Helicopter crashes along U.S.-Mexico border, killing three
Two National Guard members and a U.S. Border Patrol agent died in the crash in Starr County Friday afternoon. Full Story
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Pooja Salhotra
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Pooja Salhotra joined the Tribune in 2022 as its first-ever East Texas reporter based in Lufkin, where she covered a vast region that borders three states and stretches north to Texarkana and south to Beaumont. In late 2023, she relocated to Austin as a general assignment reporter to cover issues ranging from breaking news to developments in state agencies. Pooja was born and raised in the Houston area and graduated from Yale University. She also holds a master’s in fine arts from NYU’s journalism school.
Past Contributions
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![Emergency vehicles and personnel at the site where a Texas National Guard helicopter crashed near La Grulla on March 8, 2024.]()
Credit: KRGV via REUTERS -
Dallas County sheriff to face predecessor Lupe Valdez, who ran for governor in 2018, in runoff election
Valdez ran the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department until 2017, when she stepped down to run against Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
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![Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, left, and current Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown]()
Credit: Dallas County Sheriff Department -
Trump, Biden win Texas primaries
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are almost certain to win their parties’ nominations and face off in November. Full Story
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![Left: Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks as he holds a campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina on Feb. 10, 2024. Right: President Joe Biden holds a campaign rally ahead of the state's Democratic presidential primary, in Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. 4, 2024.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Sam Wolfe | REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque -
Republican voter turnout far outpaces Democrat turnout in 2024 primaries
About 3.2 million Texans voted in the state’s primary election, down from 4.1 million during the 2020 presidential primary. Democratic turnout accounted for the entirety of the decline. Full Story
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![A 'Vote Here' sign is located inside of the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility on Mar. 1, 2024. These signs guide voters into the room where they can cast ballots.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Firefighters rush to subdue deadly Panhandle wildfire before dangerous conditions return Saturday
Light rain and snow Thursday allowed firefighters to gain better control of the state’s largest-ever fire, which has killed at least two people. Full Story
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![A satellite view of the aftermath of the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Fritch, Texas, U.S. February 28, 2024.]()
Credit: Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS -
Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw testifies before grand jury investigating Uvalde school shooting
McCraw, the state police chief, traveled to Uvalde to appear before a grand jury considering criminal charges against officers for their botched response to the 2022 school shooting. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testifies during the Homeland Security & Public Safety committee hearing at the state Capitol in Austin on Feb. 28, 2023. McCraw emphasized the drug and human smuggling crisis at the border, and answered questions concerning the training that DPS officers undergo in relation to school shootings.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Does the First Amendment apply to social media moderation? The U.S. Supreme Court will decide.
In 2021, Texas passed a law restricting large social media companies from banning political posts or users. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a legal challenge to the state law. Full Story
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Judge says Texas school district can punish Black student for length of his hairstyle
After a short trial, a Texas judge ruled that Barbers Hill school officials are not violating a new state law prohibiting hair discrimination. Full Story
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![Darryl George with members of his family. Barbers Hill school district has punished George for his hair.]()
Credit: George family/social media -
A Texas school has punished a Black student over his hairstyle for months. Neither side is backing down.
In a test of Texas’ new CROWN Act prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyles, a judge said the Barbers Hill school district can limit the length of male students’ hair. Full Story
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![Darryl George has been punished by the Barbers Hill school district for his hair.]()
Credit: George family/social media -
UT-Austin football coach Steve Sarkisian to make more than $10 million a year after pay bump
The UT System Board of Regents approved the contract this week, making Sarkisian one of the highest-paid coaches in the country. Full Story
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![Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian walks among players during practice at the Superdome on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.]()
Credit: USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS
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