The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Lawmakers tasked the Public Utility Commission with overseeing the Texas Energy Fund, though the agency has no experience running a loan program. Full Story
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The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and Votebeat want to hear from people removed from voter rolls. Full Story
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After Attorney General Ken Paxton’s failed impeachment trial, his allies touted Smithee, one of the House’s most senior members, as a speaker candidate. Full Story
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Jolt, which advocates for more Latino voting participation, says the attorney general’s probe has spurred threatening comments online. Full Story
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Texas has seen a record number of chronic wasting disease cases this year. The state is looking for new ways to contain the spread without driving deer breeders out of business. Full Story
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Led by co-pastors Joe and Dawn Weaks, Connection Christian Church, a 118-year-old congregation in Odessa, has transformed while keeping true to its legacy of helping the community. Full Story
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The review of CBP agents’ response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting found that active shooting training was insufficient. Full Story
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Granbury residents say a noisy Bitcoin mine keeps them up at night. Now a plan to expand the power plant that fuels the mine is drawing opposition over pollution concerns. Full Story
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Other states look to Texas as the state psychology board pushes against the new national licensing requirements. Full Story
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About 25% of Texas’ correctional officer positions are unfilled. Inmates say the shortages make it harder for them to get respite during hot summer months. Full Story
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The Texas Education Agency says there’s time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get. Full Story
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A new law gives parents more power over a child’s actions on social media, but only if the parent knows about the account. Full Story
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While environmentalists say the new rules don’t do enough to protect groundwater, oil and gas operators are contesting stricter requirements for waste pits near wells. Full Story
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The Texas Tribune is launching a network of community newsrooms to engage more Texans with reliable local information. Full Story
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A state Medicaid program pays caregivers of intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals living in community-based homes. Families, advocates and providers want lawmakers to increase that hourly pay. Full Story
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The Texas House speaker race is becoming increasingly crowded. Phelan, who is under fire from his right, says he plans to seek the leadership position again. Full Story
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The move escalates Texas Republicans’ brewing fight with urban counties over initiatives to proactively send applications to unregistered voters. Full Story
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The agency quietly rolled out the policy change on its website last week, days after DPS blocked changes to the sex listed on a Texas driver’s license. Full Story
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In Italy, as in Texas, funding hospitals over primary care leaves many feeling “medically homeless.” Italy’s post-COVID plans show another way. Full Story
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Texas officials have launched investigations into voting fraud allegations, but assisting other voters isn’t automatically illegal. Full Story
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