Texas lawmakers and other officials have taken the lead on baseless lawsuits that sought to dismiss the results of the presidential election and have tried to rally Trump supporters to protest his loss.
Kate McGee
Kate McGee is an Austin-based enterprise and investigative reporter. She joined the Tribune in October 2020 as a higher education reporter. She was a three-time finalist for the Education Writers Association's Beat Reporter of the Year award, winning the title in 2024. She was also a Livingston Award finalist for her coverage of the University of Texas at Austin. Before the Tribune, she spent nearly a decade as a reporter at public radio stations nationwide, including in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Austin; Reno, Nevada; and New York. Kate was born in New York City and primarily raised in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from Fordham University.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen tests positive for coronavirus
“We are unable to pinpoint our initial exposure, as we … made the difficult decision to celebrate Christmas with just our own household this year,” Bonnen, who is retiring from the House, wrote on his Facebook page.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas extends rental assistance program designed to avoid evictions until March 15
The move comes after Congress passed a stimulus bill Monday extending the federal moratorium on evictions through the end of January. The moratorium order was set to expire at the end of the year.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas A&M investigating “large scale” cheating case as universities see more academic misconduct in era of online classes
Universities across Texas and nationwide are seeing an increase in online cheating since the start of the pandemic, as students take more virtual courses and test remotely with less supervision.
Posted in
Higher Education
Two Texas universities that serve students of color receive multimillion-dollar donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
The gifts to Prairie View A&M University and Texas A&M International University are the largest in history for each school.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
UT-Austin’s final football game canceled after 9 players, 13 staff members test positive for coronavirus
“We are pausing all football team activities and shutting down football training facilities to get a COVID-19 spread among our football program under control,” Chris Del Conte, UT-Austin athletic director, said in a statement.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
One wanted normalcy and one went remote: How two West Texas universities operated in COVID-19 hot spots this fall
Texas Tech and UT-El Paso ended up on opposite ends of the spectrum in how they approached the fall semester, facing the unprecedented educational and safety challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both universities are planning more of the same in the spring.
Posted in
Reopening Texas Universities
Texas enrollment and FAFSA applications down, as education leaders worry pandemic is disrupting college plans
National data shows just 24% of Texas high school seniors have filled out federal financial aid forms, a nearly 15% decline from the same time last year.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M President Michael Young says he’ll retire on Dec. 31 instead of May
System Chancellor John Sharp is recommending John L. Junkins, distinguished professor of Aerospace Engineering, as interim president.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell poised to make $1.25 million annually
The salary is still pending final approval by the UT System Board of Regents, who meet this week.
