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Morgan Smith was a reporter at the Tribune from 2009 to 2018, covering politics, public education and inequality. In 2013, she received a National Education Writers Association award for “Death of a District,” a series on school closures. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Wellesley College, she moved to Austin in 2008 to enter law school at the University of Texas. A San Antonio native, her work has also appeared in Slate, where she spent a year as an editorial intern in Washington D.C.
The name of Attorney General Ken Paxton, already facing a potential indictment by the state for first-degree felony securities fraud, has surfaced in a federal probe of a company in which he is an investor. Full Story
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, under scrutiny for his financial dealings, stayed out of sight and coasted into office last fall as part of the new Republican leadership. Now his legal troubles are back, just as he's emerging as the hero for social conservatives who fueled his candidacy. Full Story
The conservative wing of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's party wasn't thrilled with his first legislative session, objecting most notably to his "godless" pre-kindergarten plan. But Abbott seems to be mending fences by vetoing two measures the Tea Party disliked. Full Story
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During the 84th legislative session, lawmakers passed open carry and campus carry legislation — but not before some passionate debate. Listen to our discussion about the issues in a special episode of Texas Standard. Full Story
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Bennett Ratliff will run for the Dallas-area House seat he lost to state Rep. Matt Rinaldi by just 92 votes in the 2014 GOP primary, the Coppell Republican announced Monday. Full Story
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Learn more about what happened to pre-kindergarten reform, school choice legislation and other public education issues using our Texas Legislative Guide. Full Story
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Accusing Republicans of a systematic effort to undercut voter access to the ballot box, Hillary Clinton in Houston on Thursday called for expansive reforms to U.S. election laws. Full Story
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When the Texas Legislature tackles a long overdue overhaul of the state’s school finance system, it will have to do without the lawmaker who has shepherded its two chambers through complex education issues for the last two sessions. Full Story
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A controversial plan to start assigning public schools A-through-F grades cleared both chambers of the Texas Legislature on Sunday. Full Story
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Legislation requiring the state’s public universities to allow handguns in dorms, classrooms and campus buildings is now one step away from becoming law after a final vote to approve it in the Texas House on Sunday. Full Story
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