Alana Rocha
joined the Tribune staff as the multimedia reporter after working eight years in television and radio news. She's covered politics for stations in Florida, Kansas and most recently in Austin as YNN's lead political reporter. Her work at the cable news outlet took her around the country reporting from the presidential campaign trail. A native of Tampa, Florida, Alana received bachelor's degrees in Journalism and Spanish from the University of Florida.
arocha@texastribune.org
512-716-8616
Recent Contributions
The Texas Tribune Festival 2012 Opening Session: A conversation with Gov. Rick Perry and Evan Smith, Sept. 21, 2012.
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photo by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
A medical technician handles and prepares urine sample to be tested for drugs at a small medical clinic in Austin.
Gov. Rick Perry has signed into law Senate Bill 21, a measure that will subject Texans applying for unemployment benefits to a drug test if their responses to a screening questionnaire indicate possible drug use.
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UPDATED: Some lawmakers and lobbyists had been pushing for gun-related bills to be added to the special session agenda. But Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday that with time ticking away, the agenda call could not be expanded. Still, gun advocates say the importance of their legislation hasn't withered.
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photo by: Josh Denmark / CBP
Lawmakers and local officials from the Texas-Mexico border wanted funding to train more inspectors and speed up commerce at land ports. Instead, they got a study.
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When it came to passing major ethics reforms that would have increased transparency for elected officials, the 83rd Legislature didn't make much headway. Lawmakers, it seems, didn't have the appetite for increased public disclosure.
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photo illustration by: Jennifer Whitney
Over the last decade, the animal shelter in Eagle Pass most often performed euthanasia with carbon monoxide - a practice now outlawed.
Legislators made Texas the 21st state to prohibit the use of gas chambers to euthanize animals that have not been claimed or adopted. But switching to the only legal method, lethal injection, could be costly for some.
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Monday marked the end of the 83rd Legislature's regular session, and the start of a special session on redistricting. Despite the quick turnaround, lawmakers had a chance to reflect on what they accomplished in the last 140 days.
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photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman
Many self-proclaimed gun enthusiasts in the Texas House aren't ready to expand their own gun rights if they can't do the same for their constituents.
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photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman
State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, looks at Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, after Walle raised a point of order on HB 1009 on May 4, 2013. The bill creating a school marshal program later passed to third reading.
The Senate on Wednesday gave its approval to House Bill 1009, which would allow school districts to designate certain employees to carry concealed weapons and serve as school marshals.
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The president of Emily's List on the state's changing demographics, how those changes will help put candidates like state Sen. Wendy Davis in statewide office and why women will help turn Texas blue.
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They are uncontested pieces of legislation that seemingly pass without much consideration. But the lawmakers, staff and various groups who have a hand in local and uncontested bills say the measures are "well vetted."
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Ray Gutierrez, 61, is a recovering alcoholic who was nearly blind when he came to Haven for Hope. He believes Haven for Hope saved his life.
Legislators are preparing to dedicate hundreds of millions more dollars to mental health care for the first time in years. Haven for Hope in San Antonio serves as a model of the services and success they aim to emulate.
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Independent pharmacists struggling to keep their doors open could soon expect more transparency in negotiating rates with Medicaid managed care organizations.
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