The Latest Breaking News from Royce West

The major contenders in the 2024 Senate race are using the dog days of summer to bolster their campaigns for what’s billed as Texas’ marquee statewide contest.

DALLAS — In a 83-62 vote, the Texas House passed a bill Monday to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs from the state’s public colleges and universities.

Both chambers have said school safety is a priority this session after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school last year.

Would college sports be impacted by a Texas Senate proposal to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education?

The legislation heads to the Texas House, where members have been more muted about the proposal to disband offices, programs and training that foster diversity.

There are $5 billion and several political wedges standing between the House and Senate plans, which now move into conference committee with less than five weeks before session ends.

Cutting sales taxes hasn’t grabbed the attention of Texas legislators looking at a record state surplus. But there are a couple of small consolation prizes in the works for consumers.

The proposal for the 2024-25 budget cycle includes $142.1 billion in general revenue spending — about $5 billion higher than the proposal approved last week by the Texas House — at a time when lawmakers have a historic $32.7 billion surplus at their disposal this session.

Critics say Senate Bill 16 is overly vague and will create a chilling effect that will prevent important conversations about race and gender. But Republican supporters say the legislation is necessary to protect conservative students who are self-censoring in the classroom.

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to two bills that would restrict, and at times criminalize, drag shows and anything else deemed a “sexually oriented performance.”

A Texas woman who helped make Juneteenth a federal holiday has become the second Black Texan honored with a portrait on the walls of the state’s Senate chamber