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Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
A federal judge has ordered Baylor University to hand over recordings, notes and other key documents from its infamous Pepper Hamilton investigation, which found that Baylor repeatedly mishandled allegations of sexual assault. Full Story
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There's not much room in federal law for the U.S. Department of Justice to target Texas schools for the use of affirmative action, but a lawsuit pending in state court could spell trouble for race-conscious admissions at the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
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Leaders at many of the state's top public universities have ordered across-the-board budget cuts for the next school year, even though they avoided their worst funding fears during the 2017 legislative session. Full Story
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Universities are required to investigate when a student is accused of raping another student. But if the accused transfers, his or her new school may never know about the past allegations. Full Story
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A federal judge said that three professors suing the state to block campus carry didn't present any "concrete evidence to substantiate their fears" that the law would have a chilling effect on free speech. Full Story
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As a Baylor University regent, prominent Texas lobbyist Neal “Buddy” Jones described female students who he suspected of drinking alcohol at parties as “perverted little tarts." Full Story
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University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp earned $1.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Full Story
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After years of challenging the University of Texas at Austin's use of affirmative action in federal court, Edward Blum will now try to end the practice in state court. Full Story
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The decision to ban California state employee travel could have an effect on Texas' ability to host California teams and NCAA championship events. But no one knows for sure. Full Story
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California state agencies, universities and commissions won't be allowed to send their employees to Texas after the California attorney general declared a Texas law discriminatory. Full Story
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