Bipartisan Texas House majority urges clemency for man facing execution in shaken baby case
Lawmakers cite new scientific evidence that they say proves Robert Roberson, who is set for execution on Oct. 17, did not kill his daughter.
Abbott says potential power outages from Tropical Storm Francine will be restored within hours
Texas isnโt expected to take a direct hit when the storm makes landfall as a hurricane. But storm surge and dangerous winds are possible.
Weak infrastructure, distrust make communication during natural disasters hard on rural Texas
When disaster strikes, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy takes command of her countyโs emergency communication channels, including a text service and Facebook page.
In Texas, violating campaign ethics laws rarely yields repercussions. The attorney generalโs office is to blame.
The number of fines for breaking state campaign ethics laws has exploded in recent years as Ken Paxtonโs office rarely pursues stricter enforcement.
Whatโs the value of planting trees? Conservation groups say a new formula can tell them.
Donors are increasingly asking conservation groups to produce data on the value of their environmental work. A groupโs new method helps them show their impact.
Just as the temperature climbs, Texas towns are closing public pools to cut costs
Advocates say public pools are necessary community infrastructure and save lives. Splash pads have become a more affordable option.
An East Texas town wants to revolutionize how the state cares for people living with memory loss
The ambitious project has won a federal grant. But the Texas Legislature has not yet given its blessing, a crucial step to move the facility forward.
Plans to spend billions on a flood-prone East Texas highway may not solve the problem
TxDOT says it canโt guarantee that upgrades to one of Houstonโs main hurricane evacuation routes will prevent future flooding of U.S. 59.
Recovery a faraway thought for East Texas flood evacuees as more rain is expected
East Texans tried to reach their homes by boat and kayaks Saturday. Others remained pessimistic that the water would recede soon.
Hundreds rescued from flooding in Texas as waters continue rising in Houston
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing more than 400 people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
East Texans brace for prolonged evacuation orders after rainfall drenches Polk County
East Texas has been hit by several severe rainstorms this spring, and several counties have declared disasters.
Tarrant County DA wants Crystal Masonโs illegal voting conviction reinstated
A Texas appeals court recently overturned Masonโs five-year prison sentence for casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 election while on supervised release for federal tax evasion.
A Texas landowner can sue the state for flood damage to his property, U.S. Supreme Court rules
Richie DeVillier, who owns land east of Houston, said the state owes him damages for constant flooding after Texas made changes to Interstate 10 near his property.
Texas criminal appeals court takes man off death row over intellectual disability
Since Randall Mays was sentenced to death in 2008 for the murder of two sheriffโs deputies, his lawyers have argued his intellectual disability exempts him from execution.
Law enforcement officials in Texas wonder how they will enforce migrant arrest law
The nine hours that Texas was allowed to arrest and deport migrants who illegally enter the U.S. provided a glimpse at what sort of obstacles law enforcement agencies in the state face.
Railroad Commission approves oilfield waste ponds next to Baptist camp in Permian Basin
Martin Water is building an oil and gas waste recycling facility next to the Circle 6 Baptist Camp in the Permian Basin despite concerns about water and air pollution.
Does UT Tyler Health Science Centerโs deal with private equity shield doctors from malpractice suits?
A lawsuit claims UT Tyler Health Science Center is trying to pull the veil of governmental immunity over doctors who do all of their work for a for-profit, private equity-backed health care system.
Three years after BLM protests gripped nation, a police shooting in Lufkin draws little attention
Texas police killed 141 people last year, according to a database. At least 22, including Aaliyah Anders, were Black.
From couch surfing to sleeping in a car: What one teenโs story tells us about homelessness in rural Texas
Georgia DeVries, an East Texas 17-year-old, shared her experience living in a car for one month last year on TikTok.
An East Texas school districtโs flagpole raises questions about Americaโs separation of church and state
The LaPoynor school district frequently flies a Christian flag, but may not be running afoul of the Constitution because it says students are choosing to raise it.
Gov. Greg Abbott says power grid prepared for arctic front, asks Texans to plan now for freezing temperatures
Gov. Greg Abbott stressed the reliability of the Texas power grid as an arctic front takes aim at Texas, and asked people to take precautions now as some parts of the state will be below freezing for more than 72 hours.
Texans grapple with numerous challenges, yet many are actively seeking solutions
Across the state, people are looking for ways to make Texas a better place to live as they tackle hunger, rural โbrain drain,โ health care obstacles and other impediments.
Far-right activist blasts Speaker Phelan for being "pro-Muslim" in political mailer
The card insinuates that Phelan wants to wish his constituents a happy Ramadan instead of a merry Christmas. Muslim Texans say itโs Islamophobic and some Republicans say it doesn't reflect Christian values.
Year after year, most Texas police departments report zero hate crimes. Hereโs why.
A Texas Tribune analysis of hate crime data found that 82% of Texas law enforcement agencies that report to the FBI tracked no hate crimes last year. However, one suburban North Texas police agency is creating a new model of collecting hate crime data.
Judge overrules Texas, strikes down air pollution permit for Gulf Coast oil terminal
A judge reversed a 2022 decision by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that involved its controversial โone-mile ruleโ to deny hearing requests.
In this East Texas town, a 45-foot tall oil pump is a holiday symbol and connection to the past
Rudolph the Red-Nose Pumping Unit has long been a holiday tradition in Lufkin. The machinery, now used worldwide to extract oil from the ground, was invented by a local businessman.
How one man's open records obsession sparked a fight over transparency and power in East Texas
Once a tool of journalists and concerned citizens to hold government accountable, open records requests have been increasingly used by political opponents and conspiracy theorists to slow down the pace of government.
Seeking lower electricity rates, residents in two East Texas towns hope the state will intervene
Livingston and Jasper residents hope a lawsuit will force their municipality-operated utility company to offer lower rates and create more transparency in setting rates. Theyโre among the 5 million Texans living outside the stateโs deregulated market and cannot choose their energy provider.
Bison return to Texas Indigenous lands, reconnecting tribes to their roots
Indigenous ranchers in Texas are receiving help from nonprofits to rebuild bison herds in the state. One family in Sulphur Springs that received five bison last month invited Texas tribal members to see the herd in person.
How a small East Texas school district replaced its gas-guzzling buses with an all-electric fleet
The Martinsville Independent School District used a federal grant to replace four buses, which started transporting students last month. The principal believes he will save enough money on gas to hire a new teacher.
Texans approved billions for water and broadband infrastructure. Now what?
The legislation behind the historic investment directs state agencies to send money to the stateโs smaller, cash-strapped towns that have difficulty paying for upgrades. Federal money is also expected to flow to regions that need broadband.
Texans may approve billions for energy, water, parks and broadband on Nov. 7
At stake in next weekโs constitutional amendment election is $13 billion in infrastructure spending. Supporters say itโs an opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime investment.
One of Texasโ oldest towns needs $200 million for upgrades. Itโs asking voters to approve $44 million this fall.
The East Texas town is one of 218 local governments asking voters to approve new debt for repairs and upgrades to city infrastructure. Local leaders say inflation isnโt helping them keep up with capital needs.
Texas high school principal cleared of child abuse charges after paddling student
The East Texas school leader was following school district policy โ and state law โ which allows for corporal punishment. Texas is one of 17 states that allows it, despite one Democrats efforts to ban the practice.
These women want careers as truck drivers. Theyโre claiming they canโt get a job because of their gender.
The Dallas-based trucking company, Stevens Transport, said they do not discriminate against women and the complaint is based on a โmisunderstanding.โ
With 22 portable classrooms on one campus, a growing Texas school district is asking voters for $2 billion
Conroe is one of the fastest growing school districts in the state. It and other districts say they need voters to OK bonds to keep up with the influx of students.
A shift in how we build commercial buildings could be a boon for East Texas
Globally, mass timber construction projects are expected to reach more than 24,000 by 2034. So far, at least 134 mass timber projects are in progress or completed in Texas. The first such project was a six-story office building in downtown San Antonio.
Looking for an economic rebound, an East Texas town looks to the arts โ and is rebuffed by the state
A town of 34,000 people, Lufkin sits deep in the Piney Woods, a region dotted with rural towns. Local civic leaders hope a long list of efforts can revitialize the cityโs downtown and reboot its economy.
A Texas neighborhood became a target of the right over immigration. Locals are pushing back
A booming Texas residential development is pushing back after being put into an unwelcome national spotlight over immigration.
In the shadow of James Byrdโs murder, city leaders canโt agree how to move this East Texas town forward
Jasperโs second Black mayor wants to help residents pay their bills while a younger city council wants to invest in the cityโs culture. Residents call their heated arguments at city council meetings โfoolishnessโ and โembarrassing.โ
Texas inmate killed by cellmate during a statewide prison lockdown
The killing of inmate Billy Chemirmir in the Coffield Unit occurred during a statewide lockdown of prisons, promoted by a rise in inmate homicides. A day before the lockdown, another incident at the same prison resulted in the firings of seven correctional officers and the resignations of another six.
Texas prisoner accused of killing 22 older women is slain by cellmate while serving life sentence
Officials say a man accused of killing nearly two dozen elderly women and who was convicted in the slayings of two has been killed by his Texas prison cellmate.
An East Texas principal was arrested after paddling a student, renewing debate over corporal punishment
Texas is one of 17 states that still permits hitting, spanking and paddling in schools. Republican lawmakers stood by the practice earlier this year in part because they say it was permitted in the Bible.
These 2 senators were the only Republicans to vote for Paxton impeachment articles
Kelly Hancock and Robert Nichols broke from the rest of their party, but longtime observers said they werenโt surprised.
Watch former Prairie View A&M President Ruth Simmons talk about her new memoir
Simmons talked with The Texas Tribune about โUp Home: One Girlโs Journey,โ which depicts an era long gone but whose legacies of inequality still persist.
Opal Lee, โgrandmother of Juneteenth,โ to be inducted into Texas Womenโs Hall of Fame
Opal Lee, the โgrandmother of Juneteenth,โ is among the inductees for the Texas Womenโs Hall of Fame, Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday.
How a state effort to fund Texas schools equitably is shortchanging dozens of rural districts
For decades, the Texas comptrollerโs office has double-checked property valuations across the state, which help determine how much school districts can levy in property taxes. But when state and county appraisers disagree, districts can end up with big holes in their budgets.
As the death toll in stifling Texas prisons climbs, congressional Democrats ask for investigation
Most Texas prisons lack air conditioning. At least 41 prisoners have died of heart-related or undetermined causes since the unrelenting heat wave began.
Man arrested after trying to kidnap woman at Target store in East Texas, officials say
A 22-year-old man is in custody after he tried to kidnap an 18-year-old woman at a Target store in East Texas, according to a report from KSATโs sister station in Houston, KPRC.
Rural Texas may lose out on billions in broadband infrastructure funding due to federal regulations
Grant applicants are required to have a line of credit from a major bank and put up 25% of the project cost ahead of time. That will likely disqualify many small internet service providers in rural areas.
EPA will decide if the state is doing enough to reduce pollution in two East Texas counties
The federal agency has settled a lawsuit the Sierra Club brought over pollution from a coal-burning power plant. The agreement requires the EPA to weigh in on the stateโs plan to improve air quality in Rusk and Panola counties.
Limited regulations make Texas workers responsible for preventing on-the-job heat injuries
In triple-digit temperatures, drinking water frequently and resting in the shade are minimum safety measures for avoiding injuries and deaths. But they are not applied to every job site.
Giraffe named Twiga, who was among the oldest cared for by humans, died at age 31 at East Texas zoo
A giraffe named Twiga who died over the weekend at an East Texas zoo at the age of 31 was among the oldest giraffes being cared for by humans.
Invasive jellyfish and tree-killing bug found in Texas
The Padre Island National Seashore says it recently received a โnot-so-welcome visitor.โ The invasive Australian Spotted Jellyfish, or Phyllorhiza punctata, was spotted on North Beach, PINS said.
Charges filed against five more people in San Antonio smuggling tragedy that killed 53 migrants
A year after the nationโs deadliest human smuggling event, federal prosecutors say seven people face a maximum of life in prison. One of the suspects, who was not identified, has not been arrested.
Heat wave has US South sweltering, from tornado-ravaged West Texas town to Florida beaches
Communities from Houston to New Orleans are opening cooling centers to bring relief as steamy hot temperatures settle across a broad swath of the U.S. South.
โThis is pretty devastatingโ: Three dead, more than 100 injured after tornado strikes Perryton
More than 100 people were injured in the tornado that hit the Panhandle town. Gov. Greg Abbott sent emergency crews to assist with recovery efforts.
Texas towns are starving for capital and lack the resources to apply for grants. This group hopes to help.
Texas Rural Funders hopes a one-stop resource for grant applications and writers could help small towns win money to fund innovation and capital needs.
Texas will spend billions to connect the state with broadband. But is it clear which neighborhoods need help?
On the eve of a historic investment in connecting the Lone Star State, advocates worry maps that will help establish which communities get funding have bad information.
Watch: 25 years after James Byrd Jr. was killed for being Black, his loved ones question how much has changed in Texas
The quiet East Texas town of Jasper came together immediately after the racist murder of James Byrd Jr. Now, Texas is leading the nation in incidents of white supremacist propaganda.
Texas towns need money, technical help and compromise to save their water systems
Water agencies have long resisted working together out of fear of losing their local powers. But an example from Florida could help save the Lone Star Stateโs water and infrastructure.
Everything you need to know about Texasโ beleaguered water systems
Texas has more than 7,000 water systems. A fraction of them self-reported that they lost 30 billion gallons of water due to broken pipes and leaks in 2021.
Texasโ water infrastructure is broken, jeopardizing quality and supply for a growing state
On a daily basis, water managers in cities across the state move from crisis to crisis hoping to keep the water flowing to residents.
Texas House reaffirms the political maps it drew in 2021
The 150 districts didnโt change, but the vote ensured the House met its constitutional requirement to approve new maps in the first regular session following formal publication of the 2020 census results.
People in cars fired at, chased each other after 9 shot at East Texas prom party
Police in Jasper have released additional information about a shooting that occurred after shots were fired at a prom afterparty over the weekend.
9 people shot, hospitalized after shooting at prom party in East Texas, officials say
Nine people were hospitalized after a prom after-party turned into a shooting overnight, according to the Jasper County Sheriffโs Office.
In East Texas, skepticism over private school tuition assistance persists despite push from conservative leaders
Gov. Greg Abbott and other conservatives say families need options to escape โwokeโ education in public schools. East Texas parents and school leaders say the national talking points are off base.
Texas Senate moves to set aside billions for future water needs
The Senate on Monday passed a bill that would create a new state fund tailored for large or long-shot water supply projects, including marine desalination. The bill will advance to the House.
With billions of dollars on the line, East Texans say a crucial state map incorrectly shows they already have broadband
East Texans worry they could miss out on federal dollars because a state map that will help determine where the money goes shows they already have access to broadband. Residents say their broadband is chronically unreliable.
โSomething didnโt seem rightโ: Whataburger employees in East Texas alert police of child predator
Whataburger employees in East Texas told police that โsomething didnโt seem rightโ when they saw a teen and a 79-year-old man eating together in the restaurant Tuesday morning.
โI love my babies. But that doesnโt mean itโs easyโ: One motherโs struggle to survive in pro-life Texas
Pregnancy forced Destiny Williams to quit her job. She almost died during childbirth. Now with a newborn in tow, sheโs struggling to build a more stable life for her and her children.
Black and Hispanic Texans say they donโt trust the quality of their water
A survey was commissioned by the nonprofit organization Texas Water Trade and included responses from households in both rural border communities and in urban areas across Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth.
As Texas booms, local governments โ especially in small towns โ struggle to find workers
A cascade of issues including inflation and growing distrust in government arenโt helping local governments hire for critical positions in public safety and utilities.
Harry Whittington, longtime Texas GOP supporter shot by Dick Cheney in a 2006 hunting accident, dies
Whittington, who was 95, was shot in 2006 during a quail-hunting trip near Corpus Christi. He quickly forgave Cheney.
Company that wants to build oilfield dump in East Texas gave $53,750 in campaign donations to regulators
McBride Operating LLC and its owner, Joseph McBride, contributed to the political campaigns of the three commissioners on the Texas Railroad Commission now considering his request.