When Evan Smith helped launch the nonprofit Texas Tribune in 2009, he set out to get people engaged in their government again, especially in places where newspaper coverage has dwindled. The Tribune introduced blogs, multimedia, troves of government data, and something old-fashioned for an online news startup: face-to-face conversations.
Sep 21 2012
Join us for a special cocktail reception celebrating the second annual Texas Tribune Festival.
Sep 21 2012
We're proud to announce the second annual Texas Tribune Festival, taking place Sept. 21-23, 2012, in Austin.
Among the festival’s confirmed participants — more than 120 as of this writing — are a range of federal and state elected officials, public policy professionals, issue activists and advocates, leaders from academia, and more. They include Gov. Rick Perry; Texas House Speaker Joe Straus; Attorney General Greg Abbott; San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro; Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz; Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples; former gubernatorial candidate and We Texans executive director Debra Medina; Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins; Kyle Janek, incoming executive commissioner of health and human services; criminal defense lawyer Rusty Hardin; Donna Nelson, chairwoman of the Public Utility Commission; U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar; Renu Khator, chancellor of the University of Houston System; Al Armendariz, former regional Environmental Protection Agency administrator; and Gwen Ifill, moderator of Washington Week and PBS NewsHour senior correspondent.
In addition, seven celebrated Texans will speak at exclusive, intimate breakfasts on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 23. They include Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio; state Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon; state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, the chairwoman of the House Public Health Committee; and congressional candidate Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso. Buy your ticket when you register for the festival.
We're looking forward to welcoming you!
Sep 21 2012
As the unofficial Texas Tribune Festival kickoff event, The Texas Tribune will host a discussion with four of the leading superintendents in Texas. Moderated by Evan Smith, the discussion will focus on the most pressing issues facing Texas school districts, including funding, assessment and accountability, and the upcoming legislative session.
Scott Elliff - Superintendent, Corpus Christi Independent School District
Terry B. Grier - Superintendent, Houston Independent School District
Karen Rue - Superintendent, Northwest Independent School District
Steve Flores - Superintendent, Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District
Sep 20 2012
Join us here for a special #TribuneFest chat hosted by Washington Week. Tribune Festival speaker Gwen Ifill will be answering your questions about the presidential elections, starting at 11 a.m. CST on Thursday. As early as 10 a.m., submit your questions here.
This chat presented by Texas Natural Gas Now.
Sep 13 2012
The #TribuneFest Twitter Chat is a weekly live Twitter conversation held every Thursday with Tribune reporters and festival speakers on the six topics featured at this year's upcoming #TribuneFest.
Join us on Thursday, Sept., 13 for our final Twitter chat in the series: a live discussion between Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) and Tribune reporter Becca Aaronson on health insurance reform and health care in Texas.
Sep 10 2012
PLEASE NOTE: This event will take place at the University of Texas at Tyler.
Sen. Kevin P. Eltife, R-Tyler, the owner of Eltife Properties, was sworn in to represent Senate District 1 in 2004. He previously served three terms on the Tyler City Council and later as the city’s mayor. He is the current chairman of the Senate Committee on Administration.
Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, grew up in Highland Park as a seventh-generation Texan and was first elected to represent House District 7 in 2010. From 1993 to 1998, Simpson served as mayor of his ancestors' tiny town of Avinger.
Sep 06 2012
The #TribuneFest Twitter Chat is a weekly live Twitter conversation held every Thursday with Tribune reporters and festival speakers on the six topics featured at this year's upcoming #TribuneFest.
Join us on Thursday, Sept., 6 for our fifth Twitter chat in the series: a live discussion between Al Armendariz (former regional EPA official; senior campaign representative, Sierra Club) and Tribune reporter Kate Galbraith on EPA pollution rules, Texas grid reliability and coal.
Sep 06 2012
Rep. Ken Paxton is the Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 8, which currently serves portions of Collin and Dallas counties. This seat is currently held by retiring Sen. Florence Shapiro.
Rep. Kelly Hancock is the Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 9, which includes parts of Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. This seat is currently held by retiring Sen. Chris Harris.
Rep. Larry Taylor is the Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 11, which is composed of parts of Brazoria, Galveston and Harris counties. This seat is currently held by Sen. Mike Jackson, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress.
