In private school voucher push, Gov. Abbott breaks through by playing hardball
Anti-voucher Republicans said they voted for the bill so they could fight to improve it, and also to fend off political retribution.
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See how Texas House members voted on school vouchers
The House approved historic legislation that would implement school vouchers in Texas. Here’s how each representative voted.
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politics
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Supreme Court blocks deportations of Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law
The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Full Story
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![The United States Supreme Court is seen on Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Washington, D.C..]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Court orders immigration officials to restore legal status of three people who came to Texas on student visas
The three former students went to UT-Arlington and UT-Dallas. While they have prevailed in court so far, many other international students’ education futures remain uncertain. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus on the first day of classes at the University of Texas at Arlington on Aug. 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune
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Dan Patrick endorses Texas House’s voucher plan, clearing path to final approval
The lieutenant governor proposes that the Texas Senate adopt the House bill, which would eliminate a negotiation over the two versions and cement the victory for supporters. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during a press conference regarding school vouchers on March 25, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Texas measles cases rise to 597. Here is what you need to know.
Two more counties, Potter and Parmer, have reported a measles case. The outbreak has cost state taxpayers $4.5 million to pay for immunization, testing and a public awareness campaign. Full Story
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![Covenant Childrens hospital located in Lubbock on Feb. 26, 2025. Covenant has addd a patient screening check before entering the children's emergency entrance.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune
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Texas hemp farmers fear full THC ban would nip industry in the bud
As lawmakers work to close loopholes that allow minors access to cannabis consumables, hemp farmers warn a total THC ban would strangle a once-hailed crop. Full Story
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![bin of proccessed hemp at Bingham Family Venards outside Meadow, TX.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
In historic first, Texas House approves private school voucher program
The bill would let families use taxpayer dollars for their children’s private schooling. Lawmakers also signed off on a sweeping $7.7 billion package to boost public school funding. Full Story
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![State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, answers questions regarding an amendment for Senate Bill 2 in the House Chamber in Austin on April 16, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
House Republicans refuse to pass ceremonial resolution honoring Cecile Richards
Normally, memorial resolutions to honor Texans who have died are passed without controversy. But the resolution for Richards, a former president of Planned Parenthood who died this year, sparked a cascade of outrage from conservatives. Full Story
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![Flanked by House Republicans, state Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, speaks against a memorial resolution honoring Cecile Richards in the Texas House on April 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
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Bill would stop Texas oil drillers from secretly burying toxic waste on private property
House Bill 4572 would introduce new requirements for pits where drillers bury oil and gas waste. Full Story
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![A home across the street from an entrance to an oilfield waste disposal facility has a sign reading "DON'T DUMP ON NORDHEIM" on Sept. 10, 2023.]()
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Texas bill increasing public school funding and teacher pay gets final House approval
The lower chamber overwhelmingly voted in favor of House Bill 2, a sweeping $8 billion piece of legislation that would also limit schools’ reliance on teachers without formal classroom training. Full Story
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![State Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, shakes hands with Rep. Brad Buckley R-Salado, House Education chair, after the vote on school finance on April 16, 2025. The bill passed, 144-4.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
East Texans united to stop a water sale to Dallas suburbs — for now
After a deal to pipe water from Lake O’ the Pines to North Texas came to light, residents voiced opposition everywhere they could to block it. Full Story
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![Mary Spearmon holds two of her grandchildren, Malikyi and Alajiah Elliott, at Hurricane Creek Park on the Lake o’ the Pines, where she would come with her late husband and their growing family to fish and enjoy the water, on April 9, 2025. “What about our future generations, our grandchildren and great grandchildren? What are they going to have if they take the lake?”]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune
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Texas Senate approves bill that could reshape how history and race are taught in state universities
An overhauled version of Senate Bill 37 would also allow anyone to file complaints that could lead schools to lose funds. Full Story
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![Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on Nov. 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
UT-Rio Grande Valley students caught in nationwide sweep sue Homeland Security over immigration status
The four students were involved in minor criminal cases that have been resolved, which they argue shouldn’t be used to justify ending their higher ed goals in Texas. Full Story
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![Students walk through a bridge connecting two sides of campus at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas law students warn that bill to quash “terrorist activity” in universities could trample free speech rights
The bill would require universities to report any visa-holding students who support terrorism, but its vague language could be dangerous, civil rights groups say. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, lays out the SB2 plan for a education savings account program on Jan. 28, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune
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Texas Senate approves $500 million infusion for film incentives
Senate Bill 22 would more than double the amount of money Texas spends to lure film and television projects and has the backing of Texas movie stars including Matthew McConaughey. Full Story
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![Charles Steen, an operator working on the B camera during a film production showcase hosted on the Texas Capitol grounds on March 12, 2025. Film crews from throughout the Austin area exhibited their work and invited the public to experience film production.]()
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More than 250 international students’ immigration statuses revoked across Texas universities
The people affected include a University of Houston professor from Korea who was teaching upper level math under a type of student visa that allows graduates to work in their field of study. Full Story
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![University of North Texas students walk past the eagle statue on Feb. 13, 2024. The Soaring Eagle Statue was comissioned in celebration of UNT's centennial in 1990.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Legislation could undermine Texas' power grid ability to meet forecasted demand
The state grid’s operator said the current regulation will allow it to meet future demands. Full Story
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![Reliability Coordinators monitored the state power grid during a tour of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) command center in Taylor in 2012.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Julia Robinson
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Second shooting at Dallas high school in a year injures four students
Hours after the shooting, officials said the suspect had evaded security protocols at Wilmer-Hutchins High School. Full Story
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![Police blocked off the scene July 8 where chaos erupted the night before when officers were targeted by sniper fire following a peaceful Black Lives Matter Protest in downtown Dallas.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Anti-vaccine advocates battle over narrative in West Texas, downplaying role of measles in deaths
After Daisy Hildebrand died of measles, her death was made public first by Dr. Robert Malone, a vaccine skeptic who blamed the hospital for fumbling her care. Daisy’s father told The Texas Tribune he never to spoke to Malone. Full Story
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![Dr. Robert Malone speaks with Epoch Times editor Jan Jekielek at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held at at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland on Feb. 22, 2025.]()
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Trump is spending billions on border security. Some residents living there lack basic resources.
The president has reportedly urged Congress to pass $175 billion for border security. But residents of Del Rio, Texas, and Douglas, Arizona, say basic needs — like safe drinking water and hospital access — aren’t being met. Full Story
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![A section of border fence along a dirt road. The fence is high metal staves with barbed wire along the top.]()
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