The Texas Tribune: Eleanor Klibanoffhttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eleanor-klibanoff/The latest news by Eleanor Klibanoff.enWed, 18 Jun 2025 10:55:21 -0500What the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on gender-affirming care ban means for Texashttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/us-supreme-court-gender-care-texas-tennessee/The court split 6-3 along ideological lines on a case from Tennessee. About two dozen states have similar bans in place.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 18 Jun 2025 10:55:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/us-supreme-court-gender-care-texas-tennessee/The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Texas' gender-affriming care ban for minors.The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 4, 2022.Jason Garza for The Texas TribuneWhat to know about Texas ending in-state tuition for undocumented studentshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-undocumented-students-tuition-explainer/Some implications of the ruling ordering the policy’s end are still unknown. College access experts urged affected students not to withdraw from school while they assess their options.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Jessica Priest and María MéndezSat, 14 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-undocumented-students-tuition-explainer/Students head to classes at the University of Texas at El Paso on May 9, 2019.Students head to classes at the University of Texas at El Paso on May 9, 2019.Joel Angel Juárez for The Texas TribuneTexas clarified when abortions are OK and aligned with RFK Jr. on health this legislative sessionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/13/texas-legislature-health-bills-abortion-vaccines/Amid a quiet legislative session for health, lawmakers’ priority legislation reinforced the U.S. health secretary’s agenda.By Terri Langford, Stephen Simpson and Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 13 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/13/texas-legislature-health-bills-abortion-vaccines/Aaron Reitz, former top DOJ official and Paxton aide, launches bid for Texas attorney generalhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/texas-attorney-general-aaron-reitz-gop-primary-paxton/Reitz, formerly a key cog in Texas’ conservative legal pipeline, once said the AG’s office is at war with “the forces that want to destroy the American order.”By Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 12 Jun 2025 08:24:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/texas-attorney-general-aaron-reitz-gop-primary-paxton/Then-Texas Deputy Attorney General of Legal Strategy Aaron Reitz speaks during a press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.Then-Texas Deputy Attorney General of Legal Strategy Aaron Reitz speaks during a press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.Kylie Cooper/The Texas TribuneTrans Texans brace for life under strict sex definition lawhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/12/texas-trans-rights-laws-birth-sex-gender-documents/Texas has strictly defined man and woman, leaving trans Texans in legal limbo.By Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 12 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/12/texas-trans-rights-laws-birth-sex-gender-documents/Leo Tyler poses for a portrait in downtown San Antonio on May 26, 2025. Behind him is artwork of a woman holding a transgender symbol like a rosary, connecting the city’s predominant Catholic faith with a message of alliance with the transgender community.Leo Tyler Castillo-Anguiano poses for a portrait underneath an overpass in downtown San Antonio on May 26, 2025. Behind him is artwork of a woman holding a transgender symbol like a rosary, connecting the city’s predominant Catholic faith with a message of alliance with the transgender community.Lorianne Willett/The Texas TribuneUndocumented students ask judge to let them challenge sudden loss of in-state tuitionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-in-state-tuition-undocumented-students-lawsuit-paxton-trump/Their filing says the lawsuit that struck down in-state tuition for undocumented students was “contrived” to keep their voices out.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 11 Jun 2025 12:58:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-in-state-tuition-undocumented-students-lawsuit-paxton-trump/Students on the University of Texas at Arlington campus in Arlington on Sept. 10, 2024.Students on the University of Texas at Arlington campus in Arlington on Sept. 10, 2024.Desiree Rios for The Texas TribuneTexas’ abortion bans are here to stay despite narrow clarificationhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/texas-abortion-ban-repeal-exceptions-unlikely/Legal challenges have failed, elections haven’t moved the needle and the fight for a narrow clarification shows how immovable these laws are.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 10 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/texas-abortion-ban-repeal-exceptions-unlikely/Protesters chant in front of the Texas State Capitol building at a pro-choice rally on June 24, 2022.Protesters chant on Congress Ave. in front of the Texas State Capitol building at a pro-choice rally Friday, June 24, 2022 in Austin, TX. The Supreme Court overturned Roe V Wade Friday leading to national protests in response from pro abortion advocates. The announcement of the overturning would trigger an immediate ban on abortions in several states, including Texas. Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneSergio Flores for The Texas TribuneTexas’ swift surrender to DOJ on undocumented student tuition raises questions about state-federal collusionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-doj-undocumented-tuition-courts-friendly-lawsuit-paxton/Experts say Wednesday’s action to eliminate the long-standing policy could be a “collusive lawsuit,” where the state and feds worked the courts to get a desired outcome.By Eleanor KlibanoffMon, 09 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-doj-undocumented-tuition-courts-friendly-lawsuit-paxton/The Texas State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2022 in Austin, TX.The Texas State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2022 in Austin, TX.Spencer Selvidge for The Texas TribuneTexas’ undocumented college students no longer qualify for in-state tuitionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-justice-department-lawsuit-undocumented-in-state-tuition/Within hours of a federal lawsuit targeting Texas’ policy of letting undocumented students qualify for lower public tuition rates, the 24-year-old law was no more.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Jessica Priest, Sneha Dey and Ayden RunnelsWed, 04 Jun 2025 14:45:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-justice-department-lawsuit-undocumented-in-state-tuition/Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneTribCast: Did lawmakers improve Texas’ infrastructure?https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/03/tribcast-texas-grid-water-legislature/Will Texas be able to keep the lights on and water flowing til the next legislative session?By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 03 Jun 2025 15:11:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/03/tribcast-texas-grid-water-legislature/A crew worker attempts to extinguish a leakage as they work to upgrade pipes and valves at a North Alamo Water Supply Corporation water plant in Donna on July 18, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneIn final act, Texas Legislature boosts judges’ pay and lawmaker pensionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/texas-legislature-judges-pay-raise-pensions/House and Senate members agreed that judges needed a pay raise. But they spent the final hours of the legislative session debating whether Texas lawmakers should also benefit from the boost.By Eleanor KlibanoffMon, 02 Jun 2025 15:53:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/texas-legislature-judges-pay-raise-pensions/State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, answers questions from state Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas, regarding a conference committee report which would raise the base pay for Texas judges.State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, answers questions from state Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas, regarding a conference committee report which would raise the base pay for Texas judges.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneLong-awaited raise for Texas judges in limbo over legislative pension clashhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/31/legislative-pensions-judicial-pay-texas/A bill to increase judicial salaries from $140,000 to $175,000 a year stalled amid a disagreement over lawmakers’ own retirement benefits.By Eleanor KlibanoffSun, 01 Jun 2025 09:40:53 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/31/legislative-pensions-judicial-pay-texas/Members of the Texas House of Representatives added an amendment to a bill on judicial pay raises, leading to a dispute with the Senate about a connected issue on legislative pensions.Members of the Texas House of Representatives during their budget discussion on April 10, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas TribuneTexas just defined man and woman. Here’s why that matters.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/29/texas-trans-sex-definition-state-documents-impact/Critics say House Bill 229, which has gone to the governor, discriminates against trans people, but the full effect remains to be seen.By Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/29/texas-trans-sex-definition-state-documents-impact/Naia Fulton-Jones chants in front of the Texas Capitol to protest for transgender kids' rights on Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022.Naia Fulton-Jones chants in front of the Texas Capitol to protest for transgender kids' rights on Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas TribuneBill curbing the flow of abortion pills into Texas likely deadhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-abortion-pill-bill-dies/Proponents of SB 2880 have singled out Rep. Ken King, House State Affairs committee chair, for letting the bill languish.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 28 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-abortion-pill-bill-dies/Texas will require state documents to reflect sex assigned at birthhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-trans-biological-sex-state-documents-bill/Many trans Texans have changed the sex listed on their birth certificate, driver’s licenses and other documents. They say their identities will be invalidated under bill headed to governor's desk.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 28 May 2025 01:18:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-trans-biological-sex-state-documents-bill/A crowd gathered at a rally for Trans Day of Visibility at the Bexar County Courthouse listens to pediatrician Dr. Lulu in San Antonio in 2023.The crowd gathered at a rally for Trans Day of Visibility at the Bexar County Courthouse listens to pediatrician Dr. Lulu in San Antonio on March 31, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas TribuneBill to stop flow of abortion pills into Texas clears House panelhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/23/texas-legislature-abortion-pills-crackdown/The bill also contains a controversial provision that says it cannot be challenged in state court before it is enforced. It goes now to the House for a full vote.By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 23 May 2025 12:27:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/23/texas-legislature-abortion-pills-crackdown/In El Paso, measles is infecting more adults than childrenhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-el-paso-measles/Adults who are unsure whether they’re vaccinated can get additional shots, health experts say.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 21 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-el-paso-measles/Shoppers on the sidewalk near downtown El Paso on Jan. 15, 2019.Shoppers on the sidewalk near downtown El Paso on Jan. 15, 2019Jorge Salgado for The Texas TribuneTexas Legislature clarifies when doctors can perform life-saving abortionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-abortion-exception-save-mothers/The bill does not expand abortion access, but further explains when a doctor can intervene to save a pregnant patient’s life.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 21 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-abortion-exception-save-mothers/A few pieces of medical equipment are all that remain to be packed up inside the Alamo Women's Reproductive Service's Clinic in San Antonio on July 29, 2022. The clinic closed its doors and moved to Illinois and New Mexico to provide services there.A few pieces of medical equipment are all that remain to be packed up inside the Alamo Women's Reproductive Service's Clinic in San Antonio on July 29, 2022. The clinic is closing its doors and moving to Carbondale, Illinois and Albuquerque, New Mexico to provide services there.Alejandra Sol Casas for The Texas TribuneTribCast: Higher education and the battle for Texas universitieshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/20/tribcast-texas-university-legislature/The gang talks about the Texas Legislature’s efforts to rein in universities, and all the changes at the top.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 20 May 2025 17:59:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/20/tribcast-texas-university-legislature/A student walks across the campus at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville on Aug. 20, 2020.Mark Felix for The Texas TribuneLong-running lawsuit against Texas’ foster care system appealed to the U.S. Supreme Courthttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/16/texas-us-supreme-court-foster-care/Lawyers representing foster children asked the high court to reinstate a contempt order against the state, and the judge who issued it.By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 16 May 2025 15:41:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/16/texas-us-supreme-court-foster-care/Heart Galleries, portraits of adoptable children, on display at the Child Protective Services office at Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.Heart Galleries, portraits of adoptable children, on display at the Child Protective Services office at Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune