UPDATED: The legislation authored by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, that would require court approval for most requests to view or copy crime scene photos that show murder victims passed the Senate Monday without debate.
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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State Government
Video: Perry Calls Obama’s Visit to Austin “Wise”
President Obama said Thursday that Austin was the perfect spot to kick off his “Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity” tour because the city was doing so many things right economically. Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, said he couldn’t agree more.
Posted inState Government
On Austin Visit, Obama Sings City’s Praises
President Obama said Thursday that Austin was the perfect spot to kick off his “Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity” tour because the city was doing so many things right economically. Obama stopped by Manor New Tech High School and also visited a pair of Austin companies, Applied Materials and Capital Factory.
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Criminal Justice
Video: Campus Carry, School Marshal Bills Get Final House Approval
A handful of gun rights expansion bills debated over the weekend received final passage in the House Monday, including two measures that could impact how students of Texas colleges, universities and public schools see firearms carried and used on campus.
Posted in
Energy
Video: Lawmakers Want Answers on West Explosion
A dozen officials from six different state agencies came before the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday to reflect on what worked and what didn’t in the West fertilizer plant explosion.
Posted in
Energy
Lawmakers Want Answers on West Explosion
While not downplaying the devastation of the deadly fertilizer plant explosion in the town of West, the head of the state’s emergency management operations told lawmakers on Wednesday that “the system worked.”
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Energy
Video: What’s Next for Water Infrastructure Funding
The day after the leading measure to fund state water projects stumbled in the House, legislators shifted their focus to a bill that some members hope will also include money for education.
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Economy
Video: Perry Talks About Priorities for Rest of Session
With less than a month remaining in the legislative session, Gov. Rick Perry met with the Texas House GOP Caucus and talked to reporters about his support for a bill that would draw $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund for water infrastructure needs.
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State Government
Labor Bill Spurs Gender Discrimination Debate in House
A debate over equal-pay legislation in the Texas House on Thursday sparked a suggestion that a vote against the labor bill would be a vote against equality for men and women.
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State Government
Video: Lottery Commission Bill Moving Forward
After an unexpected debate that spanned two days, House members passed House Bill 2197 – to continue the Texas Lottery Commission — with a key provision that could ultimately lead to its demise.