After narcotics seizures surged 45 percent in 2010, the Laredo Customs District saw a relatively minimal increase in contraband intercepted at its ports in 2011. But others aren’t sure the federal government should applaud so loudly about the Laredo district figures, saying efforts on the whole are still lacking.
Becca Aaronson
Becca Aaronson was the first product manager at the Tribune, where she worked from 2010 to 2018. As product manager, Becca managed the Tribune's website redesign, coordinates cross-departmental projects and conducted user research to improve reader experience. She previously worked on the Tribune's data visuals team as a developer and project manager, contributing to several award-winning investigative projects. She covered health care from 2012 to 2014, making waves with her coverage of women's health and the Wendy Davis abortion filibuster.
She has a bachelor’s degree in cultural theory from Scripps College in Claremont, Calif.
Posted in
Politics
Updated: Anti-Piracy Bill Worries Tech Industry Leaders
U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith said in a press release on Friday that he plans to remove controversial provisions in the Stop Online Piracy Act. As Andy Uhler of KUT News reports, some online-business leaders say the legislation, introduced by Smith, R-San Antonio, could cause economic damage.
Posted in
Economy
Texas Tech Companies Oppose Anti-Piracy Bill
Online piracy is hurting the nation’s economy and putting lives at risk, says U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith. He wrote the Stop Online Piracy Act to address the problem, but his bill has gotten the cold shoulder in his home state.
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: What Are the Odds of a Third-Party Win for The Donald in Texas?
Supporters of business tycoon Donald Trump have filed paperwork to establish the Make America Great Again Party so that “The Donald” might still be able to run for president here. Could he actually win Texas?
Posted inEconomy
Enterprise Fund Lures Businesses, But Job Numbers in Dispute
As Gov. Rick Perry pushes his employment initiatives on the presidential campaign trail, he often touts the jobs created by the Texas Enterprise Fund. But Perry’s opponents say the fund’s contributions to the Texas economy have been far overstated.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
On the Records: Texas Has Largest Population Growth
The Lone Star State is getting bigger. Texas had the largest population growth of any state between April 2010 and July 2011, according to figures released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Dallas Fed President: Indecision Stymies Economy
The engine is primed to rev up the national economy, but businesses aren’t putting the pedal to the metal, Richard W. Fisher, the president and CEO of the Dallas Federal Reserve, said today.
Posted in
Economy
Unemployment Drops in November as Private Industries Grow
The Texas unemployment rate dropped from 8.4 percent to 8.1 percent in November, according to statistics released today by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Posted inEconomy
Interactive: Texas’ Most Impoverished Counties
This interactive shows the demographics of poverty in each Texas county using the most up-to-date data from the American Community Survey. Browse the maps to compare poverty rates by age, sex, race and ethnicity, educational attainment and employment.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
On the Records: What Are Federal Lawmakers Saying?
The Sunlight Foundation released an update to the interactive Capitol Words on Monday. The application allows users to search and compare words spoken by federal legislators using data from the Congressional Record.
