Texas A&M engineering dean M. Katherine Banks named sole finalist for university president
If officially approved, Banks will become the second woman president of the flagship university in College Station. Full Story
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Kate McGee is an Austin-based enterprise and investigative reporter. She joined the Tribune in October 2020 as a higher education reporter. She was a three-time finalist for the Education Writers Association's Beat Reporter of the Year award, winning the title in 2024. She was also a Livingston Award finalist for her coverage of the University of Texas at Austin. Before the Tribune, she spent nearly a decade as a reporter at public radio stations nationwide, including in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Austin; Reno, Nevada; and New York. Kate was born in New York City and primarily raised in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from Fordham University.
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![Dr. M. Katherine Banks.]()
Credit: Texas A&M University -
UT-Austin football players say they were forced to stay on field for “The Eyes of Texas” to appease angry donors and fans
The football players said the athletics officials, in a meeting with the players after the Oklahoma game, referenced emails from donors who said the protests could impact their job prospects after graduating. Full Story
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![The University of Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin.]()
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Lawyer for Texas attorney general’s office repeatedly tries to block testimony and evidence at whistleblower hearing
A Travis County judge opted to move forward with Monday's hearing without ruling on the motion to dismiss the whistleblower lawsuit. Late Monday night, an appeals court halted the second day of proceedings at the request of the agency's attorney. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Texas Federation of Republican Women Convention in Dallas on Oct. 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
“UT needs rich donors”: Emails show wealthy alumni supporting “Eyes of Texas” threatened to pull donations
Emails obtained by The Texas Tribune show alumni and donors threatened to stop supporting the university financially and demanded that the university president take a stronger stance supporting "The Eyes of Texas." Full Story
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![A University of Texas football game at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin on Sept. 7, 2019.]()
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UT-Austin won't require SAT or ACT scores for 2022 applications due to COVID-19
Universities across the country have started to extend "test-optional" policies for undergraduate applicants as the pandemic wears on. Full Story
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![The University of Texas tower on July 16, 2020.]()
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Dwindling food, flooded halls, unflushable toilets: Texas’ university dorms descend into chaos during winter storm
The past week of power outages and water shortages have been particularly challenging for college students living in large residence halls who are unable to see their families or access supplies like extra clothing, food or a car. Full Story
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![Nicholas Ware, a freshman computer science major at Texas State University, walks down the stairs to his dorm room on campus, which has been without consistent power for days. Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state's power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say
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
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![Powerline infrastructure in San Marcos on Feb. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Former top aides say Attorney General Ken Paxton received assistance with home remodel, job for alleged girlfriend in return for helping political donor
A court filing documents what Paxton’s whistleblowers believe led to an alleged “bizarre, obsessive use of power.” Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton during the 2014 Red State Gathering in Fort Worth.]()
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Texas Republicans want to keep transgender women out of women’s school sports teams
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
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![A basketball game at a high school.]()
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Texas A&M officials say moving Sul Ross statue is no longer an option, but students say the university never made that clear
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
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![The statue of former Texas A&M president Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross stands fenced off from the rest of campus. The fence was put up by the university following calls to remove the statue as a part of furthering racial and diversity programs. Jan. 15, 2021]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/Texas Tribune