An FDA panel will decide today whether to recommend approval of the Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5-11. Here’s what that means for Texans.

Latest News

• Texas reaches $290 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson in nationwide opioid case

  by James Pollard 48 minutes ago

  “We’re not done going after these other companies,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. Overdose deaths related to opioids increased by 30% nationally in 2020. Full Story 

• As Texas’ deadly third wave of coronavirus slows, about 9 million eligible Texans still aren’t fully vaccinated

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: 2 hours ago

  The Texas Tribune is using daily data from the Texas Department of State Health Services to track coronavirus vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Full Story 

• U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will run for a different House seat in 2022 after redistricting made his more competitive

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: 2 hours ago

  Texas lawmakers made Gonzalez’s current 15th Congressional District more competitive for Republicans. The representative now plans to run in the 34th District, which is safer for Democrats. Full Story 

• Restrictions on transgender student athletes’ participation in school sports signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott

  by Allyson Waller Oct. 25, 2021

  House Bill 25 will require student athletes who compete in interscholastic competition to play on sports teams that correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificate at or near their time of birth. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott signs dog tethering bill after vetoing similar proposal over the summer

  by James Pollard Oct. 25, 2021

  Abbott criticized an earlier proposal as “micro-managing.” But advocates say the differences between the original bill and the new law won’t affect its impact. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott signs off on Texas’ new political maps, which protect GOP majorities while diluting voices of voters of color

  by Elvia Limón Oct. 25, 2021

  Texas lawmakers drew new maps for the state House and Senate, congressional delegation and State Board of Education. Here’s what Texans should know about the 2021 redistricting outcomes. Full Story 

• Delta-8 in Texas remains classified as "illegal" after judge denies request from hemp firm

  by Kevin Reynolds Oct. 25, 2021

  Another hearing on the matter is scheduled for Nov. 5. Full Story 

• Texas universities with federal contracts are caught between Greg Abbott and Joe Biden over COVID-19 vaccine mandates

  by Kate McGee Oct. 25, 2021

  While some universities in other states that hold federal contracts have mandated vaccines for all employees, many Texas universities, which collectively have billions in federal contracts, are still reviewing the executive order before it goes into effect Dec. 8. Full Story 

• Analysis: Are lawmakers trying to make Texans more confident in elections, or less?

  by Ross Ramsey Oct. 25, 2021

  After conservative complaints about the national results in the 2020 election, Texas Republicans have tried to anticipate everything that might play against them in 2022, right down to who’ll be at the helm. Full Story 

• Eva Guzman airs early ads in bid to stand out in crowded primary for attorney general

  by Patrick Svitek Oct. 24, 2021

  The former state Supreme Court justice is one of three Texas Republicans vying to unseat incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story 

• U.S. Supreme Court will consider Texas’ near-total abortion ban on an expedited timeline. The law remains in effect for now.

  by Allyson Waller Updated: Oct. 22, 2021

  The high court agreed to hear the arguments quickly but declined to immediately block enforcement of the new law. Full Story 

• Texas schools started this year with record high coronavirus cases, but weekly totals have now declined

  by Kalley Huang, Mandi Cai and Brian Lopez Updated: Oct. 22, 2021

  Nearly three months into this school year, districts have reported 202,186 cases in students. But state data on school cases is incomplete and likely an undercount. Full Story 

• Enrollment at Texas’ public universities inches ahead of community colleges for the first time since 1990s

  by Kate McGee Oct. 22, 2021

  Preliminary data shows Texas college enrollment is down about 4% statewide since 2019, mostly due to an 11% drop in community college enrollment. Full Story 

• Texas has new political maps. See which districts your home is in.

  by Carla Astudillo, Kalley Huang and Mandi Cai Oct. 22, 2021

  Texas lawmakers have redrawn political maps for the state’s congressional, House, Senate and Board of Education districts. Search your address to see how the new districts will affect your community. Full Story 

• Analysis: A quick turn on property taxes with the long game in mind

  by Ross Ramsey Oct. 22, 2021

  High Texas property taxes were an issue in the state's 2018 elections, and you can see from their work on a new homestead exemption earlier this week that state lawmakers didn't forget that lesson from voters. Full Story 

• Texas’ new political maps create safer districts for incumbents — and put an end to some challengers’ runs

  by James Barragán Oct. 22, 2021

  The redistricting process in the GOP-dominated Legislature made many political districts less competitive, which some experts believe might hurt civic engagement. Full Story