Civil rights groups warn that Texas voter citizenship check could violate federal law
Thirteen groups issued the warning, and some are considering suing the state. Full Story
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Alexa Ura
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Alexa Ura reported for The Texas Tribune from 2013 to 2023. She covered the complex dynamics of race, ethnicity, wealth, poverty and power and how they are shaping the future of Texas and Texans, in the long and short term. Alexa started at the Tribune as a reporting intern before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and joining the staff full time. Originally from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border, she is a native Spanish speaker and is based in Austin.
Past Contributions
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![Texans cast their votes at the start of early voting at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center near downtown Houston on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials flag tens of thousands of voters for citizenship checks
The list compiled by the Texas secretary of state contains 95,000 names. It’s unclear exactly how many of those individuals are not actually U.S. citizens and whether that number will be available in the future. Full Story
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![Voters in Houston arrive to cast ballots during the last hour of voting in the primaries on March 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Most members of the Texas Legislature are white men — and so are the committee chairs
Four out of every five committee chairs this session are men, and 72 percent of chairs are white. Full Story
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![A view of the house floor during the second day of the 86th legislative session. Jan. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune. -
Texans fighting citizenship question on 2020 census are headed to court. Here's what you need to know.
A group of Texans is headed to court in hopes of blocking the Trump administration from including a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Here's a primer on the legal fight and what it could mean for the state. Full Story
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Credit: Emily Albracht for The Texas Tribune -
To settle voting rights suit, Richardson ISD will get rid of at-large elections
The board, which is all white, will shift five of its seats to single-member districts in a bid to add more representation for people of color. Full Story
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![Richardson ISD Board meeting, President Justin Bono, Sept 10, 2018.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Trump administration opposes a return to federal oversight for Texas redistricting, reversing Obama-era stance
The Trump administration no longer supports requiring Texas to obtain federal approval of changes to its legislative and congressional maps. Full Story
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In increasingly diverse Texas, the Legislature remains mostly white and male
Here’s a look at the demographics of the 86th Legislature by lawmakers’ race, gender, age, education and religion. Full Story
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![Texas Senate.]()
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Texas House votes to strengthen sexual harassment investigations
The chamber voted on a resolution that moves misconduct complaints to a committee with subpoena power. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Following inconclusive harassment inquiry, state Sen. Charles Schwertner asks to give up his committee chairmanship
Schwertner was investigated by the University of Texas at Austin after a student reported that he sent her unwanted lewd texts. He denied the allegation and an investigator determined evidence "does not support a finding" that he violated Title IX. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on the floor of the Senate on April 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas has failed to close educational gaps for kids of color. In Edgewood ISD, the fallout has lasted generations.
Edgewood ISD has faced consistent problems in preparing its students for college and the workforce. The district's struggles shine a light on Texas’ long record of neglecting schools that educate mostly students of color. Full Story
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![Carlos Lopez is a freshman at The University of Texas studying Biochemistry, while also holding down a part time job at HEB. He graduated high school from John F. Kennedy, a small school on the west side of San Antonio and feels unprepared for what he has experienced at UT. He studies at the Student Academic Center on campus, December 7, 2018. Although he feels his public education underprepared him for UT and an advisor suggested changing his major, he does not want to give up.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune
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