Early voting in the Texas primaries starts today. Here's how to cast a ballot
How do I know if I’m registered to vote? What am I voting on? How do runoffs work? We've got answers. Full Story
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Alex Samuels
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Alex Samuels was a reporter for The Texas Tribune from 2017 to 2021. She helped with national campaign coverage, wrote stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covered the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She was also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex began at the Tribune as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
Past Contributions
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Credit: Shelby Knowles -
Texas students: What do you think should be done to reduce gun violence?
As part of our ongoing efforts to engage people directly affected by policy issues, we want to learn more about what measures, if any, young Texans think should be taken to address mass shootings and school safety. Full Story
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Local taxes in Texas have been rising to help pay for education. Who is to blame?
Lawmakers say local property taxes are getting too high. School leaders say the taxes are increasing because the state is taking on a smaller share of public education funding. Hey Texplainer, what's really happening? Full Story
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Everything you need to know about casting a ballot in the Texas primary elections
How do I know if I’m registered to vote? What am I voting on? How do runoffs work? We've got answers to the basic questions about how to cast a ballot in the March 6 Republican and Democratic primaries in Texas. Full Story
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Medical cannabis dispensaries are opening in Texas, but the newly legal oils still aren't easy to procure
The state has approved three dispensaries to provide cannabis oil to seizure patients. But with only 18 doctors able to prescribe it, the oils still can be tough to secure. Full Story
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Young child receives Texas' first legal delivery of medical cannabis oil
A young Texan on Thursday became the first person in the state to receive a legal delivery of medical cannabis — more than two years after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law legalizing the sale of a specific kind of cannabis oil to Texans with intractable epilepsy. Full Story
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Campaign finance for dummies: A guide to Texas election reporting rules
We’ve compiled an overview of everything Texans should know about campaign finance reports and why they’re important. Full Story
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Here's why it's hard for Texans to get alcohol shipped directly to them
Texas liquor laws are infamously complex, and the reason dates back to the end of Prohibition. Full Story
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Hey, Texplainer: What would a government shutdown mean for Texas?
A shutdown is poised to take place unless Congress passes a new spending bill and President Donald Trump signs it into law by Jan. 19. That could mean closed parks, furloughed workers and the temporary closure of NASA in Texas. Full Story
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Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Hey, Texplainer: Could Texans receive a false alarm about a nuclear missile launch?
No, because the state has no warning system like Hawaii does. Full Story
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Credit: Emily Albracht for The Texas Tribune