The Texas Tribune: Carlos Nogueras Ramoshttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carlos-nogueras-ramos/The latest news by Carlos Nogueras Ramos.enMon, 18 Aug 2025 21:30:46 -0500Texas Senate fast tracks THC ban, flood prep and bathroom restrictions for transgender peoplehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-senate-second-special-session-thc-disaster-relief-bathroom-bills/Senators moved fast on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the second special session. With House Democrats back in Texas, bills can now move through that chamber.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Alejandra Martinez, Alex Nguyen, Ayden Runnels, Eleanor Klibanoff, Emily Foxhall, Joshua Fechter and Stephen SimpsonMon, 18 Aug 2025 21:30:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-senate-second-special-session-thc-disaster-relief-bathroom-bills/State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas TribuneMidland school board votes to restore school name honoring Confederate generalhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/midland-lee-high-school-name-change-legacy/Five years ago, during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, the board voted to change the high school to Legacy High. On Tuesday, it reversed course.By Carlos Nogueras RamosTue, 12 Aug 2025 21:59:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/midland-lee-high-school-name-change-legacy/A Midland ISD employee walks past the front of Legacy High School on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Midland.A Midland ISD employee walks past the front of Legacy High School on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Midland.Eli Hartman for The Texas TribuneFive years after shedding Confederate moniker, a West Texas high school may be Lee High againhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/midland-texas-high-school-confederacy-robert-e-lee/The Midland school district rebranded Robert E. Lee High as Legacy High in 2020, part of a nationwide trend to distance public places from the Confederacy.By Carlos Nogueras RamosMon, 11 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/midland-texas-high-school-confederacy-robert-e-lee/Sisters Aniyah, 18, and Erinn, 16, in a photo with their mother, La' Toya Mayberry on Aug. 6, 2025 in Midland.From left, sisters Aniyah, 18, and Erinn, 16, pose for a photo with their mother, Latoya Mayberry on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in Midland.Eli Hartman for The Texas TribuneTexas public media hopes to reinvent after federal budget cutshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/the-future-of-texas-public-media/Public media in both urban and rural Texas lost substantial funding due to Congressional budget cuts championed by President Donald Trump.By Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 01 Aug 2025 14:49:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/the-future-of-texas-public-media/In Kerr County, some summer camps are reopening after the devastating July 4 floodhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/texas-flood-kerr-county-summer-camps-reopen/At least two summer camps in the Texas Hill Country have invited campers back after sustaining little to no damage from the flood. Other camps are still combing through the rubble.By Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 25 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/texas-flood-kerr-county-summer-camps-reopen/Brandon Briery, chief operating officer of Camp CAMP, gives a thumbs up to a camper, Adam, during breakfast on July 22, 2025, in Center Point.Brandon Briery, COO of Camp CAMP, gives a thumbs up to a camper, Adam, during breakfast on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Center Point.Eli Hartman for The Texas TribuneIn flood-ravaged Hill Country towns, friends, families and strangers rush in to help with cleanuphttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-hill-country-floods-hunt-recovery-debris-trees/For the past week, Clemente Sánchez and his tree-trimming crew have volunteered to help people remove trees and flood debris. It’s a scene being repeated all over the flood zone.By Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 11 Jul 2025 15:44:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-hill-country-floods-hunt-recovery-debris-trees/Clemente Sánchez rakes leaves and other debris at a property affected by the July 4 flood in Hunt on Friday.Clemente Sánchez rakes leaves and other debris in a property that was affected by the flood in Hunt on Friday July 11, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas TribuneIn West Texas, an independent publisher’s arrest sparks First Amendment questionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/west-texas-publisher-david-flash-jeff-davis-county-arrest/Publisher David Flash has been documenting the happenings in Jeff Davis County since 2020. Last year, he was banned from county buildings over allegations of harassment.By Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/west-texas-publisher-david-flash-jeff-davis-county-arrest/God and the Guadalupe long reigned over Texas Hill Country. Now grief permeates.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-floods-guadalupe-kerr-county-survivors-victims-rebuild/Religion and the river are constant Kerr County touchstones. As residents lean on their faith, they grapple with their relationship to the water.By Sneha Dey, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Hayden BettsFri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-floods-guadalupe-kerr-county-survivors-victims-rebuild/A family photo of James Wright and his grandchildren sits outside of his home Wednesday in Hunt. The photo was among the items salvaged from the residence, which suffered flood damage.A family photo of James Wright and his grandchildren sits outside of his home Wednesday, July 9, 2025 in Hunt, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas TribuneKerrville community unites in mourning and prayer for those lost and missing in Texas floodshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/texas-hill-country-floods-kerrville-vigil/Amid staggering loss, hundreds gathered in mourning and prayer at a Wednesday night vigil for the victims of the July Fourth floods.By Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Sneha DeyThu, 10 Jul 2025 00:18:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/texas-hill-country-floods-kerrville-vigil/A cross is seen at Antler Stadium on July 9, 2025, in Kerrville. The cross was brought by Michigan resident Dan Beazley.A cross is seen at a Kerr County Blessing at Antler Stadium on Wendsday July 9, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. The cross was brought by North Phil, Michigan resident Dan Beazley.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas TribuneAs Guadalupe River flows calm, evidence of its destructive force remainshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/texas-hill-country-post-flood-scene/Hill Country residents and volunteers on Tuesday continued picking up the pieces that the deadly waterway left behind days earlier.By Carlos Nogueras RamosTue, 08 Jul 2025 21:20:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/texas-hill-country-post-flood-scene/Volunteers clear debris from the flood as search and recovery efforts continue in Center Point on July 8, 2025.Volunteers clear debris from the flood as search and recovery efforts continue in Center Point on July 8, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas TribuneWeather warnings gave officials a 3 hour, 21 minute window to save lives in Kerr County. What happened then remains unclear.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/texas-weather-service-warning-kerr-county/Federal forecasters issued their first flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on July 4. Local officials haven’t shed light on when they saw the warnings or whether they saw them in time to take action.By Emily Foxhall, Terri Langford, Ayden Runnels, Jaden Edison, Alejandra Martinez and Carlos Nogueras RamosTue, 08 Jul 2025 18:01:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/texas-weather-service-warning-kerr-county/The National Weather Service's West Gulf River Forecast Center in Forth Worth helps other offices like the Austin/San Antonio office predict floods.Weather monitors at the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.Desiree Rios for The Texas TribuneTexas lawmakers failed to pass a bill to improve local disaster warning systems this yearhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/06/texas-disaster-warning-emergency-communication-bill-kerrville-floods/A GOP state lawmaker who represents Kerr County says he likely would vote differently now on House Bill 13, which would have established a grant program for counties to build new emergency communication infrastructure.By Terri Langford and Carlos Nogueras RamosSun, 06 Jul 2025 17:46:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/06/texas-disaster-warning-emergency-communication-bill-kerrville-floods/An aerial view of damage along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville on July 5, 2025.An aerial view of damage along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville on July 5, 2025. Heavy rains in the Hill Country on July for caused catastrophic flooding and loss of life.Brenda Bazán for The Texas TribuneCentral Texas flooding death toll rises to at least 100 as search continues for survivorshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-flooding-updates-kerrville-camp-mystic/About two dozen people were still missing. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned, noting that visitors to the area for the July 4th weekend make it difficult to assess an exact number.By Berenice Garcia, Jessica Shuran Yu and Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Graphics by Chris Essig and Edison WuSat, 05 Jul 2025 11:22:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-flooding-updates-kerrville-camp-mystic/A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville.A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune“It will affect all families”: Challenges await Texas parents if birthright citizenship endshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-parents-challenges-citizenship-donald-trump/The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship to take effect in certain states in 30 days.By Uriel J. García, Berenice Garcia, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Terri LangfordFri, 27 Jun 2025 17:22:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-parents-challenges-citizenship-donald-trump/Fate of birthright citizenship order unresolved after Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/birthright-citizenship-supreme-court-donald-trump-texas/The ruling was a partial victory for President Donald Trump who has made immigration his signature issue.By Uriel J. García, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Berenice Garcia and Associated PressFri, 27 Jun 2025 09:34:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/birthright-citizenship-supreme-court-donald-trump-texas/The Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.The Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Luke Johnson for The Texas TribuneRural Americans more likely to live with chronic pain than urban peers, UT-Arlington study findshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/rural-america-texas-chronic-pain-ut-arlington/More than 3 million people call rural Texas home, and many lack access to a primary care doctor.By Carlos Nogueras RamosMon, 23 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/rural-america-texas-chronic-pain-ut-arlington/Rural Americans are more likely to live with chronic pain, a new study from the University of Texas at Arlington found.Medical equipment and tools line the walls above a hospital bed in Cedar Park Regional Medical Center in Cedar Park, Texas on Mar. 13, 2024.Maria Crane for The Texas TribuneTexas creating task forces to target Permian Basin oil field theftshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/west-texas-oil-field-task-force/Texas lawmakers passed a suite of bills that officials said are crucial to combat losses in the state’s largest oil field.By Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 20 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/west-texas-oil-field-task-force/Texas lawmakers hope a series of new laws will help end oil field thefts in West Texas.A semi-truck waits to turn onto Texas State Highway 158 after disposing of its load at a salt-water disposal site Tuesday, June 25, 2024, south of Midland.Eli Hartman/The Texas TribuneAs Trump celebrates military, Texans protest president’s aggressive immigration enforcementhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-protests-anti-trump-immigration-no-kings/Demonstrations in McAllen, Midland, Odessa, Austin and elsewhere in Texas were largely peaceful, as some protests went well into the night.By Berenice Garcia, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Ayden Runnels and Jessica Shuran YuSat, 14 Jun 2025 15:40:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-protests-anti-trump-immigration-no-kings/Beth Vaughan, center, chants as protesters march up Walker Street during a “No Kings” protest at Houston City Hall on June 14.Beth Vaughan, at center, chants as protestors march up Walker Street during a No Kings protest at City Hall, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Houston.Antranik Tavitian for The Texas TribuneLawmakers passed bills this session to boost the state power grid but failed to limit renewableshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-legislature-energy-bills-renewables-power-grid/With demand expected to soar, the Legislature passed bills aimed at boosting supply and making the grid more reliable. Bills to impose more regulations on renewables died.By Carlos Nogueras RamosMon, 09 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-legislature-energy-bills-renewables-power-grid/A look at the wins rural Texas scored in this year’s legislative sessionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/rural-texas-legislation/Lawmakers sought to close gaps in education and support funding for agriculture, disaster preparedness and health care this year.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Jess Huff and Berenice GarciaThu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/rural-texas-legislation/The Texas State Capitol on March 17, 2025.The Texas State Capitol on March 17, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune