Elected leaders and advocates for immigration reform staged a boisterous protest outside the Texas Governor’s Mansion, calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to meet with immigrant families and to show leniency to undocumented workers.
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.
Posted in
The Ticket
The Ticket: How the Paris Attacks Affect 2016 GOP Campaigns
This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott talk about how the recent terrorist attacks in Paris are already playing a role in the 2016 campaign.
Posted in
Demographics
On 37-Mile March, Immigrants Slam Abbott
Carrying placards, chanting in Spanish and calling for a halt to deportations of people without work papers, a few dozen immigrants and activists began their 37-mile “pilgrimage” Thursday from a federal detention facility to the Texas Governor’s Mansion.
Posted in
Demographics
Activists Want Action on Immigration Issues
While activists push Democrats to go softer on immigrants in local jails, conservatives are pressing Gov. Greg Abbott to act now on reforms targeting “sanctuary” policies in cities and counties.
Posted inState Government
Patrick Would Fast-Track Sanctuary Cities Bill
Aides to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, leader of the Texas Senate, say a bill cracking down on sanctuary cities would be fast-tracked in a special session. But so far Gov. Greg Abbott is resisting calls to convene one, meaning any reforms would be put on hold for more than a year.
Posted in
Demographics
Abbott Hits Dallas Over “Sanctuary” Policies
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott warned the Dallas County sheriff on Monday that her new and softer approach to dealing with undocumented immigrants who commit crimes here “will no longer be tolerated in Texas.”
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Emails: Prosecutors Generated Cash, “Great PR” for Texas Mutual
Travis County prosecutors say the money they get each year from Texas Mutual to prosecute workers’ compensation fraud helps consumers. But in internal emails, they readily admit they’re generating cash and publicity for the insurer.
Posted in
TribCast
TribCast: Live from the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival
Check out the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival’s live recording of the TribCast, featuring our presidential podcast (The Ticket 2016), Reveal (a program from the Center for Investigative Reporting) and some extra special guests.
Posted in
The Ticket
The Ticket: The First Democratic Debate
This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott talk with Evan Smith about how Texas could play a defining role in both party primaries. And Jay and Ben offer their analysis of the first Democratic presidential debate.
Posted inState Government
Travis County DA Sues to Block Records of Deal With Insurer
Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg is suing to block the release of records about a controversial agreement that allows a giant insurance company to pay her office more than $400,000 a year to investigate the insurer’s fraud cases.
