Watch: A conversation on school segregation
On Feb. 26, we sat down for a conversation about the impact of school segregation on public education in San Antonio, moderated by the Tribune's Aliyya Swaby. Full Story
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Texas' highest criminal court strikes down a key provision of the Open Meetings Act
The ruling only pertains to a slice of the law, but open government advocates say the decision “removes a powerful disincentive” put in place to keep public officials from hiding public business. Full Story
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![Judges of the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals Court at the state Capitol. Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers have tried to end daylight saving time for years. Can they do it this session?
State lawmakers are again trying to abolish daylight saving time in Texas, arguing it's antiquated. But supporters of the practice argue it gives Texans a crucial extra hour of light in the evenings during the summer months. Full Story
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Federal judge directs more counties to halt voter citizenship review efforts as lawsuits proceed
After state officials conceded that at least a quarter of a list of nearly 100,000 Texas voters flagged for citizenship review should never have been questioned, a federal judge said, "I wish all of this could've been done back as the original effort." Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots in midterm elections in Houston, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O'Rourke is days away from a 2020 decision. Here are six questions that loom over him.
O'Rourke, an El Paso Democrat, said he'll decide before the end of the month whether he'll join a growing list of Democrats hoping to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020. Full Story
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![Beto O'Rorke speaks during a counter protest right across the street from where President Trump is holding a campaign rally, Monday, February 11, 2019, in El Paso, TX. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre]()
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In Texas, property tax levies can be as individual as homeowners themselves
State lawmakers are trying to reform a complicated taxing system where everything from suburban growth to gentrification and a homeowner’s age influence how much Texans pay their local governments. Full Story
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![A home in Austin, Texas. Feb. 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Houston judge tosses same-sex marriage benefits challenge, but plaintiffs pledge to appeal
A newly elected Democratic judge issued the decision in the latest turn of a 2013 legal challenge to Houston's policy extending benefits to municipal employees' same-sex spouses. Full Story
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![Herbert Clayson Cloete and Mark Chavez smile as they watch Jodie Flint, who officiated the "Big Gay Wedding" ceremony, sign their marriage license on July 4, 2015 in Austin.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott appoints Brett Busby to Texas Supreme Court
If confirmed, Busby, a former U.S. Supreme Court clerk, would replace Justice Phil Johnson, who retired after 13 years on the high court. Full Story
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![Brett Busby appointed to Texas Supreme Court by Gov. Greg Abbott on Feb. 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Opposition to Texas Secretary of State David Whitley’s nomination mounts, imperiling his future in the job
For the second week in a row, the Senate Nominations Committee failed to bring Whitley up for a vote. And he's gained a new public adversary: the leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials call it "property tax relief" — but legislation won't lower tax bills or decrease budgets
The fight over property tax rates is really about state leaders telling local officials how much their revenues can grow before voters get to step in. Full Story
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How do Texas governments calculate your property taxes? Here’s a primer.
Several government entities — from appraisal districts to city councils — play independent roles that collectively determine how much money Texas landowners owe local governments each year. Full Story
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After state leaders’ unified rollout, 2.5 percent rollback rate on property tax bill looks unlikely to stick
Weeks after state leaders trumpeted a consensus property tax reform proposal, few seem married to the bill's pitch to cut the rollback rate to 2.5 percent. Full Story
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![From left: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Gov. Greg Abbott; House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton; and Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speak at a Jan 31, 2019, news conference addressing property tax reform.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
A state report says a Texas inmate died from heat last year. Prison officials contest that finding.
A recent in-custody death report said an inmate died from hyperthermia in July, but Texas prison officials said he was in an air-conditioned cell. Full Story
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![Inmates walk down a hallway at Brazoria County's Darrington prison in July 2017.]()
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Texas community colleges warn they may consider tuition hikes in the face of property tax reform
Property taxes are one of three main sources of revenue for community colleges. If growth in those taxes is limited, the colleges say they may have to look elsewhere for revenue. Full Story
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![The Austin Community College Riverside campus on Feb. 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers look to the "cloud" for storing sensitive government data
In hopes of saving money on data storage, legislators are considering downsizing the state's data centers and relying more on private tech companies. Full Story
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Sen. Angela Paxton, wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, files bill that would expand his agency’s power
Billed as a consumer-protection effort, the proposal would allow approved individuals to serve as investment advisers without registering with the state board — a felony under Texas law that Ken Paxton was charged with in 2015. Full Story
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![Angela Paxton celebrates her victory over Phillip Huffines in the Republican primary for state Senate District 8 on March 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas secretary of state apologizes for how he rolled out voter citizenship review. But he still supports the effort.
In a letter sent to lawmakers late Wednesday, David Whitley said he's sorry for the way he launched the review efforts but appeared not to be backing down from continuing the review. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
In 2012, there were 19 Republican women in the Texas House. Now, there are six.
In addition to the six House members, there are six female Republicans in the state Senate. Republican lawmakers and political operatives are hoping to make moves now to get those numbers up after the 2020 election. Full Story
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![House and Senate Republican women of the 86th Legislative session.]()
Credit: Jacob Villanueva/The Texas Tribune -
The state of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items: Will property tax and school finance get reformed?
The governor has laid out his legislative priorities. In our latest "Under the Dome" episode, we look at the challenges lawmakers face in addressing the issues of property taxes and school finance. Full Story
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Analysis: Here’s your property tax cut, maybe. Heads up — it’s expensive.
A new proposal to cut school property taxes in Texas perfectly outlines the political problem facing lawmakers: It's terribly expensive, and other taxes have to be raised to pay for it. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Springer at his desk on the House floor on Feb. 6, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune
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