TEXAS STATE CAPITOL

In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Gideon v. Wainwright that the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a right to a lawyer applies to criminal defendants. Together with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, The Texas Tribune hosted a series of conversations Friday on public defense in Texas.

State Capitol filled with Robb families and gun violence prevention advocates calling on lawmakers to change gun laws.

A driver in Texas drove through the fence of the state Capitol. The driver has been arrested and an investigation into the case is ongoing.

Spurred by reports of inhumane conditions at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities, Austin-area teenagers are lobbying the Legislature to reform the system.

Texas’ capitol is known for its pink exterior, but the granite used to build it in the 1880s is not actually pink. Read more to learn about the history of the statehouse, from its construction to its coloring.

Texas’ capitol is known for its pink exterior, but the granite used to build it in the 1880s is not actually pink. Read more to learn about the history of the statehouse, from its construction to its coloring.

The Boy Scouts have erected Statue of Liberty replicas in Austin, Big Spring, Dallas, Midland, and Port Arthur

Officials say a suspect has been arrested for driving erratically through the Texas State Capitol grounds in Austin, leaving a trail of damage.

A San Marcos man has been arrested and charged after a bout of reckless driving at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.

TX police have arrested a suspect who they believe erratically drove through the Texas State Capitol grounds. The incident happened on Wednesday night.

The relatives spent Saturday urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to raise the minimum age to purchase an automatic rifle from 18 to 21 years old.

It’s been just over three months since a gunman ravaged inside of Robb Elementary School, claiming the lives of 19 students and two teachers and sending shockwaves through the Uvalde community.

Texas would not be Texas without the contributions from our Spanish and Mexican pioneers. Like so many other pioneers, our Tejano contributions to Texas are often lost in the telling of history. The monument was designed by artist Armando Hinojosa, and was made possible by the Tejano Monument Inc. board members who raised almost $2 million to fund its construction. This past regular legislative session, I was honored to organize a small gathering to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the TejanoMonument’s unveiling at the Texas Capitol. Here’s to 10 years of representation and recognition at the Texas Capitol.

Texas politics in 2021 were marked by a violent insurrection at the nation’s Capitol and state legislative fights over abortion, voting rights and redistricting. Our photojournalists were there every step of the way.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials drove a giant Virginia Pine tree to Austin Monday morning for display at the state Capitol.

The poll worker who received the prize said he was told he only received the minimum reward as larger ones were reserved for "bigger fish."

The Biden administration says it will turn next to the U.S. Supreme Court in another attempt to halt a Texas law that has banned most abortions since September.

The Biden administration is again urging courts to step in and suspend a new Texas law that has banned most abortions in the state since early September.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday the state will get 2,500 more medical personnel from across the country to help battle this summer's Covid surge.

Videos showed flooding inside the state Capitol building and at UT Austin on Sunday afternoon.

Videos on social media show the Texas State Capitol is flooded after storms and heavy rainfall rolled through the Austin area Sunday.

With the US Senate on August recess, there's very little for Democratic state lawmakers to do in Washington, DC, but they're still there.

The DOJ sued Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott to block a state order aimed at restricting the travel of undocumented migrants who could potentially transmit Covid.

Democrats in the state House want to deny the quorum needed to pass voting restrictions and bills targeting trans athletes and critical race theory.

The Texas Tribune reported that some arrived as early as 6 a.m. Saturday to testify, but testimony didn't begin until 1:41 a.m. Sunday morning.

Texas legislators recently returned to Austin for a special session to enact the restrictive voting measures sought by GOP Gov. Greg Abbott.

SAN ANTONIO – Governor Greg Abbott came to Port San Antonio on Sunday to provide an update on state recovery efforts, but he didn’t show up empty-handed. Water flown into San Antonio for winter storm relief. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 12 Governor Abbott comes to San Antonio to give an update on the state's winter storm recovery efforts. In San Antonio, power has been restored to nearly all households, and 98% have had their water restored, as of Sunday morning, according to SAWS. RELATED: Texas governor asks President Joe Biden for major disaster declaration for winter storm

Small groups of right-wing protesters — some of them carrying rifles — gathered outside heavily fortified statehouses around the country Sunday, outnumbered by National Guard troops and police brought in to prevent a repeat of the violence that erupted at the U.S. Capitol. In the past few days, some extremists had warned others against falling into what they called a law enforcement trap. Some 25,000 National Guard troops from around the country are expected to arrive in the city in the coming days. More than a third of governors had called out the National Guard to help protect their capitols and assist local law enforcement. "The state Capitol has become a fortress,” said Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, a Democrat.

AUSTIN, TX - JANUARY 16: A small group of protesters stand outside the Texas state capitol on January 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Supporters of President Trump gathered at state capitol buildings throughout the nation today to protest the presidential election results and the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. (Photo by Sergio Flores/Getty Images)AUSTIN, Texas – A small group of armed protesters gathered in Austin on Saturday, just days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, as seen in photographs released by Getty Images. Supporters of President Trump are meeting at state capitol buildings across the nation over the weekend to protest the presidential election results and Biden’s inauguration, which is set for Wednesday. RELATED: Texas State Capitol to close for several days due to threats of armed protests

The Texas Capitol is closing from Saturday through Wednesday. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the closures come as armed protestors plan to rally there. The Texas Capitol in Austin will be closed Saturday through Wednesday, the day of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is aware of armed protests planned at the Texas State Capitol this week and violent extremists who may seek to exploit constitutionally protected events to conduct criminal acts,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a statement. Trump supporters had also gathered outside the state Capitol as chaos ensued in Washington, D.C., but media reports indicated that the event did not appear to be violent.

(Photo by Sergio Flores/Getty Images)AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas State Capitol and Capitol Grounds will be closed “out of an abundance of caution” for several days as President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration nears. Though details remain murky, demonstrations are expected at state capitols beginning Sunday and leading up to Biden’s succession of President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The FBI has warned of the potential for violence at all state capitols and has said it is tracking an " extensive amount of concerning online chatter, " including calls for armed protests. Though details remain murky, demonstrations are expected at state capitols beginning Sunday and leading up to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday. “But we draw the line at threats to physical safety or to the Utah Capitol building.

A temporary tent outside the north entrance to the Texas State Capitol offers complimentary rapid COVID-19 testing for all who may enter the building. Jan 4, 2021. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The TexasThe Texas Department of Public Safety on Wednesday closed the state Capitol and surrounding grounds after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. during the certification of the Electoral College. An official with the law enforcement agency confirmed the move in a statement to The Texas Tribune. The news comes as chaos erupted in Washington as Trump supporters protested the certification of the Electoral College. The shutdown of the Texas Capitol, which reopened to the public Monday after being closed for months, also comes days before the Texas Legislature is set to convene for its 2021 legislative session.

The south end of the Texas State Capitol. Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas TribuneFour Republicans and one Democrat have filed for the special election to replace state Sen.-elect Drew Springer, R-Muenster, in the Texas House. They are competing for Springer's seat after he won a special election runoff last month to succeed Pat Fallon in the Texas Senate after the Prosper Republican's promotion to Congress. The special election for Springer's seat is happening on an accelerated schedule with the start of the legislative session — Jan. 12 — looming. Abbott announced the special election a week ago, and early voting begins Jan. 11.

If a House member tests positive for the virus, he wrote, "arrangements will be made ... to allow them to take the oath of office." "The duration of the ceremony will be shortened," he wrote, "and there will be a significant reduction in the number of people admitted to the House floor and gallery." Access to the House floor will be restricted to lawmakers, essential staff, ceremony participants, temporary officers and approved guests, according to Geren. Each lawmaker or incoming member will have two guest seats for family or friends either on the chamber floor or in the gallery. That spacing, coupled with the requirement of a face mask, "is acceptable to medical professionals consulted by the House," he wrote.

AUSTIN, Texas – Rangers with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department drove a giant Virginia Pine tree to Austin this morning for display at the state Capitol. Mamie II (pronounced: MAY-me) is the name of the tree which was harvested from Eisenhower State Park along the northern border of Texas. Texas State Parks have provided Christmas trees harvested from tree farms to the Texas State Capitol for more than 40 years, according to officials with the TPWD. Rangers from Eisenhower State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife will be driving this Texas gal... Posted by Texas Parks and Wildlife on Sunday, November 29, 2020Mamie II took over the Eisenhower State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife Facebook page Monday to document her journey from North Texas to Austin where she arrived around noon after stopping at Buc-cee’s in Temple for a rest. Posted by Eisenhower State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife on Monday, November 30, 2020Related:

Supporters of President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden gather in front of the state Capitol after Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election on Saturday. Supporters of President Donald Trump gather at the south entrance of the state Capitol after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneBiden and Trump supporters at the state Capitol on Saturday. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneSupporters show their support for President-elect Joe Biden at the Capitol in Austin. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneA man rides a donkey past fellow supporters of President-elect Joe Biden who celebrated his victory in the 2020 presidential election at the Texas Capitol.

Texas State Capitol. And bookmark our Texas election results page here. Democrats and Republicans fighting for control of the Texas House appeared to be holding their numbers as early vote returns came in Tuesday. In one Houston-area race, state Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston, was behind her Democratic challenger Ann Johnson by nearly 7 percentage points, according to early vote returns. Flores, the first Hispanic Republican to serve in the Texas Senate, was down by a margin of roughly 22 percentage points.

Texas is allowing more businesses, including retail stores, gyms and restaurants, to push forward with reopening plans after a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations over the summer has started to decline. Abbott said the state has been divided into 22 regions where officials will monitor hospital capacity and virus cases. That includes "all retail stores, all restaurants, all office buildings, all manufacturing, all museums and libraries and all gyms," he said. The number of new cases and new hospitalizations have been cut by more than two-thirds. Just yesterday we had the lowest number of hospitalizations in the past three months," Abbott said.

Texas appeals court deals blow to Chick-fil-A activists seeking to sue San AntonioJonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, leads a news conference for Save Chick-fil-A Day for religious freedom in the central court outdoor rotunda at the Texas State Capitol. Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, leads a news conference for Save Chick-fil-A Day for religious freedom in the central court outdoor rotunda at the Texas State Capitol. Photo: Dimitri Staszewski /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Dimitri Staszewski /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Texas appeals court deals blow to Chick-fil-A activists seeking to sue San Antonio 1 / 1 Back to GalleryA group of conservative activists doesnt have grounds to sue San Antonio over the City Councils refusal to allow a Chick-fil-A restaurant at San Antonio International Airport, a state appeals court ruled Wednesday. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio draws lawsuit under new Save Chick-fil-A lawHowever, the Fourth Court of Appeals ruled the activists had no standing to sue the city and reversing a lower court decision. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics.

AUSTIN, Texas The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking for the publics help in finding 10 people suspected of committing crimes during protests that led to rioting at the Texas State Capitol on May 30. According to a news release, the 10 unidentified individuals are wanted on misdemeanor and/or felony charges, including riot, criminal mischief (vandalism), assault on a public servant, attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer and interfering with public duties. For more information on the wanted suspects, please visit the DPS website. To be eligible for the cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to authorities by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or by submitting a tip online. All tips are anonymous regardless of how they are submitted and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name.

Texas hair and nail salons, barber shops and tanning salons will be allowed to reopen to customers with modifications starting this Friday, Gov. He said that hair and tanning salons that reopen this Friday must also maintain six feet between customers. He said there isn't a plan yet to reopen the state's bars while following proper social distancing guidelines. There are currently 1,888 people in the state's hospitals with Covid-19, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. The coronavirus has infected more than 33,400 in Texas, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Texas will lift its most stringent statewide coronavirus restrictions this week and allow some businesses to reopen with safety precautions as the state's infection rate decelerates, Gov. Abbott will allow the current statewide stay-at-home order to expire on April 30, he said, adding that businesses will reopen in phases beginning May 1. Churches and religious sites were never closed under Texas' original restrictions, Abbott said, but under the new order they will be allowed to increase capacity. White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Deborah Birx said Texas' reopening plan "was great," according to Abbott. "We are Texans," Abbott said.

Harvard University researchers said last week that nationwide testing must triple from about 146,000 a day to 500,000-700,000 a day in order for social distancing and closures to be relaxed by mid-May. Public health experts say spread of the virus has not yet peaked in San Antonio and that social distancing and closures must continue until the outbreak curve flattens. Any disagreement among the state and local task forces could lead to public confusion and conflict over who has the ultimate authority in issuing orders. Hundreds gather at the Texas State Capitol in a You Cant Close America rally on Saturday. Broad community support for social distancing, for wearing masks in public, and for staying home except for essential outings and work is key to defeating the viral spread quickly.