Texas Legislature 15
Gov. Greg Abbott calls for criminal investigation into availability of “pornographic books” in public schools
BY CASSANDRA POLLOCK AND JOLIE MCCULLOUGH at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 10, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Gov. Greg Abbott told the Texas Education Agency on Wednesday to investigate criminal activity related to “the availability of pornography” in public schools, saying that the
Sara Stapleton Barrera, 2020 primary challenger to state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., announces comeback bid as he retires
BY PATRICK SVITEK at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 6, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Sara Stapleton Barrera, who last year forced longtime state Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, into a primary runoff, has decided to run again now that the incumbent is
Texas voters split on whether voting laws should be more strict, UT/TT Poll finds
BY CASSANDRA POLLOCK at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 5, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. About two months after the Texas Legislature approved new voting restrictions into law, roughly a third of the state’s voters believe that voting rules here should be
Democrat Eddie Lucio Jr., known for voting with Republicans on key issues, to retire after three decades in Texas Senate
BY PATRICK SVITEK at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 4, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, announced Thursday that he is not seeking reelection after three decades in the upper chamber. He made the announcement during a
Texas’ new House map challenged in state court, expanding redistricting fight
BY ALEXA URA at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 3, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Opening a second front in widening legal wars over redistricting, a coalition of mostly Hispanic, Democratic members of the Texas House filed suit in state court Wednesday
Republican John Lujan wins special election runoff to flip Texas House seat in San Antonio
BY PATRICK SVITEK at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 2, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. SAN ANTONIO — Republican John Lujan has won the special election runoff for Texas House District 118, flipping the Democratic-friendly seat in San Antonio. The victory by
“A pivotal day”: Texas abortion law’s Supreme Court hearings spur hope for some, fear for others
BY ABBY LIVINGSTON AND BETHANY IRVINE at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 1, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Editor’s note: This story contains explicit language. WASHINGTON — The dividing line in front of the U.S. Supreme Court was both invisible and unmissable. It extended
With a congressional seat suddenly open, Democrats in the Rio Grande Valley race to recruit for a competitive district
BY PATRICK SVITEK at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 1, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Democrats in the Rio Grande Valley are scrambling to make up for lost time after U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, decided to seek reelection in a different
How today’s near-total abortion ban in Texas was 20 years in the making.
BY KEVIN REYNOLDS at The Texas Tribune, NOV. 1, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Here is a list of Texas laws since 2000 that restrict abortion access. 2000 – First parental notification law goes into effect Doctors must notify a parent
Special election runoff on Tuesday for Texas House seat in San Antonio carries high stakes for both parties
BY PATRICK SVITEK at The Texas Tribune, OCT. 30, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The special election runoff Tuesday for a state House seat in San Antonio carries high stakes, with Republicans working hard to flip it as part of their
Texas lawmaker keeping mum on inquiry into what books students can access as school districts grapple with how to respond
BY CASSANDRA POLLOCK AND BRIAN LOPEZ at The Texas Tribune, OCT. 29, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. State Rep. Matt Krause said he will not be offering specifics related to his inquiry over which books about racism and sexuality are available at certain
For Texans who want a child but have difficult pregnancies, the new abortion law just made that journey even harder
BY BEKAH MCNEEL, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE OCT. 29, 2021 Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. At her sonogram appointment in late September, Kendra Joseph received ominous news. Signs pointed to an impending miscarriage, but she wasn’t far enough along for the doctor
