The growth is fueling higher rents and home prices in the North Texas city that was once seen as a more affordable option to Dallas and other major cities.

Advocates say interstate compacts, which allow professionals to use their work licenses in multiple states, can solve Texas’ workforce shortage. Skeptics fear Texas would send more workers than it would receive.

The new speaker’s power over the budget and committee assignments is expected to bolster established Republican leaders and some Democrats who supported the winner.

The Court of Criminal Appeals will rehear a case it threw out last year. Three of the judges became targets of Attorney General Ken Paxton over another ruling and lost reelection.

The Texas Tribune’s politics podcast digs into what the speaker’s race tells us about the next 140 days in Austin.

A report found up to 70% of guard positions were unfilled at some prisons. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a 26% staff turnover rate.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Texas’ law, which adult entertainment website attorneys said were the most overreaching in the country, could determine the fate of similar laws in more than a dozen other states.

Abraham George’s comments are the latest sign of the state GOP’s embrace of fundamentalist ideologies that seek to center public life around their faith.

The 89th Texas Legislative Session is now underway, with lawmakers officially sworn in and a new Speaker elected. Already, legislators have introduced more than 2,500 bills, setting the stage for a busy few months ahead.

The race pitted state Reps. David Cook and Dustin Burrows against each other. Here’s how each representative voted.

Republicans accused Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of supporting gender transitions for children throughout the 2024 election cycle, which he said took a political toll.

Fertilizers that contain treated sewage tainted with toxic PFAS chemicals can be spread on farmland and pose a health risk to people who consume milk, eggs and beef, the agency says.

Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook with a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes.

Abbott's comments came after A&M invited staffers and students to attend a conference that a conservative activist said broke the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

As the Texas legislature kicks off the 89th session, lawmakers have introduced more than 2,400 bills across both the House and Senate. There was a flurry of bills filed November 12, 2024, the first day lawmakers could file.

The Texas House kicked off the 2025 session by electing an establishment Republican to lead the chamber, drawing criticism from within the GOP.

From debating school vouchers and improving the state’s water supply to reining in property taxes, the GOP-led body will look to pass its conservative priorities amid fighting within the party.

The new speaker will have a dramatic impact on the direction of this year’s lawmaking — and potentially the future of the Legislature.

The court’s ruling could boost a state law that allows drunk driving victims to sue businesses that over-serve alcohol to intoxicated individuals.

The estimate includes $23.8 billion leftover from the current budget cycle.

Justices on Monday heard arguments from Annunciation House, which is fighting to stay open, and the Texas Attorney General’s office, which claims the shelter’s work with migrants violates state law.

Here’s a rundown of how legislation moves through the Capitol, the ways lawmakers operate and who the power players are.

Since 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.

The 89th Texas Legislature kicks off on January 14 with 181 lawmakers and over 2,400 bills ready to shape the future of the Lone Star State.

The Texas Tribune’s politics podcast returns with a look at the race for House speaker, the future of school vouchers and other major legislative issues this year.

In recent years university presidents have been facing growing political pressures, student and faculty pushback and an increasingly demanding job.

Hector Granados, one of two pediatric endocrinologists in El Paso, said he stopped providing gender-affirming care after it was outlawed in Texas in 2023.

Rep. 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.

The historical bipartisan legislation includes a bevy of policies from crop insurance to food stamps.

After 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.

Proposals to allow online registration and broaden photo ID options may have a chance to advance, supporters say.

Conservative lawmakers claimed credit for Dr. Robert Bredt’s retirement after it came out he also worked at a Planned Parenthood-affiliated lab.

Allison lost his primary last year, after being targeted by his party over his vote to kill school vouchers.

Presidio, 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.

“We wouldn’t survive” without undocumented workers, one South Texas produce business owner said. By one estimate, 8% of Texas’ workforce lacks legal status.

Hartzell leaves UT-Austin after four years of tense political battles and legislative efforts to implement a more conservative vision of public higher ed.

Blacklock replaces Nathan Hecht, the longest serving justice on the high court. Gov. Greg Abbott also appointed his general counsel, James Sullivan, to the bench.

Paxton’s latest tour is the continuation of his efforts in the past year to get political revenge on House Republicans who supported his impeachment.

A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.

The 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.

Plesa, a Dallas Democrat, said the party should embrace bipartisanship, and start talking about economic issues.

Texas 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.

The state bar sought to take away the law license of Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster over a Texas lawsuit challenging 2020 presidential election results.

The outage appeared only to affect the Texas public safety department. Driver license offices reopened after the New Year’s Day holiday.

Voter guides, election results and a new law that does away with vehicle inspections were among the journalism that Texas Tribune readers engaged with the most.

The 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.

A look at some of the best photos from the stories we published over the last year.

Our journalists brought life to the experiences of everyday Texans, held powerful institutions accountable and surfaced stories that went beyond the daily news cycles.

Over 35 years, Hecht modernized the court, increased access to justice for the poor and saw his conservative views come to dominate the bench.

Officials 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.

The attorney general is accusing the organization of misleading fans by allowing transgender college athletes in women’s sports.

The legislation includes financial aid and money for recent natural disasters, but farmers still will be relying on outdated provisions from the 2018 bill.

San Miguel Electric Cooperative's plan to turn into a solar and battery plant will leave only 14 coal-fired power plants in the state.

The bill would require companies to test fertilizer made from sewage sludge for PFAS and meet limits before selling them to Texas farmers and ranchers.

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.

Thousands 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.

Attorney 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.

The motion escalates a tense standoff between Paxton and a bipartisan Texas House committee, which had subpoenaed Roberson to testify at the Capitol on Friday.

Texas added nearly 563,000 residents within the last year, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates show.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced the new strategy, which will cost an estimated $100,000, during a press conference in Eagle Pass.

The Public Utility Commission found that the performance credit mechanism, a financial tool the Legislature capped at $1 billion, would only marginally improve reliability of the state power grid.

A hurricane and winter freeze devastated the South Texas industry. A lack of water is preventing a full recovery.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas led a letter calling for a briefing on why the state won’t review 2022 and 2023 deaths.

At least a third of landowners approached by state officials have refused to let wall be built on their properties. That’s forced the state to largely build on ranchland in remote areas, or erect sections that are full of gaps.

A Votebeat analysis shows how such requirements risk disenfranchising key voter groups, including Native Americans and college students.

The grants will go to private and public sector recipients in Texas for a variety of public safety priorities, including securing the southern border.

As Republican Texas leaders show support for Trump’s mass deportation plans, undocumented people — some who have lived in America for decades — are weighing their options amid mounting fears.

Many rural Texans in the region say they lack quality information on the skills required to get good jobs and build a lasting career.

The request comes after an audit found Texas improperly billed the federal government for reimbursements related to Medicaid-eligible students.

This is the latest example of the Republican Party of Texas spending its resources attacking its own members.

Some voucher opponents are ready to compromise; others are hoping supporters will fumble over the program's size, eligibility and accountability.

The new subpoena comes after lawmakers say Ken Paxton’s office stalled a previous effort to get Roberson’s legislative testimony about his conviction in “shaken baby” case.

An annual report documents 2,870 active cases of groundwater contamination around the state. Groundwater provides more than half of the state’s water supply.

The freshman congressman will lead the influential progressive caucus next year with plans to focus on working class and economic issues instead of culture wars.

Texas regulators are taking public comment about how they should implement an EPA rule to reduce methane leaks from the oil and gas industry.

In his new role, Rosser will be responsible for helping Texas meet its goal to increase the number of Texans ages 25 to 34 with a postsecondary credential to 60%by 2030.

Republicans who vote against party leaders’ preferred candidate could be barred from running in primaries. Lawsuits could follow.

In a Q&A, Burrows said he’s still confident he’ll win. But he says the leadership race is bigger than any one person and his supporters are trying to protect the integrity of the House.

Groups are urging the state’s estimated 1.6 million undocumented migrants to prepare financially and make plans for their loved ones if they’re detained.

Citing all the work the company has put into the region, employees are requesting a special election in Cameron County to incorporate a city.

Donald Trump won Ector County, which includes Odessa, with more than 70 percent of the vote.

At least a third of respondents at UT-Austin, UT-Dallas and Texas A&M said they’re not sure administrators at their universities protect free speech on campus.

Advocates say a law school in one of the state's poorest regions would exponentially help communities with legal aid.

Days after the Texas House GOP caucus backed Cook, Abbott made clear that he expects Republican representatives to do the same.

Paxton’s office has accused 3M and DuPont of misrepresenting or concealing the health risks of PFAS, which have been sold for decades for use in consumer products.

The request, which includes hiring more staff and updating the online application system, comes as applicants must wait for months to receive approval for benefits.

Oilfield wastewater injected underground is causing earthquakes and blowouts. Now, pilot projects are exploring whether this water could be treated and used to grow crops.

A yearslong effort to bring high-speed rail to Texas has recently shown signs of life, but state lawmakers have consistently put up roadblocks to keep it from happening.

The temporary injunction issued Monday would affect roughly 90,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in Texas.

Several prominent Amarillo business people donated to support the so-called travel ban. Meanwhile, statewide progressive groups helped the opposition.

Committee members said it was necessary to skip the two years after Texas passed its restrictive abortion laws to offer more timely recommendations.

With Speaker Dade Phelan out of the race, Republican state Reps. David Cook and Dustin Burrows will now face off.

Texas Republicans are poised to pick the statehouse lower chamber’s next leader this weekend.

Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield.

A comptroller’s report found that deporting the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants living in Texas in 2005 would have cost the state about $17.7 billion in gross domestic product.

Faculty senates have long played a key role in developing curriculum and protecting open inquiry. State leaders have also accused them of liberal indoctrination.

Wu defeated incumbent Trey Martinez Fischer on Thursday to become the next chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

The Texas Legislature has prioritized getting high school dropouts the skills they need to enter the workforce.

Patrick contends retailers have exploited a law passed in 2019 to sell unregulated and potentially harmful consumable tetrahydrocannabinol products.

Senate Bill 3, which will be carried by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, will ban all forms of THC if passed.