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.
Joe Straus became speaker of the Texas House with the help of a relatively small group of Republicans who rebelled against a sitting speaker. Less than five years later, only four of them are left. Full Story
Former Texas Attorney General Dan Morales wants the state to reopen the tobacco litigation that landed him in federal prison, saying the state might be entitled to some of the billions of dollars that were awarded to outside attorneys. Full Story
The state’s 2014 primaries will be held using the congressional and legislative maps approved this summer by lawmakers during a special session, a federal panel of judges in San Antonio ruled Friday. Full Story
Political contributors are ready and willing to give to candidates who can show them some reason — in a very competitive season — why they ought to contribute. But that's not as easy as it looks. Full Story
For this week's nonscientific survey of political and governmental insiders, we asked about the lieutenant governor's call to Allen police, state and federal efforts to stop a merger, federal efforts to stop a state law and a Texas politician's dual citizenship. Full Story
Aguilar finds a marriage divided by a river, Batheja on plans for new gravel roads, Grissom on the latest disputes in the Hank Skinner case, Hamilton follows UT’s top regent into the fray, MacLaggan peers into the digital divide, Murphy maps the levels in Texas’ shrunken lakes, Philpott finds Democrats waiting for Wendy, Root reports that the wait will be a little bit longer, Rocha on John Cornyn and federal health care, Satija finds greener grass that could save water and M. Smith on the growth of cyber schools in Texas: The best of our best for the week of Aug. 26 to 30, 2013. Full Story
The Republican ticket is ready for the unofficial but traditional Labor Day start of the political cycle, but the Democrats are waiting for their top candidate to announce. Full Story
In a new online campaign ad, Republican Jerry Patterson slaps some of his rivals for lieutenant governor for being "soft" and says this summer's filibuster in the Texas Senate — he calls it "Washington West" — might have gone differently with him in charge. Full Story
Lawmakers passed a new set of congressional and legislative maps in their first special session. Redistricting has been a long and contentious process, and it is probably far from over. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
The 2014 election season is already in full swing. Here's a completely unofficial — and very preliminary — look at the people who have either thrown their names in the ring or been mentioned as possible contenders. Full Story