House GOP Leader Talks Up Will Hurd's Re-Election Chances
Also, the Houston Chronicle endorses a third-party candidate in the race for Railroad Commissioner. 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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The Brief: Cornyn Declines To Back Cruz In Senate Primary
On Wednesday night U.S. Sen. John Cornyn told CNN he would not endorse Ted Cruz in a potential primary next cycle. Full Story
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The Brief: Could Texas Go Blue This November?
A new Washington Post-SurveyMonkey poll showing Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tied at the head of the presidential field in Texas provokes widespread critiques. Full Story
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The Brief: Democrats May Rely on Trump to Win This Fall
Democrats may be counting on Republican nominee Donald Trump to boost their ability to win down-ballot races this November. Full Story
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The Brief: Convictions Remain Rare When Police Shoot
As national scrutiny of police shootings remains intense, prosecutions of Texas police officers who use lethal force remain a rare occurrence. Full Story
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The Brief: Here’s What Texas Officers Face on Mental Health Calls
Confronting an unstable individual is one of the more challenging situations faced by police officers. Full Story
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Survey Finds Adults Don’t Agree on Public Education Priorities
Results of an annual Phi Delta Kappa International poll offer updated insight into the adult public’s perception of public schools in the U.S. Full Story
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![Sophomore student Miguel Nava works on a science experiment at the San Juan Idea Public Schools Tuesday morning in San Juan, Texas November 23, 2010.]()
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Military Communities Use Academics to Stop Base Closures
As others battle over possible base closures, many communities are preemptively defending their benefits to service members and their families — namely through high-quality public education. Full Story
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![Cpl. Danielle Aldrich, a landing support specialist with the 2nd Combat Logistics Battalion, directs a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook during an exercise at Fort Bliss, Texas, on April 5, 2014.]()
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Texas Study Informs Massachusetts Vote on Charter School Additions
As Massachusetts gears up for a much-anticipated public vote on expanding its charter school network, a recently published study paints a less-than-favorable picture of charters’ performance in Texas. Full Story
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Despite Underperformance, Test Scores Improve in California
Although less than half of all California public school students who took this year’s state standardized test actually met the state’s learning goals, officials are pointing to progress over last year’s test results. Full Story
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Credit: Brad Barth