Latest Contributions

• 3D-printed gun designer Cody Wilson arrested in Taiwan

  by Matthew Watkins Sept. 21, 2018

  Wilson, an Austin resident, was wanted on a charge of sexual assaulting a teenage girl. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

• Trump administration reunites "eligible" immigrant children under 5, but lawyers complain about blunders

  by Claire Parker and Matthew Watkins Updated: July 12, 2018

  In one case, lawyers say, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers left a woman alone at a bus stop with her young kids and no bus ticket. In another, ICE officers were unable to affix a mother with an ankle monitor, so they sent her back to detention without her children. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

• Ailing former first lady Barbara Bush halts treatment, is seeking "comfort care"

  by Matthew Watkins Updated: April 15, 2018

  Barbara Bush was first lady from 1989 to 1993. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Official White House portrait

• Departing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson emerges as a potential candidate for UT System chancellor

  by Matthew Watkins and Shannon Najmabadi Updated: March 23, 2018

  Tillerson's exit from the U.S. Department of State was announced less than two weeks ago. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  REUTERS/Carlos Barria

• President Donald Trump tweets endorsements of eight leading Texas elected officials

  by Matthew Watkins Updated: Feb. 27, 2018

  President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday that Texans should vote for Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in March. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

• Trump taps Texan Brad Parscale as his 2020 re-election campaign manager

  by Matthew Watkins Feb. 27, 2018

  A pioneer in the San Antonio tech scene who worked with Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016 will run the president's full campaign in 2020, according to multiple reports. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Reuters

• Two Texas cities — Austin and Dallas — on short list for second Amazon headquarters

  by Emma Platoff and Matthew Watkins Jan. 18, 2018

  Austin and Dallas are among 20 North American cities being considered for a second headquarters for Amazon, the online retail giant announced Thursday morning. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Illustration by Todd Wiseman

• Icy Texas weather leads to new winter record for state power usage

  by Matthew Watkins Jan. 17, 2018

  Texas broke a new record for winter power usage on Wednesday. Despite one power company's warning out of San Antonio, state officials said there was no threat of rolling outages. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Justin Dehn

• Ballpark Figures: Look at the finances of some of Texas’ biggest college athletic programs

  by Annie Daniel and Matthew Watkins Dec. 30, 2017

  Revisit our Ballpark Figures app that breaks down the revenues and expenses for the athletic departments of the eight public Texas universities that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision — the top level of college football. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Graphic by Ben Hasson

• Fights over money dominated the year in Texas higher education

  by Matthew Watkins Dec. 23, 2017

  University leaders began this year expecting a bruising Texas legislative session, but they came out mostly unscathed. In many ways, the year will be remembered more for what happened on campus — not in the Capitol. Here are the top higher ed stories of 2017. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune

• UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven will resign in May

  by Matthew Watkins Updated: Dec. 15, 2017

  University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven is resigning in May, he told regents Friday. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Marjorie Kamys Cotera

• Audio: How the UT System spends portions of its $20 billion endowment

  by Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal and Matthew Watkins, The Texas Tribune Dec. 9, 2017

  The UT System's endowment of nearly $20 billion makes it one of the nation's wealthiest educational institutions. How much of it goes to student financial aid? Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune

• UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven staying put into 2018 — but without a new contract

  by Matthew Watkins Dec. 7, 2017

  University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven will remain in his job beyond the expiration of his contract at the end of the month. But some of the tensions that made his future seem uncertain remain. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune

• Texas A&M guaranteed $75 million to its new football coach. How can it afford that?

  by Matthew Watkins Dec. 4, 2017

  The amount Texas A&M University will pay its new football coach is unprecedented in the state, but no state appropriations will be used for Jimbo Fisher's salary. A&M can afford it because its football program is raking in money. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Texas A&M Football Facebook page

• A&M's firing of football coach Kevin Sumlin means another big buyout for a Texas school

  by Matthew Watkins Nov. 27, 2017

  Fired football coach Kevin Sumlin is entitled to about $10 million from Texas A&M University, according to his contract. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune

• As international enrollment declines nationwide, UT-Dallas looks for ways to halt the slide

  by Matthew Watkins Nov. 24, 2017

  International student enrollment is declining at universities nationwide. At the University of Texas at Dallas, that's a particular concern. Full Story 

• College tuition in Texas is poised to climb slightly in 2018

  by Matthew Watkins Nov. 20, 2017

  Citing inflation and state funding worries, most public universities in Texas are raising tuition by a few percentage points for 2018. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Illustration by Todd Wiseman

• University of Houston regents vote to create a medical school

  by Matthew Watkins Nov. 16, 2017

  University of Houston System regents voted unanimously Thursday to create a medical school. Now, they'll have to convince state leaders that it's the right move. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune

• Fired in 2009, football coach Mike Leach still rages at Texas Tech and Texas law

  by Matthew Watkins Nov. 1, 2017

  Eight years after Texas Tech fired football coach Mike Leach, Leach is still fighting his old school for money he thinks he's owed. But a law protecting state entities from lawsuits is hampering his efforts. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  U.S. Navy/Matthew Clayborne

• Texas House Speaker Joe Straus says he will not seek re-election

  by Matthew Watkins Updated: Oct. 25, 2017

  Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, announced Wednesday he will not run for re-election. He did not rule out running for higher office. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune