The Latest Breaking News from Erin Zwiener

Tensions flared and the debate turned personal as Republicans said their bill empowered parents and denied predictions that the ban will endanger children.

The bill would bar those under 18 from checking out books with sexually explicit material without parental permission.

The bill, recently signed by Gov. Greg Abbott and set to take effect Sept. 1, does not restrict pandemic rules by private entities.

The Texas Legislature has nine lawmakers who are openly LGBTQ, all Democrats. At the same time, some Republican lawmakers are pushing a slate of bills aimed at drag queens, transgender children and how sexuality is discussed in schools.

Experts say local governments should prioritize extreme weather preparedness. Cost can be a deterring factor.

The Texas Tribune spoke to Texans across the political spectrum and asked them to make their case for why voting matters this year. The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 11. Early voting runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4.

Mexico decriminalized abortion in September – nine months before the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Now Mexican activists, who for years looked to the US as a beacon of abortion rights, are helping their northern neighbours in a stark turnaround of fortunes, writes Sheila Flynn

Advocates and politicians say they hope Texas’ ban on abortion will motivate voters. But they say they’ll need to emulate the strategies of the anti-abortion movement to reach long-term success.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court’s decision to reverse long-standing precedent under Roe v. Wade will fuel lawmakers, state officials and the Biden administration as they race to reshape abortion laws nationwide, though the onus now will largely be on the states.