In the Roundup: With Ted Cruz polling near the top of the GOP presidential pack, all eyes were on the Texas senator in this week’s debate. Also, Gov. Greg Abbott orders the Texas National Guard to stay put along the Texas-Mexico border, and the Texas Racing Commission could soon be a thing of the past.
Alana Rocha
Alana Rocha was the director of news partnerships for The Texas Tribune until June 2022. She was previously a multimedia reporter, after working in television and radio news for eight years. Alana covered politics for stations in Florida, Kansas and Texas and traveled the country reporting from the 2012 and 2016 presidential campaign trails. She was the lead reporter on several award-winning projects and launched “The Brief,” a daily audio update. A native of Tampa, Florida, Alana received bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from the University of Florida.
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Demographics
Roundup: Refugees, Visa Waivers, Supreme Court
In this special edition of the Political Roundup: Texas lawmakers introduce and advance legislation in Washington to create new curbs on Syrian refugees entering the country. And the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in two Texas cases.
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State Government
Roundup: Syrian Refugees, Sanctuary Cities, Cruz
In the Roundup: Texas sues to shut its doors to Syrian refugees, a legislative committee looks to strengthen immigration laws and the latest on Republican Ted Cruz’s presidential bid.
Posted inState Government
Video: Outtakes from Ted Cruz Ad Campaign Shoots
Earlier this year, U.S. Sen Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign posted hours of video on its YouTube channel of interviews and other footage that has since been used in ads. According to this CNN post, many candidates quietly post raw videos on public websites as a way to share material legally with Super PACs.
Posted inState Government
Statewide Officeholders Staying Put in Austin
Four of the five statewide elected officials eligible to move out of the capital city following the Nov. 3 passage of Proposition 3, which repealed the state capital residency requirement, said they’ll continue to call Austin home.
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Demographics
Video: Same-Sex Couples Struggle with Immigration
Months after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, some Texas couples are still working to get their spousal immigration benefits realized. They’re finding that legal matrimony doesn’t always lead to citizenship.
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Demographics
Roundup: Refugee Policy, Perry Indictment, Campus Carry
In the Roundup: Texas officials take aim at the issue of Syrian refugee resettlement, Rick Perry’s defense team argues to have his indictment dismissed and a lawmaker seeks clarification on the campus carry gun law.
Posted inState Government
Willie Nelson Uniting the Red and the Blue in D.C.
A bipartisan crowd turns out for the Texas icon being awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
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Demographics
Roundup: Cruz’s Debate, Immigration, Congestion
In the Roundup: Amid a debate full of substance, GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz had a rare flub. Plus, a federal appeals court ruled against a controversial Obama administration immigration program, and researchers identified the top 100 congested roads in the state.
Posted inState Government
Video: Horse Breeders Nervously Monitor Next Steps for Racing Panel
The Texas Racing Commission is facing a precarious future, with state lawmakers now requiring that it get written permission to continue operating. It’s currently working under a 90-day extension. Such uncertainty is a problem for horse breeders and trainers, who have to plan more than a year out from their next race.
