Latest Contributions

• Some landlords got a piece of Texas’ $2 billion in rent relief money — and evicted their struggling tenants anyway

  By Joshua Fechter Updated: April 8, 2022

  It’s unclear whether landlords face any penalties from state agencies for improperly evicting tenants while receiving rent relief dollars intended to help those tenants stay housed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story 

• Buttigieg thinks high-speed rail would be good for Texas, wants highway expansions to consider neighborhood impacts

  By Joshua Fechter March 17, 2022

  The U.S. transportation secretary says high-growth areas will need to pave more highway lanes — but that state and local officials should minimize environmental and community impacts. Full Story 

• Feds say Texas discriminated against communities of color when it denied Houston flood aid

  By Andrew Zhang and Joshua Fechter Updated: March 8, 2022

  Land Commissioner George P. Bush is in the middle of a fierce runoff in the Republican primary for Texas attorney general against incumbent Ken Paxton. During the race, several of Bush’s opponents have criticized his office’s work in distributing Hurricane Harvey relief funds. Full Story 

• A year after feds allocate funds, Texas launches program to help homeowners avoid foreclosure because of COVID-19

  By Joshua Fechter Updated: March 2, 2022

  Twenty-five states, including California and New York, preceded Texas in getting federally backed programs up and running to help homeowners suffering financial hardship because of COVID-19. Full Story 

• Watch: Fort Worth’s Republican mayor criticizes GOP, pushes for Medicaid expansion and defends trans kids

  By Joshua Fechter Updated: March 23, 2022

  “I could not run in a Republican primary because I just couldn’t look myself in the mirror and do it,” Mattie Parker said during an event with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith. Full Story 

• Parties’ activist wings see mixed results in Texas as Abbott advances, progressives fall short of goals

  By Joshua Fechter March 2, 2022

  Gov. Greg Abbott and most other statewide elected officials won their primaries Tuesday night. But Attorney General Ken Paxton was forced into a runoff, and progressive Democrats fell short of their congressional goals. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott floats pardons for Austin police officers charged with excessive force in 2020 protests

  By Joshua Fechter Updated: Feb. 23, 2022

  Abbott’s move is the latest in a long clash between Texas Republicans and Austin-area officials over policing — and comes as the push for reform in the Texas capital enters a more complex and uncertain chapter. Full Story 

• 19 Austin police officers accused of excessive force during 2020 protests are indicted

  By Reese Oxner and Joshua Fechter Updated: Feb. 18, 2022

  Austin officials also agreed to a $10 million settlement with two men who were injured by police with beanbag rounds during the protests. Full Story 

• Texas voters will decide whether to lower some property tax bills in May election

  By Brooke Park and Joshua Fechter Feb. 16, 2022

  If two propositions pass, the state will increase school funding to make up for revenues lost from a decrease in property taxes. Full Story 

• Texas’ power grid held up during last week’s winter weather. Experts say it wasn’t seriously tested.

  By Joshua Fechter Feb. 8, 2022

  Experts say it’s unclear whether changes mandated by Texas lawmakers to prevent widespread power outages like those last February made a significant difference during a weaker winter storm. Full Story