As the week-long trial on Texas’ redistricting battle nears its finish line, testimony Wednesday washed the 2013 Legislature — the body of lawmakers who adopted the court-drawn state House and congressional maps still in place — back to shore.
Cassandra Pollock
Cassandra Pollock was a state politics reporter for the Tribune. She joined the Tribune full-time in June 2017 after a fellowship during the 85th Texas Legislature. Pollock spent her first two years at the Trib as an engagement reporter, which meant her name likely landed in your inbox every weekday morning with “The Brief,” a newsletter on all things Texas politics and public policy. Pollock is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. Pollock left The Texas Tribune in 2021.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Texas Republicans in D.C. are reluctant to weigh in on Trump and Russia
Texas Republicans in Congress dodged and ducked Tuesday when asked about the news that Donald Trump Jr., son of President Donald Trump, released emails showing he accepted a meeting with a Russian government lawyer to get dirt on Hillary Clinton during the presidential campaign in June 2016.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Start your engines, #txlege.
Summer is over and it’s back to work for the Texas Legislature one week from today, Gov. Greg Abbott officially proclaimed Monday, summoning state lawmakers to Austin’s pink dome to work on legislation they didn’t pass during the regular session.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: And we’re off — the Texas redistricting trial starts today
The curtains are rising on the redistricting case in Texas today as three federal judges in San Antonio begin a week-long trial centered on a crucial question: Did the state intentionally weaken voting rights for millions of Texans just because of their skin color?
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Today marks the 1-year anniversary of the deadly Dallas police ambush. Here’s what’s happened since.
It’s been one year since a sniper opened fire on law enforcement in downtown Dallas, killing five police officers and injuring several more.
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Criminal Justice
Everything you need to know about Texas’ “sanctuary cities” law
Here’s everything you need to know about Senate Bill 4, a controversial immigration enforcement measure banning “sanctuary cities” across Texas.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: A lawmaker told Abbott a hot air balloon hog hunting bill could be a “future catastrophe.” Abbott signed it anyway.
Wild hogs and hot air balloons aren’t a good mix, wrote one Republican lawmaker to Gov. Greg Abbott in May, trying to convince the governor to veto a bill that could potentially create a “future catastrophe.” The request seemingly fell on deaf ears; Abbott signed the legislation last month.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Here’s what you missed over the holiday weekend
Alas, the loooong holiday weekend is in the rearview. But there’s lots of great reading to get you caught up on. Here’s what you need to know:
Posted inState Government
The Brief: A few Texas-sized takeaways for the July 4 holiday
Are you sunburned yet? In between grilling, swimming and readying for tomorrow’s Fourth of July holiday, here are a few — patriotic? — Texas-sized takeaways from the 85th Legislature.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Paxton leads charge to end 2012 immigration program
Fully end an Obama-era immigration program or we’ll see you in court, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told the Trump administration Thursday, announcing Texas would lead a 10-state charge to terminate a policy that has allowed nearly 200,000 undocumented immigrants to live and work in the state.