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@texastribune.org
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Ahead of the 2026 election, Gov. Greg Abbott's signature proposal is a sweeping property tax-cut platform, which includes getting rid of school property taxes for homeowners.
But tax policy experts are skeptical that Abbott’s pitch would meaningfully bring down the state’s high tax bills.
But tax policy experts are skeptical that Abbott’s pitch would meaningfully bring down the state’s high tax bills.
Will Abbott's plan to end property taxes for schools work?
The governor must first win over lawmakers who have rejected similar proposals. The state may have to backfill more than $17 billion for school funding alone.
www.texastribune.org
December 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Ahead of the 2026 election, Gov. Greg Abbott's signature proposal is a sweeping property tax-cut platform, which includes getting rid of school property taxes for homeowners.
But tax policy experts are skeptical that Abbott’s pitch would meaningfully bring down the state’s high tax bills.
But tax policy experts are skeptical that Abbott’s pitch would meaningfully bring down the state’s high tax bills.
Dallas County GOP’s plan to hand-count primary ballots will prevent countywide voting on Election Day
Dallas County GOP plans to hand-count 2026 primary ballots
The decision will make Dallas County the largest jurisdiction in the U.S. where ballots are hand-counted. Voters will still be able to vote at any countywide vote center during early voting.
www.texastribune.org
December 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Dallas County GOP’s plan to hand-count primary ballots will prevent countywide voting on Election Day
Courts have said that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can use a nearly 150-year-old state law to demand entities’ internal records, and move to shut them down if they don’t comply.
Paxton’s war on nonprofits gets court approval
Courts have said that the attorney general can use a 100-year-old law to demand entities’ internal records and sue to shut them down if he believes they’re violating the law.
www.texastribune.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Courts have said that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can use a nearly 150-year-old state law to demand entities’ internal records, and move to shut them down if they don’t comply.
New: Gov. Greg Abbott and Turning Point USA are launching a partnership to create chapters of the right-wing organization on every Texas high school campus.
Abbott says Turning Point USA will expand in Texas schools
Republican officials in Oklahoma and Florida have also launched plans to expand the presence of the conservative youth organization founded by Charlie Kirk.
www.texastribune.org
December 8, 2025 at 8:29 PM
New: Gov. Greg Abbott and Turning Point USA are launching a partnership to create chapters of the right-wing organization on every Texas high school campus.
New: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett on Monday filed to run for U.S. Senate, scrambling the Democratic field after teasing her potential entry for months.
Jasmine Crockett enters Democratic primary for U.S. Senate
Crockett, a second-term congresswoman, has skyrocketed to fame through viral spats with Republicans, becoming one of her party’s most prolific fundraisers.
www.texastribune.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:54 PM
New: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett on Monday filed to run for U.S. Senate, scrambling the Democratic field after teasing her potential entry for months.
Texas has launched its new cryptocurrency reserve with a $5 million purchase of Bitcoin as the state continues to embrace the volatile and controversial digital currency.
Texas starts cryptocurrency reserve with $5 million buy
Lawmakers created a state Strategic Bitcoin Reserve earlier this year and dedicated $10 million to investing in cryptocurrency. Texas is home to the world’s largest concentration of crypto mines.
www.texastribune.org
December 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Texas has launched its new cryptocurrency reserve with a $5 million purchase of Bitcoin as the state continues to embrace the volatile and controversial digital currency.
The decision to limit certification as a Historically Underutilized Business to companies owned by disabled veterans will shrink the number of participants in the state program from more than 15,000 to just 485 — all men.
Texas HUB program change sparks confusion for business owners
The decision to limit certification to companies owned by disabled veterans will shrink the Historically Underutilized Business program from more than 15,000 to 485 participants — all men.
www.texastribune.org
December 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The decision to limit certification as a Historically Underutilized Business to companies owned by disabled veterans will shrink the number of participants in the state program from more than 15,000 to just 485 — all men.
New: Colin Allred is dropping out of the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and pivoting to run instead for the Dallas-based 33rd Congressional District.
Colin Allred drops Senate bid, pivots to run for Congress
The former Dallas congressman said he wanted to help his party avoid a runoff. In his campaign to return to the House, he will face U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, his successor in Congress.
www.texastribune.org
December 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
New: Colin Allred is dropping out of the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and pivoting to run instead for the Dallas-based 33rd Congressional District.
Supreme Court’s map ruling sends Texas Democrats toward potential primaries, retirement or higher office bids
Texas Democrats face tough choices after map upheld
Houston Democrats are barreling toward a primary while North Texas Democrats await Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Senate decision.
www.texastribune.org
December 5, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Supreme Court’s map ruling sends Texas Democrats toward potential primaries, retirement or higher office bids
How will Texas’ voter-approved $3 billion dementia fund fare in court
How will Texas’ $3 billion dementia fund fare in court
In 2023, Texas overcame lawsuits that sought to prevent constitutional amendments from going into effect, but one that voters approved in 2021 is still blocked.
www.texastribune.org
December 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
How will Texas’ voter-approved $3 billion dementia fund fare in court
Texas' 2025 congressional map is at the center of a legal battle, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Dec. 4 that Texas could use the new map for the 2026 primaries while that fight plays out.
Use our lookup tool to see what your district looks like under the new map.
Use our lookup tool to see what your district looks like under the new map.
Texas congressional maps: Find your current district
Texas Republicans drew new districts aimed at picking up five more seats. This tool compares previous and proposed districts.
www.texastribune.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Texas' 2025 congressional map is at the center of a legal battle, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Dec. 4 that Texas could use the new map for the 2026 primaries while that fight plays out.
Use our lookup tool to see what your district looks like under the new map.
Use our lookup tool to see what your district looks like under the new map.
BREAKING: Texas can use its new, GOP friendly congressional map while a legal challenge plays out, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, temporarily pausing a lower court ruling that had blocked the map from going into effect. www.texastribune.org/2025/12/02/t...
Supreme Court orders Texas to use 2025 map amid legal battle
The ruling is a major win for the Trump administration and Texas Republicans, who engineered the map to give the GOP control of 30 of the state’s 38 congressional districts.
www.texastribune.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:23 PM
BREAKING: Texas can use its new, GOP friendly congressional map while a legal challenge plays out, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, temporarily pausing a lower court ruling that had blocked the map from going into effect. www.texastribune.org/2025/12/02/t...
The wave of legal challenges in Texas and across the country is in response to the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement and its new policy expanding mandatory detention for undocumented immigrants.
Lawsuits challenging immigration detention flood Texas
The wave of legal challenges is in response to the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement and its new policy expanding mandatory detention for undocumented immigrants.
www.texastribune.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The wave of legal challenges in Texas and across the country is in response to the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement and its new policy expanding mandatory detention for undocumented immigrants.
Running water will finally reach West Odessa thanks to $17 million from state lawmakers
West Odessa will get running water thanks to Texas lawmakers
The Legislature approved $600 million for standalone water improvements, a dramatic increase from prior years.
www.texastribune.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Running water will finally reach West Odessa thanks to $17 million from state lawmakers
On this week's episode of TribCast, hosts Matthew Watkins and Eleanor Klibanoff speak with K-12 education reporter Jaden Edison and early learning advocate David Feigen about the shortage of affordable child care in Texas.
TribCast: Did Texas quietly help with its child care crisis?
In this week's episode, Matthew and Eleanor speak with K-12 education reporter Jaden Edison and early learning advocate David Feigen about the shortage of affordable child care in Texas.
www.texastribune.org
December 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
On this week's episode of TribCast, hosts Matthew Watkins and Eleanor Klibanoff speak with K-12 education reporter Jaden Edison and early learning advocate David Feigen about the shortage of affordable child care in Texas.
Texas earmarked $1.4 billion to help fund flood prevention projects.
But after learning that dozens of communities, including Kerr County, turned down the money, two lawmakers who approved the program acknowledged it was flawed.
With @propublica.org:
But after learning that dozens of communities, including Kerr County, turned down the money, two lawmakers who approved the program acknowledged it was flawed.
With @propublica.org:
Kerr wasn’t the only community to reject state flood grants - The Texas Tribune
Texas earmarked $1.4 billion to help fund flood prevention projects. But after learning that so many communities turned down the money, two lawmakers who approved the program acknowledged it was flawe...
www.texastribune.org
December 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Texas earmarked $1.4 billion to help fund flood prevention projects.
But after learning that dozens of communities, including Kerr County, turned down the money, two lawmakers who approved the program acknowledged it was flawed.
With @propublica.org:
But after learning that dozens of communities, including Kerr County, turned down the money, two lawmakers who approved the program acknowledged it was flawed.
With @propublica.org:
Breaking: President Donald Trump pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, Wednesday morning, ending the congressman’s multi-year federal legal battle.
Cuellar had faced a dozen charges of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy.
Cuellar had faced a dozen charges of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy.
Donald Trump pardons Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar
Cuellar had faced a dozen charges of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy.
www.texastribune.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Breaking: President Donald Trump pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, Wednesday morning, ending the congressman’s multi-year federal legal battle.
Cuellar had faced a dozen charges of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy.
Cuellar had faced a dozen charges of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy.
New: The Texas Comptroller’s office announced Tuesday it is removing women- and minority-owned businesses from the state program intended to give additional exposure to businesses owned by economically disadvantaged groups.
Texas removes women, minorities from small business program
The program will now only be eligible for service-disabled veterans. It will be called Veteran Heroes United in Business.
www.texastribune.org
December 2, 2025 at 11:05 PM
New: The Texas Comptroller’s office announced Tuesday it is removing women- and minority-owned businesses from the state program intended to give additional exposure to businesses owned by economically disadvantaged groups.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett appears to be inching closer to a U.S. Senate bid, scheduling a “special announcement” for Monday.
Crockett inches toward Senate bid
The Dallas congresswoman said she discussed polling with Colin Allred and James Talarico.
www.texastribune.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:43 PM
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett appears to be inching closer to a U.S. Senate bid, scheduling a “special announcement” for Monday.
New: Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina launched his bid to run as a Republican for South Texas’ 28th Congressional District on Tuesday, kicking off his campaign to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar in 2026.
Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina announces run for Congress
National GOP recruiters see Webb County’s top elected official as a promising candidate to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar in 2026.
www.texastribune.org
December 2, 2025 at 8:33 PM
New: Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina launched his bid to run as a Republican for South Texas’ 28th Congressional District on Tuesday, kicking off his campaign to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar in 2026.
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We’re working to raise $15,000 before midnight to power nonpartisan, independent news. Every dollar keeps Texans connected and informed.
Support Us | The Texas Tribune
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trib.it
December 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM
It’s #GivingTuesday, Texas!
We’re working to raise $15,000 before midnight to power nonpartisan, independent news. Every dollar keeps Texans connected and informed.
We’re working to raise $15,000 before midnight to power nonpartisan, independent news. Every dollar keeps Texans connected and informed.
Since the pandemic, nearly 125,000 young adults in the greater Houston metro area are neither employed full-time nor in school.
They may take on short-term or gig work to get by, but it often isn’t enough to escape poverty.
They may take on short-term or gig work to get by, but it often isn’t enough to escape poverty.
Houston has worst rate of unemployed, uneducated young moms
At 13.3%, Houston has the worst rate of young adults who are neither working nor in school of the largest metro areas in the country.
www.texastribune.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Since the pandemic, nearly 125,000 young adults in the greater Houston metro area are neither employed full-time nor in school.
They may take on short-term or gig work to get by, but it often isn’t enough to escape poverty.
They may take on short-term or gig work to get by, but it often isn’t enough to escape poverty.
How Texas’ law banning DEI, LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 schools could fare in court
How Texas’ K-12 DEI, LGBTQ+ ban could fare in court
Cases challenging Florida and federal policies provide a glimpse into the possible outcome for the Texas case. It is scheduled for a court hearing in Houston on Dec. 10.
www.texastribune.org
December 2, 2025 at 4:18 PM
How Texas’ law banning DEI, LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 schools could fare in court
Texas Tech University System Chancellor Brandon Creighton on Monday imposed restrictions on how faculty discuss race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms and introduced a new course content approval process.
Texas Tech System restricts race and gender teaching
Tech, now the second Texas public university system to add similar teaching restrictions, had earlier directed faculty to follow state and federal guidance recognizing only two sexes.
www.texastribune.org
December 2, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Texas Tech University System Chancellor Brandon Creighton on Monday imposed restrictions on how faculty discuss race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms and introduced a new course content approval process.
Texas Rep. Gary VanDeaver announced on Monday that he would not seek reelection to a seventh term in the Texas House.
Gary Van Deaver won’t seek Texas House reelection in 2026
VanDeaver, who represents northeast Texas, was one of two House Republicans to oppose a school voucher program this year after he narrowly beat a pro-voucher primary challenger in 2024.
www.texastribune.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Texas Rep. Gary VanDeaver announced on Monday that he would not seek reelection to a seventh term in the Texas House.