The Texas Education Agency cited COVID-19’s disproportionate effect on communities of color as reason for lower engagement and attendance rates among students of color.
Allyson Waller
Allyson Waller was a newsletter writer at The Texas Tribune. Previously, she was part of the 2020-2021 New York Times Fellowship class where she worked as a general assignment reporter for the publication’s breaking news desk. Allyson is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in journalism. While at UT Austin, she interned at the Miami Herald as a local government reporter and The Texas Tribune as an investigative fellow.
Posted in
Courts
Academy sports chain can’t be sued for selling gun used in Texas’ deadliest mass shooting, state Supreme Court says
The gunman should not have been able to purchase an assault style rifle, but the store conducted the required federal background check, which didn’t reveal his past assault conviction, the court said.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
As most states raise their minimum wages, Texas refuses to budge
This year alone, 18 states increased their minimum wage and 30 states now have a minimum wage that exceeds the federal government’s $7.25-per-hour rate. Many of Texas’ major cities have boosted pay, too. Will the state follow suit?
Posted in
Health care
Texas still hasn’t expanded Medicaid. That’s leaving a gap in coverage for hundreds of thousands.
More and more states have decided to expand Medicaid, but Texas has not budged. With more than a half million Texans in the so-called health coverage gap, will the politics of the issue shift in next year’s legislative session?
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Democratic women lead biggest shift in Texas House since 2010 midterms
Led by female candidates, Texas Democrats picked up 12 Texas House seats from Republicans, mostly in North Texas. But Republicans still have the edge in the lower chamber.
Posted inState Government
Over a million Texas children could qualify for subsidized child care — but less than 10 percent of them receive it
An increase in federal funding for subsidized child care has slashed waitlists for care across the state, but advocates argue that it’s still not enough to fully serve the number of low-income children who qualify for care.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Texas sees huge turnout on first day of early voting
Texas counties large and small saw substantial voter turnout on the first day of early voting for the 2018 midterm elections.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Can a moderate Democrat win in a Texas district held by Republicans for decades?
In an open seat race, two political newcomers — a moderate Democrat and a conservative — are competing to win in a Republican district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016.
Posted in
Politics
After another member is accused of sexual misconduct, the Texas Senate takes a wait-and-see approach
A recent allegation of sexual misconduct against a state senator highlights the ambiguity that remains at the Capitol over how Texas lawmakers respond to such cases.