The attorney general’s office reallocated taxpayer-funded rooms to donors and other private citizens, some of whom initially failed to cover the cost of the stay.
Eleanor Klibanoff
Eleanor Klibanoff is the law and politics reporter, based in Austin, where she covers the the Texas Legislature, the Office of the Attorney General, state and federal courts and politics writ large. She also co-hosts the weekly politics podcast, TribCast. Eleanor previously spent three years as the Tribune’s women’s health reporter, covering abortion, maternal health and LGBTQ issues. Before coming to Texas, Eleanor worked for the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, where she reported, hosted and produced the Peabody-nominated podcast, “Dig.” Eleanor was born in Philadelphia and raised in Atlanta, and attended The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Posted in
State Government
Texas is cutting undocumented immigrants off from school, work and driving
The sweeping rule changes, all enacted outside the typical legislative process, have upended life for noncitizens, including those who are here legally.
Posted in
Courts
Texas judge rejects push to let churches make political endorsements
A group of Texas churches and the IRS agreed to nix the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits nonprofits from endorsing candidates. A Trump-appointed judge said no.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Ken Paxton won’t represent Comptroller Kelly Hancock in school voucher suit amid grudge match
In a Thursday letter, Paxton said Hancock jeopardized the state’s defense in the case by leaking a separate letter he sent to the AG’s office on Tuesday.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Mayes Middleton nabs former opponent Aaron Reitz’s endorsement in GOP attorney general runoff
Reitz, a former aide to Texas AG Ken Paxton, had sharply criticized both Middleton and Chip Roy on the campaign trail.
Posted in
TribCast
TribCast: Inside Texas’ massive ICE detention facilities
The sprawling immigration lockups are serving as a national blueprint. What’s life like for detainees?
Posted in
Courts
Abbott legal brief criticizes Paxton’s rushed lawsuit against Harris County’s immigrant legal fund
“Perhaps the Attorney General only recently learned of this program; perhaps the office’s attention was focused elsewhere,” lawyers for Abbott wrote, noting the fund has existed for five years.
Posted in
TribCast
TribCast: Corpus Christi’s water woes
What does Corpus’ looming water crisis mean for the rest of the state?
Posted in
Politics
Chip Roy faces Mayes Middleton’s millions in Texas attorney general GOP runoff
Middleton gave almost $14 million to his own campaign, helping propel him into first place on election night.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Mayes Middleton, Chip Roy advance to runoff for GOP attorney general nomination
With a self-funded ad surge, Middleton overcame Roy’s initial frontrunner status, taking a commanding lead but falling short of the majority needed to win outright.