https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jasper-scherer/The latest news by Jasper Scherer.enFri, 11 Apr 2025 03:09:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/texas-house-budget-approval/The lower chamber’s plan largely aligns with the Senate’s proposal and puts billions toward teacher pay, border security and property tax cuts.By Jasper Scherer, Kayla Guo and Ayden RunnelsFri, 11 Apr 2025 03:09:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/texas-house-budget-approval/Texas House Parliamentarian Sharon Carter, listens as state Reps. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton (from left), Richard Hayes, R-Hickory Creek, Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, negotiate in the lower chamber on April 10, 2025.House Parliamentarian Sharon Carter, left, listens as state Reps: Cody Vasut, Richard Hayes, Tom Oliverson and Trey Martinez Fischer, negotiate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-property-tax-cuts-budget/State budget watchers — and some Republicans — worry Texas is spending too much on property tax cuts.By Joshua Fechter and Jasper SchererThu, 10 Apr 2025 16:12:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-property-tax-cuts-budget/A row of high-density townhomes in Austin on March 23, 2025.A row of high-density townhomes in Austin on March 23, 2025.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-house-budget-day/Among the hundreds of amendments were ones that focused on school vouchers, the attorney general’s office and the Texas Lottery.By Jasper Scherer and Kayla GuoThu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-house-budget-day/The Texas House voted on a $337 billion state budget early Friday.Texas House of Representatives Members convene in the House Chamber in Austin on April 10, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/ken-paxton-john-cornyn-us-senate-texas-republican-primary/The attorney general positions himself as a disruptor against the Republican establishment embodied in the longtime Senate fixture.By Jasper SchererTue, 08 Apr 2025 18:34:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/ken-paxton-john-cornyn-us-senate-texas-republican-primary/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/texas-congress-monica-de-la-cruz-democrats-target/The battlefield for both parties is again converging on South Texas, where De La Cruz scored one of the GOP’s high-profile wins last year when she secured a second term.By Jasper SchererTue, 08 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/texas-congress-monica-de-la-cruz-democrats-target/U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/greg-abbott-special-election-sylvester-turner/The decision to wait until November means a narrowly divided Congress will be down a Democratic representative for most of 2025.By Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune, Natalia Contreras, Votebeat, and Kayla Guo, The Texas TribuneMon, 07 Apr 2025 16:34:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/greg-abbott-special-election-sylvester-turner/Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Federalist Society during an event at The University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Federalist Society during an event at The University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/ken-paxton-whistleblower-case-judgment/Paxton vowed to appeal the “bogus ruling” that found he improperly fired the four plaintiffs after they reported him to the FBI on allegations of corruption.By Ayden Runnels and Jasper SchererFri, 04 Apr 2025 22:41:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/ken-paxton-whistleblower-case-judgment/In a statement Friday night, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling that found his former aides were fired improperly “a ridiculous judgment that is not based on the facts or the law.”Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024..Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/dan-patrick-communication-style-thc-lottery/In an interview, the lieutenant governor talks about his recent pop-up investigations and how he uses storytelling to make a political point.By Jasper SchererThu, 03 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/dan-patrick-communication-style-thc-lottery/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has built on his career as a sportscaster and radio talk-show host to connect with voters and strengthen his political position as leader of the state Senate.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick leads a press conference on bail reform, an emergency item this legislative session, on Feb. 12, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-legislature-thc-ban-dan-patrick-special-session/Only Gov. Greg Abbott can call for a special session. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel overtime sessions by killing must-pass legislation.By Jasper Scherer and Kayla GuoThu, 27 Mar 2025 10:02:18 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-legislature-thc-ban-dan-patrick-special-session/Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/texas-senate-budget-approval/Next step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help.By Jasper Scherer and Kayla GuoTue, 25 Mar 2025 15:18:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/texas-senate-budget-approval/Senator Joan Huffman, R-Houston, speaks with Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, during a Texas Senate meeting on Budget Day, March 25, 2025.Senator Joan Huffman, R-Houston, speaks with Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, during a Texas Senate meeting on March 25, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/ken-paxton-impeachment-cost-texas/The new finding is about 20% higher than previous estimates of the known cost of the effort to remove Paxton from office.By Jasper SchererFri, 21 Mar 2025 10:10:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/ken-paxton-impeachment-cost-texas/Attorney General Ken Paxton sits with attorneys Tony Buzbee and Mitch Little at Paxton's 2023 impeachment trail, which ended in his acquittal.Ken Paxton sits with attorneys Tony Buzbee and Mitch Little on the ninth day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 15, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-house-senate-school-choice-vouchers/The gaps over eligibility and on spending levels are narrower than the fundamental differences of the previous session.By Jasper Scherer and Jaden EdisonThu, 20 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-house-senate-school-choice-vouchers/Even with support for school vouchers in both houses, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, left, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows will have to bridge differences if this Gov. Greg Abbott priority measure is to become law.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, left, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows applaud as Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock gives the biennial State of the Judiciary speech in the Texas House chamber on Feb. 26, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-gambling-sports-betting-casinos-house-republicans/Gambling critics hope the net loss of more than a dozen votes for sports betting — and 10 votes for casinos — will be enough to block any action in the Texas House.By Jasper SchererWed, 12 Mar 2025 11:34:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-gambling-sports-betting-casinos-house-republicans/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/07/texas-comptroller-christi-craddick-don-huffines-2026-glenn-hegar/Hegar’s impending departure from the comptroller’s seat creates a rare opening for one of Texas’ coveted statewide offices.By Jasper SchererFri, 07 Mar 2025 12:54:57 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/07/texas-comptroller-christi-craddick-don-huffines-2026-glenn-hegar/Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines.Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines.Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/sylvester-turner-texas-houston-dies/Turner’s death comes two months into his first term representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District, the seat long occupied by former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who also died in office last year amid a battle with pancreatic cancer.By Jasper SchererWed, 05 Mar 2025 09:08:21 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/sylvester-turner-texas-houston-dies/Then-Houston mayor Sylvester Turner describes his bout with cancer in an interview at City Hall in Houston on Nov. 15, 2022.Houston mayor Sylvester Turner describes his bout with cancer in an interview at City Hall in Houston, TX, on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/texas-thc-ban-hemp-senate-bill/There is little doubt that a ban will sail through the Senate. But its prospects are far less certain in the House.By Jasper SchererWed, 05 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/texas-thc-ban-hemp-senate-bill/THC products that are now available from thousands of stores in Texas would be outlawed under a bill under consideration in the state Senate.Various Delta 8 THC products at a Valero station on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 in Spring Branch.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/26/texas-house-vouchers-republican-cosponsors/The 75 co-sponsors plus the bill’s author would provide enough votes to pass Gov. Abbott’s top priority measure in the 150-seat House.By Jasper SchererWed, 26 Feb 2025 12:52:32 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/26/texas-house-vouchers-republican-cosponsors/Voucher bills would allow many of these Houston students and students around the state to use tax dollars toward the cost of private schools.Students enter a classroom at one of the 11 Houston-area campuses of Yes Prep, a public charter school system serving 7,000 low-income students.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/texas-lottery-couriers/The policy shift was announced before state senators, skeptical of the move, grilled officials with the department and courier services in a hearing on SB 28.By Ayden Runnels and Jasper SchererMon, 24 Feb 2025 11:37:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/texas-lottery-couriers/A Texas Lottery stand at an Austin convenience store on Feb. 20, 2025.A Texas Lottery stand at an Austin convenience store on Feb. 20, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/ted-cruz-podcast-super-pac-complaint-dismissed-fec/The agency dismissed a campaign finance watchdog complaint after finding no evidence Cruz “solicited, directed, received, transferred, or spent the funds.”By Jasper SchererFri, 21 Feb 2025 15:15:31 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/ted-cruz-podcast-super-pac-complaint-dismissed-fec/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during a bus tour campaign stop at Tia Juanita's Fish Camp in Longview on Saturday Oct. 5, 2024.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during a bus tour campaign stop at Tia Juanita's Fish Camp in Longview on Saturday Oct. 5, 2024.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/texas-lottery-tickets-courier-services/While the Lottery Commission says it can’t regulate sales to couriers, lawmakers want changes after two major jackpots were won using those services.By Ayden Runnels and Jasper SchererFri, 21 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/texas-lottery-tickets-courier-services/Texas Lottery officials have come under fire recently over the sales of tickets to draw games via third-party services.Texas Lottery cards at an Austin convenience store on Feb. 20, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune