Protests

Lawmakers also approved direct pay for student athletes and sought better pathways from college to the workforce.

Thousands of people gathered at the Capitol for one of the thousands of demonstrations that took place across the country Saturday.

Many residents without legal status are staying away from anti-ICE protests because they don't feel safe. More demonstrations are planned for the weekend.

While protests in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas remained mostly peaceful, tensions flared in Austin on Monday evening.

Nearly 30 people sued the city over the Austin Police Department's use of so-called less-lethal ammunition five years ago.

In one case, the university had pushed to delete records related to an arrest. In another, the university was accused of hiding communications on encrypted apps.

Community members said they were decided to join the protests because of the Trump administration's stance on LGBTQ+ issues and cuts to federal grants that have had local effects.

The four plaintiffs, two of whom are recent graduates and two who are current students, allege UT Austin violated their First Amendment rights. They also state in the federal lawsuit that they fear further retaliation for pro-Palestinian activism.

Two of the state’s most powerful university systems, the University of Texas and Texas A&M, have led efforts to censor drag performances on public college campuses.

The lawyer for a protester arrested at a pro-Israel event argues UT officials actively hid communications about the case by using apps that can delete messages.