Silicon Valley heavyweights like Uber, Tesla and Google challenged the transportation status quo this year, along with a private firm that is hoping to build the country’s fastest high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston.
Aman Batheja
Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics. A native of Cedarhurst, New York, he has an undergraduate degree in journalism and psychology from New York University and a master's in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Posted in
Politics
Attorney General’s Office: Abbott’s Budget Vetoes Should Stand
Gov. Greg Abbott was well within his powers when he vetoed more than $200 million in funds approved by the Texas Legislature this year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office wrote in an opinion issued Monday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Linklater, Black, McConaughey Organize “Bernie” Fundraiser
Four years after director Richard Linklater made a dark comedy about convicted murderer Bernie Tiede, the filmmaker and the film’s star-studded cast are planning a fundraiser to help pay for Tiede’s legal costs ahead of a new sentencing trial.
Posted in
Politics
Lt. Gov. Patrick Appoints Allen West to Texas Sunset Commission
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday announced the appointment of conservative firebrand Allen West, a former Florida congressman and prominent Fox News contributor, to the state’s Sunset Commission.
Posted in
Transportation
With New Rules, Will Uber, Lyft Stay in Austin?
The future of popular vehicle-for-hire services Uber and Lyft in Austin is up in the air following the city council’s approval early Friday of an ordinance aimed at regulating the firms more like traditional taxi companies.
Posted in
Transportation
Transportation Agency Names its Next Chief
The Texas Transportation Commission selected a new executive director for the Texas Department of Transportation Thursday: James Bass, the agency’s longtime chief financial officer.
Posted inState Government
Surprise Congressional Challenge as Filing Ends
The window for candidates to file for the March 1 primaries closed Monday evening, and Texas Democrats had a last-minute surprise as former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia filed to challenge U.S. Rep. Gene Green of Houston.
Posted in
Energy
Burnam Joins Race for Open Railroad Commission Seat
Former state Rep. Lon Burnam, a Fort Worth Democrat, said Sunday that he has filed to run for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency that regulates oil and gas development.
Posted in
Economy
Abbott Gets in the Ring, Approves $2.7 Million for WrestleMania
Gov. Greg Abbott has committed $2.7 million in taxpayer dollars to bring WrestleMania to AT&T Stadium in Arlington next year, one of 20 events his office has approved such funding for since September.
Posted in
Economy
Uber-Style Moving Apps Draw State’s Attention
A new breed of app-based moving companies has drawn the interest of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, which wants to ensure that companies with names like Buddytruk and PICKUP are following state laws.
