Past Contributions

• Texas Republicans have the redistricting tools to preserve their power. Here's how they can do it.

  By Alexa Ura and Jason Kao Sept. 20, 2021

  Lawmakers must redraw the state’s political maps to account for a decade’s worth of growth, but the process leaves enough room for political manipulation. Here’s how it’ll work. Full Story 

• Texas’ controversial new social studies law prompts McKinney school officials to cancel Youth and Government class

  By Jason Kao Aug. 17, 2021

  One of the Republican authors of the so-called critical race theory bill said the district is misinterpreting the new law’s ban on political activism. A school official called the language “vague.” Full Story 

• People of color make up 95% of Texas’ population growth, and cities and suburbs are booming, 2020 census shows

  By Alexa Ura, Jason Kao, Carla Astudillo and Chris Essig Aug. 12, 2021

  The state’s Hispanic population is now nearly as large as the non-Hispanic white population, with Texas gaining nearly 11 Hispanic residents for every additional white resident since 2010. Those trends set up a pitched battle for political control when state lawmakers redraw legislative districts. Full Story 

• Texas teachers say GOP’s new social studies law will hinder how an entire generation understands race, history and current events

  By Isabella Zou and Jason Kao Aug. 3, 2021

  Educators who spoke to The Texas Tribune overwhelmingly denounced the new social studies law going into effect Sept. 1. These are the provisions they say could cause problems for them — and Texas students. Full Story