Texas Tribune Brief

Andrew White is picking up some momentum in the crowded Democratic primary for governor, separating himself from arguably his closest competition, Lupe Valdez. Plus, one member of the Texas House faces thousands of dollars in fines for campaign finance violations. And another House member has Gov. Greg Abbott working against their re-election campaign.

Republican leaders said over the course of the week that the memo must be released as a matter of protecting American citizens' civil liberties and for government transparency.

A six-year-old Texan on Thursday became the first person in the state to receive a legal delivery of medical cannabis — more than two years after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law legalizing the sale of a specific kind of cannabis oil to Texans with intractable epilepsy.

State lawmakers heard hours of testimony from students, advocates and representatives of Texas universities about their free-speech policies on campus.

In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump tells natural disaster victims, "We are with you." Plus, Texas Rangers to investigate famed Karolyi Ranch in wake of Larry Nassar sexual abuse trial.

U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra ruled Monday afternoon that Texas cannot move forward with the rule, citing that the Texas Department of State Health Services’ arguments “lack merit.” Plus, El Paso Congressman Beto O'Rourke outraised U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in the last three months of 2017.

The State Republican Executive Committee voted to censure Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, on Saturday, dinging the outgoing state leader for standing in the way of the party leadership group's priorities. Plus, the Texas congressman challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in 2018 says he had his biggest fundraising quarter so far. And Feb. 5 is the deadline to register to vote in Texas' Mar. 6 primary.

In an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that if the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program still exists in June, his office would consider filing suit to eliminate the program. Plus, two smugglers tell Tribune Reporter Jay Root that even if President Donald Trump, it won't stop human smuggling or drugs from getting into the country.

Cecile Richards, the long-serving president of the women's health organization Planned Parenthood, will step down from her role, Buzzfeed reported Wednesday. Plus, a poll commissioned by the left-leaning group End Citizens United, puts Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz within single digits of his top Democratic opponent, Congressman Beto O’Rourke. And Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller will debate his top Republican primary challenger, Trey Blocker, next month in Tyler.

After nearly three months of growth, the first and only state-licensed medical cannabis cultivator and dispensary has harvested its first crop. Plus, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, says he's confident Congress can reach a deal to address the hundreds of thousands undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. And five months after Hurricane Harvey dumped devastating rains, parts of the state are in a drought.