We visited the University of Texas at Austin’s McLellan Lab, where scientists have made a critical breakthrough toward developing a vaccine for the 2019 novel coronavirus.
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.
A model that has laid the groundwork for other nonprofit journalism startups
The Texas Tribune has shared its insights about paying for journalism in the 21st century, and that has helped other nonprofit journalism outlets find a recipe for success.
The on-air authority on state politics and policy
More than a website, The Texas Tribune has worked to grow its reach and foster an engaged electorate by appearing on television news stations across the state.
Big Tex and Dickies are a perfect fit, but Uvalde factory’s fate is another story
Iconic Texas-based clothing maker Williamson-Dickie made headlines last year when it announced it was closing its last U.S. factory, in Uvalde. While that plant has been repurposed and still employs several residents, the city is grappling over changes to a key partner in its community.
After El Paso shooting, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says video games teach young people “to kill”
Patrick told “Fox & Friends” on Sunday that he believes a lot of factors contributed to the deadly shooting in El Paso, including violence on social media and the video gaming industry.
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe to replace Dan Coats as national intelligence director
President Donald Trump is said to have been pleased by the Texas Republican’s admonishment of former special counsel Robert Mueller in last week’s House Judiciary Committee hearing.
Family separations aren’t over. As many as five kids per day are separated from their parents at the border.
More than a year after President Donald Trump ended the policy that led to widespread family separations, migrant advocates say the government continues separating children from parents for questionable reasons.
Art Acevedo urges Congress to act on immigration reform: “We cannot have groundhog day, day in and day out”
Amid the specter of family deportations in Houston, many Texas officials and migrant advocates agree it’s past time that federal lawmakers address the nation’s complicated asylum and immigration systems. But opinions vary about whether state and federal responses in recent days will prompt congressional action.
“No fist fights. No gun threats.” Lawmakers give 86th Texas Legislature high marks
Members of the Texas House and Senate wasted little time touting the never-ending “kumbaya” feeling that enabled them to reform school finance and property taxes. For those who covered the Capitol, a substantive, successful session meant a “boring” one.
Many marijuana and pro-LGBTQ bills died this legislative session. Expect to see them back in 2021.
While lawmakers in the 86th Texas Legislature advanced measures on some controversial issues, they know it often takes several sessions to pass bills and say they intend to refile them next time.



