https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/joshua-fechter/The latest news by Joshua Fechter.enTue, 11 Feb 2025 11:05:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/texas-senate-committee-property-tax-cut/The marquee proposal would increase the amount of a home’s value exemption from school taxes to $140,000 from $100,000. The legislation must win approval from the House next.By Joshua FechterTue, 11 Feb 2025 11:05:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/texas-senate-committee-property-tax-cut/Housing development in Celina on Nov. 13, 2024.Housing development in Celina on Nov. 13, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/10/greg-abbott-property-taxes-voters/Local officials, school advocates and tax policy experts said such a proposal could have dire impacts on basic services.By Joshua Fechter and Jess HuffMon, 10 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/10/greg-abbott-property-taxes-voters/Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants all local governments to seek voter approval before increasing local taxes — and at least 66% must say yes for the hike to go into effect.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/04/texas-property-taxes-republicans/Gov. Greg Abbott said cutting taxes is a top priority, however, state lawmakers don’t have as much money to plug into tax cuts as they did two years ago.By Joshua FechterTue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/04/texas-property-taxes-republicans/Texas' Republican leadership says they want to cut property taxes. A smaller budget surplus will make that more challenging.A residential neighborhood seen Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Midland.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/texas-trump-federal-spending-freeze/Texas cities, counties, higher education institutions and nonprofits clambered Tuesday to gauge the potential fallout from the suspension, later blocked temporarily by a federal judge.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Jessica Priest, Joshua Fechter, Matthew Choi and Terri LangfordTue, 28 Jan 2025 20:35:02 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/texas-trump-federal-spending-freeze/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/22/austin-texas-rents-falling/A massive apartment building boom in the Austin-Round Rock region has driven rents downward, real estate experts and housing advocates have said.By Joshua FechterWed, 22 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/22/austin-texas-rents-falling/Rents in Austin have declined on average for nearly two years amid a boom in apartment construction.A large apartment complex south of the downtown skyline in Austin on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/16/fort-worth-austin-population-growth/The growth is fueling higher rents and home prices in the North Texas city that was once seen as a more affordable option to Dallas and other major cities.By Joshua FechterThu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/16/fort-worth-austin-population-growth/Fort Worth was the fastest growing city in Texas, according to the state demographer. That growth has brought challenges, including higher rent and housing costs.Downtown Fort Worth on September 5, 2018.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/08/texas-immigration-mass-deportations-economy/“We wouldn’t survive” without undocumented workers, one South Texas produce business owner said. By one estimate, 8% of Texas’ workforce lacks legal status.By Alejandra Martinez, Alejandro Serrano, Berenice Garcia, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Joshua FechterWed, 08 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/08/texas-immigration-mass-deportations-economy/Construction workers building homes in San Antonio on Dec. 10, 2024.Construction workers building homes in far west San Antonio on Dec. 10, 2024.Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/texas-legislature-housing-affordability-crisis/A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.By Joshua FechterMon, 06 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/texas-legislature-housing-affordability-crisis/Texas lawmakers are expected to debate how to curb rising home costs this year as the state continues to grow. Celina in North Texas is one of the fastest growing in the United States.The Celina water tower among newer housing developments in Celina on November 13, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/21/donald-trump-tilman-fertitta-ambassador/Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and Landry’s restaurant group, hosted a fundraiser for Trump earlier this year.By Jasper Scherer and Joshua FechterSat, 21 Dec 2024 18:11:49 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/21/donald-trump-tilman-fertitta-ambassador/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/texas-population-31-million/Texas added nearly 563,000 residents within the last year, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates show.By Joshua FechterThu, 19 Dec 2024 15:59:01 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/texas-population-31-million/Texas' population surpassed 31 million people this year, largely due to international migration.The Austin skyline begins to light up as the solar eclipse reaches peak totality on Monday, April 8, 2024.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/austin-mayor-kirk-watson/The former state senator spoke with the Texas Tribune’s editor-in-chief about his relationship with state lawmakers and the city’s recent efforts to curb housing costs.By Joshua FechterThu, 19 Dec 2024 12:13:59 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/austin-mayor-kirk-watson/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/10/texas-high-speed-rail-trump-legislature/A yearslong effort to bring high-speed rail to Texas has recently shown signs of life, but state lawmakers have consistently put up roadblocks to keep it from happening.By Joshua FechterTue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/10/texas-high-speed-rail-trump-legislature/Railroad tracks near a proposed bullet train terminus on the outskirts of downtown Dallas in 2022.Railroad tracks near a proposed bullet train terminus on the outskirts of downtown Dallas, on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. The entities in charge of a bullet train connection between Houston and DFW have faded despite Texas courts approving eminent domain to accomplish the massive project.Ben Torres for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-border-lawsuit-razor-wire-fence/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had sued the Biden administration after Border Patrol agents had cut the razor wire.By Alejandro Serrano and Joshua FechterWed, 27 Nov 2024 17:53:38 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-border-lawsuit-razor-wire-fence/The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has instructed the federal government to stop "damaging, destroying or interfering" with Texas’ concertina wire fence in the Eagle Pass area.A row of shipping containers and razor wire placed on the banks of the Rio Grande River by Gov. Greg Abbott to form a makeshift border wall in Eagle Pass on Nov. 19, 2021.Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Texas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans.By Texas Tribune Staff, James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Matthew Choi, Robert Downen, Alejandro Serrano, Joshua Fechter, Kayla Guo, Pooja Salhotra and Terri LangfordTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day.Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-justice-department-election-monitors/The federal agency agreed their monitors would remain outside polling locations and wouldn’t interfere with voting.By Terri Langford, Joshua Fechter and Kayla GuoFri, 01 Nov 2024 22:44:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-justice-department-election-monitors/The Department of Justice announced Friday it would send election monitors to 27 states, including Texas, to keep an eye out for potential voting rights violations on Tuesday.Voters check in to vote at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston, Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-shortage-report/Texas builds more homes than other states but hundreds of thousands more are still needed, the report said, contributing to higher housing costs.By Joshua FechterWed, 30 Oct 2024 17:08:16 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-shortage-report/Home builders work in north Longview's Hidden Hills subdivision on Dec. 17, 2021.New home construction in north Longview's Hidden Hills subdivision on December 17, 2021.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-affordability-takeaways/The Texas Tribune examined the state’s housing affordability crisis and why the state has struggled to build enough homes to meet demand.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloWed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-affordability-takeaways/San Antonio neighborhoods on May 25, 2024.San Antonio neighborhoods on May 25, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-housing-affordability-zoning/Texas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with the demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloTue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-housing-affordability-zoning/Share art for the zoning regulations story for the affordable housing series.Carla Astudillohttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-housing-affordability-fight/A new breed of activists wants Texas to tame costs by building more housing. But longstanding opposition to such policies remains strong.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloMon, 28 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-housing-affordability-fight/The Austin City Council meets on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Austin.Council members and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson are present in person during the Austin city council meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Austin. Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, Paige Ellis, Mackenzie Kelly, Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool and José "Chito" Vela were in person with Mayor Kirk WatsonMaria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/15/texas-gulf-coast-insurance-increase/Texas Windstorm Insurance Association officials argued they needed a 10% rate increase to help insure a growing number of policyholders.By Joshua FechterTue, 15 Oct 2024 14:41:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/15/texas-gulf-coast-insurance-increase/Damage to homes caused by a tornado that moved through Round Rock on March 21, 2022. The state's insurance commissioner on Monday denied a request by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the state's insurer of last resort for coastal residents and businesses, for a 10% rate increase.Damage to homes caused by a tornado that moved through Round Rock on March 21, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune