Category Archives: State News
Angela Graham-West, Wife Of Texas GOP Candidate Allen West, Wasn’t Drunk Or On Drugs When Jailed For DWI, Tests Show
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bde17f8cb15ea23725cae02a73dee141/Angela%20West%20TT%2003.jpg "Angela Graham-West, Wife Of Texas GOP Candidate Allen West, Wasn’t Drunk Or On Drugs When Jailed For DWI, Tests Show")
West had insisted his wife had not been drinking the night she was arrested, calling the arrest “insidious.” Dallas police said they stand by the officer’s decision to arrest Graham-West based on the information available at the time.
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Barely Underway, Texas Redistricting Draws Its First Lawsuit Challenging Legislature’s Authority To Redraw Legislative Maps
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9afca46f14f58428c7d7719ef7640811/Senate%20Session%20April%2012%20JV%20TT%2006 "Barely Underway, Texas Redistricting Draws Its First Lawsuit Challenging Legislature’s Authority To Redraw Legislative Maps")
Two Democratic state senators filed the federal suit arguing the Texas Constitution does not allow lawmakers to meet in special session to draw up state House and Senate districts. They’re asking the courts to do it instead.
Read moreRepublican Bill Tightening Texas Election Laws Is Headed To Gov. Greg Abbott’s Desk
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ed6a34438d56976e0098e0221c33e493/Early%20Voting%20Day%201%20EP%20IPA%20TT%2023.jpg "Republican Bill Tightening Texas Election Laws Is Headed To Gov. Greg Abbott’s Desk")
Senate Bill 1 rewrites Texas election laws to further restrict the voting-by-mail process and outlaw local voting initiatives meant to widen access, namely those pushed by Harris County that were disproportionately used by voters of color.
Read more“I Want To See If He Has His Big Boy Pants On”: House Democrat Challenges Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Over Legislative Staff Funding
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a5d92bb1cdcb85f97e96d4da38f0f64b/House%20Floor%2005-13%20JV%20TT%2023 "“I Want To See If He Has His Big Boy Pants On”: House Democrat Challenges Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Over Legislative Staff Funding")
House Public Education Chair Harold Dutton said Patrick is threatening to block funding to restore 2,100 employee salaries in the Senate if the House doesn’t pass two conservative priority bills.
Read moreNational Republicans Zero In On South Texas Congressional Race To Oust Vicente Gonzalez
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/925d324c777456fb2ed1d792b71ffdb4/McCarthy-Monica%20Split.jpg "National Republicans Zero In On South Texas Congressional Race To Oust Vicente Gonzalez")
The Democratic incumbent, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, had a surprisingly close race last year as President Joe Biden underperformed across the region, and his 2020 challenger, Monica De La Cruz-Hernandez, is running again.
Read moreBill Limiting Abortion-Inducing Pills Nears Final Passage In The Texas Legislature
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/060aa40ba7e1d64c063fc39545b31547/Womens%20Health%20SS%20TT%2001.jpg "Bill Limiting Abortion-Inducing Pills Nears Final Passage In The Texas Legislature")
Senate Bill 4, which was advanced by the Texas House on Monday evening, would bar access to abortion-inducing pills to patients who are more than seven weeks pregnant.
Read moreTexas Deploys Fire Fighters And Other Aid To Louisiana For Hurricane Ida Recovery Efforts
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/58dc588d59ea9f1bac7a8102b6747975/Hurricane%20Ida%20Louisiana%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg "Texas Deploys Fire Fighters And Other Aid To Louisiana For Hurricane Ida Recovery Efforts")
Ida, which made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane, on Sunday was downgraded to a tropical storm on Monday but officials warned that flooding from storm surge will continue to affect parts of the state throughout the morning.
Read moreTexas Abortion Law That Bans Procedure As Early As Six Weeks Set To Go Into Effect After Court Cancels Hearing, Denies Motions
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7633b101c55f4a6d8153be23f19e3d7/Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20SS%20TT%2006.jpg "Texas Abortion Law That Bans Procedure As Early As Six Weeks Set To Go Into Effect After Court Cancels Hearing, Denies Motions")
Senate Bill 8 is poised to officially become law on Wednesday.
Read moreTexas House Advances Rewrite Of State’s Bail System Aimed At Keeping More People Behind Bars Who Can’t Post Cash
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8703658ffc968d74d56cbe205d761390/03%20Bail%20Bonds%20MG%20TT.jpg "Texas House Advances Rewrite Of State’s Bail System Aimed At Keeping More People Behind Bars Who Can’t Post Cash")
The House balked at a part of the Senate’s bill that would have barred charitable groups from posting bail for some defendants, but otherwise embraced new limits on letting people accused of violent crimes out of jail.
Read moreRetired Texas Teachers Closer To Getting A “13th Check” After House Endorses Legislation
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15419830331e4fca4bf66ddab7eb7c2d/Blanco%20Vista%20Elementary%20JV%20TT%2005.jpg "Retired Texas Teachers Closer To Getting A “13th Check” After House Endorses Legislation")
The measure would allow for a one-time payment of up to $2,400 for retired teachers, counselors and other school staff.
Read moreTexas House Gives Initial OK To Adding $2 Billion For Border Security As State Moves To Build Border Wall
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6ef523e33d7fa135b8180f581c27df14/Del%20Rio%20DPS%20Surge%20MG%20TT%2043.jpg "Texas House Gives Initial OK To Adding Billion For Border Security As State Moves To Build Border Wall")
The bill would nearly triple border security funding from the last biennium. The legislation needs one more vote of approval from the House before moving to the Senate.
Read moreNew Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi Winning Over Party’s Critics Of Tumultuous Predecessor Allen West
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dd4234d1de61efb837550e759af50669/Matt%20Rinaldi%20MKC%20TT%2002.jpg "New Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi Winning Over Party’s Critics Of Tumultuous Predecessor Allen West")
Some party activists had worried Rinaldi would be more of the same after West left the chairmanship to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this summer.
Read moreExtended Unemployment Benefits For Jobless Texans Will End In September, State Agency Says
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4f5aa56160238a4f21b6fbad87502847/Texas%20Workforce%20MG%2001%20TT.jpg "Extended Unemployment Benefits For Jobless Texans Will End In September, State Agency Says")
The Texas Workforce Commission announced that the U.S. Department of Labor notified the commission that the state’s unemployment rate fell below the threshold needed to continue the benefits.
Read moreDespair And optimism: Texans In Congress Welcome Afghan Refugees To The State, Disagree On Blame For Tragedy In Kabul
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/06636cf174a9a58a11fac2914c218dbb/Afghan%20Refugees%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg "Despair And optimism: Texans In Congress Welcome Afghan Refugees To The State, Disagree On Blame For Tragedy In Kabul")
Looking relieved but exhausted, 1,200 Afghan refugees arrived this week at El Paso’s Fort Bliss. Meanwhile, Texans remain on the ground in an increasingly dangerous Afghanistan.
Read moreWith A Full Plate Of Controversial Bills To Go, Texas House Committee OKs Funding For Virtual Learning
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/365012c032240639ed14a50fb5494c15/Remote%20Learning%20COVID%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg "With A Full Plate Of Controversial Bills To Go, Texas House Committee OKs Funding For Virtual Learning")
Public hearing on bill about teaching race and history draws a crowd.
Read moreTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton Cleared By His Own Office Of Wrongdoing In Bribery Allegations
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d3722d8d48076c5dfd9bc5640b1b1bc5/AG%20Ken%20Paxton%20SCOTUS%20REUTERS.jpg "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Cleared By His Own Office Of Wrongdoing In Bribery Allegations")
Attorneys for former employees who were fired after accusing Paxton of abuse of office say report is “full of half-truths, outright lies, and glaring omissions.” Meanwhile, the FBI is also reportedly investigating.
Read moreJohn Cornyn, Other Texas GOP Officials Lambaste Biden Over Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee66f416915c16d047710067600f882e/Cornyn%20Bus%20Tour%20AI%20TT%2038.jpg "John Cornyn, Other Texas GOP Officials Lambaste Biden Over Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline")
Cornyn accused the Biden administration of letting the Taliban dictate military strategy by committing to an Aug. 31 withdrawal.
Read moreState Lawmakers Again Try To Ban Most Dangerous Nuclear Waste As Feds Consider Allowing It At West Texas Site
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/33a4799d0973f46715512cbb850df80d/Andrews%20Waste%20ELH%20TT%2019.jpg "State Lawmakers Again Try To Ban Most Dangerous Nuclear Waste As Feds Consider Allowing It At West Texas Site")
A failed regular session bill sought to give a financial break to a West Texas nuclear waste disposal company. Now, lawmakers have removed what opponents called a giveaway and are again trying to pass a bill to stop highly radioactive materials from coming to Texas.
Read moreMore Than A Dozen Democrats Return, Signaling More Assured End Of Quorum Bust In The Texas House
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d72ea0e6b2886cd46ebf70737827fae/House%20Floor%20823%20TT%20EG.jpg "More Than A Dozen Democrats Return, Signaling More Assured End Of Quorum Bust In The Texas House")
The development meant that a new high of 113 members were present for the second special session.
Read moreAllen West, GOP Candidate For Governor, Calls Wife’s DWI Arrest In Dallas “Insidious”
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f85ee9a39ff40d5f22bd4756ec94cb1/GOP%20Lege%20Agenda%20Rally%20JV%20TT%2005.jpg "Allen West, GOP Candidate For Governor, Calls Wife’s DWI Arrest In Dallas “Insidious”")
Angela Graham-West, wife of GOP gubernatorial candidate Allen West, was arrested by Dallas Police Friday night for allegedly driving while intoxicated. Allen West said she hadn’t been drinking, that her three-month-old grandson was in the car with her, and called the arrest “insidious.”
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