Members of the 84th Legislature rode off into the sunset on June 1 leaving plenty of memorable moments in their trails. Listen to our recap of some of those moments as part of a special episode of Texas Standard.
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.
Posted in
Politics
Video: Perry Revisits Iowa in First Official Campaign Swing
Less than 48 hours after announcing his second run for the Republican presidential nomination, former Gov. Rick Perry started a swing through Iowa — before heading to New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Posted in
Politics
Perry Revisits Iowa in First Official Campaigning
UPDATED: Less than 48 hours after announcing his second run for the Republican presidential nomination, former Gov. Rick Perry started a swing through Iowa on Saturday before heading to New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Posted in
Politics
Video: Perry Makes 2016 Presidential Bid Official
On Thursday, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry officially threw his name into the 2016 race for the White House. His announcement comes four years after his first presidential campaign. Supporters say they’re not looking back.
Posted in
State Government
Video: Wrapping Up the 84th Legislature
Lawmakers in the State Capitol spent the final day of the 84th Legislature making speeches and saying farewell to colleagues who aren’t seeking another term. But before Monday, there was plenty of debate and bills passed on issues that impact every Texan.
Posted in
State Government
Roundup: Budget, Gun Bills Crowd Abbott’s Desk
In the Roundup: With the budget passed, lawmakers shifted their attention in the final weekend of the 84th Legislature to guns – sending bills to Gov. Greg Abbott that change how and where you can carry a handgun.
Posted in
State Government
Roundup: Guns, Border Security & #ChubASong
In the Roundup: Measures related to guns and border security all got one step closer to becoming law in these final days of the 84th Legislature, and Democrats succeeded in knocking a key bill for conservatives off the calendar.
Posted in
State Government
Craddick: Bill Banning Texting While Driving is Dead
With the death of a bill that would have created a statewide texting-while-driving ban, the measure’s author said Thursday that legislators “have not done our job as lawmakers to protect the life and safety of all Texans.”
Posted in
State Government
Video: Veterans’ Tuition Benefit Largely Unchanged in House
After months of debate over how to rein in the growing costs associated with the Hazlewood Act – the state’s tuition benefits program for veterans and their dependents – it appears as though it will largely stay the same.
Posted in
State Government
Roundup: Cannabis Oil, Execution Drugs and Fracking Bans
In the Roundup: Lawmakers endorse allowing epilepsy patients to use cannabis oil for treatment, pharmacies that supply the state its execution drugs will not be disclosed, and Gov. Greg Abbott wastes little time signing the “Denton fracking bill” into law.
