The Latest Breaking News from The Texas Tribune

Sodas, candy to be banned from Texas food stamp purchases

Buoyed by the Trump administration's willingness to place restrictions on food assistance programs, Texas moves to limit junk food.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 4, 2025

Months after detaining 47 people accused of being Tren de Aragua in Austin, authorities offer no evidence of gang ties

People at the raided house say they rented it for a birthday party and deny any connection to the gang. One man says law enforcement accused him of being in Tren de Aragua because of his tattoo.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 4, 2025

Voters will have final say on billions of tax cuts for Texas homeowners, businesses

Texas is slated to spend $51 billion on property tax cuts over the next two years. Some worry that’s unsustainable.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 4, 2025

From vouchers to a cellphone ban, this year’s lawmaking session brought transformative changes to Texas schools

An agenda driven by conservative priorities, schools’ financial duress and teacher needs led to an $8.5 billion boost, new discipline rules, more Christianity in classrooms and a DEI ban.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 3, 2025

Texas lawmakers voted to ban consumable THC products. Will Gov. Greg Abbott sign — or veto — the bill?

Abbott faces pressure from both sides of the aisle. The prohibition was a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but some hemp farmers and veterans want it killed.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 2, 2025

In final act, Texas Legislature boosts judges’ pay and lawmaker pensions

House and Senate members agreed that judges needed a pay raise. But they spent the final hours of the legislative session debating whether Texas lawmakers should also benefit from the boost.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 2, 2025

Rep. Tony Tinderholt, voice of the insurgent far right GOP, to retire from the Texas House

Tinderholt attributed his decision to retire to his confidence in a new conservative generation of lawmakers and a desire to spend more time with his family.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 2, 2025

School vouchers, THC ban, property tax cuts: Here’s what Texas lawmakers did in the 2025 regular session

The Legislature wrapped up without the same drama that defined the end of the last two sessions, with state GOP leaders checking off nearly everything on their to-do lists.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 2, 2025

Texas Education Agency extends Houston school district takeover through 2027

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath applauded the district for its improvements while citing the need for more time to “achieve lasting success for students.”

The Texas Tribune · Jun 2, 2025

U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear GOP activist’s lawsuit challenging Texas Ethics Commission’s lobbying fine

Former Empower Texans leader Michael Quinn Sullivan has challenged a $10,000 fine from the Texas Ethics Commission for failure to register as a lobbyist for more than 10 years at nearly every level of the state court system.

The Texas Tribune · Jun 2, 2025