Since Abbott first declared a border emergency in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times. The proclamation has greatly expanded his powers.
The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit
The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit uncovers big stories that matter to Texans and the nation, taking aim at corruption, injustice and malfeasance across the state. Read on for the latest stories, and be sure to sign up to get the latest on the people and policies shaping the future of Texas with the Tribune’s weekday newsletter.
Posted in
The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit
El Paso and New Mexico spent millions on climate plans. Three new data centers could undo them.
El Paso and New Mexico planned to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Neither plan considered how three new data centers could upend their climate goals.
Posted in
Investigations
Ken Paxton took nearly 1,000 trips with state-funded security detail costing millions of dollars
The Texas attorney general’s use of a taxpayer-funded travel security detail stands out when compared with his predecessor and other state officials, our analysis found.
Posted in
Investigations
How Mike Morath’s agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms
The State Board of Education raised concerns about Alpha School’s AI tool. Then the Texas Education Agency helped pilot it in public school districts.
Posted in
Investigations
Ken Paxton omits rental income and mortgages from financial disclosures, obscuring his wealth
The Republican U.S. Senate nominee appears to have violated federal ethics law, which requires candidates to report their income and disclose mortgages on properties other than personal residences, experts said.
Posted in
Investigations
Texas rejected an AI-driven school’s bid to open a charter. Then the state approved it for the voucher program.
Alpha School quadrupled its Texas private school campuses. Most are eligible for state dollars through the new voucher program.
Posted in
Investigations
James Talarico accused Ken Paxton of voter fraud. His own voter registration is raising questions.
After hitting his GOP foe for voting under an address where he no longer lived, the Tribune and ProPublica found the Democratic Senate candidate also appears to have done so.
Posted in
Investigations
Abbott threatened Corpus Christi over its water crisis but hasn’t intervened with a troubled river authority
A Nueces River Authority project could expand Corpus Christi’s water supply, but the Texas governor has done little about the agency’s financial problems despite choosing its board.
Posted in
Investigations
Ken Paxton has long crusaded against voter fraud. His Senate rival now accuses him of committing it.
James Talarico’s comments come after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found that the attorney general may have broken state law by voting using an address where he no longer appears to live.
Posted in
Investigations
How a man once ordered to pay libel damages helped launch an investigation into Islamic private schools
A man convicted of libel in Britain helped spur investigations into Islamic private schools applying to Texas’ voucher program, legal filings say.
