The Brief: Sandra Bland's family disappointed with Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature is in its final weeks and Sandra Bland's family says lawmakers have disappointed them with the act named in Bland's honor. Full Story
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Bobby Blanchard
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Bobby Blanchard joined The Texas Tribune’s audience team in 2016 and led the team from 2021 to 2023, strategizing to expand the organization’s reach and engagement across all platforms. A graduate of UT-Austin, Bobby spent his first year out of college at The Dallas Morning News as a reporting fellow, covering Texas politics and breaking news. He got his start in journalism in the poorly lit basement of The Daily Texan, followed by internships at the Houston Chronicle, KUT News and the Tribune. Born and raised in the Houston area, Bobby is a native Texan.
Past Contributions
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![Karen Bates of Austin (l.) and Ann Lange of Lake Jackson show their support for the Sandra Bland Act announced by Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, at a press conference on March 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Get ready for a legislative bloodbath in the Texas House
As the Texas House rounded the corner and raced toward a key deadline Thursday night, conservative House lawmakers announced they were killing more than 100 bills. Full Story
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![Longtime State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, appears exasperated by Liberty Caucus attempts to disrupt normal House business by challenges to the Local and Consent calendar during the session May 11, 2017. Thompson is the chairman of the committee.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: It's doomsday for a lot of House bills today
It's countdown time. Thursday is the last day that House-originated legislation can receive tentative approval in the lower chamber. Here's what you need to know. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus gavels the vote on an amendment to HB 100 on April 19, 2017. The bill is being debated with several amendments that would regulate ride-hailing services with uniform regulations statewide.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: What Texans in Congress say so far about James Comey's firing
Last night, Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey. Here's what Texans are saying about it. Full Story
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![FBI Director James Comey testifies on Capitol Hill before the House Intelligence Committee hearing into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election on March 20, 2017.]()
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The Brief: It's bill-killing season at the Texas Capitol
The 140-day clock at the Texas Capitol seems to be ticking faster than ever, and bills are dying inside both chambers. Bill-killing deadlines may stop a bill from being heard on the House or Senate floor this session, but that doesn't necessarily mean the issue is dead. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signs bills on last day of 84th Legislative session June 1, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Gov. Greg Abbott signed a ban on "sanctuary cities" into law this weekend
With the legislative session drawing its curtains at the Texas Capitol in a few short weeks, the House worked into the night Friday and most of Saturday. Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a controversial bill into law late Sunday. Full Story
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![Protesters turn out at the Capitol in Austin hours after Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 4 — the "sanctuary cities" bill — into law. Abbott livestreamed the signing of the bill on Facebook.]()
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The Brief: "BOOM," says Abbott, after Texas House passes call for convention of states
The Texas House on Thursday passed a call for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution, pushing one of Gov. Greg Abbott's four emergency items this session a step further in the legislative process. Full Story
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![After only a short debate, the Texas House voted on May 4, 2017, to pass a resolution calling for a Convention of States. Rep. Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land, who carried the proposal in the House, debates Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, on the issue.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Gov. Greg Abbott indicates he'll sign bill banning "sanctuary" policies
A bill that would outlaw "sanctuary" policies is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. He's expected to sign it. Full Story
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![State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, looks on as Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock answers questions about Senate Bill 4 on May 3, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Convention of states debate in House begins
A couple of measures tied to one of Gov. Greg Abbott's four emergency items this legislative session — a call for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution — are up for debate on the floor of the Texas House today. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers the State of the State address at the Capitol on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Two dozen arrested at Texas Capitol
At least two dozen protestors on the grounds of the Texas Capitol were charged with trespassing Monday after a day-long sit-in over a proposed bill that would ban "sanctuary" jurisdictions in Texas. Full Story
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![Austin City Council member Gregorio Casar speaks to opponents of the "sanctuary" jurisdictions bill moving through the Legislature outside the State Insurance Building in Austin on May 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune