The University of Texas at Austin filed for five trademarks related to the hiring of basketball coach Shaka Smart this month. But an alumnus, his neighbor and a Louisiana company beat it to the punch on three others.
Matthew Watkins
Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. He is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended Texas A&M University and has spent his entire professional career in Texas journalism, including stints at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined The Texas Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. He has helped guide the Tribune's award-winning journalism that has included coverage of six legislative sessions, multiple election cycles, natural disasters and political scandals. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
Posted in
State Government
Texas Senate Approves $211 Billion Budget
Senators on Tuesday voted 30-1 to approve the state’s two-year budget. It will now go to conference committee to be reconciled with the House version.
Posted in
Higher Education
Universities Try Again on Construction Funding
In 2013, billions of dollars in bonds to pay for new campus buildings slipped through the grasp of state universities and colleges in the session’s closing moments. Another bond package is now moving through the chambers, and university leaders hope not to repeat that fate.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT Regents Will Let Wallace Hall Review More Documents
The University of Texas System Board of Regents will allow member Wallace Hall to see some data and documents compiled during an outside investigation into outside influence on UT-Austin admissions.
Posted in
Higher Education
House Tentatively OKs Campus Construction Bond Plan
The Texas House on Wednesday tentatively approved a package of bonds worth $3.1 billion to support construction on college campuses. Legislators haven’t authorized such spending in a decade.
Posted in
Higher Education
Committees Moving on Bills to Limit Tuition Increases
A Senate committee has approved a bill that would limit tuition increases to the rate of inflation unless universities meet “performance measures.” Meanwhile, a House committee is considering a bill to tie tuition increases only to inflation.
Posted in
Economy
Bid for Rainy Day Fund Changes Moves Forward
The Texas House on Tuesday approved a resolution calling for a constitutional election over whether to send surplus dollars from the Rainy Day Fund into a new account to pay down state debt.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT Regents Call Special Meeting on New Wallace Hall Requests
The meeting comes after UT System Regent Wallace Hall asked to visit with one of the investigators from Kroll Associates, which found that UT-Austin President Bill Powers helped secure admittance for some students over the objections of the admissions office.
Posted in
Politics
Cruz Won’t Speak at Texas A&M International Graduation
In a brief statement, the school said it was notified that Sen. Ted Cruz is “regrettably unable to join us” at the May event. No reason was given.
Posted in
Higher Education
Sticker Shaka: Costs Mount in UT Basketball Coaching Change
Buyouts for Rick Barnes and Shaka Smart could force the Longhorns to pay $2.5 million.
