The Texas Tribune: Eleanor Klibanoffhttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eleanor-klibanoff/The latest news by Eleanor Klibanoff.enMon, 14 Apr 2025 18:18:40 -0500Texas House gives first approval to bill that would allow universities to pay student athleteshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/14/texas-college-sports-nil-student-athletes/Already able to collect from private entities, athletes for the first time would be able to receive direct payments from universities under the proposal.By Eleanor KlibanoffMon, 14 Apr 2025 18:18:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/14/texas-college-sports-nil-student-athletes/The Texas Legislature is having big battles over gender and sexuality. Track them here.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/14/texas-legislature-transgender-bills/Lawmakers are quietly pushing bills that would limit access to bathrooms and measures preventing trans people from changing government documents.By Eleanor KlibanoffMon, 14 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/14/texas-legislature-transgender-bills/Attendees wave a trans flag while marching at San Antonio's third annual celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility, on March 29, 2025.Attendees wave a trans flag while marching with over 300 activists and supporters from the Bexar County Courthouse to Crockett Park in “March for Us,” San Antonio's third annual celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility, on Saturday, March 29, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.Salgu Wissmath for The Texas TribuneTexas Republican lawmakers unwilling to change abortion laws to address doomed pregnancieshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/texas-abortion-law-lethal-fetal-anomalies/For the first time since Texas outlawed nearly all abortions, lawmakers are clarifying the “life of mother” exception. But they don’t plan to address cases where the fetus won’t survive.By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 11 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/texas-abortion-law-lethal-fetal-anomalies/Taylor Edwards poses for a portrait in the Texas Capitol on April 7. At 17 weeks, Edwards' pregnancy had started showing signs of a severe brain abnormality. She was one of 22 plaintiffs who sued Texas as a part of Zurawski vs. State of Texas in an effort to restore abortion rights in the state.Taylor Edwards poses for a portrait in the Texas Capitol on April 7, 2025. In 2023 (?), Edwards had to travel out of the state to receive an abortion after learning the child she was carrying would not survive the pregnancy.Lorianne Willett/The Texas TribuneTexas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd to retirehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/09/texas-supreme-court-jeff-boyd-retire/Gov. Greg Abbott will have the opportunity to appoint Boyd’s replacement, furthering his influence on the high court.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 09 Apr 2025 14:06:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/09/texas-supreme-court-jeff-boyd-retire/Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd will retire this summer.Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd explains their judgment process during a Q & A after hearing two a civil cases at the University of Houston Law Center at in the Danny M. Sheena Courtroom at the John. M. O’Quinn Law Building in Houston on Oct. 29, 2024.Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas TribuneTribCast: Covering Texas’ new abortion fightshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/tribcast-texas-abortion-fight/TribCast digs into clarifying bills, crackdowns on pills, lawsuits, arrests and everything else abortion-related.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 08 Apr 2025 14:20:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/tribcast-texas-abortion-fight/An examination room in Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services in San Antonio on June 14, 2022.Kylie Cooper/The Texas TribuneBipartisan support for Texas bill clarifying when doctors can perform an abortion shows early crackshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/texas-abortion-law-clarification-legislation/While Democrats and abortion access advocates pushed to ensure pregnant women aren’t criminalized, some conservatives questioned whether this bill is needed.By Eleanor KlibanoffMon, 07 Apr 2025 16:41:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/texas-abortion-law-clarification-legislation/Texas lawmakers are debating legislation that could add clarity to the state's near-total abortion ban.An empty emergency room at Goodall-Witcher Hospital in Clifton on August 3, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneTexas sues San Antonio over abortion fundinghttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/texas-ken-paxton-san-antonio-abortion-travel/Attorney General Ken Paxton previously sued the City of Austin for helping residents travel out-of-state for abortions.By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 04 Apr 2025 16:21:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/texas-ken-paxton-san-antonio-abortion-travel/San Antonio City Council's approval Thursday of $100,000 for abortion travel prompted a lawsuit Friday from Attorney General Ken Paxton that seeks a temporary injunction blocking the allocation.Pedestrians walk by La Antorcha de la Amistad sculpture in downtown San Antonio on Nov. 2, 2021.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas TribuneGov. Greg Abbott touts his influence on Texas courts to conservative law grouphttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/greg-abbott-texas-courts-ut-jim-davis/Abbott’s closed-door address to the Federalist Society at UT Law Thursday drew peaceful protests.By Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 03 Apr 2025 16:25:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/greg-abbott-texas-courts-ut-jim-davis/From left: University of Texas Interim President Jim Davis, Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Law Federalist Society President Jordan Lamb participate in an event at The University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025.From left: University of Texas Interim President Jim Davis, Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Law Federalist Society President Jordan Lamb participate in an event at The University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas TribuneTribCast: Is it high time to regulate or ban THC in Texas?https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/tribcast-texas-thc-ban/Will the House agree to ban consumable hemp products? If not, Lt. Gov. Patrick says he’ll THC us in a special session.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 01 Apr 2025 14:56:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/tribcast-texas-thc-ban/A container of dried hemp plant with leaves and stems on Jan. 23, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneLawyers for Houston-area midwife accused of illegal abortions condemn state’s investigationhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/houston-midwife-abortion-case-waller-county/Maria Rojas’ attorneys got their first chance to address the claims against her Thursday. She was released on bond but a judge ordered the clinics to remain closed.By Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 27 Mar 2025 20:19:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/houston-midwife-abortion-case-waller-county/Clínica Waller Latinoamericana, one of Maria Rojas' network of clinics in Waller, Texas, remains closed after a Waller County judge granted a temporary injunction prohibiting the facilities from providing medical services.On March 27, 2025, Clinica Waller Latinoamericana, one of Maria Margarita Rojas' network of clinics in Waller, Texas, remains closed after a Waller County judge granted a temporary injunction prohibiting the facilities from providing medical services. Rojas, a licensed midwife, has been charged with the illegal performance of an abortion and practicing medicine without a license.Hope Mora for The Texas TribuneAbortion opponents laud bill that would clamp down on pill providers and out-of-state abortionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-abortion-pill-ban-senate-2880/Some health care providers in support of Senate Bill 2880 said people who are mailed abortion pills aren’t given instructions and do not receive follow-up care.By Pooja Salhotra and Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 27 Mar 2025 19:30:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-abortion-pill-ban-senate-2880/An examination room in Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services in San Antonio on June 14, 2022.An examination room in Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services in San Antonio on June 14, 2022.Kylie Cooper/The Texas TribuneAmid support from doctors group, bill to clarify Texas’ abortion ban does little to save lives, critics sayhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-abortion-bill-senate-31/Senate Bill 31 supporters say it would clarify when doctors should intervene to save a pregnant woman’s life, but critics say its vagueness and a measure to resurrect pre-Roe laws hamper it.By Pooja Salhotra and Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 27 Mar 2025 18:19:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-abortion-bill-senate-31/Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a patient returns for a follow-up appointment to Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services abortion clinic in San Antonio on June 24, 2022.A patient returns for a follow up appointment to make sure her abortion treatment was successful hours after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade at the Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services abortion clinic in San Antonio on June 24, 2022.Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas TribuneTribCast: How long til there’s a Buc-ee’s on Mars?https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/tribcast-texas-space-race/The gang talks about Texas’ role in the modern space race, what the aeronautics industry wants from the Legislature and, of course, Elon Musk.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 25 Mar 2025 13:05:55 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/tribcast-texas-space-race/SpaceX rockets at the launch pad at the Brownsville facility on Oct. 20, 2021. On Oct. 22, Elon Musk said via Twitter the Starship rocket would be ready for an orbital launch by next month.Michael Gonzalez/The Texas TribuneHow Texas Republicans plan to keep cracking down on abortionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/texas-abortion-fight-pills-travel-fund/A flurry of bills aims to restrict the flow of abortion pills into the state and abortion seekers traveling out of the state.By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 21 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/texas-abortion-fight-pills-travel-fund/After COVID, Texas is less prepared for the next pandemichttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/texas-covid-pandemic-readiness/Five years after Texas’ first COVID death, the state spends less on public health, vaccination rates have dropped and a distrust of authority has taken hold.By Terri Langford, Jayme Lozano Carver, Pooja Salhotra, Eleanor Klibanoff and Stephen Simpson, Graphics by Dan Keemahill and Yuriko SchumacherTue, 18 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/texas-covid-pandemic-readiness/Illustration by Diana Branzan for The Texas TribuneTexas’ first abortion arrests stem from monthlong attorney general investigationhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-abortion-midwife-arrested/These represent the first criminal charges under Texas’ near-total abortion ban.By Eleanor KlibanoffMon, 17 Mar 2025 13:56:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-abortion-midwife-arrested/A nurse speaks with a patient at a clinic in Houston on Aug. 2, 2013.A nurse speaks with a patient at a clinic in Houston on Aug. 2, 2013.Michael Stravato for The Texas TribuneTexas Republicans seek to clarify when doctors can intervene under abortion banshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/14/texas-senate-abortion-ban-mothers/A Senate bill filed Friday does not expand abortion access, but aims to give doctors clarity while operating under laws that come with up to life in prison.By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 14 Mar 2025 18:36:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/14/texas-senate-abortion-ban-mothers/Senate Bill 31, called the “Life of the Mother Act,” was filed Friday by Sen. Bryan Hughes.A surgical suite at Eastland Memorial in Eastland on March 11, 2019.Gary Rhodes for The Texas TribunePaxton says trans Texans can’t use court orders to change sex on driver’s licenses, birth certificateshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/14/texas-trans-drivers-license-birth-certificate-paxton/Per the attorney general’s nonbinding opinion, state agencies should change gender markers on government documents back to a person’s sex assigned at birth.By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 14 Mar 2025 15:17:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/14/texas-trans-drivers-license-birth-certificate-paxton/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a news conference in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 15, 2025.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media during a press conference in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Luke Johnson for The Texas TribuneTribCast: Fights, scandals and still half a legislative session to gohttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/tribcast-legislature-session-update/The gang discusses a legislator’s lash out, a lottery scandal, and some big news from one of our own.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 11 Mar 2025 13:06:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/tribcast-legislature-session-update/Lawmakers on the House floor at the Capitol in Austin on Jan. 14, 2025.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneWill lawmakers let Texas’ maternal mortality committee review abortion deaths?https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/texas-abortion-death-maternal-mortality/The Legislature is considering bills that would lift long-standing restrictions on how Texas’ panel can investigate maternal deaths and near-misses.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 11 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/texas-abortion-death-maternal-mortality/Arika Rodriguez with her newborn son Parker at the Holy Family Birthing Center in Weslaco on Sept. 28, 2017.Arika Rodriguez with her newborn son Parker at the Holy Family Birthing Center in Weslaco on Sept. 28, 2017.Reynaldo Leal for The Texas Tribune