A new audio series, a collaboration between The Texas Tribune and 1A, explores why students of color in Longview ISD still don’t have the same educational opportunities as white students.
Alexa Ura
Alexa Ura reported for The Texas Tribune from 2013 to 2023. She covered the complex dynamics of race, ethnicity, wealth, poverty and power and how they are shaping the future of Texas and Texans, in the long and short term. Alexa started at the Tribune as a reporting intern before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and joining the staff full time. Originally from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border, she is a native Spanish speaker and is based in Austin.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Crystal Mason’s ballot was never counted. Will she still serve five years in prison for illegally voting?
Her lawyers say if her sentence stands, it could discourage low-information voters from going to the polls at all.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas
How a decade of voting rights fights led to fewer redistricting safeguards for Texas voters of color
In a state with a long history of discrimination, lawmakers on Tuesday will kick off the 2021 round of political mapmaking — the first in nearly half a century without federal oversight.
Posted in
El Paso shooting
State leaders are looking for solutions after El Paso. Texas Latinos say they can start by changing the words they use.
“Words not only matter but in today’s world, words are having more and more significant existential consequences in our society,” said Miguel Solis, a Dallas school board member.
Posted inState Government
Gov. Greg Abbott names new secretary of state months after botched voter roll review
Ruth Ruggero Hughs replaces David Whitley, who failed to receive Senate confirmation after his office questioned the voter eligibility of thousands of naturalized citizens.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces roundtables to explore responses to El Paso shooting
Abbott announced a similar series of roundtables after the shooting at Santa Fe High School.
Posted inState Government
Federal lawsuit claims Texas’ mail-in ballot procedures are unconstitutional
A civil rights group has sued on behalf of two residents who say their votes were rejected based on their signatures.
Posted in
El Paso shooting
A racist manifesto and a shooter terrorize Hispanics in El Paso and beyond
On Saturday, the city was the victim of white supremacy, but it was not the only target. By terrorizing El Paso, the gunman terrorized Hispanics across the state and the country.
Posted inState Government
Gov. Greg Abbott is required to appoint a secretary of state “without delay.” It has been 63 days since the last one left.
Former Secretary of State David Whitley resigned after a botched review of the voter rolls.
Posted in
Texas Voting Rights
Many Texans’ votes are lost when they go to the wrong polling place. Counties see countywide vote centers as an answer.
The 2020 election could mark the first time the state’s five largest counties allow residents to vote at any polling place instead of limiting them to precinct-based sites on Election Day.
