Democrat Wendy Davis’ campaign for governor boasted that it outraised Republican Greg Abbott over the last few months and had hauled in $13.1 million. The actual reports, published online Wednesday, told a different story.
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
Politics
Abbott Has $35.6 Million War Chest; Davis Reports $13.1 Million Total
Attorney General Greg Abbott has amassed a $35.6 million war chest in the race for Texas governor. His Democratic opponent, Sen. Wendy Davis, says she has $13.1 million for the effort.
Posted in
Demographics
Obama Visit Becomes Talking Point in Governor’s Race
President Obama’s visit to Texas became fodder in the governor’s race Thursday, with Democrat Wendy Davis suggesting he should visit the U.S-Mexico border in person and Republican Greg Abbott challenging him to adopt the “Texas model” in Washington.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Work Safety Hotline Upgraded
More than 20 years after the Texas Legislature passed a law establishing a 24-hour work safety hotline, real people are answering the telephone calls around the clock.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice, Demographics, Economy, Health care, Immigration
Series: Hurting for Work
Here’s a look back at our four-part Hurting for Work project, a series on how disdain for government regulation sparked a “Texas miracle” economy — while tearing down protections for the workers who built it.
Posted inState Government
Insurer Drops Suit Against Tyler Widow
Crystal Davis, a stay-at-home mom from Tyler, finally got some welcome news in her battle against an insurance company that sued to cut off the workers’ comp benefits she got after her husband was killed on the job. The insurer is dropping its lawsuit, her lawyer said.
Posted inState Government
Keep Workers’ Comp Voluntary, Abbott Says
Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican candidate for governor, said he wants to keep the workers’ compensation system voluntary in Texas. Abbott said giving employers the choice has helped make Texas an economic powerhouse.
Posted inState Government
Abbott: Ask Chemical Plants What’s Inside
Despite a controversial ruling that the state no longer must give citizens data about dangerous chemical locations, Attorney General Greg Abbott said Texans can still find them. As long as they know which companies to ask.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice, Economy, Health care, State Government
The Widow vs. the Insurer: A Wife’s Fight for Her Family’s Future
Crystal Davis’ nightmare didn’t end when her husband died in a traffic accident on the way to work. Her husband’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier has sued her and her children to deny them the benefits she thought would protect them.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice, Demographics, Economy, Health care, Immigration, State Government
After Catastrophic Fall, Fight of One Worker’s Life
When Santiago Arias fell off of an industrial warehouse roof, an expert hired by his attorney called his job site one of the most hazardous he’d seen in 40 years as a safety engineer. But advocates for injured workers say Arias’ case is far from unique.
