Lila Wranglers warm up for Inauguration Day by performing for Ted Cruz

But the boot-wearers weren't a group of slick-talking lobbyists meeting with a congressman or a cadre of local politicians making a bold fashion statement. They were a gaggle of nearly 50 kids waiting to jump and swing for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Texas may snuff out smoking for anyone younger than 21

For a decade, the concept has been a pipe dream of Democrats and doctors bent on finding ways to keep Texans, especially kids, from picking up the habit. But this year it has backing from some powerful Republicans whose support could mean Texas will become just the third state to hike its smoking age above 19. "We can move this bill forward," said Rep. John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican and physician who will champion the effort in the House.

Report: Texas congressman compares Mexican singers’ influence to Russian hackers

Texas Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, apparently believes the influence of Mexican singers on the 2016 presidential campaign was similar to that of alleged interference by Russian hackers. Texas Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, apparently believes the influence of Mexican singers on the 2016 presidential campaign was similar to that of alleged interference by Russian hackers.

Senate GOP should vet Cabinet picks

Confirmation hearings begin this week for many of President-elect Donald Trump's most important Cabinet picks - and the Republicans who lead that chamber have a tremendous responsibility to ensure that each Cabinet nominee is thoroughly challenged, even if most of them are sure to be confirmed. So far, they appear to be shirking that responsibility.

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Wind Advisory issued January 10 at 3:51AM EST expiring January 10 at 7:00PM EST in effect for: Camden, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Howell, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Morgan, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Shannon, Taney, Texas, Webster, Wright Wind Advisory issued January 10 at 1:05AM EST expiring January 10 at 10:00AM EST in effect for: Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, Stone, Vernon Wind Advisory issued January 10 at 3:51AM EST expiring January 10 at 1:00PM EST in effect for: Benton, Hickory, Saint Clair Springfield Public Schools: Gavin Devic is a Parkview student who was suspended from school and lost his A+ scholarship because he was riding in a car with a friend who started smoking pot.

China slams Tsai meeting with US Senator Ted Cruz

China said Monday it "firmly opposed" a meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen and Senator Ted Cruz, as a state-run newspaper warned of "revenge" against President-elect Donald Trump should he abandon the One China policy. Tsai met Cruz in Houston over the weekend, the Republican from Texas said in a statement, with the two discussing arms sales, diplomatic exchanges and economic relations.

Tribune Conversation with U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke D-El Paso on November 4, 2016

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke said Thursday he is all but certain to make a run for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz 's seat in 2018. "I've had the chance to talk to a lot of people around the state of Texas over the last six weeks, and I will tell you, I'm very encouraged," he told The Texas Tribune on Thursday in an interview.

Central Texas rancher challenges some habitat protections

Walk quickly by and you might miss the coffin-sized fissure on John Yearwood's sprawling Williamson County ranch, now ground zero in the newest effort to gut the Endangered Species Act. The Austin American-Statesman reports the small limestone cave is home, maybe, to a seldom-seen, spider-like creature with a scary-movie name: the Bone Cave harvestman.

Motion filed to compel redistricting ruling

The major plaintiffs challenging the Texas congressional and State House boundaries filed a joint motion earlier today to compel the three-judge federal district court in San Antonio to finally issue a decision on their claims that the Texas maps adopted in 2011 are discriminatory in violation of the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. The motion can be viewed and downloaded here.

Bill and Hillary Clinton to attend Trump inauguration

Several NAACP protesters led by their national president were escorted away in handcuffs by police after staging a sit-in Tuesday at the Alabama office of Sen. Jeff Sessions, the nominee for U.S. attorney general,... Several NAACP protesters led by their national president were escorted away in handcuffs by police after staging a sit-in Tuesday at the Alabama office of Sen. Jeff Sessions, the nominee for U.S. attorney general, the... President-elect Donald Trump says Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel should ask for federal help if he isn't able to bring down a homicide count that soared last year to 762 - the most killings in nearly two decades... President-elect Donald Trump says Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel should ask for federal help if he isn't able to bring down a homicide count that soared last year to 762 - the most killings in nearly two decades and more... Cleveland officials searching ... (more)

Climate Campaigners Announce New Major Mobilization to Resist Trump

Renewing the vision of the 2014 People's Climate March in New York City, campaigners hope "to show that our movement is just as ready to fight Trump's racism and hatred as we are the fossil fuel industry that's poisoning our future." Not willing to sit idle as Donald Trump and his cabinet take office and roll out an avowedly pro-fossil fuel , anti-regulation agenda , campaigners are preparing for a multi-faceted affront to the new administration.

The Congressman Who Helped Gut the Ethics Office Was Once Sued for Sexual Harassment

On Monday, news broke that House Republicans voted privately to gut an independent ethics office that was established to hold members accountable for things like bribery, fraud, and conflicts of interest. They approved a measure that would put the Office of Congressional Ethics - a six-person board of private citizens - under the control of the House Ethics Committee, which is made up of sitting members of the House of Representatives.

White births, migration explain why Texas remains a red state

Erika Jaramillo, center, and others hold signs supporting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a Democratic National Convention watch party in San Antonio on July 26. In Texas, where 39 percent of the population is Hispanic, Democrats have been shut out of statewide elections for decades. That is likely to occur for decades to come if the statistic bear out.

Trump adopting same behavior he criticized Clinton for

In this Dec. 13, 2016, file photo, President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center in West Allis, Wis. Trump is embracing some of his top attacks on Hillary Clinton as he forms his new administration, engaging in some of the same behavior he used against his rival during the presidential campaign.

Trump exhibiting Clinton-like behavior as president-elect

From installing Wall Street executives in his Cabinet to avoiding news conferences, the president-elect is adopting some of the same behavior for which he criticized Clinton during their fiery presidential campaign. Then : "I know the guys at Goldman Sachs," Trump said at a South Carolina rally in February, when he was locked in a fierce primary battle with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.