Texas is as gun-friendly a state as they come. But how do voters feel about gun control, according to recent polls?
Alex Samuels
Alex Samuels was a reporter for The Texas Tribune from 2017 to 2021. She helped with national campaign coverage, wrote stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covered the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She was also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex began at the Tribune as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
Posted in
Politics
Amid questions of whether ex-Congressman Blake Farenthold was hired inappropriately as lobbyist, he says, “I wasn’t involved”
Asked about a report questioning whether Farenthold’s recent hiring as a lobbyist for the Port of Port Lavaca may have violated the Texas Open Meetings Act, he said, “I don’t know anything about it.”
Posted in
This Is Your Texas
When Texas standardized tests have glitches, special education students can be deeply affected
As thousands of students take the online STAAR assessment were booted from the testing server this week, parents and special education advocates argued that the students most affected by these glitches are the ones most ill-equipped to bounce back.
Posted in
Guides
Texas ranks 36th nationally in per-student education spending. Here’s how much it spends.
Total spending on public education has stayed relatively steady over the past decade. But who is paying for it has shifted.
Posted in
Guides
Republicans dominate the Texas House. So why is a Democrat running for speaker?
Running for speaker in a chamber that’s nearly two-thirds Republican seems like a long shot for Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas. But there might be things he could gain other than the gavel.
Posted in
Guides
The next local control fight explained: Why Austin passed a citywide sick leave policy
There’s no state or federal law requiring employers to give their workers paid sick leave. But under the mandate recently passed by the Austin City Council, many private employers in the state’s capital city will be required to allow their workers to accrue up to 64 hours of paid sick leave per year.
Posted in
Politics
Hysteria over Jade Helm exercise in Texas was fueled by Russians, former CIA director says
Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision in 2015 to ask the Texas State Guard to monitor a federal military exercise prompted significant criticism. A former CIA director said Wednesday that the move emboldened Russians to next target elections.
Posted in
This Is Your Texas
Texas has a plan to fix special education. Now what?
Our Facebook community, This Is Your Texas, spent the month of April discussing Texas education policy. With the state education agency expected to announce a plan to overhaul special education programs in public schools, we asked members of our community what questions they have about such services — and turned to a disability rights advocate for help answering them.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
State Rep. Eric Johnson, a Democrat, declares candidacy for Texas House Speaker
State Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, filed Wednesday for speaker of the Texas House, making him the first Democrat to enter the race to succeed retiring House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Texas is holding a special election to fill Blake Farenthold’s seat. Here’s how that works.
A special election doesn’t play out like normal elections. For starters, there are no primaries. Every candidate who files for the seat – regardless of party affiliation – will appear on one ballot.
