The Brief: How to watch hearing on 'sanctuary cities'
A bill that would ban sanctuary cities is getting its first hearing Thursday just days after Gov. Greg Abbott declared the issue an emergency item in his State of the State address. Full Story
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Bobby Blanchard
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Bobby Blanchard joined The Texas Tribune’s audience team in 2016 and led the team from 2021 to 2023, strategizing to expand the organization’s reach and engagement across all platforms. A graduate of UT-Austin, Bobby spent his first year out of college at The Dallas Morning News as a reporting fellow, covering Texas politics and breaking news. He got his start in journalism in the poorly lit basement of The Daily Texan, followed by internships at the Houston Chronicle, KUT News and the Tribune. Born and raised in the Houston area, Bobby is a native Texan.
Past Contributions
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The Brief: Travis County's 'sanctuary city' policy begins today
A controversial policy that's provoked the ire of Republicans is set to go into effect today in Travis County. Here's what you need to know about the latest sanctuary city fight. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.]()
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The Brief: What to expect from Greg Abbott's State of the State
Gov. Greg Abbott will give his State of the State address today. In a session already filled with priorities — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is aggressively pushing 25 — Abbott may add some clarity. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the Convention of States gathering at the Texas Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Survey of Texans in Congress shows most Republicans back Trump's travel ban
As of late Monday, nearly all of the 38-member Texas congressional delegation had taken a position on President Trump's travel ban executive order. Most Republicans backed the measure, while Democrats viscerally opposed it. Full Story
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![A child walks in a United Nations refugee camp in Turkey where thousands of Syrian refugees reside.]()
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The Brief: Trump's travel ban leads to chaotic weekend
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday banning travel from seven countries in the Middle East. What followed was a chaotic weekend at the nation's airports. Full Story
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![Donald Trump rallies a crowd of veterans at Drake University on Jan. 28, 2016, while other Republican presidential candidates hold a final Des Moines debate prior to the Iowa caucuses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas congressional delegation largely silent on Trump travel ban
Most members of the Texas congressional delegation remained silent about President Trump's travel ban over the weekend, but one Republican challenged the ban and another — Michael McCaul of Austin — said his input on the order did not include a ban on Muslims. Full Story
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![A protester holds a sign at D/FW airport Saturday.]()
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The Brief: Awaiting a verdict in grisly border murder case
In a gruesome murder case, a Cameron County jury is set to consider the fate of a Border Patrol agent and his brother on Friday. Full Story
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![Juan Saenz-Tamez, a former high-ranking Gulf Cartel capo currently in federal prison, is brought into State District Court 107 in Brownsville as a possible witness in the murder trial of former Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna. January 17, 2017.]()
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The Brief: After controversial survey, lawmaker hosts summit on 'radical Islamic terrorism'
A state representative is holding a "Homeland Security Forum" at the state Capitol today, but a controversial survey the lawmaker sent out to "Islamic Leaders" polling their beliefs may overshadow the event. Full Story
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![State Rep. Kyle Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg, at a Texas Tribune event on Sept. 15, 2016.]()
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Trump's anti-voter fraud crusade revives issue in Texas
Following President Donald Trump's latest unsubstantiated claim that voter fraud cost him the popular vote, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said "voter fraud is real" in an interview on Fox News Wednesday morning. Full Story
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![Voters line up outside Harrington Library in Plano, Texas, on the first day of early voting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Trump promises 'big day' on border wall
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order Wednesday ordering the construction of a U.S-Mexico border wall. Full Story
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![The Rio Grande between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune