On Monday at the University of Texas at Austin, there were few obvious signs that a new state law had taken effect allowing guns in university buildings. But some students and faculty members said the new law left them unsettled.
Madlin Mekelburg
Madlin Mekelburg was a reporting fellow for the Tribune in 2015 and 2016. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and French. Madlin previously worked at the Houston Chronicle as both a metro intern in Houston and as an intern in their Austin bureau covering the Texas Legislature.
Posted in
State Government
Lawmaker Asks Ken Paxton to Weigh In on Car Registration Debate
Amid a turf battle between the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and some Texas counties over who should handle vehicle registration renewals, a state lawmaker has asked Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in.
Posted in
Politics
Bullet Train Critics Hope to Stop Project in its Tracks Next Year
Texas lawmakers could put up major road blocks next year for a private firm’s plans to build a high-speed rail project now that a federal transportation board has decided the project falls under state jurisdiction.
Posted in
Transportation
Rural Landowners May Sue TxDOT Over Toll Road Plan
Bill Voss said he is prepared to sue the Texas Department of Transportation over the agency’s handling of proposed routes for a toll road that would cut across his land in Grimes County. Several frustrated neighbors may join him.
Posted in
Transportation
Former TxDOT Commissioner Joins Firm Developing Texas Bullet Train
Just over two weeks after announcing his resignation from the Transportation Commission, Jeff Moseley has joined the leadership of a private company developing a high-speed train project between Dallas and Houston.
Posted in
Transportation
Texas Lawmaker: Legislature Should Invest in Maritime Ports
The state Legislature should increase its focus on maritime ports and dedicate money to increasing their capacity during next year’s session, said state Rep. Larry Gonzales during a House committee hearing Monday.
Posted in
State Government
Lawmakers Ask Whether Agencies Abused Emergency Leave Policy
Lawmakers peppered policy experts with questions about whether state agencies who keep departing employees on the state payroll by placing them on “emergency leave” violated state law, during a hearing on Tuesday.
Posted in
Transportation
Abbott Appoints Gulf States Toyota Executive to Transportation Commission
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Gulf States Toyota executive Laura Ryan to the Texas Transportation Commission on Monday. Ryan currently serves as chair of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board.
Posted inState Government
Dan Patrick Blames Black Lives Matter Movement for Dallas Shooting
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick joined a handful of other Texas Republican officials Friday in blaming previous Black Lives Matter protests for the shooting in Dallas that left at least 5 police officers dead.
Posted in
Transportation
Grimes County Residents Turn Out Against Toll Road
Residents of Grimes County gathered in the gymnasium at Navasota Junior High School to voice their displeasure with a proposed 15-mile toll road that would connect metropolitan Houston with Bryan/College Station.