Past Contributions

• San Antonio mayor demands extension of coronavirus quarantine, bans evacuees from entering city

  By Sami Sparber, Carrington Tatum and Emma Platoff Updated: March 2, 2020

  Those moves — and an unsuccessful attempt to get an injunction against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — came after a person who tested "weakly positive" for the new coronavirus was released over the weekend. Full Story 

• Abbott's state-run camp for the homeless in Austin to be taken over by nonprofit with new shelter plans

  By Carrington Tatum and Naomi Andu Feb. 27, 2020

  The Texas Department of Transportation will begin lease negotiations with ATX Helps, which plans to construct a large shelter on the southeast Austin property where more than 100 people reside. Some camp residents say they're concerned about the proposed changes. Full Story 

• Democrats think campaigning on health care will flip an Austin-area U.S. House seat. But will the nominee also need star power?

  By Carrington Tatum Feb. 20, 2020

  In a district with no clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, the party is looking to re-create MJ Hegar's momentum — and hopes focusing on issues will flip the seat. Full Story 

• Austin's homeless residents consider Abbott's camp helpful but say his tweets still stigmatize them

  By Carrington Tatum Feb. 4, 2020

  As the governor latches on to violent incidents to criticize Austin city leaders, people experiencing homelessness say he's painting them with too broad of a brush. Full Story 

• Nestled in a poor Dallas neighborhood, Paul Quinn College aims to be a national model for overcoming poverty

  By Carrington Tatum Updated: Jan. 15, 2021

  A historically black college that was once on the brink of closure is combining work requirements and academics in hopes of discovering new solutions to poverty. Full Story 

• University of North Texas legal staffer resigns after using racist slur during a free speech panel

  By Carrington Tatum Nov. 8, 2019

  Assistant General Counsel Caitlin Sewell was speaking about speech protected by the First Amendment when she used the word. People in attendance vocally expressed offense. Full Story 

• Austin's homeless residents say Abbott's intervention is a short-term setback without a long-term solution

  By Carrington Tatum Nov. 4, 2019

  TxDOT began removing property and debris from under Austin's highways as the number of places Austin ordinances let homeless people camp dwindles. Full Story 

• "They're just pushing us away": Austin residents talk about homeless life amid Gov. Abbott's criticism of city ordinances

  By Fatima Espejo, Carrington Tatum and Eddie Gaspar Nov. 1, 2019

  Homeless residents in the state's capital took varied paths to end up without shelter. And some who have found homes still return to homeless encampments to check in on friends. Full Story 

• As Texas gets ready to clear some Austin highway encampments, Gov. Abbott and Mayor Adler at odds over homeless residents

  By Davis Rich and Carrington Tatum Oct. 31, 2019

  The governor's decision to force homeless people from under state overpasses drew the ire of city leaders and homelessness experts, who criticized Abbott's "fear-based approach." Full Story 

• Texas voters could stabilize funding for state parks with Proposition 5

  By Carrington Tatum Oct. 18, 2019

  Decades ago, lawmakers passed a law that was meant to fully fund Texas Parks and Wildlife, but the money never seemed to make it to the parks. Now they're asking voters to create a constitutional mandate that parks get more money. Full Story