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Texas Tribune
@texastribune.org
· Nov 18
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Last Christmas: An East Texas Christmas tree farm closes after 40 years, despite booming sales.
Why a Texas Christmas tree farm closed despite booming sales
Christmas tree sales are up in the Lone Star State, even as many tree farmers are aging out of the business with no successors.
www.texastribune.org
December 25, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Last Christmas: An East Texas Christmas tree farm closes after 40 years, despite booming sales.
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
Texas A&M won’t reinstate fired lecturer despite findings
A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.”
www.texastribune.org
December 24, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
A federal appeals court has ruled that the government is liable for damage to homes that flooded upstream of the Addicks and Barker dams after Hurricane Harvey unleashed more than 50 inches of rainfall on the Houston region in 2017.
Houston homeowners win Hurricane Harvey appeal against feds
The ruling came in a lawsuit from a group of homeowners and could be appealed. An estimated 14,000 homes were inside the Addicks and Barker reservoirs when Harvey dumped more than 50 inches of rain in...
www.texastribune.org
December 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
A federal appeals court has ruled that the government is liable for damage to homes that flooded upstream of the Addicks and Barker dams after Hurricane Harvey unleashed more than 50 inches of rainfall on the Houston region in 2017.
Texas comptroller GOP primary attracts big money from donors with business before the agency.
Texas comptroller GOP primary draws donors with agency ties
One candidate received about $1 million within an eight-day span from the head of a Dallas tax firm — and 72 of his employees — that helps corporations secure tax breaks under comptroller-run programs...
www.texastribune.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Texas comptroller GOP primary attracts big money from donors with business before the agency.
“Construction can’t continue”: South Texas homebuilders say ICE arrests have upended industry.
South Texas homebuilders say ICE arrests have slowed work
More than 380 people attended an impromptu meeting that industry leaders in the Rio Grande Valley hosted to draw attention to the chilling effect ICE arrests have had on construction.
www.texastribune.org
December 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM
“Construction can’t continue”: South Texas homebuilders say ICE arrests have upended industry.
The Trump administration is weighing a deal with SpaceX that would give Elon Musk’s aerospace company 775 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday.
Trump administration weighs South Texas land swap with SpaceX
Federal officials are considering swapping 775 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge with the aerospace company, according to The New York Times.
www.texastribune.org
December 24, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The Trump administration is weighing a deal with SpaceX that would give Elon Musk’s aerospace company 775 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday.
Texas National Guard’s deployment in Illinois blocked by U.S. Supreme Court.
U.S. Supreme Court blocks Texas National Guard in Illinois
Around 200 Texas National Guard troops were deployed to the Chicago area in early October, despite opposition from local and state governments in Illinois.
www.texastribune.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Texas National Guard’s deployment in Illinois blocked by U.S. Supreme Court.
Feds and Colony Ridge agree to settle predatory lending lawsuit, court records show.
Colony Ridge and feds to settle predatory lending lawsuit
The Houston-area developer came under fierce GOP scrutiny two years ago for selling land to undocumented people.
www.texastribune.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Feds and Colony Ridge agree to settle predatory lending lawsuit, court records show.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new Texas law adding restrictions on children’s use of app stores.
Texas law restricting kids from app stores blocked
Senate Bill 2420, which would have gone into effect on Jan. 1, likely violates the First Amendment, according to the ruling.
www.texastribune.org
December 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new Texas law adding restrictions on children’s use of app stores.
How can Texas’ $3B dementia research investment change lives? We’ll look at what the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas could mean for prevention, care and support for Texans. In Austin and online, Jan. 21. RSVP: trib.it/b3BZdN #TTEvents
December 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
How can Texas’ $3B dementia research investment change lives? We’ll look at what the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas could mean for prevention, care and support for Texans. In Austin and online, Jan. 21. RSVP: trib.it/b3BZdN #TTEvents
At least 10 Texas incumbents will not be returning to Congress next term, a high-water mark for turnover in the delegation.
Texas delegation turnover weakens state’s clout in Congress
At least 10 Texas incumbents will not be returning to Congress next term, a high-water mark for turnover in the delegation.
www.texastribune.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
At least 10 Texas incumbents will not be returning to Congress next term, a high-water mark for turnover in the delegation.
As ICE ramps up deportations, Texas prosecutors say they’re losing key witnesses in criminal cases.
Texas prosecutors say deportations are harming criminal cases
District attorneys in Harris, El Paso and other counties say some cases, including murders, have been hobbled or lost because witnesses were detained, deported or too scared to come to court.
www.texastribune.org
December 23, 2025 at 12:19 AM
As ICE ramps up deportations, Texas prosecutors say they’re losing key witnesses in criminal cases.
This year reaffirmed how much Texans rely on fair, fearless reporting about decisions at the Capitol that shape our daily lives. With reader support, The Texas Tribune keeps Texans informed and connected.
How The Texas Tribune served Texans in 2025.
Together we are building trust, fostering dialogue and empowering communities and individuals to take action.
www.texastribune.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:35 PM
This year reaffirmed how much Texans rely on fair, fearless reporting about decisions at the Capitol that shape our daily lives. With reader support, The Texas Tribune keeps Texans informed and connected.
Texas lawmakers from both parties oppose Trump’s order targeting state AI laws.
Texas legislators oppose Trump order to block state AI laws
Texas’ new law regulating AI is set to take effect Jan. 1, two months after Trump’s executive order threatening to cut off some federal money if states pass “onerous” AI laws.
www.texastribune.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Texas lawmakers from both parties oppose Trump’s order targeting state AI laws.
New: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and state Sen. Angela Paxton agreed to unseal records in their divorce after several media organizations, including the Texas Tribune, sued to make the records available to the public.
Angela and Ken Paxton agree to unseal divorce records
The agreement comes after a judge put the Paxtons’ records under seal, prompting The Texas Tribune and other outlets to challenge the order.
www.texastribune.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:40 AM
New: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and state Sen. Angela Paxton agreed to unseal records in their divorce after several media organizations, including the Texas Tribune, sued to make the records available to the public.
Our team talks with people across Texas every day to understand how decisions made in the Capitol are shaping their lives.
Here are just a few examples of what that looks like. 🧵
Here are just a few examples of what that looks like. 🧵
December 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Our team talks with people across Texas every day to understand how decisions made in the Capitol are shaping their lives.
Here are just a few examples of what that looks like. 🧵
Here are just a few examples of what that looks like. 🧵
Texas tracks the long-term outcomes of public school students. See how your school district compares here.
Texas school district higher education outcomes lookup
Newly-released state data tracked the long-term outcomes of public school students who enrolled a decade ago.
www.texastribune.org
December 18, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Texas tracks the long-term outcomes of public school students. See how your school district compares here.
With the next Texas flood season just months away, Kerr County officials say they’re in a race to build a long-planned flood warning system estimated to cost up to $5 million — and they’re depending on the state to contribute a large share of the cost.
Kerr County seeks state money to build flood warning system
The county where more than 100 died in July floods wants to quickly build a $5 million flood warning system.
www.texastribune.org
December 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
With the next Texas flood season just months away, Kerr County officials say they’re in a race to build a long-planned flood warning system estimated to cost up to $5 million — and they’re depending on the state to contribute a large share of the cost.
Health providers and faculty members fear students will no longer understand the nuances of caring for transgender people, who tend to have higher rates of certain mental and physical health conditions.
How cutting trans medical training could hurt Texas patients
Health providers and faculty members fear students will no longer understand the nuances of caring for transgender people, who tend to have higher rates of certain mental and physical health condition...
www.texastribune.org
December 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Health providers and faculty members fear students will no longer understand the nuances of caring for transgender people, who tend to have higher rates of certain mental and physical health conditions.
Ken Paxton’s office launches tip line to encourage enforcement of Texas’ “bathroom bill”
Ken Paxton opens tip line to encourage “bathroom bill” enforcement
The attorney general's complaint form is the latest effort to enforce new state restrictions on which restrooms transgender people can use in public buildings.
www.texastribune.org
December 18, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Ken Paxton’s office launches tip line to encourage enforcement of Texas’ “bathroom bill”
Texas launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week over the agency’s approval of mifepristone.
Mifepristone, when used with misoprostol, is the most common way Americans end their pregnancies. Studies have also shown the drug to be safe and effective.
Mifepristone, when used with misoprostol, is the most common way Americans end their pregnancies. Studies have also shown the drug to be safe and effective.
Texas, Florida sue FDA over abortion pill approval
Seeking to pull mifepristone from the drug market, the states argued that the FDA did not properly evaluate the pill’s safety and effectiveness.
www.texastribune.org
December 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Texas launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week over the agency’s approval of mifepristone.
Mifepristone, when used with misoprostol, is the most common way Americans end their pregnancies. Studies have also shown the drug to be safe and effective.
Mifepristone, when used with misoprostol, is the most common way Americans end their pregnancies. Studies have also shown the drug to be safe and effective.
Texas' top Democratic groups and politicians recruited 104 candidates to fill every congressional, state House and state Senate seat up for election in 2026.
Texas Democrats fill up every state and federal race in 2026
Texas Majority PAC and the Texas Democratic Party recruited 104 candidates to fill uncontested races. Gov. Greg Abbott’s strategist said it amounts to a gimmick “if they don’t back it up with serious ...
www.texastribune.org
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Texas' top Democratic groups and politicians recruited 104 candidates to fill every congressional, state House and state Senate seat up for election in 2026.
Months after public health officials say they caused the nation’s largest measles surge in 30 years, some West Texas Mennonites have grown more skeptical of the mainstream medical system.
Texas measles outbreak hardened Mennonites against vaccines
Months after public health officials say they caused the nation’s largest measles surge in 30 years, some West Texas Mennonites have grown more skeptical of the mainstream medical system.
www.texastribune.org
December 17, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Months after public health officials say they caused the nation’s largest measles surge in 30 years, some West Texas Mennonites have grown more skeptical of the mainstream medical system.
When the Trump administration halted immigration applications for people from 19 countries on a federal travel ban list in late November, it sent a fresh wave of upheaval and fear across Texas, according to experts, attorneys and families who spoke with The Texas Tribune.
Trump immigration policy upends lives of Texas migrants
Last month the Trump administration made people from 19 nations ineligible to obtain legal status. “Fear won,” said one woman who came from Venezuela nearly a decade ago.
www.texastribune.org
December 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
When the Trump administration halted immigration applications for people from 19 countries on a federal travel ban list in late November, it sent a fresh wave of upheaval and fear across Texas, according to experts, attorneys and families who spoke with The Texas Tribune.
In North Texas, game of musical chairs culminates in primary between Democrats Colin Allred and Julie Johnson.
Colin Allred, Julie Johnson vie for same congressional seat
The primary between predecessor and successor arose from a combination of redistricting and the entry of Rep. Jasmine Crockett into the U.S. Senate race, which prompted Allred to drop out.
www.texastribune.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
In North Texas, game of musical chairs culminates in primary between Democrats Colin Allred and Julie Johnson.