State House appproves voting bill

Texas Republicans advanced new voting restrictions Thursday night after months of protests by Democrats, who after returning from a 38-day walkout are now all but out of ways to stop a bill that includes a ban on drive-thru voting and would empower poll watchers. Gov. Greg Abbott says he will sign the measure. The blow to state Democrats comes days after the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation bolstering the federal Voting Rights Act.