Latest Contributions

• Two of U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry's political supporters won "potentially lucrative" Ukraine energy deal, report says

  by Brandon Formby Nov. 11, 2019

  The Associated Press reports that the oil and gas exploration contract was awarded after Perry recommended one of his backers as an energy adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Full Story 

  

   REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani

• Ted Cruz wants Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, to testify before judiciary committee

  by Brandon Formby Oct. 13, 2019

  The Republican senator's comments on "Face the Nation" came days after two Texans became ensnared in the unfolding political scandal surrounding Trump. Full Story 

  

   Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

• Texas Republican lawmaker to Beto O'Rourke: "My AR is ready for you"

  by Brandon Formby Updated: Sept. 13, 2019

  State Rep. Briscoe Cain's tweet was taken as a death threat against a presidential candidate from a state that recently experienced two mass shootings. Full Story 

  

   Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune

• Reports: Odessa shooter bought gun via private sale without background check

  by Brandon Formby Sept. 3, 2019

  ABC News reported that the shooter had failed a previous gun purchase background check because he had been diagnosed with a mental illness. Full Story 

  

   Eli Hartman/USA TODAY NETWORK vis Reuters

• A widely circulated photo shows the bodies of a man and his toddler daughter who drowned trying to seek asylum in the U.S.

  by Brandon Formby June 25, 2019

  The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the photograph “highlights the perils” that thousands of Central Americans face as they travel through Mexico in hopes of reaching the U.S. border. Full Story 

  

   Photo via Social Media

• In Texas, property tax levies can be as individual as homeowners themselves

  by Chris Essig and Brandon Formby Feb. 22, 2019

  State lawmakers are trying to reform a complicated taxing system where everything from suburban growth to gentrification and a homeowner’s age influence how much Texans pay their local governments. Full Story 

  

   Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune

• Texas officials call it "property tax relief" — but legislation won't lower tax bills or decrease budgets

  by Chris Essig, Ben Hasson and Brandon Formby Feb. 21, 2019

  The fight over property tax rates is really about state leaders telling local officials how much their revenues can grow before voters get to step in. Full Story 

  

• How do Texas governments calculate your property taxes? Here’s a primer.

  by Brandon Formby, Chris Essig and Ben Hasson Feb. 20, 2019

  Several government entities — from appraisal districts to city councils — play independent roles that collectively determine how much money Texas landowners owe local governments each year. Full Story 

  

• Days after heated meeting, Texas Senate property tax committee passes 2.5-percent rollback rate bill

  by Brandon Formby, Cassandra Pollock and Edgar Walters Updated: Feb. 11, 2019

  The Senate panel's vote came despite fierce pushback from city and county leaders, who say a lower election threshold on increased property tax revenues could hamstring their budgets. Full Story 

  

   Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune

• Texas leaders want voters to OK property tax revenue growth over 2.5 percent. They couldn't get 4 percent in 2017.

  by Brandon Formby, Aliyya Swaby and Arya Sundaram Updated: Jan. 31, 2019

  The leaders of both legislative chambers say they will be united this year — even if cities and counties push back — and that local officials should come to Austin with solutions in hand if they don't like new proposals. Full Story 

  

   Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune

• Domestic abusers can trap their victims with financial debt. This Texas bill seeks to provide a way out.

  by Brandon Formby Jan. 14, 2019

  A bill authored by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would make it a felony to threaten a romantic partner into taking on debt or financing expensive items like cars. Full Story 

  

   Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.

• Where Ted Cruz’s close victory over Beto O’Rourke stands among Texas' historical election results

  by Chris Essig, Ryan Murphy and Brandon Formby Nov. 7, 2018

  It was the closest a Democrat came to toppling a Republican incumbent U.S. senator since 1978. And while O'Rourke beat Cruz in some traditional GOP strongholds, it wasn't enough to overcome rural Texas counties and some suburbs that remain fiercely loyal to Cruz. Full Story 

  

   Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune

• Battles between firefighters and mayors among several down-ballot issues in Texas cities

  by Brandon Formby Nov. 5, 2018

  Houston and San Antonio firefighters are at odds with their mayors over local ballot measures. Austin is asking residents for $250 million for affordable housing. And in Dallas, voters will replace a city council member facing jail time for corruption. Full Story 

  

   Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune

• Texas values collide in fight over Houston-Dallas high speed rail

  by Brandon Formby Oct. 24, 2018

  A proposed high-speed rail line between the state's two largest urban areas represents the collision of two things Texans hold dear: private property rights and an unrestrained free market Full Story 

  

   Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune

• As Texas grows, an affordable housing crisis looms. Here are six things to know.

  by Brandon Formby, Darla Cameron and Chris Essig Oct. 5, 2018

  Demographics, income and location all play roles in the difficulties Texans face finding an affordable home in a neighborhood they like. Full Story 

  

   Brandon Formby

• How to know if you’re spending too much on housing in Texas

  by Emily Yount Swelgin, Chris Essig, Brandon Formby and Naema Ahmed Oct. 5, 2018

  We analyzed housing data in hundreds of Texas ZIP codes to create a searchable tool so readers can see how affordable their neighborhood is. Full Story 

  

   Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune

• Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke clash over immigration, Trump, guns during intense debate

  by Patrick Svitek and Brandon Formby Updated: Sept. 21, 2018

  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Democratic opponent Beto O'Rourke held a feisty debate Friday evening at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Full Story 

  

   Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/Pool

• Report says gentrification threatens to displace Austin's low-income residents, communities of color

  by Brandon Formby Updated: Sept. 18, 2018

  The city council is slated to discuss a new University of Texas at Austin study that identifies neighborhoods where redevelopment threatens to push out existing residents. Full Story 

  

   Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune

• Nearly 10 percent of Texans displaced by Harvey still haven't gone home, survey says

  by Brandon Formby Aug. 23, 2018

  Meanwhile, 15 percent of homes damaged or destroyed by the storm are still unlivable. Yet FEMA and Texas officials aren't keeping track of how many people remain displaced one year later. Full Story 

  

   REUTERS/Rick Wilking

• Austin officials backing away from controversial rewrite of land-use regulations

  by Brandon Formby Aug. 1, 2018

  Amid a fierce battle over the city's attempts to improve traffic and combat housing unaffordability, Austin leaders are looking to drop CodeNEXT and start a new process. Full Story 

  

   Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune