Wendy Davis' Father, Jerry Russell, Dead at 77
Jerry Russell, the father of state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, died Thursday, according to a message she posted on Facebook. Full Story
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies. In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border. Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
Jerry Russell, the father of state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, died Thursday, according to a message she posted on Facebook. Full Story
If Wendy Davis runs for Texas governor, her biography will face greater scrutiny. Voters are likely to find an exceptionally ambitious woman who has experienced both poverty and wealth and isn’t nearly as partisan as some think. Full Story
Texans will have to wait a little longer to find out if Wendy Davis will run for governor. The state senator said Wednesday she is postponing her decision until late September while she cares for her ailing father. Full Story
Liberal critics say Republicans who questioned Barack Obama’s eligibility to be president are hypocritical now that one of their own, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, is facing questions about his. Partisanship may also be a factor. Full Story
The office measures about 300 square feet and the mismatched, rickety furniture inside looks like leftovers from a charity garage sale. But the headquarters of Battleground Texas is humming with activity. Full Story
Ted Cruz saw his fortunes rise after picking up endorsements from like-minded conservatives in Washington. Now he is a hot commodity himself, as a potential 2016 presidential candidate and a potential kingmaker in other Senate races. Full Story
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has come home to Texas to promote his long-shot bid to defund "Obamacare," warning Tea Party activists in Kingwood Monday that they have only a few months to stop the health care reform law. Full Story
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, born in Calgary in 1970, said Monday he would give up any claim he might have to Canadian citizenship. Full Story
Tom Pauken, waging a longshot bid to be the GOP nominee for Texas governor, attacked front-runner Greg Abbott Thursday for joining forces with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to block a proposed airline merger. Full Story
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will press the flesh with Texans over the next couple of weeks with town hall meetings and visits with business leaders across the state. Full Story