TEXAS NEWS
Mexican cattle banned from Texas due to screwworm threat
Read full article: Mexican cattle banned from Texas due to screwworm threatSince cattle imports were cut off in November, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and some ranchers worry about the ban’s economic impact on beef producers and consumers.
Texas Legislature 101: How bills become laws — and how you can participate in the process
Read full article: Texas Legislature 101: How bills become laws — and how you can participate in the processHere’s a rundown of how legislation moves through the Capitol, the ways lawmakers operate and who the power players are.
Ohio State beats Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff championship
Read full article: Ohio State beats Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff championshipQuinshon Judkins ran for two touchdowns before Jack Sawyer forced a fumble by his former roommate that he returned 83 yards for a score with 2:13 left as Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night to advance to a shot for their sixth national title.
UT-Austin’s presidency goes vacant amid growing challenges for Texas public university leaders
Read full article: UT-Austin’s presidency goes vacant amid growing challenges for Texas public university leadersIn recent years university presidents have been facing growing political pressures, student and faculty pushback and an increasingly demanding job.
‘I follow the law:’ El Paso doctor responds to Ken Paxton’s lawsuit over alleged transgender care
Read full article: ‘I follow the law:’ El Paso doctor responds to Ken Paxton’s lawsuit over alleged transgender careHector Granados, one of two pediatric endocrinologists in El Paso, said he stopped providing gender-affirming care after it was outlawed in Texas in 2023.
Los Angeles Rams' playoff game moved to Arizona as wildfires disrupt sports in Southern California
Read full article: Los Angeles Rams' playoff game moved to Arizona as wildfires disrupt sports in Southern CaliforniaThe NFL moved the Los Angeles Rams’ playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings out of Southern California on Thursday, the biggest of several changes to the sports calendar after days of devastating wildfires in the area.
Texas lawmaker accuses state GOP chair of ethics violation over threats in House speaker race
Read full article: Texas lawmaker accuses state GOP chair of ethics violation over threats in House speaker raceRep. Cody Harris filed a complaint against Texas GOP Chair Abraham George for sending mailers and censuring lawmakers who support Rep. Dustin Burrows as House speaker.
Can these 5 bills to expand voting access in Texas win bipartisan support in the Legislature?
Read full article: Can these 5 bills to expand voting access in Texas win bipartisan support in the Legislature?Proposals to allow online registration and broaden photo ID options may have a chance to advance, supporters say.
Texas is silent on whether it will offer summer food assistance for students
Read full article: Texas is silent on whether it will offer summer food assistance for studentsAfter the state missed the Jan. 1 deadline, lawmakers still have time to approve administrative costs before applying for $400 million in federal summer meal assistance.
Texas Medical Board director retires after uproar over his Planned Parenthood employment
Read full article: Texas Medical Board director retires after uproar over his Planned Parenthood employmentConservative lawmakers claimed credit for Dr. Robert Bredt’s retirement after it came out he also worked at a Planned Parenthood-affiliated lab.
“I just don’t really recognize the Republican Party”: Ousted state Rep. Steve Allison goes down swinging
Read full article: “I just don’t really recognize the Republican Party”: Ousted state Rep. Steve Allison goes down swingingAllison lost his primary last year, after being targeted by his party over his vote to kill school vouchers.
Some Texas business leaders are apprehensive about Trump’s pledged deportations
Read full article: Some Texas business leaders are apprehensive about Trump’s pledged deportations“We wouldn’t survive” without undocumented workers, one South Texas produce business owner said. By one estimate, 8% of Texas’ workforce lacks legal status.
A Texas teenager helped his border community win a $13 million grant to improve the environment
Read full article: A Texas teenager helped his border community win a $13 million grant to improve the environmentPresidio, northwest of Big Bend National Park, will get dedicated green spaces along bike lanes and pedestrian streets, plant thousands of native trees and establish a high-school run air quality monitoring program.
Jimmy Blacklock named new chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court
Read full article: Jimmy Blacklock named new chief justice of the Texas Supreme CourtBlacklock replaces Nathan Hecht, the longest serving justice on the high court. Gov. Greg Abbott also appointed his general counsel, James Sullivan, to the bench.
Ken Paxton kicks off tour to pressure Republicans to support David Cook for House speaker
Read full article: Ken Paxton kicks off tour to pressure Republicans to support David Cook for House speakerPaxton’s latest tour is the continuation of his efforts in the past year to get political revenge on House Republicans who supported his impeachment.
Amid a $7 million deficit to Texas’ suicide hotline, thousands of calls are abandoned monthly
Read full article: Amid a $7 million deficit to Texas’ suicide hotline, thousands of calls are abandoned monthlyThe state’s 988 suicide had the nation’s fifth highest rate of abandoned calls in August, the latest data available, amid a multi-million funding deficit that could worsen as federal dollars expire this year.
Rep. Mihaela Plesa survived a heated GOP challenge. Here’s how she thinks Democrats can prevail.
Read full article: Rep. Mihaela Plesa survived a heated GOP challenge. Here’s how she thinks Democrats can prevail.Plesa, a Dallas Democrat, said the party should embrace bipartisanship, and start talking about economic issues.
Mental health advocates ask Texas lawmakers to replace expiring COVID-19 relief funding
Read full article: Mental health advocates ask Texas lawmakers to replace expiring COVID-19 relief fundingTexas received $203.4 million in 2021 to help build community mental health programs at libraries and churches, among other efforts. Those funds expire Dec. 31.
Texas Supreme Court dismisses State Bar lawsuit against assistant attorney general
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court dismisses State Bar lawsuit against assistant attorney generalThe state bar sought to take away the law license of Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster over a Texas lawsuit challenging 2020 presidential election results.
Luxury goods, cash worth $40,000 stolen from Dak Prescott’s fiancée, report says
Read full article: Luxury goods, cash worth $40,000 stolen from Dak Prescott’s fiancée, report saysThe fiancée of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had tens of thousands of dollars worth of luxury goods and cash stolen from her vehicle last week, according to a media report.
At least 1 person has died as several tornadoes touch down around Houston
Read full article: At least 1 person has died as several tornadoes touch down around HoustonA strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi.
Here are the biggest stories from our data visuals team in 2024
Read full article: Here are the biggest stories from our data visuals team in 2024The Tribune’s data journalists helped visualize everything from voter participation and extreme weather to gaps in the state’s border wall. Here are some of the highlights.
American Airlines flights cleared by FAA after brief grounding due to systemwide technical issue
Read full article: American Airlines flights cleared by FAA after brief grounding due to systemwide technical issueAmerican Airlines flights cleared to fly by FAA after brief grounding due to systemwide technical issue.
Look back at some of the best Texas Tribune reads of 2024
Read full article: Look back at some of the best Texas Tribune reads of 2024Our journalists brought life to the experiences of everyday Texans, held powerful institutions accountable and surfaced stories that went beyond the daily news cycles.
As Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht prepares to retire, he reflects on the Supreme Court he helped change
Read full article: As Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht prepares to retire, he reflects on the Supreme Court he helped changeOver 35 years, Hecht modernized the court, increased access to justice for the poor and saw his conservative views come to dominate the bench.
Advocates say there aren’t enough of them in Texas long-term care facilities
Read full article: Advocates say there aren’t enough of them in Texas long-term care facilitiesOfficials hope state lawmakers will boost the budget of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, an independent state agency, which can often be an elderly Texan’s only lifeline to the outside world.
Ken Paxton sues NCAA over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s college sports
Read full article: Ken Paxton sues NCAA over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s college sportsThe attorney general is accusing the organization of misleading fans by allowing transgender college athletes in women’s sports.
Farm Bill gets extension as Congress passes spending package and averts shutdown
Read full article: Farm Bill gets extension as Congress passes spending package and averts shutdownThe legislation includes financial aid and money for recent natural disasters, but farmers still will be relying on outdated provisions from the 2018 bill.
South Texas coal-fired power plant to switch to clean energy after receiving more than $1 billion in federal money
Read full article: South Texas coal-fired power plant to switch to clean energy after receiving more than $1 billion in federal moneySan Miguel Electric Cooperative's plan to turn into a solar and battery plant will leave only 14 coal-fired power plants in the state.
Texas lawmaker files bill to reduce “forever chemicals” in sewage-based fertilizer
Read full article: Texas lawmaker files bill to reduce “forever chemicals” in sewage-based fertilizerThe bill would require companies to test fertilizer made from sewage sludge for PFAS and meet limits before selling them to Texas farmers and ranchers.
Why were border wall materials put up for auction? Here's what you should know.
Read full article: Why were border wall materials put up for auction? Here's what you should know.Some Texas lawmakers including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick slammed the Biden administration over the auction of wall materials. But the sale was directed by Congress — and Texas has already bought some of it.
Cartels turn to social media to lure Americans into human smuggling as Texas enforces stricter laws
Read full article: Cartels turn to social media to lure Americans into human smuggling as Texas enforces stricter lawsThousands of people have been arrested under Texas’ human smuggling law. Now they face at least a decade in prison under sentencing guidelines that took effect this year.
Texas House panel may never hear Robert Roberson’s testimony after new legal move
Read full article: Texas House panel may never hear Robert Roberson’s testimony after new legal moveAttorney General Ken Paxton sought to delay legal proceedings until Jan. 13 — the day before the committee disbands — even as lawmakers vowed to continue fighting to hear from Roberson.
Attorney General Ken Paxton files motion to block death row inmate Robert Roberson from testifying
Read full article: Attorney General Ken Paxton files motion to block death row inmate Robert Roberson from testifyingThe motion escalates a tense standoff between Paxton and a bipartisan Texas House committee, which had subpoenaed Roberson to testify at the Capitol on Friday.