At least half a million Texas workers have no workplace insurance coverage, either through the workers’ compensation system or the private market, state insurance officials told lawmakers Tuesday.
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
Paxton Cancels Tea Party Event Appearance
Sen. Ken Paxton, the leading Republican candidate for attorney general, canceled his appearance at a Tea Party event Monday evening so he could focus on a review of his financial disclosure filings, a moderator said.
Posted inState Government
Branch Says Paxton Should Explain Disclosure Lapses
Dan Branch says Ken Paxton should answer questions about his disclosure lapses or drop out of the attorney general’s race.
Posted in
Politics
Paxton Campaign Reviewing Lapses in Business Disclosure
The campaign of attorney general candidate Ken Paxton is “reviewing and researching” its disclosure obligations in the wake of a Tribune investigation into his work as an investment adviser representative and other business relationships.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Anti-Corruption Unit Chief: No Davis Docs Passed to FBI
The agency charged with prosecuting public corruption cases wrapped up an investigation into Wendy Davis last year without finding any issues worth pursuing and did not uncover anything it believed it should refer to the FBI.
Posted in
Politics
Political Storm Erupts Over Ike Claims
The former TWIA chief says two top Republicans tried to pressure him into fighting more cases and complained that fees paid to lawyers were ending up in Democratic coffers. The Republicans said their actions were appropriate.
Posted inState Government
Davis Continuing Legal Work for Public Sector Clients During Her Run
Democrat Wendy Davis said last summer that she would quit doing private legal work for her public sector clients if she ran for governor. But months after she kicked off her campaign, the Fort Worth senator continues to represent them.
Posted in
Politics
Easy Primary Victories for Abbott and Davis
Attorney General Greg Abbott and Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis turned their attention to a fall election that is shaping up to be hotly contested and closely watched.
Posted in
Politics
Lubbock Democrat Denies Calling Abbott’s Wife a “Prop”
When Democrats blasted Attorney General Greg Abbott after a recent stop in Lubbock, the front-running candidate for governor accused one of them of calling his “Latina wife of 32 years a prop.” The Democrat says it never happened.
Posted in
Politics
Abbott’s Wife Now in Political Fray
There is yet another indication that the race for Texas governor will play out increasingly on the volatile terrain of culture and race. This time it involves Abbott’s Hispanic wife, Cecilia.
