The impact of House Speaker Joe Straus’ departure from the Capitol can’t be understated, according to one political scientist: “The political center of the state collapsed today.”
Jay Root
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies.
In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border.
Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
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In Harvey's Wake
Houston lawyer Mostyn talks Harvey, Irma and how new laws could affect storm-related lawsuits
Mostyn, a top Democratic donor who has made a fortune suing insurance companies on behalf of homeowners after hurricanes, assesses the legal landscape after hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
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In Harvey's Wake
As a result of Hurricane Harvey, 600 more Texas prisoners getting AC
As Hurricane Harvey approached Texas, state prison officials moved thousands of inmates to higher ground. But now that the storm has passed, about 600 of the evacuees gained protection from hot conditions in their cells thanks to an ongoing federal lawsuit.
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Environment
In Harvey’s wake, critics see big money behind lax petrochemical reporting
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, an exploding chemical plant and spikes in cancer-causing emissions are highlighting how little the public knows about potential dangers from the oil and chemical industries. Critics say one reason for the darkness: tons of campaign money.
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Politics
Straus: Abbott should include ethics reform in special session
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is voicing agreement with two House members who want Gov. Greg Abbott to expand the special session agenda to include ethics reform.
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State Government
Lawmakers take aim at Abbott on ethics reform, but he fires back
A bipartisan group of lawmakers called on Gov. Greg Abbott Wednesday to add ethics reform to the agenda of the special session. The governor’s office, in a rare rapid response, quickly attacked the effort as “showboating.”
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State Government
Key lawmaker wants ethics reform on special session agenda
State Rep. Sarah Davis will ask Gov. Greg Abbott to put ethics reform on the agenda of the ongoing special session and said focusing on ethics would restore trust in the Legislature at time when it’s diminishing.
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State Government
Sarah Davis wants more information about “misconduct” at TABC
The chair of a House oversight committee wants more information about potential “misconduct” that occurred at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
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Texas Elections 2018
With no opposition in sight, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott formally launches 2018 re-election bid
Before sign-waving supporters, Gov. Greg Abbott formally launched his re-election campaign Friday in San Antonio, days before he brings the Texas Legislature back for a special session.
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State Government
Acting director of Texas liquor agency abruptly quits
He had only been in the job for a few weeks, but the interim director of the troubled Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is out. Ed Swedberg abruptly quit Friday after saying he did not want to participate in the termination of another high-ranking official at TABC.
