Looking back at some of the best Texas Tribune reads of 2023
Our journalists brought life to the experiences of everyday Texans, held powerful institutions accountable and surfaced stories that went beyond the daily news cycles.
Republican Rep. Andrew Murr, who led impeachment of Ken Paxton, wonโt seek reelection
Murr, who represents Junction, suggested he wanted to come home to spend more time with family. He had become a target of hardline conservative supporters of Attorney General Paxton.
Rep. Andrew Murr took on Ken Paxton and lost. He has no regrets.
The five-term House member, and his mustache, gained notoriety during the high-profile impeachment of Paxton. He warned tolerating corruption could hurt Republicans in the long term.
Ken Paxtonโs prosecutors stumbled at times. But did it matter in the GOP-dominated Senate?
The House impeachment managers faced a high bar: convincing enough Republican senators to vote against their own political self-interest.
Texas AG Ken Paxton is back on job after acquittal but Republicans aren't done attacking each other
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is back in office after winning acquittal on impeachment charges over accusations of corruption and bribery.
Paxtonโs legal team, state politicians react to not guilty verdict in impeachment trial
The victory for Attorney General Paxton was not even close, it was overwhelming and it also was filled with much emotion especially afterwards from both sides with what took place in there.
Dan Patrick, Dade Phelan trade potshots after impeachment trial ends
The lieutenant governor criticized the House for a secretive and rushed process that โwastedโ taxpayer dollars. The House speaker fired back, saying Patrick confessed his bias and contempt.
Paxton defense calls charges โfoolishness,โ House argues AG โbetrayed usโ in closing impeachment arguments
Senators begin deliberating in private after defense lawyers and impeachment managers make impassioned pleas after two weeks of trial.
New allegations against Ken Paxton raise stakes for early votes in impeachment trial
Before 30 senators take on their role as impeachment trial jurors, they face a series of momentous decisions on whether to dismiss the charges as requested by the attorney general.
House impeachment managers got most of what they wanted in trial rules adopted by the Texas Senate
Supporters and opponents of impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton pressed for favorable rules governing a Senate trial that will begin on Sept. 5.
Meet the Texas House impeachment managers who are taking aim at Ken Paxton
Led by Andrew Murr, a West Texas rancher and lawyer, and Ann Johnson, a former prosecutor, the team of 12 includes 11 with law degrees.
House impeachment team taps 2 top Texas lawyers, Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, to lead Ken Paxton case
The Houston-based attorneys are legends in their own right, having participated in numerous high-profile criminal and civil matters.
Texas House names Ken Paxton impeachment managers; Senate trial will start by Aug. 28
Seven Republicans and five Democrats make up the board of managers who will handle the prosecution in the trial. In the Senate, a committee will recommend rules of procedure on June 20.
God, money and Dairy Queen: How Texas House investigators secured the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton
The long list of accusations were outlined as part of 20 charges of impeachment adopted by the Texas House.
Texas AG Ken Paxton impeached, suspended from duties; will face Senate trial
The House voted 121-23 to suspend the attorney general and refer him to the Senate for trial on charges of bribery, abuse of office and obstruction. It was the first such impeachment since 1975.
Effort to impeach Ken Paxton, led by fellow Republicans, sets off political earthquake in Texas
Republicans have chosen to remain largely silent during years of alleged misconduct and lawbreaking by the attorney general. Now they will have to take a public stand.
Investigators detail years of alleged misconduct by Texas AG Ken Paxton in stunning House committee hearing
Many allegations against Paxton were already known, but the airing of them revealed the scope of the investigation by the committee, which has the power to recommend censure or impeachment.
Texas House committee recommends expelling Rep. Bryan Slaton
The House General Investigating Committee found that Slaton, a Republican from Royse City, engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate. The Texas Tribune previously reported on an allegation that he had sex with one of his staff, a woman under 21, and gave her alcohol.
Texas House investigative committee sets hearing into allegations of inappropriate conduct by lawmaker
Weeks after the committee issued four subpoenas without disclosing what they were for, it moves forward with its investigation into an unnamed lawmaker.
Gov. Abbott signed the Senate Bill 1 into law Tuesday. Here is what you need to know
Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1, which is what he also calls the โelection integrity bill,โ into law on Tuesday in Tyler, Texas.
Texas House advances GOP-led elections bill as Democratic hopes of killing the legislation wane
Democrats used every tool they had, fleeing the state en masse and forcing two special sessions, but a Republican bill to rewrite state election laws won final approval in the House on Friday. Once the House and Senate work out some differences, it appears headed to the governorโs desk.
Texas House committee again passes the voting restrictions bill that instigated Democratic quorum break
Senate Bill 1 would outlaw local efforts to make it easier to vote, ratchet up vote-by-mail rules and bolster protections for partisan poll watchers. The Senate already passed the legislation, but a House panel Monday replaced that with the lower chamberโs version of the bill.
Behind the partisan drama lies a profoundly serious struggle over who gets shut out under Texas voting laws
Whose voices will be heard in Texas halls of power? That question beats at the heart of the Democratic quorum break that has brought the Legislature to a halt and focused national attention on GOP efforts to make voting in Texas harder.
Hundreds of Texans line up to testify over GOPโs voting bill in the special legislative session
Authors of the legislation are moving to ban drive-thru and 24-hour voting options, enhance access for partisan poll watchers and prohibit local election officials from proactively distributing applications to request mail-in ballots. Both bills also include language to further restrict the stateโs voting-by-mail rules, including new ID requirements for absentee voters.
Texas senator overhauls House bail bill to keep more people in jail if they canโt post cash bonds
Legislative attempts to reform bail in Texas is likely headed for a closed-door showdown over the different approaches the House and Senate each devised.