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Alex Samuels is a political reporter for The Texas Tribune, where she helps with national campaign coverage, writes stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covers the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She is also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex was previously the Tribune’s community reporter, but she began her stint with the organization as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven hopes his athletes don’t get any ideas from the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, who remained seated or took a knee during the National Anthem. Full Story
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Also, the Houston Chronicle endorses a third-party candidate in the race for Railroad Commissioner. Full Story
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On Wednesday night U.S. Sen. John Cornyn told CNN he would not endorse Ted Cruz in a potential primary next cycle. Full Story
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A new Washington Post-SurveyMonkey poll showing Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tied at the head of the presidential field in Texas provokes widespread critiques. Full Story
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Democrats may be counting on Republican nominee Donald Trump to boost their ability to win down-ballot races this November. Full Story
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As national scrutiny of police shootings remains intense, prosecutions of Texas police officers who use lethal force remain a rare occurrence. Full Story
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Confronting an unstable individual is one of the more challenging situations faced by police officers. Full Story
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Results of an annual Phi Delta Kappa International poll offer updated insight into the adult public’s perception of public schools in the U.S. Full Story
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As Massachusetts gears up for a much-anticipated public vote on expanding its charter school network, a recently published study paints a less-than-favorable picture of charters’ performance in Texas. Full Story
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Although less than half of all California public school students who took this year’s state standardized test actually met the state’s learning goals, officials are pointing to progress over last year’s test results. Full Story
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As programs for English language learners face significant budget constraints, teachers are turning to alternative tools to facilitate language acquisition in school environments. Full Story
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In preparation for submitting its state-specific accountability plan, Arkansas education leaders are petitioning the public to play a critical role in the process of deciding how best to serve its students. Full Story
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In this week's Bookshelf, our content partner Kirkus Reviews highlights ADHD Nation. Full Story
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In this week’s Q&A, we interview Ted Graf, the head of school at Headwaters School in Austin. Full Story
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As others battle over possible base closures, many communities are preemptively defending their benefits to service members and their families — namely through high-quality public education. Full Story
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Texas on Wednesday kicked off a voter education campaign ahead of the November elections. The state is required to spend $2.5 million to educate voters about its voter ID requirements. Full Story
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Recent police shootings across the nation have raised uncomfortable questions about how the police interact with minorities. Full Story
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Former Gov. Rick Perry may be taking a break from campaigning to bust a move on the dance floor, following reports that he may be joining the next season of "Dancing With the Stars." Full Story
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Security along the U.S.-Mexico border could become a $1 billion expense to the state, according to a total budget request from the Department of Public Safety. Full Story
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Controversial conspiracy theorist Robert Morrow's brief turn at the head of the Travis County GOP could be over by today. Full Story
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