2021 Texas Legislature special session to start July 8

Gov. Greg Abbott said the special session will begin July 8, with the topics to be announced at a later date.

FOX 7 Discussion: Firearms instructors pushing gun education, safety

Raul Camacho, founder of Professional Firearms Instructors of Texas, talks about how firearms instructors are pushing the importance of gun safety.

Abbott vetoes bill protecting dogs left outside in harsh conditions

Abbott vetoed the "Safe Outdoor Dogs Act" that would protect dogs left outside by their owners in dangerous conditions, claiming the state doesn't need the bill.

FOX 7 Discussion: Abbott vetoes part of budget that funds Legislature

Brian Ruddle and Glenn Smith join Mike Warren to talk about how Abbott has vetoed the part of the state budget bill that would fund the Legislature.

Gov. Abbott vetoes bipartisan bill aimed at expanding Texas animal cruelty rules

Senate Bill 474, or the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, would have prohibited the use of heavy chains to restrain a dog. Owners would’ve been punished for leaving dogs without drinkable water or adequate shelter. But once it reached Gov. Abbott's desk, he vetoed it.

Beto O'Rourke holds voting rights rally at Texas Capitol

The Austin rally will serve as the last stop on Powered by People's "Texas Drive for Democracy" campaign, in which O'Rourke visited 18 other Texas towns and cities

FOX 7 Discussion: The state of Texas's power grid

Ed Hirs, energy fellow at the University of Houston, joins Mike Warren and Rebecca Thomas to talk about Texas's power grid.

Austinites react to President Biden signing Juneteenth Act

Juneteenth has been celebrated for years on June 19 - the day that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston to deliver an order officially ending slavery in Texas.

Moms Demand Action protesting Governor Abbott's permitless carry bill

Moms Demand Action host #AbbottFailedTexas protests across the state against HB 1927, a permitless carry legislation eligible for Abbott's signature.

Gov. Abbott announces plans for border wall, says Texas will fund $250M of it

Gov. Greg Abbott announced plans to build a border wall in Texas, pledging a quarter of a billion dollars from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice budget to get started.

Texans can carry handguns without a license or training starting Sept. 1

Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Republicans who were initially noncommittal about the bill were under immense political pressure this session from conservatives and gun rights advocates, who have long lobbied the Texas Legislature for permitless carry.

Texans demand Gov. Abbott include energy in upcoming legislation

Texans for Fair Energy Billing urge Gov. Abbott to make energy a topic of discussion during the upcoming special session as energy grids go offline.

VP Kamala Harris meets with Texas legislators to discuss voting

The meeting follows the May walkout by Texas House of Representatives Democrats on the last day of the Texas legislative session which prevented the passage of Senate Bill 7.

Children sleeping in CPS offices prohibited under new Texas law

Hundreds of kids in state custody in Texas have been bunking in CPS offices for months. New legislation just signed by the governor prohibits that. The question is, where will those kids go?

FOX 7 Discussion: Impact of Texas Legislature on healthcare industry

Cindy Zolnierek, CEO of the Texas Nurses Association, discusses how the 87th Legislature will impact the healthcare industry.

Hospital workers plan to appeal judge's decision to reject lawsuit against mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy

Houston Methodist Hospital system has suspended 178 staff members without pay, and if they don’t get vaccinated for COVID-19 by June 21st, they’ll be fired.  So far, 117 of the employees have sued to overturn the new COVID-19 vaccine requirement.