Committee Approves Bill Targeting Same-Sex Marriage
The House State Affairs Committee has passed a measure that forbids the use of state or local funds for issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/07/20/Rainbow_gavel.jpg)
Bobby Blanchard
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/blanchard-bobby_TT.jpg)
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
-
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Open Carry Wins Final Passage in House
Last-ditch efforts to let big cities opt out went nowhere, and the Texas House on Monday moved all Texans a step closer to the public carrying of handguns by license holders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Gun-Holstered.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Gay Conversion Therapy Faces Little Risk of Ban
While opposition to so-called gay conversion therapy is growing nationally, Texas is not likely to restrict its use. State Rep. Celia Israel says she'd be happy just to get a hearing on her bill that would ban the practice for minors. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/17/GayReform-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
House Takes Step to Patch Pension Fund Hole
State workers would pay more into their retirement system but get pay raises to offset the cost under legislation that earned preliminary House approval Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/12/BDB_8568.jpg)
![State Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van, co-chair of the House Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations, is shown calling an executive session on May, 12, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Backs Bill That Would Relocate Public Integrity Unit
The Texas Senate has preliminarily passed a bill that would move the state’s public integrity unit from the Travis County district attorney’s office to the Texas Rangers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/12/7C2A9889.jpg)
![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, speaks during a Texas Tribune event on Jan. 12, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate Passes A-F Grading System for Schools
Public schools in Texas would begin receiving grades on an A-through-F scale to reflect their performance under a bill that won preliminary approval in the state Senate on Monday. The grading would begin in the 2017-18 school year. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lawmaker Wants Eye on Discrimination at Universities
A budget amendment from San Antonio state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer will seek better accounting of discrimination complaints at universities, specifically cases involving fraternities and sororities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/30/TMF-1.jpg)
![State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
First Choice or Not, Fenves Isn't Seen as Consolation Prize
University of Texas at Austin provost Gregory Fenves may not have always appeared to be the top choice in the search to replace UT-Austin President Bill Powers, but faculty leaders say he has the skills to thrive in the top spot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/07/10/7C2A0671.jpg)
![University of Texas President Bill Powers speaks to Provost Gregory Fenves during a board of regents meeting on July 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Fenves Named Finalist for UT-Austin President
The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Friday named University of Texas at Austin provost Gregory Fenves the sole finalist for the flagship's presidency. Full Story
![University of Texas President Bill Powers speaks to Provost Gregory Fenves during a board of regents meeting on July 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas House OKs Ban on Texting While Driving
The Texas House on Wednesday tentatively approved a statewide ban on texting while driving, a measure that made it all the way to Gov. Rick Perry's desk in 2011 before getting vetoed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/25/Xleg1115Craddick.jpg)
![State Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, after the passage of a statewide texting-while-driving ban on March 25, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a31fda5d4e5e1cd6de60d3269f91109b/BD%20INC%20Taylor%2012%202011)