The Latest Breaking News from Royce West

New state law allows walking on roads when sidewalks are blocked or unsafe

The law restricting pedestrians from walking on roads has been revised to let pedestrians use roadways in certain situations.

The Texas Tribune · Aug 24, 2023

Texas A&M president says she didn’t know about job offer changes that led to professor’s botched hiring

M. Katherine Banks told faculty she was unaware of successive, diminished offers to Kathleen O. McElroy, who was recruited to revive a journalism program. Professors demanded an investigation.

The Texas Tribune · Jul 20, 2023

Ted Cruz, Colin Allred prepare for Senate showdown as others plan to join the race

The major contenders in the 2024 Senate race are using the dog days of summer to bolster their campaigns for what’s billed as Texas’ marquee statewide contest.

Tribune News Service · Jul 5, 2023

Texas Senate passes $308 billion budget plan, kicking off high-stakes negotiations with the House

There are $5 billion and several political wedges standing between the House and Senate plans, which now move into conference committee with less than five weeks before session ends.

The Texas Tribune · Apr 17, 2023

Texans may get another sales tax holiday with one major tweak

Cutting sales taxes hasn’t grabbed the attention of Texas legislators looking at a record state surplus. But there are a couple of small consolation prizes in the works for consumers.

Tribune News Service · Apr 14, 2023

Senate budget panel approves $308 billion spending plan with new money for teachers, mental health, juvenile justice

The proposal for the 2024-25 budget cycle includes $142.1 billion in general revenue spending — about $5 billion higher than the proposal approved last week by the Texas House — at a time when lawmakers have a historic $32.7 billion surplus at their disposal this session.

The Texas Tribune · Apr 12, 2023

Texas Senate approves bill barring professors from “compelling” students to adopt certain political beliefs

Critics say Senate Bill 16 is overly vague and will create a chilling effect that will prevent important conversations about race and gender. But Republican supporters say the legislation is necessary to protect conservative students who are self-censoring in the classroom.

The Texas Tribune · Apr 12, 2023

Texas Senate passes expanded bills to restrict drag, sexual conduct in front of minors

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to two bills that would restrict, and at times criminalize, drag shows and anything else deemed a “sexually oriented performance.”

Tribune News Service · Apr 5, 2023

Opal Lee, 'grandmother of Juneteenth,' gets Texas portrait

A Texas woman who helped make Juneteenth a federal holiday has become the second Black Texan honored with a portrait on the walls of the state’s Senate chamber

The Independent UK · Feb 8, 2023

Texas senators seem open to major change in state’s public education funding formula

Senators in the finance committee asked questions Monday about the pros and cons of basing the amount of money that schools get per student on enrollment instead of attendance. Districts say the change could mean millions in additional funding.

The Texas Tribune · Feb 7, 2023