Latest Contributions

• Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state's power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say

  By Erin Douglas, Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough Updated: Feb. 19, 2021

  Texas officials knew winter storms could leave the state’s power grid vulnerable, but they left the choice to prepare for harsh weather up to the power companies — many of which opted against the costly upgrades. That, plus a deregulated energy market largely isolated from the rest of the country’s power grid, left the state alone to deal with the crisis, experts said. Full Story 

• Former top aides say Attorney General Ken Paxton received assistance with home remodel, job for alleged girlfriend in return for helping political donor

  By Alex Samuels and Kate McGee Updated: Feb. 11, 2021

  A court filing documents what Paxton’s whistleblowers believe led to an alleged “bizarre, obsessive use of power.” Full Story 

• Texas Republicans want to keep transgender women out of women’s school sports teams

  By Kate McGee and Aliyya Swaby Updated: Feb. 1, 2021

  Lawmakers have filed legislation that would ban transgender girls and women who attend public K-12 schools, colleges and universities from playing on single-sex sports teams designated for girls and women. Full Story 

• Texas A&M officials say moving Sul Ross statue is no longer an option, but students say the university never made that clear

  By Kate McGee Jan. 27, 2021

  University officials said Wednesday that the decision to keep the Ross statue in place is not a new one, and that the diversity committee that has been studying the issue for the past three months was never considering removing the statue. Full Story 

• Texas A&M again delays decision on moving Sul Ross statue, as committee warns inaction will damage university

  By Kate McGee Jan. 26, 2021

  “While some universities have attempted to ignore demands surrounding symbols, names and iconography, in the majority of cases, they have been unsuccessful, and by inadequately addressing the issue, increased reputational damage,” a committee report says referring to the debate about the Confederate monument. Full Story 

• Texas universities promised action after summer’s racial reckoning. But they’re still reluctant to shed Confederate relics.

  By Kate McGee Updated: March 1, 2021

  Students of color said they feel most of their calls to eliminate racist symbols from campuses have been ignored or intentionally mired in lengthy, bureaucratic processes intended to delay answers to difficult questions. Full Story 

• Baylor students must test weekly for COVID-19. Those who keep missing tests could lose Wi-Fi access.

  By Kate McGee Jan. 21, 2021

  The new weekly test requirement is possible with the help of a new multimillion-dollar, on-campus lab that produces test results in less than 24 hours. Full Story 

• Wendy Davis says Trump supporters harassing a Biden bus in Texas should have served as a warning before U.S. Capitol riot

  By Kate McGee Jan. 11, 2021

  The former state senator, speaking publicly for the first time about the October incident, said she was not surprised by last week's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, criticizing Republicans for emboldening Trump supporters to act lawlessly. Full Story 

• UT-Austin keeping most classes virtual through January as coronavirus infections soar in Travis County

  By Kate McGee Jan. 8, 2021

  The flagship university in Austin is urging students to space out their return to campus for spring semester to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as cases in Travis County reach record highs. Full Story 

• Some Texas Republicans decried Capitol insurrection — but didn’t connect the violence to their own rhetoric

  By Kate McGee Updated: Jan. 8, 2021

  Texas lawmakers and other officials have taken the lead on baseless lawsuits that sought to dismiss the results of the presidential election and have tried to rally Trump supporters to protest his loss. Full Story