Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa joins Democratic race to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott
The five-term state lawmaker from Austin has homed in on education issues in the Texas House, becoming a primary foil to Abbott on school vouchers. Full Story
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![Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, speaks on the phone at her desk on the House floor on May 19, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Harrison vs. higher ed: How one lawmaker is weaponizing social media to eradicate LGBTQ+ curriculum
State Rep. Brian Harrison has been on a crusade against Texas universities, scouring course catalogs and university websites for examples of “gender ideology” or LGBTQ+ curriculum, and riling up his X followers about “liberal indoctrination” on campuses. Full Story
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![State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, in his office at the state Capitol in Austin on Sept. 29, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Texas National Guard can stay in Illinois but can’t activate, court says. Here’s what to know about the unit.
The troops were sent to the midwest after protests over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement sometimes escalated into violent clashes. Full Story
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![Members of the Texas National Guard assemble in Elwood, Illinois at the Army Reserve Training Center in the southwest suburb of Chicago on October 7 2025.]()
Credit: Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire via REUTERS -
Greg Abbott authorizes Trump to deploy Texas National Guard to other states
The governor posted a photo Monday showing guardsmen deploying but did not mention a destination. Trump called for troops to deploy to Illinois and Oregon, where a judge temporarily blocked their arrival. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference in Houston on Oct. 1, 2025.]()
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Texas launches task force to target repeat criminal offenders in Houston area
Gov. Greg Abbott said state troopers and local law enforcement will start an effort in Harris County that he hopes to duplicate in other parts of Texas. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott shakes hands with officers after a press conference to announce a new public safety initiative on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in Houston.]()
Credit: Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribune -
Texas investigation into teachers’ posts after Charlie Kirk’s death violates their free speech, experts say
Free speech experts say that when teachers speak in their personal capacity, even on school grounds but outside their official duties, they retain their right to comment on matters of public concern. Full Story
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![Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath testifies before the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety at the state capitol in Austin on June 23, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Houston businessman Andrew White launches Democratic challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott
The son of the late former Gov. Mark White vowed to run as an independent in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Full Story
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![Then-Democratic candidate for governor Andrew White is interviewed in his home in Houston on Friday, April 20, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Student who mocked Charlie Kirk’s death “no longer” at Texas State University as clampdowns continue
The university's announcement came hours after Gov. Greg Abbott called for the student's expulsion. Full Story
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![Students walk through an area known as “The Quad” on the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos on August 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
NY attorney general will intervene in Texas abortion pill access lawsuit
Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, said Texas has no authority to “impose its cruel abortion ban here.” Full Story
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![New York Attorney General Letitia James, appears at the NYPD 78th Precinct as part of National Night Out in Brooklyn, New York on Aug. 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
This West Texas town's proof is in the banana pudding
More than 10,000 people met over Labor Day weekend in Slaton to sample the banana pudding — a major boost to the rural town’s economy. Full Story
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![People line up to purchase or pick up passes at Texas Banana Pudding Festival in Slaton on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. An estimated 10,000 people attended the festival in the small town about 17 miles southeast of Lubbock.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Most Texas THC products remain legal after GOP leaders fail to break legislative impasse
Legislators couldn’t reach a last-minute deal to tighten regulations on consumable hemp products. Full Story
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![Hemp plants are seen at Caprock Family Farms, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Lubbock.]()
Credit: Annie Rice for The Texas Tribune -
Proposal limiting Texas city, county property taxes dies in the Legislature
The House refused to back a bill that would apply only to the state’s largest cities. Full Story
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![The Celina water tower among newer housing developments in Celina on November 13, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott signs bill allowing Harris County law enforcement to contract with HOAs without commissioners’ OK
House Bill 26 advanced out of the Texas Legislature on Aug. 27, two days after being added to the second special session’s agenda. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses law enforcement officials during a Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition event in Austin on April 29, 2025.]()
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Texas House approves bill that would limit water exports from East Texas — for now
A Dallas businessman has proposed studying the aquifer to see if he can pump millions of gallons out of East Texas, a plan that residents distrust. Full Story
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![The Houston County Lake in Houston County, Texas on on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. (Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas redistricting fight has been the backdrop for the Trump administration to test a new legal strategy
The administration has been testing a strategy of using the courts as leverage to force political outcomes. In Texas, the state’s leaders and conservative activists have been willing, if not eager, collaborators. Full Story
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![A photo collage showing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and President Donald Trump in red and black alongside bits of a letter mentioning “unconstitutional racial gerrymanders” and threatening to “seek legal action against the State.”]()
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Fresh off Texas Senate’s approval, new congressional map is target of lawsuits
One lawsuit, filed by LULAC on behalf of 13 Texas residents, states that the redrawn districts in the new map are racially discriminatory and violate voter protection laws. Full Story
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![A map of the proposed changes to Texas congressional districts sits on a Texas House member’s desk on Aug. 20, 2025.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott asks for new penalties for lawmakers who flee to halt legislative sessions
The governor announced he was expanding his special session agenda shortly after the Texas House passed a congressional map that Democrats had delayed by leaving the state. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Abbott spoke about Texas’s response to screwworm as well as addressed California Governor Gavin Newsom's comments and actions regarding redistricting.]()
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Texas Senate fast tracks THC ban, flood prep and bathroom restrictions for transgender people
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. Full Story
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![State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.]()
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U.S. will build sterile fly factory in Texas to stop screwworm from devastating livestock industry
Mounted patrol officers, known as tick riders, who typically patrol the southern border to protect cattle from fever tick, will also now serve as the first line of defense against screwworm. Full Story
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![Forty to fifty head of cattle down from 5,000 due to restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico at the Vaquero Trading stockyard in Sunland Park, New Mexico on January 8, 2025.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Riding political wins, a once-restrained Gov. Greg Abbott is increasingly steamrolling foes
The third-term governor appears determined to win any battle — even if it means scorched-earth primary crusades or trying to boot duly elected legislators from office. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott responds to a reporter during a press conference at the Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville on Saturday June 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune