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Former Detective Brian Wharton testifies during a Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on death row inmate Robert Roberson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 in Austin. Wharton was an investigator in the case of the death of Nikki Roberson and has expressed his doubts of Roberson's guilt and agrees with stopping his execution. With his scheduled execution drawing closer, a hearing debating the certainty of Roberson's guilt and there is a bipartisan push to stay his execution.
6 hours ago

Proposal to enhance Texas’ pioneering junk science law approved by Texas House

Read full article: Proposal to enhance Texas’ pioneering junk science law approved by Texas House
A close-up of family planning pamphlets at Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring on March 27, 2025. The clinic, part of Maria Margarita Rojas' network, remains closed after a Waller County judge granted a temporary injunction prohibiting the facility from providing medical services in March.
12 hours ago

Houston midwife accused of illegal abortions appeals clinic closures

Read full article: Houston midwife accused of illegal abortions appeals clinic closures

In an appeal filed this week, Maria Rojas’ attorneys accused Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office of a careless investigation.

Texas business owners may see a lower tax bill in the future. The Texas Legislature is taking steps toward approving a deal that would lower certain taxes.
14 hours ago

Business tax breaks closer to reality after Texas Senate approves compromise

Read full article: Business tax breaks closer to reality after Texas Senate approves compromise

The Texas House must approve changes to the proposal that were brokered by party leaders. It’s part of a package of bills to bring down property taxes statewide.

Time is running out for Texas lawmakers to reach an agreement on a public education funding package. Senators will discuss their version of a proposal approved by the House during a panel Thursday.
6 hours ago

Clock is ticking for Texas lawmakers to settle differences on $8 billion public school funding package

Read full article: Clock is ticking for Texas lawmakers to settle differences on $8 billion public school funding package

Senators will hold a hearing Thursday on their counterproposal to the House's school funding bill. House Democrats and public education advocates have criticized the upper chamber for not moving faster to advance the legislation.

Tony Coleman passes by cattle while driving through his property in Grandview on Aug. 5, 2024. Coleman and his wife claim that fertilizer tainted with PFAS washed onto their land, contaminating it.
23 hours ago

Texas bill seeking to keep toxic “forever chemicals” off farmland misses key deadline

Read full article: Texas bill seeking to keep toxic “forever chemicals” off farmland misses key deadline

Supporters say the bill would protect farmland in Texas. Opponents say limiting PFAS chemicals in biosolids will force water utilities to look at other disposal methods, which will lead to higher utility bills.

Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows and other leaders in the Legislature face a full agenda of priority issues as the days tick down to the end of session.
14 hours ago

Pressing deadlines, unfinished business: Where the Legislature stands on abortion, water, property tax and more

Read full article: Pressing deadlines, unfinished business: Where the Legislature stands on abortion, water, property tax and more

A raft of social conservative priorities backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick hang in the balance, including efforts to infuse more religion into public schools.

The Texas House Public Education Committee on Tuesday discussed a bill that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the state's public schools.
1 day ago

Texas lawmakers debating DEI ban in K-12 schools ask: Do students benefit from teachers who look like them?

Read full article: Texas lawmakers debating DEI ban in K-12 schools ask: Do students benefit from teachers who look like them?

Conservative lawmakers say DEI efforts are discriminatory and push liberal ideologies on children. Critics point to research showing a diverse teacher body helps students succeed academically.

The Texas Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would restrict where, when and how students can protest on university campuses. The legislation comes as a response to university protests against the Israel-Hamas war, like the ones that took place at the University of Texas at Austin last year.
1 day ago

After college students protested Israel-Hamas war, Texas Senate votes to restrict time, place and manner of future events

Read full article: After college students protested Israel-Hamas war, Texas Senate votes to restrict time, place and manner of future events

Sen. Brandon Creighton says the bill will prevent disruption. Critics say it walks back conservative lawmakers' previous pledge to protect campus free speech.

Texas lawmakers' public education agenda for this year's legislative session goes beyond school vouchers and school finance. Legislation still under consideration includes a ban on DEI initiatives in K-12 schools and a bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms.
1 day ago

It’s not just about vouchers and school funding. Here are other Texas public education bills you should track.

Read full article: It’s not just about vouchers and school funding. Here are other Texas public education bills you should track.

Student discipline, uncertified teachers and school bans on DEI and cellphones are some of the topics being debated at the Texas Legislature this session.

A new Senate bill filed by Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, would abolish the Texas Lottery Commission and move supervision of the state-sponsored game under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
2 days ago

New Senate bill offers last-minute reprieve for troubled Texas Lottery

Read full article: New Senate bill offers last-minute reprieve for troubled Texas Lottery

A key Senate critic threw a lifeline to the Texas Lottery when he proposed moving its oversight to a new agency instead of eliminating it entirely.

Alex Fairly attends a board of directors meeting for the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation on Monday, April 21, 2025, in Amarillo. Fairly is the latest GOP megadonor to the Texas Legislature.
2 days ago

6 takeaways about Alex Fairly’s journey into Texas GOP politics

Read full article: 6 takeaways about Alex Fairly’s journey into Texas GOP politics

Texas’ newest Republican megadonor Alex Fairly got a look under the hood of Texas’ far-right political machine, and didn’t like what he saw. Here are six takeaways from his exclusive interview with The Texas Tribune.

More than 300 activists and supporters marched from the Bexar County Courthouse to Crockett Park in March for Us, at the third annual celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility, on March 29, 2025, in San Antonio.
2 days ago

Texas House votes to strictly define man and woman, excluding trans people from state records

Read full article: Texas House votes to strictly define man and woman, excluding trans people from state records

If it becomes law, the bill would define sex based on reproductive organs and require state documents and policies to comply with that framework.

Johnson County resident Karen Coleman, right, chats with Dana Ames, the countys environmental crime investigator, and fellow farmer John Farmer in the Capitol cafeteria while waiting to testify at a hearing on PFAS chemicals on May 8, 2024.

They drove to the Capitol to testify on a bill and got a grueling lesson in Texas democracy

Read full article: They drove to the Capitol to testify on a bill and got a grueling lesson in Texas democracy

The group from Johnson County waited 18 hours to testify at a hearing that started at 1 a.m. on a bill to limit toxic chemicals in fertilizer.

A member of the Texas Army National Guard patrols the Rio Grande atop a line of shipping containers in Eagle Pass. The state border security effort, Operation Lone Star, has cost Texas $11 billion.

John Cornyn says tax and spending bill must reimburse Texas $11 billion for border security

Read full article: John Cornyn says tax and spending bill must reimburse Texas $11 billion for border security

Texas Republicans are pushing the federal government to pay the state’s costs of Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg’s Abbott’s border security initiative.

An international student from Taiwan poses for a portrait on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin on May 4, 2025. He is one of several international students in Texas worried by the federal government's recent immigration enforcement actions.

After immigration crackdown, international students in Texas self-censor to protect their education

Read full article: After immigration crackdown, international students in Texas self-censor to protect their education

Students told the Tribune they have deleted social media accounts, socialize less and steer clear of charged topics to avoid becoming targets of immigration authorities.

Jim Davis, University of Texas at Austin interim president, Gov. Greg Abbott, UT System Chairman Kevin Eltife, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Justin Dyer, the dean of UT's School of Civic Leadership, gathered Thursday at the UT-Austin campus for the announcement that $100 million is being invested into the civic leadership school.

UT System announces $100 million investment into civic leadership school

Read full article: UT System announces $100 million investment into civic leadership school

The money will help pay for a permanent home for the school on UT-Austin's campus. Conservative donors and lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, helped create the school in 2023.

Alex Fairly speaks to Amarillo residents about an economic development project in the Texas Panhandle, during a Conservative Patriots 4 Texas PAC meeting on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Amarillo. Fairly is a new GOP megadonor backing Republican candidates in the Texas Legislature.

Texas megadonor Alex Fairly joined forces with the GOP’s ultraconservative wing. He didn’t like what he saw.

Read full article: Texas megadonor Alex Fairly joined forces with the GOP’s ultraconservative wing. He didn’t like what he saw.

Fairly, an Amarillo businessman, backed many candidates aligned with conservative West Texas billionaire Tim Dunn’s political operation in 2024. Now he’s disavowing what he says are dishonest and aggressive campaign tactics while pondering his path forward.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Wednesday named Prabhas Moghe as the sole finalist in the running to become the next president of the University of Texas at Dallas.

UT-Dallas’ new president will be Prabhas Moghe, regents say

Read full article: UT-Dallas’ new president will be Prabhas Moghe, regents say

Moghe, Rutgers University’s chief academic officer, is a biochemical and biomedical engineer and a former international student. He is expected to start in his new role later this year.

At the Waco Central Library, Ellis Pittman, 5, looks for a book to take home on April 5, 2024. The Texas House and Senate have approved similar bills meant to help Texas' youngest learners with reading and math.

Texas’ youngest learners are behind in math and reading. A pair of bills aims to get them back on track.

Read full article: Texas’ youngest learners are behind in math and reading. A pair of bills aims to get them back on track.

Students who are behind in third grade rarely catch up. Texas lawmakers want to intervene earlier.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, seen in Austin on May 3, 2025, said in a statement announcing his reelection campaign leadership team that he would run an aggressive campaign that clearly frames the choice for Texas Republican primary voters.

Sen. John Cornyn announces leadership team, including Trump pollster, for 2026 reelection campaign

Read full article: Sen. John Cornyn announces leadership team, including Trump pollster, for 2026 reelection campaign

Cornyn’s move to stockpile his campaign team with seasoned GOP operatives signals he is digging in for a serious fight against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

A staff member at a Texas Harm Reduction Alliance drop-in center in Austin displays fentanyl test strips on May 5, 2025. Their organization cant legally buy testing strips but accepts donations from other states.

Attempt to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips in Texas could stall in the Senate for a third time

Read full article: Attempt to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips in Texas could stall in the Senate for a third time

Opponents fear that fentanyl test strips will increase the usage of the deadly drug.