State

State Sen. Charles Schwertner’s lawyers released a statement Wednesday saying the information provided to the press by three UT officials about a current sexual harassment investigation violates state and federal laws, and the University should make an official statement relieving him of these allegations.

Universal background checks, better mental health care and gun control legislation are among the various ways politicians and mass shooting survivors have proposed to reduce gun violence in America. Three panels at the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday sought to tackle issues surrounding gun control. Two addressed preventative measures with legislative action, and one told the stories of those who have already been affected by excessive gun violence.

Politicians from cities all over Texas discussed state and city funding dilemmas and public transportation alternatives at the Texas Tribune Festival this weekend as part of their Texas 2050 series.

Equal gender representation lags behind in state government. Only two women sit on the nine-member Texas Supreme Court, only three of the 10 major universities in Texas are led by women and women only hold a fifth of the seats in the Texas Legislature, according to Texas Tribune reporter Alexa Ura.