Jason Villalba

Students at Round Rock High School Ahmir Johnson, left, and Addison Savors, right, at school on April 26, 2019. The expansion of the marshal program could be triggering for black and brown students.

“Guns and safety aren’t synonymous for us”: Some black Texans fear plans to arm more teachers

by Alex Samuels

Black students, who are already overrepresented in disciplinary referrals, say their fears come as lawmakers consider a slew of bills to expand the state's school marshal program in response to a deadly shooting last year.

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From left: skylines of Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.

Voters in Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio have marquee mayoral races on Saturday ballots

by Patrick Svitek

Some of Texas' biggest cities are set to reelect their mayors or pick new ones as part of this weekend's local elections. Dallas will definitely get a new mayor, but a runoff is virtually certain before that happens.

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The race for Dallas mayor: 9 hopefuls, but no frontrunner, headed for May 4 election

by Bill Zeeble, KERA News

Meet the nine candidates running to replace Mayor Mike Rawlings.

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Lisa Luby Ryan, Republican candidate for state House District 114, speaks with volunteers at her home before a block walk in Dallas on Sept.22, 2018.

Can a moderate Democrat win in a Texas district held by Republicans for decades?

by Allyson R Waller

In an open seat race, two political newcomers — a moderate Democrat and a conservative — are competing to win in a Republican district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016.

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State Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, discusses ways to control gun violence at a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. Behind her, left to right: state Reps. Ramon Romero Jr., D-Fort Worth, Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, and Ed Scruggs, vice chairman of Texas Gun Sense.

Some in Texas Legislature call for rethinking state's gun laws

by Matthew Choi

Following the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history, some Democrats and at least one Republican in the Texas Legislature are calling on state leaders to take a hard look at the state's gun laws.

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Reverend Rodney Norsworthy, a minister at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, shows the grave of James Byrd, at a cemetery in Jasper, TX on June 15 2012.

Hate crime law results in few convictions and lots of disappointment

by Ryan Katz, ProPublica

In Texas, the tiny number of successful prosecutions leave both victims and lawmakers questioning state’s commitment to punishing hate.

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Video: A Conversation about the Business Climate

by Evan Smith

At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, I talked about the state's business climate with state Sen. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Bill Hammond of the Texas Association of Business, Greg LeRoy of Good Jobs First, and state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas.

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