The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
After a gunman opened fire on a crowd of concert attendees at a country music festival in Las Vegas, Texas officials condemned the violence while offering condolences and prayers. Full Story
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Dozens of experienced senior staff members have left Texas' health and human services agency, saying morale has sunk under the new executive director, and critics say it's hampered the state's ability to aid victims of Hurricane Harvey. Full Story
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After a week of trading jabs in the media on funding for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, watch Gov. Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner address the media together from Houston. Full Story
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Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp, charged with leading the state's Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, called on insurance agencies to "step up" in an interview with The Texas Tribune. Full Story
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A new law reduces the first-time fee for a license to carry from $140 to $40 and the renewal fee from $70 to $40. Full Story
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Watch Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's wide-ranging interview with The Texas Tribune, one month after Hurricane Harvey dumped more than 40 inches of rain, flooding entire areas of the city. Full Story
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A new state law prohibits anyone under 16 from getting married and requires people under 18 to get a judge's consent before marrying. Full Story
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While several Texas officials have thrown support behind some expensive flood control projects, a Houston City Council meeting Monday highlighted the political and financial hurdles that may await such efforts. Full Story
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Several Texas Republicans have deemed the protests divisive and disrespectful, while some Democrats urged greater support for the players' message. Full Story
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Sylvester Turner also told The Texas Tribune that fewer houses would have been damaged if federal officials had funded much-needed flood control projects. But he lauded how residents have risen to the challenge of recovering after Hurricane Harvey. Full Story
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Dawnna Dukes’ attorneys fired back Thursday, accusing Travis County prosecutors of behaving inappropriately and trying to manipulate key witnesses in the state lawmaker's high-profile corruption case. Full Story
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Two days after Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton and the board's chair, Christi Craddick, clashed publicly at a state meeting, Sitton is asking Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in on his colleague's actions. Full Story
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In a livestreamed Tuesday meeting, Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton and the board's chair, Christi Craddick, sparred over questions about the fate of the agency's executive director. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott is set to announce several staffing changes in his office. Among those changes: He's getting a new chief of staff and some new advisers. Full Story
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Driver's license applications will soon ask Texans whether they'd like to donate $1 or more for sexual assault kit testing. It's the state's latest effort to reduce a backlog that has swelled for years. Full Story
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Here are highlights from The Texas Tribune's conversation with Phillip Huffines, a Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 8. Full Story
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A new state law eliminates the category of "illegal knives," effectively expanding knife owners' freedom to carry blades almost anywhere in the state. Full Story
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In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, an exploding chemical plant and spikes in cancer-causing emissions are highlighting how little the public knows about potential dangers from the oil and chemical industries. Critics say one reason for the darkness: tons of campaign money. Full Story
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The floodwaters are beginning to recede, and Houstonians are preparing for a long road to recovery. Here's the latest. Full Story
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Hundreds of new state laws go into effect Friday including a statewide texting-while-driving ban. But two other high-profile measures – one dealing with abortion, the other immigration – are currently blocked by federal injunctions. Full Story
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