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Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies. In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border. Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is reporting income of $250,000 from the company of top donor Peter Holt, helping boost the Republican presidential candidate’s family income past $700,000 over the last 18 months, new disclosures reveal. Full Story
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This week on The Ticket, Jay Root and Ben Philpott break down the campaign announcement speech of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and learn what kind of campaign he could run from WNYC's Matt Katz, creator of The Christie Tracker. Full Story
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In a letter, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro says an email exchange between Gov. Greg Abbott and Texans for Lawsuit Reform about pending insurance legislation raises ethical and legal questions about the governor's behavior. Full Story
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Houston state Sen. Joan Huffman, who tried to shield the spouses of elected officials from ethics disclosure rules, has now revealed on her personal financial statement a slew of business interests held by her husband. Full Story
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A major donor to Gov. Greg Abbott sought and received help from the office of the governor after complaining that Democrats and their top contributor were on the verge of defeating a controversial bill insurance companies wanted. Full Story
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Tony Buzbee, the Texas A&M regent who oversees Rick Perry's team of criminal defense lawyers, asked Gov. Greg Abbott's office a few months ago to consider him for chairman or vice chairman of the university system's governing board. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott accurately predicted the death of ethics reform months ago and concluded in a candid and prescient email to top staffers that he would likely be forced to call one or more 30-day special sessions to push meaningful reforms through a recalcitrant Texas Legislature. Full Story
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Dozens of emails obtained by the Tribune provide a rare peek into the private deliberations of Gov. Greg Abbott. The emails paint a portrait of a chief executive more interested in the nitty-gritty of state policy than what’s known of his predecessor. Full Story
Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed legislation that would have opened up a new loophole allowing elected officials to cloak assets held by a spouse. State Rep. Sarah Davis, whose bills contained the controversial amendment, said she wound up adding her voice to those calling for a veto. Full Story
Ignoring calls for a veto, Gov. Greg Abbott signed controversial legislation this week that will allow elected officials and bureaucrats to bypass local prosecutors when they are accused of public corruption. Full Story