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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.
Conspiracy theories about the Alamo's future began in 2015 and have reemerged more recently as state and local officials consider plans to “reimagine” the historic site. Full Story
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Despite all the focus on November, many in Texas politics are keeping a close eye on January. That's when the 150-member Texas House will pick its new House speaker. Full Story
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A meeting between state Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over Confederate monuments on Capitol grounds ended with the governor supportive of removing a controversial plaque, according to Johnson. Full Story
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After two members of the Railroad Commission's board sparred over the fate of the agency's executive director, questions arose about decision-making and transparency within the state agency. Full Story
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Monday marks the beginning of early voting for the Nov. 7 election. Here's a look at the seven amendments to the state’s constitution that Texans are being asked to decide on. Full Story
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Texas is home to more than 180 public symbols of the Confederacy, including around a dozen on the Capitol grounds. However, some state lawmakers are making efforts to remove some markers at the Capitol. Full Story
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Tens of thousands of DACA recipients, many of them Texans, have until Thursday to submit their renewal applications for the Obama-era immigration program that the Trump administration has said will end early next year. Full Story
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will meet with state Rep. Eric Johnson, a Dallas Democrat, on Oct. 27, according to the governor's office. Johnson has called for an inaccurate Confederate plaque to be removed from the Capitol. Full Story
Previous home damage doesn't impact someone's ability to file a claim post-Harvey. And just to be safe, both state and federal officials encourage anyone who sustained home damages during Hurricane Harvey to apply for aid. Full Story
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A new law reduces the first-time fee for a license to carry from $140 to $40 and the renewal fee from $70 to $40. Full Story
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