Billionaire Warren Buffet has been outbid in his effort to buy Texas’ largest transmission utility. A California-based energy conglomerate has swooped in with an $18.8 billion proposal to buy coveted Oncor.
Jim Malewitz
Jim Malewitz was a reporter at the Tribune from 2013 to 2017, covering energy and environment and then working on investigations. Previously, he covered those issues for Stateline, a nonprofit news service in Washington, D.C. The Michigan native majored in political science at Grinnell College in Iowa and holds a master’s from the University of Iowa. There, he helped launch the nonprofit Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism, where he currently serves on the board of directors. Jim also coaches the Texas Tribune Runoffs, which, sources say, is the scrappiest coed newsroom softball team west of the Mississippi.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
With Supreme Court appeal, Texas wants to keep congressional map intact
Attorney General Ken Paxton revealed that Texas has no plans to ask lawmakers to redraw the state’s Congressional map in a fresh round of legislative overtime. Instead, Paxton is appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted in
Courts
Federal court invalidates part of Texas congressional map
Federal judges have invalidated two of Texas’ 36 congressional districts, setting up a scramble to redraw them ahead of the 2018 elections.
Posted inState Government
With two days left in special session, comptroller finds extra $196 million
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Tuesday delivered some welcome news to weary state lawmakers: Their coffers should be richer than he previously anticipated.
Posted inState Government
Texas House approves one crackdown on mail-in ballot fraud, but pushes repeal of another
The Texas House on Wednesday tentatively approved a bill that seeks to crack down on mail-in ballot fraud, one of Greg. Abbott’s priorities. But in doing so, they repealed another law meant to prevent such fraud at nursing homes.
Posted in
Politics
With 8 days left in special session, Texas House and Senate remain far apart
Not a single measure has made it to the governor’s desk despite a steady drumbeat from his office urging lawmakers to go “20 for 20.” A “bathroom bill” is on life support, but a property tax measure still has momentum, supporters say.
Posted inState Government
Texas backs Wisconsin in battle to protect partisan gerrymandering
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is backing Wisconsin in a high-profile case asking the U.S. Supreme Court whether lawmakers can go too far when drawing political maps to advantage one party.
Posted in
Politics
Rick Perry: “I totally support” Trump’s ban on transgender troops
“The idea that the American people need to be paying for these types of operations to change your sex is not very wise from a standpoint of economics,” U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said during a stop in Waller, Texas, on Friday.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
Politics
Radio made Dan Patrick powerful in Texas. And it’s helping him stay that way.
As a political outsider, radio launched Dan Patrick’s career. But now that he’s mostly off the airwaves and in the lieutenant governor’s seat, Patrick’s station continues to push his conservative agenda.