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Alexa Ura reported for The Texas Tribune from 2013 to 2023. She covered the complex dynamics of race, ethnicity, wealth, poverty and power and how they are shaping the future of Texas and Texans, in the long and short term. Alexa started at the Tribune as a reporting intern before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and joining the staff full time. Originally from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border, she is a native Spanish speaker and is based in Austin.
The emerging national picture shows black Americans disproportionately getting sick and dying from COVID-19. The same trend may be playing out in Texas' black and Hispanic communities, but sparse data has been collected. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Emma and Shannon about how health care workers are preparing for a rush of COVID-19 hospitalizations and why health care workers on the front lines don't get expanded paid sick leave protections. Full Story
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The Texas Democratic Party is asking both federal and state courts to rule on whether any voter in upcoming elections should be able to ask for an absentee ballot to mail in and avoid possible infection at polling places. Full Story
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Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins decided early on not to be timid in his response to the coronavirus. He moved quickly to shut down the nation's eighth most populous county, and prodded other counties and Gov. Greg Abbott to follow along. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott previously paved the way for municipalities to push their May elections to November. But a handful of small towns and special districts hadn't canceled despite fears of infection spreading at polling places. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Ross, Emma and Jolie about Gov. Greg Abbott's response to the coronavirus outbreak, the newest front in the state's fight against abortion and the state vs. local battle over bail. Full Story
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A few small towns and water districts aren't canceling their May 2 elections despite fears of infection spreading at polling places. But it appears most cities across Texas have pushed their elections back to November. Full Story
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Coaxing census participation was going to be hard enough in some of Texas' poorest communities. With coronavirus restrictions, organizers turned to driving sound trucks around colonias on the border, but now even that won't be possible. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast — a different format in the time of the new coronavirus — Alexa talks to Mitchell, Julián and Jolie about rising unemployment in Texas, the outbreak's effect on immigrants and delayed justice in the court system. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday postponed the May 26 runoff election to July under the emergency powers of his previous statewide disaster declaration. Full Story
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