Texas Tribune Brief

Texas is among the states that has accepted the most refugees within its borders since 2002. But those numbers have dropped under the Trump administration.

Conservative activist Steve Hotze [pronounced HOHT-zee] and a number of Republican candidates and officials are asking the Texas Supreme Court to shorten the early voting period and limit drop-off locations for absentee ballots in the state’s largest Democratic county.

Last year, Williamson County sheriff's deputies held Ambler down and stunned him four times with a Taser before his body went limp. It was filmed for a police reality TV show.

No House members have declared their candidacy for speaker. Many say they have their sights set on November first as Democrats aim to flip the lower chamber.

Both of Texas' Republican U.S. senators have indicated they support moving forward with the Supreme Court confirmation process less than two months before the election.

Carrie Mansfield says while more relief from the government would be welcomed, more than anything she’s ready to get back to work. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

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The limited move, ordered by a federal judge, marks the first time Texans have been able to register to vote online.

State party chairman Allen West, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and members of the Texas Legislature were among those who filed the suit against Abbott.

In counties where four-year college students make up at least 10% of the population, cases have grown 34% since Aug. 19, according to a Texas Tribune analysis. That’s compared with 23% in counties with a smaller proportion of students.

Just days after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Republicans and Democrats are already engaged in an expensive and divisive fight over the future of the U.S. Supreme Court.