/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/ramsey-ross_TT.jpg)
Ross Ramsey co-founded The Texas Tribune in 2009 and served as its executive editor until his retirement in 2022. He wrote regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He did a 28-month stint in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Before that, he reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers, and for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.
The pandemic has been with us since late winter, but state leaders seem to have forgotten something they already know from other disasters: You can get ready when a storm is coming, or wait until it blows your roof off. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/96552545964dd3f24ccd39d3516de175/ATX%20Jordan%20COVID%20Long%20Wait%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
It's a déjà vu moment, with the Texas government making some of the same moves to curb the spread of the coronavirus that it adopted in March — and started to get rid of a month later. The virus is spreading, and the remedies are back. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/921eec71a187bc27367b39c3cb5e4106/ATX%20Hancock%20COVID%20Long%20Wait%20MG%20TT%2003.jpg)
Texas government is going in two directions at once, with Gov. Greg Abbott blowing a whistle on rising COVID-19 numbers while top education officials detail plans to open public schools for in-person classes this fall. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/58a5a69fed329454cca4ba39e059b946/090519-Hemphill%20Elementary-007%20TT.jpg)
More people are out and about, and coronavirus cases are rising in Texas. But there's an easy way to limit the spread of the virus, if people will set their politics aside: masks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8566fa820107988cdf847787b0634619/Reopen%20Texas%20Protest%20JV%20TT%2008.jpg)
The Texas Legislature is supposed to convene in January — and would ordinarily be holding public hearings on various issues between now and then. That begs a question: Is there a safe way to open the Texas Capitol to lawmakers and the public? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9753346ffdc4ef656da961bb8c82bc62/IMG_9754.jpg)
Texas isn't properly protecting the children in foster care, according to federal court monitors examining a system that's been dangerous to kids — in the view of the courts — for at least the last decade. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/13c6dc2bbe8b291854587da4d0048960/Texas%20DFPS%20EG%20TT%2012.jpg)
When Texas stores closed and social distancing began at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, sales naturally dropped. So did sales taxes, and local and state government revenues. But not everywhere, it turns out. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a95c2bca026815374bc4b80ff77374f9/Packages%20Delivery%20Amazon%20Boxes%20TT.jpg)
State leaders knew COVID-19 cases would rise as businesses and other public places opened, but steady increases over the last two weeks have everyone watching the numbers very closely. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/63d4a9fdf77b1ca7817341aabde678c3/Coronavirus%20May%20REUTERS%20TT%2003.JPG)
Moving local elections because of the pandemic might seem unremarkable. But it gives voters a rare chance to instantly grade elected officials' handling of a pandemic and a bad economy, as well as their response to cases of police brutality. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1bc967fdd8431ce1d09199f16d6dd4b3/ATX%20Floyd%20Protest%20May%2031%20MG%20TT%2013.jpg)
Texas Democrats convened last week. But it was the state's Republicans giving them the most hope about the coming November elections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08c9e39945eed3ca25001c060518f211/Texas%20Capitol%20ATX%20TT.jpg)