Stephen Simpson, Author at The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/author/stephen-simpson/ Independent news. Trusted by Texans. Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:45:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cropped-cropped-texas-tribune-favicon-32x32.png Stephen Simpson, Author at The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/author/stephen-simpson/ 32 32 249301168 At least 175 measles cases reported in Texas this year, most of them in West Texas Detention Facility https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/02/texas-measles-hudspeth-el-paso-federal-detention-immigration/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:45:27 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=225682 Signs let people know that measles vaccines are available at the old City Hall in Andrews on March 6, 2025.

Texas has added 28 more measles cases in the last two weeks. Most infections so far this year have occurred inside West Texas Detention Facility in Hudspeth County.

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Texas’ ban on smokeable hemp cannabis is in effect. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/24/texas-hemp-thc-smokeable-flower-joints-regulations/ Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=224673

New rules from state health officials ban smokeable intoxicating hemp products, including pre-rolled joints and hemp flower.

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Texas will launch its own clinical trials into ibogaine psychedelic after failing to find a drug company to help https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/31/texas-ibogaine-research-clinical-trials-psychedelics/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:34:12 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=225420 Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speak at a press conference in Kerrville on July 31, 2025.

The Legislature last year approved $50 million to research the psychedelic and find a company to develop it into a drug for FDA approval.

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“Don’t take me to the hospital”: Undocumented immigrants in Texas are delaying medical care https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/30/texas-undocumented-immigrants-health-care-hospitals/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=225140 A 54-year-old woman from Edinburg holds her hands as she poses for a photo at her home in the Rio Grande Valley on March 18, 2026. After suffering a bad fall in October, she refused to go to the hospital over fears she could be deported.

Since Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas hospitals to start asking patients for their citizenship status in November 2024, reported visits by undocumented immigrants have dropped.

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Long lines linger at Houston’s biggest airport as TSA agents miss work during partial government shutdown https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/27/texas-houston-airport-tsa-staffing-delays-lines/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=225068 Travelers wait for hours in long TSA lines at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on March 25, 2026.

Wait times at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are expected to worsen over the weekend as agents miss a second paycheck and increasingly call in sick.

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Measles spike in federal detention facility reaches the Texas public, records show https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/26/texas-measles-el-paso-federal-detention-center-public-community-infections/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=224944 Construction equipment and cars are parked outside of the Camp East Montana, an immigration detention facility, at Fort Bliss in El Paso on Sept. 7, 2025.

Most of the state’s measles cases reported so far this year are inside the West Texas Detention Facility in Hudspeth County, where four infected El Paso residents worked.

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Texas suburbs lead U.S. for population growth as international migration slows, census finds https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/26/texas-population-census-migration-waller-county/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=224936 The sun sets behind downtown Nov. 9, 2025, in Houston. Waller County, just northeast of Houston, was the fastest-growing county in the state and the second-fastest-growing county in the country between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025.

Waller County, near Houston, was the second fastest growing county in the U.S. Another three Texas counties were among the 10 fastest growing in U.S.

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Court approves new manager for Dallas-area foster care program after deaths of 2 infants https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/18/texas-foster-care-empower-receivership/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:46:47 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=224388 The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services logo found in a poster in the Child Protective Services office in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.

An experienced child welfare manager was appointed to take over case management after “systemic failures” placed children in danger, court records said.

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Texas hemp businesses fear an uptick in police raids after more than 15 in the last two years https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/09/texas-cannabis-hemp-thc-police-raids/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=223036 Ernesto Garcia-Dealba checks on a hemp plant before harvest at Hometown Hero's farm in San Antonio on October 17, 2025.

Attorneys for hemp businesses say the raids have hurt their revenue and reputation, while police said they’re necessary to root out products with illegal levels of THC.

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DA won’t refer police who killed Austin shooter to grand jury https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/03/texas-austin-shooting-police-grand-jury/ Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:26:38 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=222514 FBI and law enforcement collect evidence at the scene of a fatal shooting that left four dead, including the shooter, and wounded at least 13 others in downtown Austin on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Travis County District Attorney José Garza faced intense criticism over a policy that would have sent the officers before a grand jury, before he said his office would not seek charges against “heroes.”

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