homeowners suffering financial hardship because of COVID-19. Full Story
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![An East Austin neighborhood.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney General Ken Paxton appeals restraining order that blocked state agency from investigating trans teen’s family
A Texas judge was scheduled to consider a statewide injunction on investigations of parents over obtaining gender-affirming care. The appeal now puts the hearing on hold. Full Story
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![People gather in front of the Texas Capitol during a protest for transgender kids' rights in Austin on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Wayne Christian, incumbent commissioner overseeing oil and gas industry, is headed to a runoff
The chair of the Texas Railroad Commission fell short of winning at least 50% of the vote and will face oil and gas attorney Sarah Stogner in May. Full Story
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![Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian will face Sarah Stogner in the Republican runoff.]()
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State GOP leaders win big in Texas legislative primaries
Almost all the preferred candidates of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan nabbed enough votes to head into the November general election. And nearly all sitting House and Senate members seeking to return to the Texas Capitol kept their seats. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is headed to a runoff against George P. Bush
The two-term incumbent, beset by a criminal indictment and FBI probe, will face Bush, the state’s land commissioner and scion of a political dynasty, in the May 24 runoff. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and George P. Bush.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Greg Abbott, Beto O’Rourke easily win gubernatorial primaries, setting up November race
Decision Desk HQ called both Abbott’s and O’Rourke’s primary wins shortly after 8 p.m. Full Story
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![From left: Gov. Greg Abbott in Corpus Christi and Beto O'Rourke in Fort Worth at their election night watch parties on March 1, 2022.]()
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Texas investigates parents of transgender teen, prompting the ACLU to sue
The ACLU suit looks to block Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigate parents seeking gender-affirming care for their transgender children. Full Story
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![People hold signs and flags in front of the Texas Capitol during a protest for transgender kids' rights in Austin on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Live primary election updates: Polls close in most of Texas, but final results won’t be known for hours
Voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to choose party nominees for the general election. Here’s the latest. Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots at the Lochwood Branch Library in Dallas on Feb. 25, 2022, the last day of early voting in the Texas primary. Dallas County voting centers’ hours were extended till 10 P.M. on the last day of early voting to make up for early closures due to icy weather.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Sid Miller wins Republican primary for Texas agriculture commissioner
The incumbent avoided a runoff. State Rep. James White had tried to unseat Miller with criticisms centered on controversies under Miller’s leadership. Full Story
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![Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller speaks to a crowd gathered in front of the Governor’s Mansion to protest statewide business closures and mask mandates, on Oct. 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. plans new safety rules to crack down on carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators
The announcement comes two months after an investigation by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News detailed the deadly cost of the government’s failure to regulate portable generators. Full Story
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Credit: Laila Milevski/ProPublica
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