State of Texas

A contentious vote ends a months-long battle that divided Texas lawmakers. In the end, Lubbock Republican Dustin Burrows won the vote for House Speaker. But some of his opponents believe the fight is not over. Dylan McKim looks at why the vote could come with fallout for supporters of Burrows. School choice will be one part of the debate over education this session. But larger funding issues are a...

The start of the session will bring a resolution in a contentious battle for power inside the Texas House of Representatives. As members prepare to choose a Speaker, they're facing new pressure from outside the chamber. We look at how the Attorney General is working to influence the decision and how the outcome could shape what gets passed this session. From education savings accounts to property...

The terror attack in New Orleans raises questions about barriers that could have saved lives, but were missing that deadly day. We've been reporting on efforts in Texas to get more safety bollards in place. Investigator Kelly Wiley looks at the work underway now to protect the public. A tribute to Jimmy Carter's legacy of service is taking shape in Austin, through a plan to build dozens of afforda...

We are just weeks away from the start of the next legislative session. At the top of the list for lawmakers is what Governor Abbott calls school choice, or letting parents use public funds to pay for private education. This week, we dig deeper into the debate. We speak to the lawmaker who wrote the bill in the last legislative session, and look at why he's looking to expand the proposal this time...

Governor Abbott launches a new campaign to stop illegal migration into Texas, warning about the risk for women and children. Dylan McKim looks at how the new plan aims to send a message that reaches far beyond the border. A Texas teacher leaves the profession after a scary moment in the classroom. Her story calls attention to a rise in reports of assaults on Texas school employees. Our ongoing inv...

Two Republicans, David Cook and Dustin Burrows are vying to become Speaker of the Texas House, and after a series of votes last weekend, both of them are declaring victory. We take a closer look at the unresolved battle. Dylan interviews Abraham George, Chair of the Republican Party of Texas, about the pressure the party is putting on members to support Cook. Plus, he speaks with House Democratic...

A deadly crash into an Austin emergency room sparks local, state and federal action to protect people at hospitals. Our team tracked hundreds of similar crashes across the country, including many here in Texas. Now, our questions, and one family's frightening experience, are prompting more policymakers to consider ways to "Prevent Disaster." State of Texas is a statewide, in-depth program focused...

This special edition of State of Texas highlights our latest investigative project -- "A Hanging on Backbone Creek." As Texas' population grows, critics point to the need for more medical examiners in death investigations, instead of the state relying so heavily on its current process in most counties. That process involves an elected justice of the peace — already assigned many court-related duti...

Texas makes a major offer to help the incoming Trump Administration's plans for mass deportations. Sandra Sanchez from Border Report joins us for insight into how land in south Texas could boost the plan. Ryan Chandler reports on how border security measures are ramping up along the Rio Grande, even as illegal crossings slow down. State education leaders approve new materials that faced criticism...

Lawmakers filed a record number of bills on the first day of filing for the next legislative session. But a big question remains: who will lead the Texas House. Former Governor Rick Perry is working to help Dade Phelan keep the gavel. Ryan Chandler speaks with Perry about why he's weighing in and making the case for bipartisan cooperation at the Capitol. House lawmakers pushed to block a Death Row...

Republicans dominate on election night, and the results bring a big boost for plans to allow public funding for private schools. We look at the potential path for Governor Abbott's Education Savings Account plan after Tuesday's vote. Historic gains for Texas Republicans brings fallout for Texas Democrats. We dig deeper into the changes happening now after losses in traditional blue strongholds. We...

A Texas woman dies after pregnancy complications. Her doctors blame the state's abortion ban for preventing them from giving live-saving care. The story now an issue in the race for Senate, highlighting the divide between Ted Cruz and Colin Allred on the Texas abortion ban. While the race for Senate is getting a lot of attention, voters in different parts of the state face important decisions at t...

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the areas where international bridges were permitted. Texas is not a battleground state. So what brought both Presidential candidates here in the crucial crunch time of the campaign? We dig deeper into what's driving the push to reach voters in the Lone Star State as we move closer to election day. Texas voters could decide who controls Congres...

An unprecedented move by state lawmakers leads the Texas Supreme Court to halt the execution of Robert Roberson. We interview State Rep. John Bucy, who was outside the Huntsville prison as the court battle played out. And we look closer at the legal back and forth with a man's life on the line and how it's bringing a death row inmate to testify at the Capitol. Governor Abbott touted how the state...

High stakes in the upcoming election is driving a surge of campaign donations. Josh brings in Ryan Chandler and Jasper Scherer to highlight a few key races in Texas that could have an impact in the state, and beyond. A Texas law targets criminals who create counterfeit vehicle tags to cover up crimes. But a powerful group is pushing back at the Capitol. Investigator Matt Grant shows us why the new...

Some of the most progressive figures in American politics come to Texas, hoping to sway voters. We sit down with Senator Bernie Sanders, and find out why he sees opportunity for progressives in a state that has been reliably red for nearly three decades. A tentative deal stopped the port strike that fueled a surge of panic buying. We look at the unresolved issue that could still cause problems at...

In the race for U.S. Senate, polls show a Colin Allred closing in on Ted Cruz. We dig deeper into the numbers, and look at the new campaign cash flooding into this crucial race. Neither presidential campaign is making an earnest effort to win Texas, and least not our votes. But the campaigns are hoping that dollars from Texas will make a difference in November. Ryan Chandler reports on the rush fo...

School threats across Texas - Just weeks into the school year, school districts across Texas are responding to numerous threats of violence from students and outsiders alike. Nabil Remadna explains what penalties students could face if they threaten a school. A Cell phone ban in Texas Schools - The idea of banning cellphones in Texas public schools received a big endorsement from the state’s top e...

It's a new version of an old problem – a growing threat of a government shutdown. We hear from two Texas Congressmen on opposite sides of the fight to keep the government running, to look closer at why it's happening again and what could come next. Abortion. Immigration. Energy policy. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris laid out contrasting ideas on the debate stage. We take an in-depth look at how th...

Just days before the big presidential debate, a pair of polls shows the race getting tighter in Texas. We look at what's driving the numbers, and what the polls have to say about the high-profile race for Senate. The longest-serving governor in Texas history is back in the spotlight at the Capitol. We look at what Rick Perry is doing to help Dade Phelan hold on to power, and why the race for Texas...

The state ramps up efforts to investigate election fraud and clean up registration rolls. That's raising concern about a chilling effect on voters. We look closer at what you need to know to make sure your vote counts in November. Texas leads the country in home building permits. So why is it getting harder to afford a home here? State Comptroller Glenn Hegar joins Josh to talk about his new repor...

As Democrats nominate Kamala Harris at their convention, new polling suggests the race is tightening in Texas. A new rule blocks Texans from changing the gender on their driver's license. We look into what's behind the order that tightens restrictions on transgender Texans. As students return to class, some school districts face a budget crisis - and tough choices over what to cut. Our special rep...

As students across Texas go back to school, lawmakers head to the Capitol to do some studying of their own - weighing plans to let parents use public money to pay for private school. We look at how lessons from smaller states could bring big changes for schools in Texas. A court order releases hours of video and audio, highlighting the response to the Uvalde School Shooting. We go in-depth with a...

Ranger Reinstated 2 years after Uvalde - After previous plans for termination, the Texas Department of Public Safety has reinstated a Texas Ranger who was suspended for more than a year over his response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde. Monica Madden gives us insight on the initial suspension and why he was reinstated after 2 years. Recruiting Texas Medical Workers - New Mexico’s...

Biden in Austin - President Joe Biden commemorated the 60th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin Monday, calling for major reforms to the justice system as his solution for preserving those liberties. Matt Grant breaks down what those reforms look like and the chances it will get through Congress. Texas Prison Heat - Inmate advocates asked...