Latest Contributions

• Bill filing for 2019 session begins with legislation on marijuana, taxes and daylight saving time

  by Matthew Watkins Nov. 12, 2018

  The Texas Legislature's 86th session doesn't start until Jan. 8, but lawmakers got a head start on filing legislation Monday. Full Story 

• After SNL mocks his war injury, Texas congressional candidate Dan Crenshaw says he tries hard "not to be offended"

  by Matthew Watkins Nov. 4, 2018

  Crenshaw is running for an open seat in a Houston-area district. His opponent also condemned the joke. Full Story 

• Beto O'Rourke received threatening messages from pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc, his campaign says

  by Matthew Watkins, Emma Platoff and Patrick Svitek Updated: Oct. 31, 2018

  State Rep. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, was also told by the FBI that the suspected bomber had researched him. Full Story 

• Ahead of trip to Texas, Donald Trump uses a new nickname for Ted Cruz: "Beautiful Ted"

  by Matthew Watkins Oct. 22, 2018

  But Trump said he had no regrets suggesting that Cruz's father was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Full Story 

• Cornyn: Senate SCOTUS vote to be delayed while FBI investigates Kavanaugh

  by Matthew Watkins Updated: Sept. 28, 2018

  U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters in Washington, D.C., that the Senate will delay the full confirmation vote by a week while the FBI investigates allegations of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh. Full Story 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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