Civic engagement or illegal electioneering? How a school voting project became a conservative target
Powerful conservatives have taken several shots over the past few months at an educational advocacy group aiming to promote voting. Full Story
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![Austin ISD school buses at the terminal near John H. Reagan High School on July 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Amid mounting debate over toll lanes, transportation commissioner says it's time for 'new blood'
Gov. Greg Abbott now has two spots to fill on the commission that oversees the Texas Department of Transportation at a time when he's drawing ire for blocking toll projects. Full Story
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![Toll road in Central Texas on Dec. 17, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Bullet train developers want to turn Houston's Northwest Mall into major transit hub
The developers of a proposed high-speed train between the Houston and Dallas regions say they have identified an aging mall northwest of downtown Houston as the ideal spot for a station. Full Story
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![A high-speed Texas train is planned to run near railroad tracks along Hempstead Road in northwest Houston.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Transportation Commission member Victor Vandergriff reportedly stepping down
After Tryon Lewis said on Thursday that he's leaving the five-person board that oversees the Texas Department of Transportation, a Dallas magazine reported Friday that Victor Vandergriff is also planning to leave the commission. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner Victor Vandergriff.]()
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Transportation commissioner billed taxpayers for trips while advocating for auto industry
Victor Vandergriff advocated for auto dealers while billing the Texas Department of Transportation for Austin trips. The TxDot commissioner says he'll reimburse the state for certain expenses and update his financial disclosure statement. Full Story
![Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner Victor Vandergriff.]()
Credit: City of Arlington -
Amid Texas transportation battles, toll lanes scrapped while bullet train survived
Texans successfully fought back against tolled highway projects in 2017. Meanwhile, motorists are now forbidden to text while driving and ride-hailing companies emerged from the legislative session with a major victory. Full Story
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Some Texans dodge bullet train, others are square in its path
Federal officials identified the likely route a planned Dallas-Houston bullet train will take through rural counties as it connects the state's two largest urban areas. Full Story
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![Central Texas Partners released this map showing the likely route of a high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston.]()
Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht for The Texas Tribune -
Postponed: Join The Texas Tribune for a symposium on Hurricane Harvey recovery
Join The Texas Tribune for a symposium on Hurricane Harvey, where lawmakers, reporters and thought-leaders will discuss the deadly storm that struck Texas, and the road to recovery. Full Story
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Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texans driven mad as tolls burn holes in their wallets
As the number of toll projects continue to ramp up in the name of easier commutes, thousands of Texans are feeling anything but relief. Full Story
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![Interstate 45 Gulf Freeway's HOV and Toll lanes exit into Metro's Eastowood Transit Center in Houston Friday, October 19, 2012.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Amid blowback over accounting maneuver, TxDOT drops financing idea for several toll projects
Late Thursday, transportation officials released a statement saying they were dropping several toll projects from long-term plans due to public response. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick before hitting the gavel to begin a Senate session Aug. 15, 2017, the day before the end of a first called special session of the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
TxDOT eyeing accounting trick to get around toll road prohibition
A state lawmaker has asked the attorney general to weigh in on whether the state's transportation agency can use voter-approved funds to rebuild or expand highways that will also include toll lanes alongside them. Full Story
![Interstate 45 Gulf Freeway's HOV and Toll lanes exit into Metro's Eastowood Transit Center in Houston Friday, October 19, 2012.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
In Houston, low-income residents struggle after losing vehicles in floods
In addition to replacing clothes and finding new places to live, many in southeast Texas must repair vehicles or buy new cars. But not being able to get to work for more than three weeks makes that a challenge. Full Story
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![Daniel Gonzalez, who freelances for a remodeling company and can't get to work because his car flooded during Hurricane Harvey, shows a video of his flooded vehicle in Houston on Sept. 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials see long road to recovery for transportation network
Hurricane Harvey closed hundreds of roads around Houston and Southeast Texas. Texas transportation officials are only beginning to assess how prolonged flooding has damaged roads and bridges. Full Story
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![The highway into Rockport is still covered in water on Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Coastal Texas county's long recovery from Hurricane Harvey begins
Nowhere was Hurricane Harvey's devastation felt more than Aransas County, which has had one storm-related death and has had many buildings severely damaged. The region's difficult physical — and emotional — recovery is underway. Full Story
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![The mostly intact roof of Sazon Studio and Gallery sits atop a pile of rubble that used to be the downtown Rockport building. It was among several structures damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Harvey.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby / The Texas Tribune -
Ahead of Hurricane Harvey, officials send Texans mixed messages on evacuations
In the hours before Hurricane Harvey hits Texas, some local leaders told residents to flee their homes, while others urged them to stay in place and wait out the storm. Full Story
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![Ramiro Jimenez (left), Kevin Murphy (in baseball cap) and Gary Acuna (with drill) board up Tease Salon, which Murphy owns, ahead of Hurricane Harvey on Friday morning, Aug. 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby / The Texas Tribune -
Revisit our series on the state's preparedness for emergency evacuations
The evacuation ahead of Hurricane Rita in 2005 was marked by crowded roads and frustrated residents. But state officials say they're better prepared now. Read our seven-part "Road From Rita" series from 2015, done in collaboration with the Beaumont Enterprise. Full Story
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![Fleeing before Hurricane Rita hit land on Sept. 24, 2005, evacuees faced a separate disaster on roads like Interstate 10. The chaotic evacuation contributed to more deaths than the storm itself. Officials say they are better prepared for the next evacuation.]()
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How Angela Hunt fought a massive Dallas toll road project and won
Once the lone dissident against an army of elected officials, the land-use attorney made a name for herself pushing back against North Texas' long-planned Trinity Parkway. After 11 years, her fight paid off. Full Story
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![Angela Hunt spent her tenure on the Dallas City Council battling plans for a toll road inside the Trinity River levees. Even after her term ended, she didn't give up the fight.]()
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Report: 29 Texans in Congress signed letter similar to one penned by lobbyist
Nearly the entire Texas delegation in the U.S. House signed on to a letter that bears striking resemblance to one penned by a United Airlines lobbyist, according to a report from Politico. Full Story
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When school’s out, rural Texas towns struggle to feed their hungry kids
In East Texas, 86-year-old Clara Crawford shuttles kids to a summer meal program at the local community center. In the Panhandle, Kay Calvert and a group of volunteers want to revive a similar program in tiny Quitaque. Full Story
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![Clara Crawford drives a van without air conditioning to pick up and drop off children at a summer meals program sponsored by the East Texas Food Bank. The food bank provides meals for kids at similar programs at more than 70 different sites.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Senate backs bill to roll back cellphone safety laws in many Texas cities
The Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to legislation that would roll back local mobile phone ordinances that go beyond the recent statewide ban on texting while driving. Full Story
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![A statewide ban on texting while driving goes into effect Sept. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune