As Harvey’s waters strand thousands of folks in their homes and send some onto rooftops — a chorus of onlookers have asked: Why didn’t more local officials order mandatory evacuations?
Brandon Formby
Brandon Formby works with The Texas Tribune’s beat editors and reporters to bring Texans the news, analysis and explanatory journalism they need to put pressing issues into perspective. Previously, as an editor on the news desk, he helped steer coverage of legislative sessions, natural disasters, prolonged power outages, mass shootings and the coronavirus pandemic. As a reporter, he covered urban affairs. Before joining the Tribune in 2016, he reported on transportation, politics and local government for The Dallas Morning News. Brandon grew up in Plano and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas Tech University. He is based in Austin.
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In Harvey's Wake
Coastal Texas county’s long recovery from Hurricane Harvey begins
Nowhere was Hurricane Harvey’s devastation felt more than Aransas County, which has had one storm-related death and has had many buildings severely damaged. The region’s difficult physical — and emotional — recovery is underway.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Ahead of Hurricane Harvey, officials send Texans mixed messages on evacuations
In the hours before Hurricane Harvey hits Texas, some local leaders told residents to flee their homes, while others urged them to stay in place and wait out the storm.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
As Hurricane Harvey draws nearer, South Texans head north
Amid warnings from family and memories of past hurricanes, scores of Texans in the Corpus Christi area are grabbing their belongings, boarding up their homes and hitting the highway to flee Hurricane Harvey.
Posted inState Government
As chambers negotiate on property taxes, intra-Republican tensions flare
Lawmakers moved closer Monday to giving some — but not all — Texans more say over the property taxes they must pay cities, counties and special-purpose districts each year.
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Politics
Property tax legislation clears major hurdle in House
The lower chamber wants to set the threshold requiring voter approval of some property tax collection increases at 6 percent. The Senate put the trigger at 4 percent.
Posted inState Government
Special session bills finally reach Abbott’s desk, but big hurdles remain with 5 days left
Legislation finally began reaching Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk on Friday — with five days left in the special session — but there’s still much progress to be made on Abbott’s 20-item agenda.
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Transportation
How Angela Hunt changed Dallas’ mind about its divisive riverside toll road
Once the lone dissident against an army of elected officials, the land-use attorney made a name for herself pushing back against North Texas’ long-planned Trinity Parkway. After 11 years, her fight paid off.
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Economy
In Texas House, property tax proposals range from minor tweaks to abolishment
After a proposal to give a property tax exemption to Purple Heart recipients hit a snag on the House floor Monday, a committee considered a more radical idea: eliminating school district property taxes altogether.
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Politics
Here are 5 takeaways from the first half of the special session
At the likely halfway point of a 30-day special session, the Texas House and Senate are taking very different approaches to the governor’s sprawling agenda, and they could be headed for another standoff on a so-called “bathroom bill.”
