Latest Contributions

• A family is suing Texas’ power grid operator after their son died from suspected hypothermia. But ERCOT may be shielded from lawsuits.

  by Reese Oxner Feb. 22, 2021

  A Conroe family is suing ERCOT and Entergy Texas for a total of $100 million after their son died inside his bed from suspected hypothermia. Full Story 

• Texans now face a water crisis after enduring days without power

  by Reese Oxner Feb. 19, 2021

  About half of the state’s population is affected by water infrastructure problems, from complete outages to boil-water notices. Full Story 

• Two hurricanes could form in the Gulf of Mexico next week, and one storm is heading toward Texas

  by Reese Oxner Aug. 21, 2020

  Tropical Depression 14 is forecasted to intensify briefly into a hurricane and then weaken before making landfall early Tuesday. It could hit somewhere near the Texas-Louisiana border. Full Story 

• With no end to the shutdown in sight, Texas bar owners and employees are on the brink of losing everything

  by Reese Oxner Aug. 21, 2020

  Some bar owners are planning to reopen in defiance of the moratorium, a desperate attempt to generate income — and draw Gov. Greg Abbott’s attention. Full Story 

• San Antonio postal union leader describes mass delays, says Postal Service hid backlogged mail from congressman

  by Reese Oxner and Abby Livingston Aug. 20, 2020

  The union leader said tens of thousands of pieces of mail were carted away ahead of U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro’s visit. The office's delays have been exacerbated by employees missing because of COVID-19 concerns. Full Story 

• Jay Hartzell named sole finalist for UT-Austin president

  by Reese Oxner Aug. 12, 2020

  Hartzell, dean of the University of Texas at Austin’s business school, has served as interim president since April after former president Greg Fenves stepped down after five years at the helm. Full Story 

• What losing football to COVID-19 would mean for Texas college towns: "It’s like losing Christmas"

  by Raga Justin and Reese Oxner Aug. 11, 2020

  Economists said canceling football would be devastating to local businesses that rely on the huge influxes of cash from home games. Meanwhile, athletics officials weigh whether they can risk the health and welfare of student athletes. Full Story 

• Restaurants, bars and breweries scramble to reinvent themselves to get around Gov. Greg Abbott's bar shutdown

  by Reese Oxner Aug. 10, 2020

  Businesses that make up most of their sales with alcohol were closed down by Abbott's latest shutdown order, leaving them to maneuver through loopholes to reopen. Full Story 

• UT-Austin will test 5,000 people a week for coronavirus and cover out-of-pocket costs for students

  by Reese Oxner Aug. 6, 2020

  The university plans to test all of its campus residence hall students by the beginning of September. It will continue to identify individuals or groups on campus strategically to test those at a higher risk of disease spread and perform random testing. Full Story 

• At least 187 Texans received mystery seeds mailed from China. State officials warn they shouldn't be planted.

  by Reese Oxner July 29, 2020

  Officials are unsure of the motive behind the unsolicited packets but suspect that they are part of an online scam. Full Story 

• Thousands of Texans remain without power in the aftermath of Hurricane Hanna

  by Reese Oxner July 27, 2020

  Gov. Greg Abbott cautioned that there will be continued threats of flash flooding even as rainfall slows. Full Story 

• Timing of Supreme Court justice’s retirement allows Gov. Greg. Abbott, not voters, to pick his two-year replacement

  by Reese Oxner July 22, 2020

  Aug. 21 is the deadline for vacancies that trigger a November election to fill open seats. If Green’s replacement is not on this year’s ballot, the next general election will be in November 2022. Abbott will appoint someone to fill the rest of the term. Full Story 

• Texas Supreme Court Justice Paul Green says he will retire at the end of August after 15 years on the bench

  by Reese Oxner Updated: July 21, 2020

  Green's term ends Dec. 31, 2022. Gov. Greg Abbott will appoint his successor. Full Story 

• Facing budget shortfalls, nearly 100 Texas mayors plead with Congress for coronavirus relief funding

  by Reese Oxner and Juan Pablo Garnham July 21, 2020

  City leaders are asking for more spending flexibility to address the financial shortfalls caused by the pandemic. Full Story 

• Watch: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the state’s $4.6 billion deficit and the next budget cycle

  by Reese Oxner Updated: July 22, 2020

  We sat down for an interview with Hegar to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Texas' economy and the challenges the Legislature will face when setting the two-year budget. Full Story 

• Texas attorney general says religious private schools "need not comply" with local health orders to close

  by Reese Oxner July 17, 2020

  On Wednesday, TEA officials confirmed that school districts wouldn't be penalized for barring students on campuses if local health officials mandated that schools stay closed, as long as remote instruction is offered. Full Story 

• Distilleries, wineries shuttered by Gov. Greg Abbott's bar shutdown say they should be exempted

  by Reese Oxner July 15, 2020

  Distillery, winery and some restaurant owners say their businesses are different from traditional bars, which Abbott closed after COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations began to climb in June. Full Story 

• Three Texas House incumbents — Dan Flynn, Anna Eastman and J.D. Sheffield — lose in primary runoffs

  by Cassandra Pollock and Reese Oxner Updated: July 15, 2020

  Two other incumbents — Democrats Lorraine Birabil and Harold Dutton — were also on the ballot Tuesday. Full Story 

• UT-Austin says it will keep "The Eyes of Texas" as school song, but will rename buildings as Black students call for change

  by Reese Oxner July 13, 2020

  Last month, student athletes at the University of Texas at Austin said they would forgo recruiting and donor events if campus and athletic leaders failed to implement their demands, which were aimed at supporting students of color. Full Story 

• Trump's ban on new visas will hurt Texas universities, experts say

  by Reese Oxner July 12, 2020

  Universities often hire professors and researchers using H-1B visas. Experts say limiting them only makes U.S. universities less competitive internationally. Full Story