The law, written by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, requires homeowners to disclose if their properties lie in a flood-prone area or have flooded before. It’s an effort to expand notification after many homes unexpectedly flooded during Hurricane Harvey.
Lara Korte
Lara Korte was a 2019 reporting fellow at The Texas Tribune. A Kansas native, she graduated from the University of Kansas in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science. Lara has reported on politics and local news for The Wichita Eagle, The Kansas City Star, The Wall Street Journal and The Cincinnati Enquirer, where she worked on the Pulitzer Prize-winning piece “Seven Days of Heroin.” In 2017, she traveled to Rabat, Morocco where she wrote about the country’s shrinking press freedoms. Lara is passionate about the First Amendment, open records, and her cat, Duckie.
Posted in
New Texas Laws 2019
Plastic bags are killing horses and cows across the state. What’s Texas to do?
A year after the Texas Supreme Court dealt a death blow to municipal bans on plastic bags, legislative efforts to revive them have fallen flat, and ranchers, city leaders and environmental groups say plastic bag litter is as big a problem as ever.
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New Texas Laws 2019
Texans get ready for beer to go and booze delivery
Two new laws will free up alcohol access in Texas starting Sept. 1. Certain breweries will now be allowed to sell their suds to go, and more restaurants will be able to deliver beer and wine to customers.
Posted in
El Paso shooting
In honor of El Paso victims, dozens line up to donate blood at Texas Capitol
Organizers had to bring in a second mobile station to deal with the high number of people wanting to donate blood. By the end of the drive, over 110 people had donated.
Posted in
Demographics
Trump proposal could end food stamp benefits for 125,000 Texans, experts say
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday it was proposing a new requirement for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The rule, which limits states’ flexibility to set eligibility standards, could cut off thousands of Texans.
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Politics
Houston congresswoman said undocumented immigrants could seek shelter in churches during announced ICE raids
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, gathered with faith leaders Saturday to announce they would offer their facilities as places of refuge for immigrants during the deportation raids set to happen this weekend.
Posted in
Broken Border
A judge ordered the end of migrant family separations last year. But a report says 30 kids remain in custody without their parents.
The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform issued subpoenas earlier this year after the federal agencies overseeing immigration policy refused to provide information voluntarily.
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Broken Border
“The federal government has really dropped the ball”: Texas lawmakers express concern about conditions for migrants in U.S. custody
Two Texas House committees met for hours to discuss the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. And some Democratic lawmakers said the state has a responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance. But what options they have remained unclear.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas is trying to limit public money from going to abortion providers. Some fear other health services could get cut.
Starting in September, government agencies will no longer be able to provide anything of value to abortion providers or their affiliates. Opponents of the law fear it could mean the end of some public health and education programs across the state.
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Broken Border
Feds plan mass migrant deportation operation in Houston this weekend: What you need to know
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement is targeting over 2,000 undocumented immigrants with the goal of deporting them. The operation will hit several major U.S. cities, including Houston, where thousands of migrants have been issued deportation orders this year.