And for the first time since 1999, there is a Christmas Tree on the floor of the Texas Senate.
Jordan Rudner
Jordan Rudner was a reporting fellow for The Texas Tribune in 2015-16. A Plan II and history major at the University of Texas at Austin, Jordan previously interned at KUT News and the Supreme Court of the United States. She spent five semesters in the dimly lit basement offices of The Daily Texan, including one semester serving as managing editor.
Posted in
State Government
Track Shutdowns Loom Across Texas as Racing Commission Upholds Historical Racing
During a tense meeting, the Texas Racing Commission declined Tuesday to repeal its authorization of historical racing — a move that state leaders warn could mean the shutdown of racetracks across Texas.
Posted in
Energy
Flood Experts Call for Better Warning Systems
As the Blanco River rose rapidly in the early hours of May 24th, phones around Wimberley — most of which had 512 area codes — received urgent text alerts: danger, flooding, seek shelter. Laura McComb, who had a 361 area code, did not receive any such text.
Posted in
Higher Education
Mock Shootings, Sex Toys Mark UT Gun Protests
Gun rights activists held a mock shooting at the University of Texas Saturday to protest new rules for carrying weapons on campus, while counter-protesters waved sex toys and made farting sounds to try to ridicule them.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Emotional Testimony Targets Plan to License Detention Centers
As state officials consider licensing two private detention facilities as approved residential centers for undocumented children, they heard several hours of testimony in opposition to the move Wednesday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Call it “Fisher Fatigue”: To UT-Austin Students, Case is Old News
It’ll be just another Wednesday morning on campus at UT-Austin as lawyers in Washington D.C. argue over the school’s admissions process before the U.S. Supreme Court. Past student interest in the case has drifted to other concerns.
Posted in
Energy
Lamar Smith’s Climate Views Win Flat Earth Award
Christmas elves, pirates and scientists gathered Monday to present climate change skeptic U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, with a fake award from the “Flat Earth Foundation of Texas.”
Posted in
Politics
High Stakes for Democrats in Supreme Court Redistricting Case
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday in a case that could have far-reaching implications for the way legislative districts in Texas — and across the country — are drawn.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Commission Will Address Texas “Justice Gap”
A large number of Texans — mostly middle class — fall into a “justice gap” where they aren’t poor enough to receive free legal aid provided to indigents but can’t afford basic legal services on their own.
Posted inState Government
Willie Nelson Uniting the Red and the Blue in D.C.
A bipartisan crowd turns out for the Texas icon being awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
