The Texas Tribune

The Texas Tribune is the only member-supported, digital-first, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

By The Texas Tribune

Julian Castro
Analysis: Texas presidential candidates and the strength of geography
texastribune.org - Ross Ramsey
As they retool and adjust their campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, two Texas politicians are finding their answers in the familiar …
Schools
Texas put billions more into schools. Is that enough to help this h...
texastribune.org - Aliyya Swaby
A new superintendent at the helm of Edgewood Independent School District is trying to move the schools beyond their reputation of struggle and …
Texas
How judicial conflicts of interest are denying poor Texans their ri...
texastribune.org - Neena Satija
For decades, Texans who can’t afford a lawyer have gotten caught in a criminal justice system that’s crippled by inadequate funding and overloaded …
Texas
After losing his wife in a mass shooting, he invited El Pasoans to ...
texastribune.org - Julián Aguilar
The line outside the funeral stretched several blocks. “I think our community lost something and this is our community grieving together," said local …
Texas
Houston Democrat Jessica Farrar to retire from Texas House
texastribune.org - Cassandra Pollock
Farrar, an attorney first elected to the lower chamber in 1994, represents House District 148, which covers parts of northern and western …
Texas
Trump administration's latest asylum rule allowed to stand in Texas...
texastribune.org - Julián Aguilar
The ruling could change the fate of thousands of people waiting to apply for asylum in Mexican border cities like Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo and …
Texas
Dustin Burrows resigns as Texas House GOP Caucus chairman amid alle...
texastribune.org - Cassandra Pollock
Conservative activist MIchael Quinn Sullivan has said he secretly recorded Burrows and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen asking him to challenge 10 House …
Texas
Five takeaways from the $80 million raised by Texas campaigns the f...
texastribune.org - Carla Astudillo
Gov. Greg Abbott is a fundraising juggernaut, and Republicans still dominate campaign finance in the state. Thanks to a moratorium on fundraising …
Schools
Analysis: Cheating Texas kids out of a better future
texastribune.org - Ross Ramsey
A school in Texas can fail to meet state education standards for four years before the state shuts it down. A lot of students can go without the …
Texas Politics
Donald Trump is spending more money on Facebook ads in Texas than i...
texastribune.org - Alex Samuels
The spending in the traditionally red state is raising questions about whether he's simply shoring up his support — or treating Texas as potentially …
Greg Abbott
Gov. Greg Abbott lays out response to El Paso shooting, but won’t c...
texastribune.org - Alex Samuels
Abbott said he plans to release more details next week regarding a series of roundtables he’ll host with other lawmakers and state leaders to discuss …
Texas
Allen West launches bid for Texas GOP chair
texastribune.org - Cassandra Pollock
West will take on James Dickey, who has served as state Republican chair since 2017. Republican delegates will elect their next state party chair at …
Greg Abbott
San Antonio City Council asks Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special se...
texastribune.org - Troy Closson
The council joins more than 15 Democratic state representatives who have requested a special session after the shooting in an El Paso Walmart that …
Beto O'Rourke
Returning to the trail, Beto O’Rourke pledges to more aggressively ...
texastribune.org - Alex Samuels
“What President Trump says, and what he does, does not just offend our sensibilities or our understanding of the traditions of this great country,” …
Texas
Three Texas school districts face state penalties after 2019 A-F gr...
texastribune.org - Aliyya Swaby
Houston ISD, the state's largest school district, is among those that could have its school board taken over by the state, due to consecutive low …
Texas
Farewell, Madame President: Diana Natalicio retires after 31 years ...
texastribune.org - Julián Aguilar
Natalicio, 79, will spend her last day as UTEP's president Thursday after becoming the first woman to hold the position in 1988. As she spent the last …
Dallas Police Department
Dallas' sudden spike in homicides has officials perplexed. And not ...
texastribune.org - Troy Closson
After May's 40 homicides, Gov. Greg Abbott deployed state troopers to Dallas. Despite some drops in violent crimes, city officials say they've done …
Death Penalty
Federal court stops execution of Dexter Johnson within 24 hours of ...
texastribune.org - Jolie McCullough
In his recent appeals, Johnson has claimed he is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for the death penalty. He was convicted of a double …
Texas
TribCast: A House speaker in hot water
texastribune.org - Emily Ramshaw
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Cassi about the drama roiling the Texas House speaker's office. On this week's TribCast, Emily …
Greg Abbott
Gov. Greg Abbott launches domestic terrorism task force in wake of ...
texastribune.org - Troy Closson
The task force will analyze current and emerging state threats and form stronger prevention strategies. Abbott took similar action — which led to …
Beto O'Rourke
Beto O’Rourke to restart his campaign Thursday, nearly two weeks af...
texastribune.org - Alex Samuels
The former El Paso congressman is preparing a “major address” in which he’ll “outline the path forward for his presidential campaign.” We're tracking …
Texas
Analysis: Dennis Bonnen, Michael Quinn Sullivan and the Texas polit...
texastribune.org - Ross Ramsey
In May, the House speaker was at the top of the political world. In terms of influence, Sullivan and his Empower Texans organization were near the …
Texas
Plastic bags are killing horses and cows across the state. What's T...
texastribune.org - Lara Korte
A year after the Texas Supreme Court dealt a death blow to municipal bans on plastic bags, legislative efforts to revive them have fallen flat, and …
University of Texas at Austin
A new Texas law criminalizes sending unwanted nudes. Lawyers say it...
texastribune.org - Troy Closson
The law will make the electronic transmission of unwanted sexually explicit material a class C misdemeanor. But legal experts worry it could be …
Julian Castro
Julián Castro buys Fox News ad to tell Trump: “Americans were kille...
texastribune.org - Alex Samuels
The ad speaks to President Donald Trump directly — linking his rhetoric toward immigrants to that of the shooter in El Paso who killed 22 and left …
San Antonio, TX
Greg Abbott said San Antonio could teach Austin how to help homeles...
texastribune.org - Juan Pablo Garnham
The Texas governor's comments came amid controversial changes to Austin's ordinances, which many said criminalized homelessness. While San Antonio …
Private Schools
Texas vaccine exemption rates: Look up your district or private school
texastribune.org - Shiying Cheng
In Texas, parents can get their children exemptions from the vaccines required to attend public and private schools for "reasons of conscience." Use …
Texas
Texans get ready for beer to go and booze delivery
texastribune.org - Lara Korte
Two new laws will free up alcohol access in Texas starting Sept. 1. Certain breweries will now be allowed to sell their suds to go, and more …
Texas
Texas Rangers asked to investigate allegations against Speaker Denn...
texastribune.org - Cassandra Pollock
At issue is whether Bonnen, an Angleton Republican, and state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, offered hardline conservative activist Michael Quinn …