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Abortion, private school vouchers and legislative control are the key issues in Texas’ 2024 election
Read full article: Abortion, private school vouchers and legislative control are the key issues in Texas’ 2024 electionTexan voters will have significant influence in November, both within and outside the state. They will be electing a U.S. senator, 38 U.S. House members, 150 state House members, as well as various judges and local elected officials. Additionally, they will have influence over important questions.
Animal welfare advocates will plead with Texas lawmakers to help cities control stray pet population
Read full article: Animal welfare advocates will plead with Texas lawmakers to help cities control stray pet populationOne group estimated more than 568,000 cats and dogs entered shelters in 2023. About 82,000 cats and dogs were euthanized.
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.
Despite warnings, Texas rushed to remove millions from Medicaid. Eligible residents lost care.
Read full article: Despite warnings, Texas rushed to remove millions from Medicaid. Eligible residents lost care.Texas officials acknowledged some errors after they stripped Medicaid coverage from more than 2 million people, most of them children. A ProPublica and Texas Tribune review of records shows that these mistakes and others were preventable.
Many Americans say immigration is out of control, but 24 hours on the Texas-Mexico border showed a new reality. Will it last?
Read full article: Many Americans say immigration is out of control, but 24 hours on the Texas-Mexico border showed a new reality. Will it last?The Texas Tribune and The Associated Press visited five locations along the 1,254-mile span to separate the facts from the political narrative during a heated election year.
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.
Republicans who want to oust Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan unanimously back state Rep. David Cook
Read full article: Republicans who want to oust Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan unanimously back state Rep. David CookFour GOP state representatives suspended their bids to challenge Phelan and 48 Republicans backed Cook, which could threaten Phelan’s shot at a third term.
Study finds levels of a dangerous gas “off the scales” in Central Texas oilfield
Read full article: Study finds levels of a dangerous gas “off the scales” in Central Texas oilfieldThe smell of oil wells has long permeated Caldwell County, near Austin and San Antonio. Now researchers have documented wells releasing dangerous amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas.
Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seat
Read full article: Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seatThe first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families.
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 lawmakers question agency's ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after initial glitch
Read full article: Texas lawmakers question agency's ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after initial glitchLawmakers tasked the Public Utility Commission with overseeing the Texas Energy Fund, though the agency has no experience running a loan program.
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.
Texas civic group wants judge to block Ken Paxton’s investigation into voter registration efforts
Read full article: Texas civic group wants judge to block Ken Paxton’s investigation into voter registration effortsJolt, which advocates for more Latino voting participation, says the attorney general’s probe has spurred threatening comments online.
At this West Texas church, “the Lord’s work” is helping the poor, not rewriting state law
Read full article: At this West Texas church, “the Lord’s work” is helping the poor, not rewriting state lawLed by co-pastors Joe and Dawn Weaks, Connection Christian Church, a 118-year-old congregation in Odessa, has transformed while keeping true to its legacy of helping the community.
Texas’ battle against deer disease threatens breeding industry
Read full article: Texas’ battle against deer disease threatens breeding industryTexas has seen a record number of chronic wasting disease cases this year. The state is looking for new ways to contain the spread without driving deer breeders out of business.
Texas’ prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics say
Read full article: Texas’ prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics sayAbout 25% of Texas’ correctional officer positions are unfilled. Inmates say the shortages make it harder for them to get respite during hot summer months.
Texas school districts say upgrades to the state’s student data reporting system could hurt their funding
Read full article: Texas school districts say upgrades to the state’s student data reporting system could hurt their fundingThe Texas Education Agency says there’s time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get.
Texas proposes first new rules for oilfield waste in 40 years
Read full article: Texas proposes first new rules for oilfield waste in 40 yearsWhile environmentalists say the new rules don’t do enough to protect groundwater, oil and gas operators are contesting stricter requirements for waste pits near wells.
Families and advocates for disabled Texans pushing for caregiver pay raise
Read full article: Families and advocates for disabled Texans pushing for caregiver pay raiseA state Medicaid program pays caregivers of intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals living in community-based homes. Families, advocates and providers want lawmakers to increase that hourly pay.
Another Republican is challenging Dade Phelan for Texas House speaker
Read full article: Another Republican is challenging Dade Phelan for Texas House speakerThe Texas House speaker race is becoming increasingly crowded. Phelan, who is under fire from his right, says he plans to seek the leadership position again.
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 Texas can learn from Italy’s big bet on tiny community health homes
Read full article: What Texas can learn from Italy’s big bet on tiny community health homesIn Italy, as in Texas, funding hospitals over primary care leaves many feeling “medically homeless.” Italy’s post-COVID plans show another way.
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.
Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas Republicans
Read full article: Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas RepublicansThe county plans to ID eligible voters and send them registration forms. GOP officials say it’s an end-run around state law.
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.
Election experts cautious as Abbott touts voter roll purge
Read full article: Election experts cautious as Abbott touts voter roll purgeFederal and state law already required voter roll maintenance. Experts warn the governor’s framing of this routine process could be used to undermine trust in elections.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A West Texas ranch and resort will limit water to residents amid fears its wells will run dry
Read full article: A West Texas ranch and resort will limit water to residents amid fears its wells will run dryResidents at the sprawling Terlingua Ranch near Big Bend National Park will limit residents to 1,000 gallons of nondrinking water per month.
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.
State leaders address Gov. Abbott’s order to require Texas hospitals to collect patients’ immigration status
Read full article: State leaders address Gov. Abbott’s order to require Texas hospitals to collect patients’ immigration statusCongressman Al Green and other leaders addressed Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order that requires hospitals in Texas to collect information on the immigration status of patients so that the hospitals can then track costs incurred for the care of undocumented migrants.
Abbott order will require Texas hospitals to collect patients’ immigration status
Read full article: Abbott order will require Texas hospitals to collect patients’ immigration statusThe executive order from the Texas governor will require hospitals to track the cost of care for undocumented migrants, in order for the state to push for federal reimbursement.
Appeals court to weigh reimposing fines for Texas foster care failures, removing judge on case
Read full article: Appeals court to weigh reimposing fines for Texas foster care failures, removing judge on caseTexas Health and Human Services could face $100,000-per-day fines for violating a judge's orders. The state wants the judge off the case.
How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the field
Read full article: How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the fieldFuture Texas therapists must complete internships to start their careers, but there’s not enough providers to mentor all of the students.
Justice Department finds Texas juvenile detention centers violated youth offenders’ rights
Read full article: Justice Department finds Texas juvenile detention centers violated youth offenders’ rightsThe DOJ found that officers overused pepper spray, kept youths in prolonged isolation and failed to protect them from sexual abuse.
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.
Unregulated oilfield power lines are suspected of sparking Texas wildfires
Read full article: Unregulated oilfield power lines are suspected of sparking Texas wildfiresNo state agency is taking responsibility for making sure the privately built lines that power many oil and gas sites are safe. Such lines have been blamed for sparking two recent Panhandle fires.
Weak infrastructure, distrust make communication during natural disasters hard on rural Texas
Read full article: Weak infrastructure, distrust make communication during natural disasters hard on rural TexasWhen disaster strikes, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy takes command of her county’s emergency communication channels, including a text service and Facebook page.
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 Water Board details how it will spend $1 billion for water infrastructure projects
Read full article: Texas Water Board details how it will spend $1 billion for water infrastructure projectsAbout $45 million will go to Texas towns with fewer than 1,000 residents — a boon for municipalities without a viable tax base.
CenterPoint CEO promises improvements as Texas scrutinizes company’s Beryl response
Read full article: CenterPoint CEO promises improvements as Texas scrutinizes company’s Beryl responseJason Wells told regulators the company will launch a new outage tracker by Aug. 1. It will also trim more tree limbs near power lines and hire an executive to focus on emergency response.
Attorney general investigating CenterPoint Energy after Hurricane Beryl’s long-lasting power outages
Read full article: Attorney general investigating CenterPoint Energy after Hurricane Beryl’s long-lasting power outagesThe company’s power outages in July have drawn the ire of state leaders. Here’s what you need to know.
El Paso County officials say it’s time the state pays for Operation Lone Star arrests
Read full article: El Paso County officials say it’s time the state pays for Operation Lone Star arrestsCounty officials issued a disaster declaration Tuesday, saying the state’s mass arrests at the border have cost the county millions of dollars and overwhelmed its criminal justice system.
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.
Border Patrol agents recorded the fewest monthly migrant apprehensions since 2021 on southern border
Read full article: Border Patrol agents recorded the fewest monthly migrant apprehensions since 2021 on southern borderMigrant apprehensions in Texas decreased by nearly one-third in June, the first month of a new order by President Joe Biden that widely limited asylum claims.
GOP-led states have pledged hundreds of troops and spent millions of dollars to help Texas secure the border this year
Read full article: GOP-led states have pledged hundreds of troops and spent millions of dollars to help Texas secure the border this yearThe federal government has deployed National Guard to the border for years, but more than a dozen states have dug into their own budgets to send even more personnel
Eagle Pass residents have mixed feelings about sharing their city with the National Guard
Read full article: Eagle Pass residents have mixed feelings about sharing their city with the National GuardTexas has sent thousands of soldiers to the border as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s multibillion-dollar initiative Operation Lone Star. No border town has felt their presence more than Eagle Pass.
Just as the temperature climbs, Texas towns are closing public pools to cut costs
Read full article: Just as the temperature climbs, Texas towns are closing public pools to cut costsAdvocates say public pools are necessary community infrastructure and save lives. Splash pads have become a more affordable option.
Beryl power outages crowd hospitals, delay new admissions
Read full article: Beryl power outages crowd hospitals, delay new admissionsIn Houston, discharged patients remain in an arena to avoid powerless homes. Some 70 miles north, Livingston’s hospital is one of 17 in the state relying on a generator because of Hurricane Beryl power outages.
Beryl power outage updates: More than 98,000 Texas electricity customers remain without power a week after Beryl
Read full article: Beryl power outage updates: More than 98,000 Texas electricity customers remain without power a week after BerylTens of thousands of households and businesses aren’t expected to have electricity for most of this week.
At half a mile a week, Gov. Greg Abbott’s border wall will take around 30 years and $20 billion to build
Read full article: At half a mile a week, Gov. Greg Abbott’s border wall will take around 30 years and $20 billion to buildThe state has built about 34 miles of wall spread out across at least six counties on Texas’ 1,254-mile border with Mexico.
Abortion on the ballot: Amarillo set to vote on abortion travel ban this election
Read full article: Abortion on the ballot: Amarillo set to vote on abortion travel ban this electionAfter the Amarillo City Council balked at such an ordinance last year, residents collected signatures for a ballot measure.
Texas Supreme Court upholds ban on transition-related care for minors
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court upholds ban on transition-related care for minorsParents and medical providers of transgender adolescents sued Texas, challenging the constitutionality of a restriction on puberty blockers and hormone therapy.
Cook Children’s sues Texas over potential Medicaid contract loss
Read full article: Cook Children’s sues Texas over potential Medicaid contract lossFor years, Cook’s Children, two other children’s hospitals have administered Medicaid health coverage plans. Canceling their contracts would put jobs and coverage at risk, they say.
More than 100 Texas counties lack plans to curb damage from natural disasters
Read full article: More than 100 Texas counties lack plans to curb damage from natural disastersThe plans, which are required by the federal government to access certain grants after a natural disaster, are laborious to assemble — especially for rural counties.
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.
U.S. Supreme Court blocks the state’s Rio Grande water deal with New Mexico
Read full article: U.S. Supreme Court blocks the state’s Rio Grande water deal with New MexicoWater law experts say the Supreme Court's recent decision will set a precedent for the federal government to intervene in water conflicts between states moving forward.
Texas electricity demand could nearly double in six years, grid operator predicts
Read full article: Texas electricity demand could nearly double in six years, grid operator predictsThe prediction by ERCOT reflects a new way of counting future demand and a spike in requests to connect to the grid from large power users.
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.
Texas National Guard is shooting pepper balls to deter migrants at the border
Read full article: Texas National Guard is shooting pepper balls to deter migrants at the borderMigrants in Mexico said they’ve been shot by the rounds, which leave bruises and disperse a chemical irritant. The state says Guard members are trained not to aim directly at people.
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."
With too few mental health providers, more patients turn to primary care
Read full article: With too few mental health providers, more patients turn to primary careWhile primary care is experiencing its own workforce shortage, the profession is shouldering more mental health screenings to help bridge the behavioral health provider gap.
As a Texas city debates an abortion travel ban, maternal care is scarce in nearby rural counties
Read full article: As a Texas city debates an abortion travel ban, maternal care is scarce in nearby rural countiesAmid a fight over an “abortion travel ban,” women health care experts say more attention is needed to the plight of pregnant Texans in the Panhandle where there are few hospitals and OBGYNs.
Democrats think they can flip Texas House seats by going after GOP’s education funding and school voucher policies
Read full article: Democrats think they can flip Texas House seats by going after GOP’s education funding and school voucher policiesMuch of the House battlefield is centered in districts with struggling schools, where Democrats hope public education will resonate at the ballot box.
Texas conservatives want to end countywide voting. The costs could be high.
Read full article: Texas conservatives want to end countywide voting. The costs could be high.More than 80% of the state’s registered voters can cast their ballot anywhere in the county on election day. Scrapping that option could lead to disenfranchisement, experts say.
Abbott appoints first judges to new appeals court for cases involving state government, businesses
Read full article: Abbott appoints first judges to new appeals court for cases involving state government, businessesThe Texas Legislature created the court last year, with proponents saying it would increase efficiency and opponents arguing that it was an effort by Republicans to circumvent Democrat-dominated courts.
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 Democrats try to unify against GOP “extremism” as their own challenges and strife persist
Read full article: Texas Democrats try to unify against GOP “extremism” as their own challenges and strife persistThe party faces internal tension over the Israel-Hamas war and Biden’s new immigration policy heading into November.
State rejects health insurers' pleas to halt plan that will shake up coverage for 1.8 million Texans
Read full article: State rejects health insurers' pleas to halt plan that will shake up coverage for 1.8 million TexansAffected Texans who receive Medicaid coverage would be shifted to new insurers next year if the state health and human services agency sticks to its plan. It’s now up to the executive commissioner to make a final decision.
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.
New Texas Democratic group hopes to pump millions into neglected party infrastructure
Read full article: New Texas Democratic group hopes to pump millions into neglected party infrastructureThe new outfit is hoping that its long-term plan will eventually help Democrats become more competitive in statewide races.
“Grateful to be alive”: Clubhouse programs take pressure off overwhelmed Texas mental health hospitals
Read full article: “Grateful to be alive”: Clubhouse programs take pressure off overwhelmed Texas mental health hospitalsThousands of people are discharged from Texas mental health hospitals yearly, and so-called step-down programs like clubhouses can help them integrate back into the community.
How a chance meeting helped Texas become the nation’s top beekeeping state
Read full article: How a chance meeting helped Texas become the nation’s top beekeeping stateTwelve years after a state law gave tax breaks for keeping bees on at least five acres, people are still getting into the trade — or throwing in the towel and hiring professionals to do it for them.