, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.House lawmakers on Thursday advanced a package of restrictive abortion bills that, if passed, could ban abortions as early as six weeks without exceptions for rape or incest, and eventually bar the procedure almost entirely.Abortion rights advocates and experts say the legislation includes some of the most extreme provisions nationwide, and seems designed to challenge the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that established a legal right to an abortion.The bills — approved by a House committee after a hearing...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.House lawmakers on Thursday advanced a package of restrictive abortion bills that, if passed, could ban abortions as early as six weeks without exceptions for rape or incest, and eventually bar the procedure almost entirely.Abortion rights advocates and experts say the legislation includes some of the most extreme provisions nationwide, and seems designed to challenge the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that established a legal right to an abortion.The bills — approved by a House committee after a hearing...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Republican Texas House Speaker threw his weight Wednesday behind a bill that would extend Medicaid coverage to mothers for a year postpartum as part of a broad package of proposals meant to increase access to affordable health care in Texas.The number of reported maternal deaths has increased nationwide in , and Texas data shows Black women in the state die disproportionately while pregnant or after delivery, from causes like infections, heart problems and mental disorders.But health experts and advocates...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Republican Texas House Speaker threw his weight Wednesday behind a bill that would extend Medicaid coverage to mothers for a year postpartum as part of a broad package of proposals meant to increase access to affordable health care in Texas.The number of reported maternal deaths has increased nationwide in , and Texas data shows Black women in the state die disproportionately while pregnant or after delivery, from causes like infections, heart problems and mental disorders.But health experts and advocates...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Republican Texas House Speaker threw his weight Wednesday behind a bill that would extend Medicaid coverage to mothers for a year postpartum as part of a broad package of proposals meant to increase access to affordable health care in Texas.The number of reported maternal deaths has increased nationwide in , and Texas data shows Black women in the state die disproportionately while pregnant or after delivery, from causes like infections, heart problems and mental disorders.But health experts and advocates...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Republican Texas House Speaker threw his weight Wednesday behind a bill that would extend Medicaid coverage to mothers for a year postpartum as part of a broad package of proposals meant to increase access to affordable health care in Texas.The number of reported maternal deaths has increased nationwide in , and Texas data shows Black women in the state die disproportionately while pregnant or after delivery, from causes like infections, heart problems and mental disorders.But health experts and advocates...WW…

The Texas Senate on Tuesday approved five bills restricting access to abortion, including a priority measure that could ban abortions before many women know they are pregnant.The measures, which abortion rights advocates call some of the most "extreme" nationwide, are among the earliest bills to be debated by the full Senate — whose presiding officer, Lt. Gov. , has given two abortion proposals top this session. The bills were passed 19-12. They must still be approved by the House before becoming law.would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, which can be as early as six...…The Texas Senate on Tuesday approved five bills restricting access to abortion, including a priority measure that could ban abortions before many women know they are pregnant.The measures, which abortion rights advocates call some of the most "extreme" nationwide, are among the earliest bills to be debated by the full Senate — whose presiding officer, Lt. Gov. , has given two abortion proposals top this session. The bills were passed 19-12. They must still be approved by the House before becoming law.would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, which can be as early as six...WW…

Twenty-one states, led by Texas and Montana, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Biden administration for revoking a permit for the long-disputed Keystone XL pipeline.The complaint, filed in a Texas federal district court by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, argues the president exceeded his authority when he canceled the pipeline’s permit after being sworn in on Jan 20. The decision should rest with Congress, according to the lawsuit.The project was supposed to move Canadian crude oil to the U.S. — and on to Texas Gulf Coast refineries. But it...…Twenty-one states, led by Texas and Montana, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Biden administration for revoking a permit for the long-disputed Keystone XL pipeline.The complaint, filed in a Texas federal district court by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, argues the president exceeded his authority when he canceled the pipeline’s permit after being sworn in on Jan 20. The decision should rest with Congress, according to the lawsuit.The project was supposed to move Canadian crude oil to the U.S. — and on to Texas Gulf Coast refineries. But it...WW…

Texas lawmakers — pushing to drastically restrict abortion access — have included language in a priority bill meant to make it harder to block the law from taking effect and easier to sue abortion providers.The provisions seem intended to reshape the legal landscape, while many federal courts stop restrictive abortion laws that have passed out of conservative statehouses.Proponents of the bill told lawmakers its “unique drafting” could make it the first of its kind that can’t be held up in the courts before it takes effect. But legal experts and abortion rights advocates say the proposals...…Texas lawmakers — pushing to drastically restrict abortion access — have included language in a priority bill meant to make it harder to block the law from taking effect and easier to sue abortion providers.The provisions seem intended to reshape the legal landscape, while many federal courts stop restrictive abortion laws that have passed out of conservative statehouses.Proponents of the bill told lawmakers its “unique drafting” could make it the first of its kind that can’t be held up in the courts before it takes effect. But legal experts and abortion rights advocates say the proposals...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Following through on a promise to prioritize anti-abortion legislation, a panel of Texas senators approved a slate of abortion restrictions Tuesday and sent them to the full chamber for consideration.Among those seven pieces of legislation was , which would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, which is before many women know they are pregnant. The bill, one of Lt. Gov. ’s priorities, has an exception for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.Another Patrick priority is , which...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Following through on a promise to prioritize anti-abortion legislation, a panel of Texas senators approved a slate of abortion restrictions Tuesday and sent them to the full chamber for consideration.Among those seven pieces of legislation was , which would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, which is before many women know they are pregnant. The bill, one of Lt. Gov. ’s priorities, has an exception for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.Another Patrick priority is , which...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Low-income patients will no longer be able to use Medicaid to get nonabortion health services at Planned Parenthood, after a Wednesday court decision said Texas can move forward with kicking the health provider out of its Medicaid program.The decision takes effect Thursday, and leaves thousands of patients with "few places to turn," Planned Parenthood said.The decision is the latest in Texas officials’ yearslong effort to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Low-income patients will no longer be able to use Medicaid to get nonabortion health services at Planned Parenthood, after a Wednesday court decision said Texas can move forward with kicking the health provider out of its Medicaid program.The decision takes effect Thursday, and leaves thousands of patients with "few places to turn," Planned Parenthood said.The decision is the latest in Texas officials’ yearslong effort to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of...WW…

Editor’s note: This is an older story that published on March 9, 2021. The legislation mentioned in this story did not pass the Texas Legislature. Abortion is legal in Texas as of May 9, 2022, but it is heavily restricted. . For breaking news updates on this story, .A Texas lawmaker has filed a bill that would abolish and criminalize abortions, leaving women and physicians who perform the procedure to face criminal charges that could carry the death penalty.The legislation, filed Tuesday by state Rep. , does not include exceptions for rape or incest. It does exempt ectopic pregnancies that...…Editor’s note: This is an older story that published on March 9, 2021. The legislation mentioned in this story did not pass the Texas Legislature. Abortion is legal in Texas as of May 9, 2022, but it is heavily restricted. . For breaking news updates on this story, .A Texas lawmaker has filed a bill that would abolish and criminalize abortions, leaving women and physicians who perform the procedure to face criminal charges that could carry the death penalty.The legislation, filed Tuesday by state Rep. , does not include exceptions for rape or incest. It does exempt ectopic pregnancies that...WW…

WEATHER ALERTTags: Sign up for our NewslettersTags: A coronavirus patient in Anahuac was flown by helicopter to a hospital in El Campo — 120 miles away — because closer facilities could not take him.Ambulances are waiting up to 10 hours to deliver patients to packed Hidalgo County emergency rooms.And short-staffed hospitals in Midland and Odessa have had to turn away ailing COVID-19 patients from rural West Texas facilities that can’t offer the care they need.As the tally of coronavirus infections climbs higher each day, Texas hospitals are taking extraordinary steps to make space...…WEATHER ALERTTags: Sign up for our NewslettersTags: A coronavirus patient in Anahuac was flown by helicopter to a hospital in El Campo — 120 miles away — because closer facilities could not take him.Ambulances are waiting up to 10 hours to deliver patients to packed Hidalgo County emergency rooms.And short-staffed hospitals in Midland and Odessa have had to turn away ailing COVID-19 patients from rural West Texas facilities that can’t offer the care they need.As the tally of coronavirus infections climbs higher each day, Texas hospitals are taking extraordinary steps to make space...WW…