Over the objection of some local officials, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board passed proposals Monday that will impact how much Texans pay for vehicle registrations as well as potentially drive some private firms out of business.
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.
Proposed DMV Rules Could Put Some Firms Out of Business
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board will meet Monday to consider proposals drawing ire from popular private title service companies that operate in just a few counties in Texas.
U.S. Supreme Court Tie Deals Blow to Obama’s Immigration Order
Dealing a blow to President Obama’s executive immigration order, the U.S. Supreme Court has deadlocked on a lower court’s decision to block the plan, which would’ve provided relief from deportation and work permits to millions of people.
These Texas Lawmakers Have More Cash on Hand Than Donald Trump
Nearly a dozen-and-a-half Texans have more cash in the bank than Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
Platforms Reveal Texas Republicans, Democrats Actually Agree on Stuff
Though they disagree on almost every policy issue, from education funding to abortion to immigration, Texas Republicans and Democrats seem to have common ground on a few things, according to their newly approved platforms.
Lawmaker Revives Eminent Domain Question for Dallas-Houston Bullet Train Project
State Rep. Byron Cook asked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday to rule on whether a private company developing a high-speed train project in the state has the power of eminent domain.
Lawmaker Wants Federal Investigation of Austin Ride-Hailing Rules
Republican state Rep. Jason Isaac has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Austin’s rules for ride-hailing companies, raising concerns that the city’s “burdensome regulations” are anti-competitive.
Lawmakers Seek Roadmap For Ride-Hailing Regulation
State lawmakers are poised to discuss ride-hailing for the second time in two weeks on Thursday, attention many expect to carry into the upcoming legislative session as some legislators attempt to wrest regulatory power from cities.
Texas Planning to Block Car Registration Renewal for Child Support Evaders
This fall, the Attorney General’s Office will be implementing a new enforcement measure for parents who are behind on child support payments: blocking them from renewing their vehicle registration.
Education Commissioner Expands on Decision to Scrap School Test Scores
Education Commissioner Mike Morath expanded Monday on his decision to waive requirements for 5th and 8th graders who failed this year’s STAAR exams, saying that a delay in the return of test scores forced the need to take action.



