Texas Tribune

The bill defines the protected information to include “one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of the individual,” in addition to location or identification numbers, but does not define what information meets that criteria. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune

Texas Legislature considering bill to make it harder to get public information about government employees

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 6:58pm

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would restrict state agencies from sharing salary data and other typically public information about government employees with the public in a bill that experts

Read more about Texas Legislature considering bill to make it harder to get public information about government employees

Senate Bill 7 — a Republican priority — would make changes to almost the entire voting process, taking particular aim at narrowing the latitude local officials have to control voting. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune

Here's how Texas elections would change, and become more restrictive, under the bill Texas Republicans are pushing

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 2:48pm

Like Republicans across the country, Texas lawmakers are pushing to enact sweeping changes to state voting laws, including new restrictions on how and when voters can cast ballots.

Read more about Here's how Texas elections would change, and become more restrictive, under the bill Texas Republicans are pushing

A masked server drops off food at a table at Perla's in South Austin on March 12, 2021. Experts caution that a major increase in cases could still come and it may still be too early to tell whether Abbott’s decisions to lift the statewide mask mandate and allow businesses to fully reopen could prompt a new wave of infections. Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune

Texas coronavirus cases haven't surged since Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the mask order. Experts warn it's too soon to celebrate.

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 3:50pm

More than a month has passed since Gov. Greg Abbott ended virtually all statewide restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Read more about Texas coronavirus cases haven't surged since Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the mask order. Experts warn it's too soon to celebrate.

ERCOT asks Texans to conserve power, but says outages not expected as it nears emergency conditions

Tue, 04/13/2021 - 5:52pm

The state’s main power grid operator asked Texans to conserve power Tuesday afternoon and into the evening as the electricity

Read more about ERCOT asks Texans to conserve power, but says outages not expected as it nears emergency conditions

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the Senate session on March 20. On Tuesday, the upper chamber passed a two-year state budget, but several questions remain about expected federal aid. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate approves a $250 billion state budget — but questions remain about how federal aid will be used

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 6:46pm

The Texas Senate unanimously signed off on a two-year, $250 billion state budget Tuesday, though there are still questions about how tens of billions of dollars in expected fed

Read more about Texas Senate approves a $250 billion state budget — but questions remain about how federal aid will be used

First day of STAAR testing canceled for thousands of students experiencing technical issues across Texas

Tue, 04/06/2021 - 5:18pm

Texas education officials advised school districts to suspend the first day of STAAR testing after thousands of students showed up in person and were prevented from taking the standardized test onl

Read more about First day of STAAR testing canceled for thousands of students experiencing technical issues across Texas

Like other proposals under consideration at the Texas Capitol, many of the restrictions in Senate Bill 7 would target initiatives championed in Harris County to make it easier for more voters to participate in elections. Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate advances bill limiting how and when voters can cast ballots, receive mail-in voting applications

Thu, 04/01/2021 - 7:18pm

Senate Republicans cleared the way Thursday for new, sweeping restrictions to voting in Texas that take particular aim at forbidding local efforts meant to widen access.

Read more about Texas Senate advances bill limiting how and when voters can cast ballots, receive mail-in voting applications

Texas Tribune, Vaccine eligibility, Texas, Covid-19, San Marcos, San Marcos News, San Marcos Record

Health care worker Mary Carreon administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a patient in Laredo. Credit: Jessica Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune

As vaccine eligibility widens, some vulnerable Texans are still fighting for access

Thu, 04/01/2021 - 3:13pm

Fredericksburg retiree Cyn White has been trying to find a COVID-19 vaccine in her Hill Country community since she became eligible for it in December.

Read more about As vaccine eligibility widens, some vulnerable Texans are still fighting for access

The City of San Marcos provided three San Marcos C.I.S.D. school buses as warming centers for residents needing shelter from the cold in February. Lawmakers are trying to prevent another power grid failure like the one that occurred during last month's deadly winter storm. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune

Texas lawmakers want to prevent another power crisis. But the legislation doesn't go far enough to do that, critics say.

Wed, 03/31/2021 - 5:47pm

Both the Texas Senate and House have written bills that attempt to prevent another massive power failure in extreme temperatures.

Read more about Texas lawmakers want to prevent another power crisis. But the legislation doesn't go far enough to do that, critics say.

These abortion-related measures are among the earliest bills to be debated by the full Senate. Credit: Stephen Spillman for The Texas Tribune

Bills restricting abortion, including one that bans procedure as early as six weeks, gets Texas Senate OK

Tue, 03/30/2021 - 6:37pm

The Texas Senate on Tuesday approved five bills restricting access to abortion, including a priority measure that could ban abortions before many women know they are pregnant.

Read more about Bills restricting abortion, including one that bans procedure as early as six weeks, gets Texas Senate OK