In this edition of the TribCast, Alex talks to Evan, Cassi and Shannon about the latest scandal to rock the Texas House, the receipts — or lack thereof — for Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s inauguration ceremony, and Julián Castro missing the fifth Democratic primary debate.
Alfonso “Poncho” Nevárez
Posted in
Criminal Justice
State Rep. Poncho Nevárez turns himself in to authorities after dropping envelope with cocaine
The Eagle Pass Democrat was caught on video surveillance dropping an envelope of cocaine on the ground at the Austin airport.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Two Texas House scandals, unrelated but linked
Topically, a state legislator’s cocaine possession case and the intemperate conversation that undid the speaker of the Texas House aren’t related. But both are fodder for anyone who wants to shake up state government.
Posted inState Government
Arrest warrant issued for state Rep. Poncho Nevárez after he was caught on tape dropping envelope with cocaine
The document says that the envelope had Nevárez’s official House seal and held “four small clear baggies” containing a substance found to include cocaine.
Posted inState Government
State Rep. Poncho Nevárez won’t seek reelection in 2020
The Eagle Pass Democrat, who chairs the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, announced the decision Friday, saying it’s “time to come home.”
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Elizabeth Warren and Julián Castro may be rivals — but they’re buddies, too
As one candidate’s stock has climbed and the other’s has dipped, Warren and Castro have continued to share policy ideas — and hugs — on the campaign trail.
Posted in
Broken Border
“The federal government has really dropped the ball”: Texas lawmakers express concern about conditions for migrants in U.S. custody
Two Texas House committees met for hours to discuss the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. And some Democratic lawmakers said the state has a responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance. But what options they have remained unclear.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Abbott vetoes popular domestic violence bill because of an unrelated provision about radioactive waste fees
The bill would have required domestic violence survivors to be notified when offenders are released on bond. But the Republican governor nixed the legislation over a provision by Democratic state Rep. Poncho Nevárez that would have delayed a West Texas waste facility’s increase in state fees.
Posted in
Immigration
Point of Order: The battle over the Texas border
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Poncho Nevárez, chair of the House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee, about the president’s emergency declaration — and how the Texas Legislature should address the issue of unauthorized immigration.
Posted in
Politics
State Rep. Poncho Nevárez fined $15,000 for campaign finance report violations
State Rep. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, violated campaign finance regulations in four semiannual reports he filed to the Texas Ethics Commission between January 2013 and January 2015.