Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett, a nominee of President Donald Trump to a federal court, defended past tweets about transgender people and same-sex marriage as jokes at a confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Emma Platoff
Emma Platoff was a reporter at the Tribune from 2017 to 2021, most recently covering the law and its intersection with politics. A graduate of Yale University, Emma is the former managing editor of the Yale Daily News.
Posted in
Politics
Report: Texas Republicans among top spenders in Congress at Trump properties
Three Texas Republicans are at or near the top of a list of politicians who have spent the most in campaign-related funds at President Donald Trump’s privately-owned properties over the last year, according to a new Washington Post report.
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In Harvey's Wake
Health clinic provides free abortions to 85 women affected by Hurricane Harvey
Whole Woman’s Health provided more than $50,000 in free services to almost 100 women.
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Criminal Justice
In race against Texas judge Sharon Keller, Republican highlighting infamous death row call
Sharon Keller, the longtime presiding judge of Texas’ Court of Criminal Appeals, has tried to move on from several past ethical controversies — including blocking the last-minute appeal of a 2007 execution. A primary challenger hopes voters will reconsider them.
Posted inState Government
U.S. Rep. Al Green vows to force House vote on Trump impeachment “before Christmas”
In his second formal call for the president’s impeachment, U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, pledged Wednesday morning that he would force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on the president’s impeachment by the holidays.
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Higher Education
How Prairie View A&M lured a former Ivy League president out of retirement
Ruth Simmons, a pioneering college administrator and the first black president of an Ivy League university, thought she was done leading colleges after she retired from Brown University. Five years later, she’s back to lead Prairie View A&M.
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Criminal Justice
Trump nominating Ryan Patrick, son of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, to be U.S. attorney
Ryan Patrick, who worked as a state district judge until losing a re-election campaign this past November, would become the top federal prosecutor in one of the busiest districts in the country.
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Public Education
Q&A: Dallas ISD superintendent says merit pay “has possibility” for state
Dallas ISD has pioneered a localized system of merit pay for teachers. Would it work elsewhere in the state? Read what Superintendent Michael Hinojosa had to say.
Posted inState Government
The Q&A: Michael Hinojosa
In this week’s Q&A, we interview Michael Hinojosa, the superintendent of Dallas Independent School District.
Posted inState Government
Five former presidents come together at Texas A&M for hurricane relief
All five living former U.S. presidents gathered at Texas A&M University Saturday night to raise money to benefit the victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.