INSIDER
Texas can schedule Robert Roberson’s execution — but lawmakers still expect his testimony first
Read full article: Texas can schedule Robert Roberson’s execution — but lawmakers still expect his testimony firstRoberson was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in a “shaken baby” case that many say led to an innocent man’s death sentence.
Transgender-rights advocates say the election of Trump and his allies marks a major setback
Read full article: Transgender-rights advocates say the election of Trump and his allies marks a major setbackElection victories for Donald Trump and other candidates whose campaigns demeaned transgender people reinforced a widespread backlash against trans rights.
Texas Supreme Court removes temporary block to Robert Roberson’s execution
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court removes temporary block to Robert Roberson’s executionThe state’s highest civil court ruled that legislators can’t use subpoenas to block death row inmates’ executions, but suggested there’s still time for Roberson to testify before a Texas House panel.
There are warring depictions of Robert Roberson’s murder case. Here’s what to know.
Read full article: There are warring depictions of Robert Roberson’s murder case. Here’s what to know.Even before the Texas man’s death sentence became a political lightning rod, law enforcement and medical experts had differing opinions on the evidence that convicted him.
Ken Paxton calls on Rep. Jeff Leach to resign over texts to judge in Robert Roberson case
Read full article: Ken Paxton calls on Rep. Jeff Leach to resign over texts to judge in Robert Roberson caseThe AG also said he’d make a criminal referral against the lawmaker, who apologized for texting a Court of Criminal Appeals judge about a new trial for the death row inmate.
Ken Paxton resisting Texas House members’ bid to hear Robert Roberson’s testimony
Read full article: Ken Paxton resisting Texas House members’ bid to hear Robert Roberson’s testimonyMembers of a Texas House committee say in a Texas Supreme Court filing that Paxton’s office is blocking the death row inmate from complying with a legislative subpoena.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing freshwater mussels as endangered
Read full article: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing freshwater mussels as endangeredThe lawsuit claims the endangered designation for six mussel species is a misuse of environmental law that threatens Texas’ economy.
Ken Paxton and Texas House members accuse each other of mischaracterizing Robert Roberson’s case
Read full article: Ken Paxton and Texas House members accuse each other of mischaracterizing Robert Roberson’s caseAfter the attorney general insisted on the death row inmate’s guilt in a graphic press release, four lawmakers issued a point-by-point rebuttal.
Robert Roberson’s case spotlights Texas’ GOP divide on criminal justice
Read full article: Robert Roberson’s case spotlights Texas’ GOP divide on criminal justiceTexas’ junk science statute has remained hamstrung for the last decade. So too have other criminal justice reforms, despite efforts from the Texas House.
Texas sues Biden administration for not providing data on noncitizens
Read full article: Texas sues Biden administration for not providing data on noncitizensAttorney General Ken Paxton accused the federal government of failing to provide citizenship data for registered voters, even as he acknowledged that the vast majority of the people on the rolls are lawful voters.
After Roberson ruling, upcoming Court of Criminal Appeals election in the spotlight
Read full article: After Roberson ruling, upcoming Court of Criminal Appeals election in the spotlightThree of the five judges who allowed Robert Roberson’s execution to proceed will be leaving the court after Paxton-backed primary challenges.
Texas sues doctor and accuses her of violating ban on gender-affirming care
Read full article: Texas sues doctor and accuses her of violating ban on gender-affirming careTexas has sued a Dallas doctor over accusations of providing gender-affirming care for transgender youths, bringing to court one of the first times a state has sought to enforce bans driven by Republicans in recent years.
Ken Paxton sues Dallas pediatrician over providing hormone treatments to teens
Read full article: Ken Paxton sues Dallas pediatrician over providing hormone treatments to teensIn the first test of Senate Bill 14, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has accused Dr. May Lau of providing testosterone to at least 21 teens.
Watch: Texas lawmakers discuss noncitizens on the voter rolls
Read full article: Watch: Texas lawmakers discuss noncitizens on the voter rollsHere’s what you need to know after a ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and Votebeat investigation found that Gov. Greg Abbott likely inflated the number of noncitizens on voter rolls.
Ken Paxton’s voter registration suit against Travis County returned to state court
Read full article: Ken Paxton’s voter registration suit against Travis County returned to state courtA federal court’s decision is the latest development in a bitter pre-election brawl between Republican state officials and Democratic county leaders.
Texas can investigate people for alleged vote harvesting as legal battle over 2021 law continues playing out
Read full article: Texas can investigate people for alleged vote harvesting as legal battle over 2021 law continues playing outA federal judge had ruled Senate Bill 1 unconstitutional, but an appeals court says the law can remain in effect as Texas appeals that previous decision
Attorney General Ken Paxton targets El Paso nonprofit that offers legal services to migrants
Read full article: Attorney General Ken Paxton targets El Paso nonprofit that offers legal services to migrantsAttorney General Ken Paxton has investigated at least five organizations this year that do immigration-related work.
Texas sues Biden administration over requirement to provide LGBTQ+ youth foster placements
Read full article: Texas sues Biden administration over requirement to provide LGBTQ+ youth foster placementsPlacing LGBTQ+ foster children in more accepting homes would cost Texas too much money and resources, the lawsuit says.
Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing Texas lizard as endangered
Read full article: Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing Texas lizard as endangeredThe lawsuit claims federal regulators have undermined the Texas oil and gas industry by misusing environmental law, negatively impacting drilling and production.
Judge tosses Ken Paxton’s lawsuit targeting Bexar County’s voter registration effort
Read full article: Judge tosses Ken Paxton’s lawsuit targeting Bexar County’s voter registration effortThe county told a state district court judge that the applications were already mailed out and any ruling would be moot.
Texas GOP investing in South Texas races as some Republicans worry about party's performance in November
Read full article: Texas GOP investing in South Texas races as some Republicans worry about party's performance in NovemberSeveral local party officials have signed an open letter warning that “grave and deteriorating” fundraising and voter outreach efforts could leave some candidates vulnerable.
Judge denies temporary restraining order against Bexar County for voter registration lawsuit
Read full article: Judge denies temporary restraining order against Bexar County for voter registration lawsuitDuring the hearing, legal representatives for the state Attorney General’s Office and county commissioners made arguments regarding the potential legal action.
Texas officials say they’ve scrubbed the voter rolls. Here’s how to check if you’re still on them.
Read full article: Texas officials say they’ve scrubbed the voter rolls. Here’s how to check if you’re still on them.The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and Votebeat want to hear from people removed from voter rolls.
Monday hearing will likely determine fate of voter registration outreach program in Bexar County
Read full article: Monday hearing will likely determine fate of voter registration outreach program in Bexar CountyA hearing scheduled for Monday in San Antonio civil district court will likely determine the fate of a targeted voter registration program approved by county commissioners less than two weeks ago.
Ken Paxton agrees to pause its investigation into Texas civic group’s voter registration efforts
Read full article: Ken Paxton agrees to pause its investigation into Texas civic group’s voter registration effortsJolt, which advocates for more Latino voting participation, says the attorney general’s probe spurred threatening comments online.
Ken Paxton withdrew an opinion on gun bans weeks after suing Texas state fair for a similar restriction
Read full article: Ken Paxton withdrew an opinion on gun bans weeks after suing Texas state fair for a similar restrictionPaxton sued Dallas and state fair officials last month, arguing the fair’s private organizer had violated state law by banning firearms on the fairgrounds.
Paxton’s efforts to block Bexar County voter registration program takes center stage at court hearing Monday
Read full article: Paxton’s efforts to block Bexar County voter registration program takes center stage at court hearing MondayBexar County and the Texas Attorney General’s Office will face off in court Monday at a hearing regarding a voter registration program.
Judge halts search of digital devices in Texas vote harvesting investigation
Read full article: Judge halts search of digital devices in Texas vote harvesting investigationA judge ordered a temporary halt to the search of digital devices confiscated from Manuel Medina, the former chair of the Bexar County Democratic Party, in an investigation led by the Texas Attorney General’s Office into alleged illegal vote harvesting.
Gonzales ISD mum on administrator at center of election violation investigation
Read full article: Gonzales ISD mum on administrator at center of election violation investigationA longtime administrator with the Gonzales Independent School District is accused of using district resources to print flyers for a candidate for school board, state records obtained by KSAT Investigates show.
Texas parents gain new tools to control their teen’s social media use
Read full article: Texas parents gain new tools to control their teen’s social media useParents of Texas children under 18 can now monitor and restrict their child’s activity on digital platforms including Facebook and Instagram — but only if they know their child uses the service.
LULAC continues protest at state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s San Antonio office
Read full article: LULAC continues protest at state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s San Antonio officeThe League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is again protesting the actions of state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Members gathered outside Paxton’s San Antonio office Saturday morning with signs and chants.
Texas sues to stop a rule that shields the medical records of women who seek abortions elsewhere
Read full article: Texas sues to stop a rule that shields the medical records of women who seek abortions elsewhereTexas is suing to try to block a federal rule that shields the medical records of women from criminal investigations if they cross state lines to get an abortion where it is legal.
Castro among Texas Democrats urging DOJ to investigate possible civil rights violations by AG Paxton
Read full article: Castro among Texas Democrats urging DOJ to investigate possible civil rights violations by AG PaxtonU.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio and four other Democratic lawmakers from Texas have signed a letter that urges the Department of Justice to investigate any potential civil rights violations committed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against Latino election organizers and volunteers.
Texas AG sues Bexar County over plans to mail voter registration forms
Read full article: Texas AG sues Bexar County over plans to mail voter registration formsTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the Bexar County Commissioners Court after a 3-1 vote to launch a program that would mail voter registration applications to residents regardless of their eligibility to cast a ballot.
Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over voter registration outreach effort
Read full article: Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over voter registration outreach effortThe move escalates Texas Republicans’ brewing fight with urban counties over initiatives to proactively send applications to unregistered voters.
What Texans need to know about helping people register to vote or cast ballots
Read full article: What Texans need to know about helping people register to vote or cast ballotsTexas officials have launched investigations into voting fraud allegations, but assisting other voters isn’t automatically illegal.
Texas AG Ken Paxton warns Bexar, Harris counties in letter over proposed voter registration form plans
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton warns Bexar, Harris counties in letter over proposed voter registration form plansTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning Bexar and Harris counties commissioners about their proposed plans to mail voter registration forms to those he calls “unverified recipients.”
Group of Texas Democrats asks DOJ to investigate Texas over possible voter rights violations
Read full article: Group of Texas Democrats asks DOJ to investigate Texas over possible voter rights violationsThe request by the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to the Department of Justice follows a similar request by a Latino civil rights organization.
Judge rejects Ken Paxton’s bid to question leader of Brownsville migrant aid organization
Read full article: Judge rejects Ken Paxton’s bid to question leader of Brownsville migrant aid organizationThe AG’s office sought to depose the leader of Team Brownsville, which provides water, shelter and basic necessities to asylum-seeking migrants.
State Fair of Texas is sued by state's Republican AG over new rule banning guns on premises
Read full article: State Fair of Texas is sued by state's Republican AG over new rule banning guns on premisesTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a ban on firearms at the sprawling State Fair of Texas, one of the state’s biggest annual celebrations.
Ken Paxton’s vote harvesting investigation in South Texas renews questions over politiqueras
Read full article: Ken Paxton’s vote harvesting investigation in South Texas renews questions over politiquerasSince the 2020 election, Texas Republicans have dramatically rewritten the state’s voting laws, which have made some long-standing practices illegal.
Immigrant families in limbo after judge puts U.S. program for spouses on hold
Read full article: Immigrant families in limbo after judge puts U.S. program for spouses on holdImmigration attorneys say families are in limbo after a federal judge in Texas paused a Biden administration program that would provide immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens a pathway to citizenship.
Latino voting rights group calls for investigation after Texas authorities search homes
Read full article: Latino voting rights group calls for investigation after Texas authorities search homesA Latino voting rights group is calling for a federal investigation after its volunteers said Texas authorities raided their homes and seized phones and computers.
Texas Latino leaders label voter fraud investigation “nonsense,” call for federal, state reviews
Read full article: Texas Latino leaders label voter fraud investigation “nonsense,” call for federal, state reviewsAt a news conference, Texas House candidate Cecilia Castellano did not address any of the allegations Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office laid out in search warrant affidavits.
LULAC accuses Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of ‘trying to keep Latinos from voting’
Read full article: LULAC accuses Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of ‘trying to keep Latinos from voting’The League of United Latin American Citizens accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of oppression, harassment and intimidation after the homes of several Democrats were raided by his office last week.
A Fox News host's debunked election conspiracy appears to have prompted a state investigation
Read full article: A Fox News host's debunked election conspiracy appears to have prompted a state investigationThe Fox News host who shared the allegation online has previously shared election misinformation.
Warrants detail allegations that led to search of Democratic candidate for Texas House
Read full article: Warrants detail allegations that led to search of Democratic candidate for Texas HouseThe Texas attorney general’s office searched the home of Cecilia Castellano and a Democratic legislative aide. It said it’s investigating vote harvesting. Activists called it “intimidation.”
LULAC condemns Paxton’s election fraud raids as “intimidation”
Read full article: LULAC condemns Paxton’s election fraud raids as “intimidation”The group said that searches the attorney general’s office carried out this week targeted at least six Latinos, including a Democrat running for the Texas House.
Judge rejects Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to shut down Houston immigrant rights group
Read full article: Judge rejects Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to shut down Houston immigrant rights groupPaxton’s office claimed the group broke rules prohibiting political activity by nonprofits, but the judge rejected the case outright.
Texas, other GOP-led states sue over program to give immigrant spouses of US citizens legal status
Read full article: Texas, other GOP-led states sue over program to give immigrant spouses of US citizens legal statusSixteen Republican-led states are suing to end a federal program that could potentially give nearly half a million immigrants without legal status who are married to U.S. citizens a path to citizenship.
Transgender Texans blocked from changing their sex on their driver’s license
Read full article: Transgender Texans blocked from changing their sex on their driver’s licenseThe Texas Department of Public Safety rule change surfaced in an internal email that also asks driver license staff to compile the names of people seeking a gender marker change.
Texas Attorney General executes search warrants in Bexar, Frio, Atascosa counties as part of election probe
Read full article: Texas Attorney General executes search warrants in Bexar, Frio, Atascosa counties as part of election probeThe Texas Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday executed multiple search warrants in Frio, Atascosa, and Bexar counties as part of an ongoing investigation into election integrity.
Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Houston immigrants’ rights org over political speech
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Houston immigrants’ rights org over political speechAttorney General Ken Paxton has targeted similar organizations that aid migrants at the border. The lawsuit appears to be the first to focus on political speech and rules that govern nonprofits.
Texas sues Biden again to block federal protections for transgender workers
Read full article: Texas sues Biden again to block federal protections for transgender workersThe Texas Attorney General is following his familiar playbook by taking the case to a federal judge with a record of rulings against the Biden administration’s agenda.
The State Fair of Texas is banning firearms, drawing threats of legal action from Republican AG
Read full article: The State Fair of Texas is banning firearms, drawing threats of legal action from Republican AGThe State Fair of Texas is an annual celebration of corn dogs, deep-fried delights and a five-story cowboy named Big Tex.
Texas launches new investigation into Houston's power utility following deadly outages after Beryl
Read full article: Texas launches new investigation into Houston's power utility following deadly outages after BerylTexas has opened an investigation into a Houston area utility provider over allegations of fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars during its botched response to Hurricane Beryl.
Texas attorney general says Biden must continue border wall construction after court deadline passes
Read full article: Texas attorney general says Biden must continue border wall construction after court deadline passesTexas sued to stop an executive order issued by President Biden on his Inauguration Day to stop border wall construction and divert funds that had already been allocated for the project.
Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognition
Read full article: Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognitionOfficials say Meta has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas in a privacy lawsuit over allegations that the tech giant used biometric data of users without their permission.
Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognition
Read full article: Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognitionOfficials say Meta has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas in a privacy lawsuit over allegations that the tech giant used biometric data of users without their permission.
Marijuana decriminalization measures in San Marcos, Austin get early court wins
Read full article: Marijuana decriminalization measures in San Marcos, Austin get early court winsThree other cities have passed similar measures but the Texas AG and others question whether they can be enforced because of conflicts with state law.
Texas attorney general can’t question Catholic Charities director over migrant services, court says
Read full article: Texas attorney general can’t question Catholic Charities director over migrant services, court saysWednesday’s ruling is the second time a Texas judge has ruled against the attorney general for investigating shelters helping migrants.
In Texas, violating campaign ethics laws rarely yields repercussions. The attorney general’s office is to blame.
Read full article: In Texas, violating campaign ethics laws rarely yields repercussions. The attorney general’s office is to blame.The number of fines for breaking state campaign ethics laws has exploded in recent years as Ken Paxton’s office rarely pursues stricter enforcement.
Another Texas migrant aid group asks a judge to push back on investigation by Republican AG
Read full article: Another Texas migrant aid group asks a judge to push back on investigation by Republican AGA prominent aid group along the U.S.-Mexico border is asking a Texas judge to push back on a widening Republican-led investigation into nonprofits that help migrants.
Political figures react to assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump
Read full article: Political figures react to assassination attempt on former president Donald TrumpSeveral political figures have spoken out regarding the alleged assassination attempt on former United States President Donald Trump on Saturday.
House ethics chair says Paxton’s claim he’s being impeached again is meritless
Read full article: House ethics chair says Paxton’s claim he’s being impeached again is meritlessAttorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday evening said the Texas House ethics committee, which scheduled a meeting for next week, is planning to recommend impeaching him a second time.
How Texas is still investigating migrant aid groups on the border after a judge's scathing order
Read full article: How Texas is still investigating migrant aid groups on the border after a judge's scathing orderTexas is widening investigations into aid organizations along the U.S.-Mexico border over claims that nonprofits are helping migrants illegally enter the country.
Judge's ruling protects migrant shelter on US-Mexico border and accuses Texas of harassment
Read full article: Judge's ruling protects migrant shelter on US-Mexico border and accuses Texas of harassmentA judge has blasted efforts by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to shutter one of the oldest and largest migrant shelters on the U.S.-Mexico border in a scathing ruling.
Court ruling suggests recent activity in federal investigation of Ken Paxton
Read full article: Court ruling suggests recent activity in federal investigation of Ken PaxtonRecords don’t name the attorney general’s office, but their details line up with the accusations former top deputies made against Paxton.
Texas Ethics Commission will require influencers to disclose when they’re paid for advertisement
Read full article: Texas Ethics Commission will require influencers to disclose when they’re paid for advertisementThe action comes after The Texas Tribune reported that influencers were being paid to defend impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Judge weighing whether to close El Paso shelter that aids undocumented immigrants
Read full article: Judge weighing whether to close El Paso shelter that aids undocumented immigrantsTexas argues that Annunciation House is breaking state law by harboring undocumented immigrants, something the shelter's lawyers called "utter nonsense."
Federal judge blocks Biden administration’s Title IX guidelines to protect LGBTQ+ students
Read full article: Federal judge blocks Biden administration’s Title IX guidelines to protect LGBTQ+ studentsJudge Reed O’Connor said the Biden administration didn’t have the authority to make the changes, which would expand anti-discrimination protections.
Four Texas House Republicans censured for campaigning against incumbents
Read full article: Four Texas House Republicans censured for campaigning against incumbentsThe censured members said they had been punished for campaigning against “liberal incumbents” alongside statewide elected officials like Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Texas sues to block new Biden administration rule protecting access to some gender transition care
Read full article: Texas sues to block new Biden administration rule protecting access to some gender transition careIn March, the federal government said providers can’t deny gender care to transgender people that would be provided to others for other purposes.
With new rules, the Texas GOP seeks to keep its elected officials in line
Read full article: With new rules, the Texas GOP seeks to keep its elected officials in lineThe state party plans to limit primaries to registered Republicans and keep elected officials it censured off the ballot. It’s unclear if it can without legislative approval.
Dallas voters could get the chance to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana
Read full article: Dallas voters could get the chance to decriminalize small amounts of marijuanaOther cities have passed similar measures, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to block them from going into effect.
Texas tells local election officials to stop releasing information that exposes how some people vote
Read full article: Texas tells local election officials to stop releasing information that exposes how some people voteThe emergency guidance from the secretary of state comes after Votebeat and The Texas Tribune confirmed the choices some voters make can later be identified through legally available records.
Texas Attorney General investigates reports of car manufacturers selling secretly collected driver data
Read full article: Texas Attorney General investigates reports of car manufacturers selling secretly collected driver dataTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating multiple car manufacturing companies after reports that they have secretly collected driver data and sold it to third parties.
Here’s how school vouchers, Paxton impeachment affected the Texas GOP primaries
Read full article: Here’s how school vouchers, Paxton impeachment affected the Texas GOP primariesGov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton crusaded against House Republicans who voted against school vouchers and in favor of impeachment, respectively.
Texas runoff yields no clear winner among GOP’s warring factions, setting stage for power struggle
Read full article: Texas runoff yields no clear winner among GOP’s warring factions, setting stage for power struggleNeither of the Texas GOP’s dueling factions landed a clean knockout blow during a grueling primary season that only seemed to set up further chaos and strife.
Craig Goldman wins GOP runoff in outgoing U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s district
Read full article: Craig Goldman wins GOP runoff in outgoing U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s districtThe high-stakes race pitted an established Republican lawmaker against a right-wing candidate who had Attorney General Ken Paxton’s backing.
House Speaker Dade Phelan wins runoff, surviving challenge by Texas GOP’s far-right forces
Read full article: House Speaker Dade Phelan wins runoff, surviving challenge by Texas GOP’s far-right forcesBusiness-minded Republicans spent millions trying to save Phelan, whose far-right opponent had the backing of Donald Trump, Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick. Phelan won by 366 votes, according to unofficial returns.
At Texas GOP convention, Republicans call for spiritual warfare
Read full article: At Texas GOP convention, Republicans call for spiritual warfareAt the three-day convention, delegates moved the needle further to the right, preaching Christian nationalism and approving rules that would give them unprecedented control of elections.
US Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas fights off challenge from gun-rights activist in GOP runoff
Read full article: US Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas fights off challenge from gun-rights activist in GOP runoffRepublican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas has won his primary over a gun-rights activist who forced the border congressman into a runoff and threatened to unseat a House incumbent.