Past Contributions

• Interactive Map: Confederate Statues on Texas Capitol Grounds

  By Brandi Grissom, Christopher Chang, Jacob Villanueva and Liz Crampton June 24, 2015

  There are more than a dozen monuments, markers and statues that reference the Confederacy on the Texas Capitol grounds. Use our interactive map — first published in 2012 — to find them. Full Story 

• Van de Putte Company Dropping Confederate Flags

  By Liz Crampton June 23, 2015

  Pete Van de Putte — owner of Dixie Flag Manufacturing Company and husband of former state Sen. and San Antonio mayoral candidate Leticia Van de Putte — changed his mind Tuesday and decided to stop making and selling Confederate flags. Full Story 

• Abbott Names New Board of Education Chair

  By Liz Crampton June 18, 2015

  Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Donna Bahorich, a former staffer for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the next chairwoman of the State Board of Education. Full Story 

• Ag Commissioner Rolls Back Ban on Deep Fryers, Soda Machines

  By Liz Crampton June 18, 2015

  Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller on Thursday restored the option for public schools to serve certain fried foods and soda by lifting a decade-old statewide ban on deep fryers and soda machines. Full Story 

• A&M Will Host SpaceX Competition — But Track's Headed to California

  By Liz Crampton June 15, 2015

  Though the test track for a futuristic high-speed transportation system is headed to California, not Texas, the private space company SpaceX announced Monday that it's hosting a Hyperloop design-build competition at Texas A&M University. Full Story 

• Abbott Signs "Pastor Protection Act" Into Law

  By Liz Crampton June 11, 2015

  Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed a bill Thursday that allows clergy members to refuse to conduct marriages that violate their beliefs, said that "pastors now have the freedom to exercise their First Amendment rights." Full Story 

• New Water Development Board Chairman Takes Helm

  By Liz Crampton June 10, 2015

  Gov. Greg Abbott's office on Thursday named Bech Bruun, a current member of the Texas Water Development Board, the board's next chairman. Effective immediately, he replaces Carlos Rubinstein, according to the board. Full Story 

• Hegar Sounds Alarm on Franchise Tax Ruling

  By Liz Crampton June 9, 2015

  Texas stands to lose up to $1.5 billion a year in tax revenue — and could be forced to refund another $6 billion to businesses — unless the state wins its appeal of a recent court decision, Comptroller Glenn Hegar is officially warning top officials. Full Story