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Brandon Formby studied journalism at Texas Tech University. After graduation, he worked at The Dallas Morning News, where he covered local politics, suburban government and regional transportation. He joined The Texas Tribune (but remained in Dallas) as its first urban affairs reporter in 2016. He became the Trib’s night news editor (and moved to Austin) in 2019. He doesn't understand Texas cities' taco wars or the inclination to stay loyal to one restaurant; he believes it's OK to love all tacos.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins' order, which runs through April 3, came the same day Gov. Greg Abbott sought to increase the state's number of practicing nurses. Full Story
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The person is back in quarantine, and health officials are tracking where they went. Full Story
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Demographics, income and location all play roles in the difficulties Texans face finding an affordable home in a neighborhood they like. Full Story
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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
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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
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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
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