A Democratic state lawmaker who fled Texas in protest of a GOP redistricting effort is asking a court to let her exit the Capitol, after she was told she needs a police escort to leave the building.

After Democrats returned to the Texas statehouse, Republican leadership assigned law enforcement officers to monitor them to prevent further delays to their plan to redraw congressional voting districts to favor Republicans ahead of the election.

Parts of the Texas Capitol grounds were evacuated and closed to visitors on Tuesday evening after reports of an active shooter threat.The building itself was s

Texas Republicans mandated that Democratic lawmakers not be allowed to leave the state house without a permission slip and a police escort.

The grounds were cleared after 7 p.m. as a demonstration was about to begin but lawmakers and staff members were allowed to remain inside the Capitol.

An active shooter threat at the State Capitol Tuesday pushed a protest in solidarity with Rep. Nicole Collier out along the street.