Past Contributions

• Texas Bearing Brunt of Drop in Oil Drilling

  By Becca Aaronson and Jim Malewitz Feb. 3, 2015

  After months of plummeting oil prices, nightmares about idled drilling rigs have become reality, hitting Texas the hardest. See how many rigs the state has lost in recent months. Full Story 

• TxDOT Spends Millions in Tuition Reimbursements

  By Terri Langford, Bobby Blanchard and Becca Aaronson Jan. 22, 2015

  The Texas Department of Transportation has spent about $10.6 million in education costs since 2002, nearly half what state agencies have spent in total on tuition reimbursements and other educational programs. Check out our breakdown. Full Story 

• Companies Linked to Patrick's New Advisers Spend Millions Lobbying

  By Morgan Smith, Becca Aaronson and Jolie McCullough Jan. 20, 2015

  The companies owned and operated by many of the people Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has appointed to his new advisory council heavily lobby the Legislature and rake in millions of dollars in state contracts. Full Story 

• Introducing the Texas Legislative Guide

  By Becca Aaronson and Ryan Murphy Jan. 14, 2015

  Adding to our robust suite of Texas legislative tools, we've rolled out our Texas Legislative Guide — complete with an upgraded bill tracker and curated lists of the must-watch issues of the session across nearly a dozen different policy areas. Full Story 

• Revisit The Shale Life

  By Becca Aaronson Nov. 27, 2014

  The challenges the oil and gas boom present for communities across South and West Texas are immense. Revisit our 15-part multimedia series to see how surging energy production is changing lives and fortunes across Texas. Full Story 

• Series: Disdain for Regulation Sparked a "Miracle" Economy

  By Becca Aaronson Nov. 26, 2014

  Revisit The Texas Tribune's four-part Hurting for Work series, led by reporter Jay Root, on how the state's anti-regulatory climate fueled a "Texas miracle" economy — while tearing down protections for the workers who built it. Full Story 

• Animation: How Big is the Eagle Ford Shale Boom?

  By Becca Aaronson and Todd Wiseman Nov. 17, 2014

  How many people have moved to the Eagle Ford Shale as a result of its energy boom? That’s a tough question to answer — but we give it a shot in this animation, which is part of our Shale Life project. Full Story 

• In Boomtowns, More Traffic Means More Death

  By Becca Aaronson, Emily Albracht and Tamir Kalifa Nov. 6, 2014

  The newly cracked, chipped and crowded roads linking Texas boomtowns have meant more than just traffic jams for local commuters. They've also proved deadly. This slideshow is part of our Shale Life project. Full Story 

• Fresh Faces of the Texas Legislature

  By Becca Aaronson, Bobby Blanchard and Christine Ayala Nov. 5, 2014

  Twenty-nine Texans who weren't in the state Legislature last session will take their seats as new members of the Texas House and Senate in January. All but three of them are Republicans. Explore our list of fresh faces. Full Story 

• Interactive Map: Comparing the 2010 and 2014 Governor's Races

  By Becca Aaronson and Ross Ramsey Nov. 5, 2014

  Use our interactive maps to compare which Texas counties went red and which went blue in the 2010 and 2014 Texas governor's races. Full Story