Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa joins Democratic race to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott
The five-term state lawmaker from Austin has homed in on education issues in the Texas House, becoming a primary foil to Abbott on school vouchers. Full Story
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![Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, speaks on the phone at her desk on the House floor on May 19, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Harrison vs. higher ed: How one lawmaker is weaponizing social media to eradicate LGBTQ+ curriculum
State Rep. Brian Harrison has been on a crusade against Texas universities, scouring course catalogs and university websites for examples of “gender ideology” or LGBTQ+ curriculum, and riling up his X followers about “liberal indoctrination” on campuses. Full Story
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![State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, in his office at the state Capitol in Austin on Sept. 29, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
New legislative panels will investigate “facts and circumstances” of deadly Central Texas floods
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Camp Mystic leaders would be invited to testify before the committees, as part of what Speaker Dustin Burrows said would be a “comprehensive and thorough review.” Full Story
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![A hearing attendee labels a map of Guadalupe river during a joint committee hearing at Hill Country Youth Event Center on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP censures five lawmakers, but rejects banning anyone from the primary ballot
Saturday’s decisions signal a deescalating intraparty tension that heightened at the start of the year. Full Story
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![Republican Party of Texas Chairman Abraham George talks with a delegate during the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) special-called meeting to discuss censures of several Republican House members including Speaker Dustin Burrows, at the Texas Capitol, on Oct 11, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas attorney general tells 4 cities to drop tax hikes amid investigations into incomplete audits
Most of the cities — Odessa, La Marque, Tom Bean and Whitesboro — said they are following the law and Ken Paxton’s office is jumping the gun on enforcing new state rules. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Economic boom or environmental disaster? Rural Texas grapples with pros, cons of data centers
Local leaders see data centers, which help power the world’s shift to artificial intelligence, as a way to keep their towns open. Residents worry their way of life — and water — is at stake. Full Story
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![An attendee holds an anti data center protest sign at a town hall event in front of the Potter County Courthouse on Sept. 20. Sept. 20, 2025.]()
Credit: Phoebe Terry for The Texas Tribune -
At hearing, Democrats say the redistricting process was flawed from the start
On the first day of a two-week trial, the plaintiffs’ lawyers honed in on who drew the new map and whether race was a factor. Full Story
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![The Albert Armendariz Sr. U.S. Courthouse in El Paso on Oct. 1, 2025. A three judge panel is presiding over a nine day trial on whether Texas can use the newly redrawn congressional map for the upcoming 2026 elections.]()
Credit: Alberto Silva Fernandez for The Texas Tribune -
A growing East Texas city is exploring a new transportation method: light rail
The Tyler metro area is home to about 250,000 and a growing health care hub. City leaders want to get ahead of more traffic. Full Story
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![A light rail station in Phoenix, Arizona on June 7, 2025. The East Texas city of Tyler is seeking residential input on a potential light rail as part of a regional transit study.]()
Credit: Eduardo Barraza/ZUMA Press Wire via REUTERS -
West Texas wants to sell its natural gas to AI data centers, but has few options for transporting it
Other smaller oil and gas producing regions in the state are better poised to help power the growing data center market, a new report found. Full Story
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![A well service rig, operated by Maverick Natural Resources, is seen Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, outside of Goldsmith. The 15-year-old well, which produces 6 barrels of oil and 150,000 cubic feet of natural gas a day, was being serviced to replace its downhole pumping unit.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Federal loopholes may have opened the door for sports betting alternatives that skirt Texas’ gambling ban
While the state's strict ban on gambling hasn’t changed, fast-growing daily fantasy sports and prediction market apps are giving Texans new ways to wager without leaving home. Full Story
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![While a legislative session filled with scrutiny for lottery couriers' unclear legality ended with a ban on the services, daily fantasy sports apps went unnoticed despite operating in a similarly gray legal area.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Texas legislative committees will study freedom of speech on college campuses in wake of Charlie Kirk killing
The committees were made to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk and come as university faculty have come under online scrutiny. Full Story
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![A student walks through the Library Mall at the University of North Texas in Denton on March 22, 2022.]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
Providing basic care to students does not violate Texas’ parental consent law, state guidance to schools says
The guidance comes in response to confusion over a new state law requiring schools to notify parents whenever students need health care services. Full Story
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![Students and teachers walk between classes at Blanco Vista Elementary School in San Marcos on Monday August, 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Running Out: Texas’ water crisis — and the path forward
A growing population, leaking pipes and changing climate threaten the state’s water supply. Texas lawmakers hope a $20 billion investment will help. Full Story
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![Jay Ornelas, El Paso County Water Improvement District Manager (left) and Ramon Tirres (right) in Clint, Texas on march 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
The cost of owning a home in Texas is on the rise, census shows
Despite efforts by Texas lawmakers to ease property tax bills, increases in expenses like insurance and utilities ate into that tax relief. Full Story
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![Homes in an East Austin neighborhood on Aug. 24, 2025.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Some of Texas’ highest-paid charter superintendents run some of its lowest-performing districts
Three Texas charter school districts underreported compensation paid to top leaders. They also recently had failing or near-failing performance ratings. Full Story
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![A stack of schoolwork rubber-stamped with “D” and “F” grades, mixed together with $100 bills.]()
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In U.S. Senate bid, Rep. James Talarico promises to take on GOP billionaires and bridge political divides
A former public school teacher, Talarico has emerged as one of Texas Democrats’ strongest communicators. He joins Colin Allred and Terry Virts in the primary. Full Story
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![Texas Rep. James Talarico D-Austin speaks during a redistricting rally at Delco Activity Center Friday, July 25, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
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Texas' new parental consent law leaves school nurses confused about which services they can provide to students
The law’s authors urged districts to use “common sense.” But some nurses worry they could violate the law and face discipline for providing basic care without a parent’s approval. Full Story
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![A student walks through a hallway at Calk-Wilson Elementary School in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 11, 2025.]()
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Lawmakers redrew Texas’ congressional districts. See how yours changed.
The new maps, which aim to flip five Democratic seats to favor Republicans, will go into effect for the 2026 midterms, barring court intervention. Full Story
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![Shapes of the new Congressional districts with the red Republicans on the left and the blue Democrat ones on the right.]()
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Texas is officially replacing STAAR. Here is what schools’ new standardized tests will look like.
House Bill 8 scraps the unpopular exam for three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year starting in the 2027-28 school year. Full Story
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![Nimitz Middle School teacher Selena Olivares leads her 7th grade class in an activity Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Proposal limiting Texas city, county property taxes dies in the Legislature
The House refused to back a bill that would apply only to the state’s largest cities. Full Story
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![The Celina water tower among newer housing developments in Celina on November 13, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune