Texas Tech football coach defends his role in Utah State sexual assault scandal
A federal lawsuit filed this month alleges Coach Matt Wells failed to respond to sexual assault allegations. Full Story
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Shannon Najmabadi
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Shannon Najmabadi was a reporter at the Tribune from 2017 to 2021, most recently covering women's health. Her stories — on higher education and other topics — have prompted lawmakers to change three state laws, including one involving a very narrow definition of the word “pickle.” She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia University.
Past Contributions
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![Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium in Tucson on Sept. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS -
U.S. Department of Education reviewing Texas State University's compliance with a federal crime-reporting statute
The move comes after the university acknowledged it under-reported the number of rapes and other crimes on campus in recent years. Texas State's president told students Thursday that the school is cooperating with the federal agency and has already made reforms. Full Story
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![Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
At 69, she's still paying off $12,000 of student debt — including out of her Social Security checks. It isn't just a millennial problem.
About 222,140 Texans ages 60 and older had student loan debt in 2017, carrying a median load of $15,754, according to government data. Full Story
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![Lynda Costley kept a record of her student loan payments since January of 2014.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M System employees were asked to teach office pet birds to say “howdy.” It didn’t go well.
A few parakeets that seemed to cause most of the consternation were swiftly removed and the birds that remain are well-liked by employees, a System spokesperson said. Full Story
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![Parakeets hang out on a bannister in the Moore/Connally Building in College Station on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2019.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
The 2019 Texas inauguration cost a record $5.3 million. Where are the receipts?
The Texas Tribune is suing to discover what happened to millions raised mostly from top lobbying firms, corporations, wealthy businesspeople and trade groups for the inauguration of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![Air Force fighter planes fly over the state capitol during the Oath of Office Ceremony. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Governor Greg Abbott were sworn into their respective offices. Jan. 15, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
While Texas State underreported campus crime, former employees say some surveillance cameras and emergency phones were broken
School officials believe the majority of security technology is operational now and said they were not aware of systemic problems in the past. Full Story
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![A blue-lit emergency call box on the Texas State University campus.]()
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Texas A&M University System to ban vaping across all its campuses
"This health threat is serious enough that I want to see the ban include every building, outside space, parking lot, garage and laboratory within the Texas A&M System," Chancellor John Sharp wrote in a Tuesday memorandum. Full Story
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![The water tower at Texas A&M University.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas State dramatically under-reported the number of sexual assaults on campus in 2016 and 2017
The university said in a statement it has "implemented university-wide processes to help ensure accurate crime statistics reporting moving forward." Full Story
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![Students walk through "The Quad" at Texas State University in San Marcos.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
UT athletic director says Longhorn-Aggie rivalry football game should happen
“Us not playing A&M is not good for college football,” said UT's athletic director, Chris Del Conte. Full Story
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![Matthew Watkins moderates the “Good Sports” panel with guests John D. Steinmetz, Chris Del Conte, Renu Khator and Ross Bjork at The Texas Tribune Festival Sept. 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas State University says it misreported campus crime numbers
Texas State, which has already undertaken reforms, said the "system previously in place did not produce accurate statistics." School officials said the U.S. Department of Education has been working with university police to ensure accurate information in an annual campus security report due next month. Full Story
![Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune