Texas

Converted Texas Prison Gets First Immigrant Detainees

Border-crossing immigrants are being arrested by Texas troopers on state charges like trespassing, and they’re starting to trickle into a prison emptied to house them.

  • By Lomi Kriel and Jolie McCullough

Can Greg Abbott Actually Build Trump's Border Wall?

The governor wants to finish the wall that Donald Trump began on the Texas-Mexico border, but he'll have to overcome the same hurdles that impeded the ex-president's efforts.

  • By Mandi Cai and Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune

Low-Income People of Color Bear Brunt of Rising Pedestrian Deaths

Pedestrians deaths have soared in Texas and nationwide in recent years, especially in low-income communities of color.

  • By David Montgomery, Stateline

Gov. Greg Abbott is Using a Disaster Declaration to Help Fund a Border Wall. Democrats Say It’s an Overreach of Executive Powers.

The disaster declarations give the governor broad power to suspend state laws and regulations that hinder a jurisdiction’s recovery from a disaster and to allow the use of available resources to respond to the disaster.

  • By Cassandra Pollock and James Barragán, The Texas Tribune

Why States Have Been Slow Paying Out Billions in Federal Rental Aid

Congress approved over $46 billion to help cover overdue rent. Struggling households and frustrated landlords are still waiting on the money.

  • By Jacob Fischler

Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Bill Allowing College Athletes to Profit Off Their Own Name and Likeness

More than a dozen states have passed similar legislation allowing college athletes to be paid for the use of their name, image or likeness as state lawmakers have called on the federal government to set national guidelines.

  • By Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott Wants to Build a Border Wall, but Does Texas have the Ability — or Money — to do so?

Critics have denounced Abbott's proposal as "political theater" that won't pass legal muster. But the two-term Republican governor says it's time to secure the border.

  • By Heidi Perez-Moreno and James Barragán, The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas Will Build a Border Wall, but Doesn’t Yet Give Details on Cost or Location

The governor suggested more details would be released next week. The announcement Thursday of several initiatives is the latest in an ongoing conflict between Abbott, a Republican, and Democratic President Joe Biden's administration.

  • By Heidi Perez-Moreno, The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Bill to Punish Businesses that Require Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination

Abbott's signature means that businesses that require so-called vaccine passports can't get state contracts and could lose state licenses or operating permits.

  • By Karen Brooks Harper, The Texas Tribune

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Vows to Defund State Legislature After Voting Restrictions Bill Fails, Threatening Salaries

“No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities,” Abbott tweeted Monday.

  • By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune

Texas Moves to Ban Police From Participating in Reality Shows

The legislation came after a Black man died in police custody in 2019 while being filmed for a documentary TV series. The footage was destroyed, and details of his death emerged only after local news outlets pushed for answers.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Biden Wants to Offer More Housing Vouchers. Many Landlords Won’t Accept Them

Over 2.2 million households receive subsidies through the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

  • By Kristian Hernández, Stateline
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Texas’ Larger Cities Would Face Financial Penalties for Cutting Police Budgets Under Bill Approved by House

Previously, the Senate approved a bill that would ask for an election if cities decide to reduce law enforcement budgets.

  • By Juan Pablo Garnham and Jolie McCullough, The Texas Tribune

GOP Lawmakers Want to Ban 'Woke Philosophies' Like Critical Race Theory in Texas Schools

Gov. Greg Abbott has called for expanding the state's civic education curriculum, but the House and Senate are quickly advancing bills that would restrict the discussion of current events and public policy in the classroom and prohibit critical race theory in public schools.

  • By Duncan Agnew, The Texas Tribune

Texas’ Pandemic Budget Shortfall Disappears, as Latest Forecast Shows a Surplus

The latest revenue estimate doesn’t take into account all of the federal relief that has been sent to Texas over the past year by Congress through pandemic relief packages. State lawmakers have wrestled with how and who has the authority to spend that money.

  • By Shawn Mulcahy, The Texas Tribune

Austin Voters Back Ban on Public Homeless Encampments

Some Austin residents have complained that allowing the encampments on public property — many are beneath overpasses or next to major roads — has created health and safety problems.

  • By Texas Tribune Staff, The Texas Tribune

Lubbock Voters will Decide Saturday if the West Texas City will become the Largest “Sanctuary City for the Unborn”

While proponents of the proposed ordinance view abortion as an “inconceivably wicked action,” detractors say it would be immediately challenged in court and that battles over abortion access are best fought at the state and federal levels.

  • By Shannon Najmabadi, The Texas Tribune

As Austin Voters Weigh Camping Ban Proposition, Texas Lawmakers Consider Bills to Prohibit Homeless Encampments Statewide

If the legislation is approved and signed by the governor, cities could lose state grant money for failing to enforce a new statewide encampment ban.

  • By Juan Pablo Garnham, The Texas Tribune

California and Texas Took Different Routes to Vaccination. Who’s Ahead?

California stresses equity for minority groups. Texas is all about personal choice and liberty. Both are struggling to vaccinate Latinos and contending with vaccine hesitancy among conservative communities.

  • By Anna Almendrala and Sandy West, Kaiser Health News

Texas Legislature Considering Bill to Make it Harder to get Public Information About Government Employees

Senate Bill 16, filed by State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, would require an individual’s written consent for a state agency to share their personal information.

  • By Anna Canizales, The Texas Tribune

Interstate Water Wars are Heating Up Along With the Climate

COMMENTARY | Sates should put at least as much effort into reducing water use as they do into litigation, because there are no guaranteed winners in water lawsuits.

  • By Robert Glennon, The Conversation