The Texas House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to ban Democrats from holding powerful committee chairmanships, answering years of mounting pressure from leadership and grassroots conservatives to chip ...

While new House rules prevent Democrats from leading committees, it increases the power of the vice-chair position which will still give Democrats some say in legislation.

If you get a letter from your appraisal district asking you to verify your homestead exemption, don't ignore it. Those who don't respond could end up losing their exemption and paying more in taxes.