Latest Contributions

• Texas is silent on whether it will offer summer food assistance for students

  By Terri Langford and Dan Keemahill Jan. 9, 2025

  After the state missed the Jan. 1 deadline, lawmakers still have time to approve administrative costs before applying for $400 million in federal summer meal assistance. Full Story 

• If Trump makes cuts to Medicaid, Texas officials could seize the opportunity to further slash the program

  By Lomi Kriel and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Dec. 4, 2024

  State leaders have shown a decadeslong antipathy toward the health insurance program. If Trump makes severe reductions, it’s unlikely leaders would have the political will to make up any lost federal funds with state money, experts say. Full Story 

• Trump’s near sweep of Texas border counties shows a shift to the right for Latino voters

  By Jasper Scherer, Zach Despart and Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune, and Perla Trevizo and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Nov. 6, 2024

  The former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region. Full Story 

• A pro-gun, anti-abortion border sheriff appealed to both parties. Then he was painted as soft on immigration.

  By Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, Photos by Gerardo del Valle, ProPublica Nov. 3, 2024

  Immigration is not part of Joe Frank Martinez’s job. But in Del Rio, like in other majority Latino communities across the country, the issue is high on voters’ minds and is disrupting long-standing political allegiances. Full Story 

• In Texas’ biggest purple county, this far-right Republican is creating a playbook for local governing

  By Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune, and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Oct. 11, 2024

  From cutting social services to changing election rules, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare has pushed his agenda with an uncompromising approach. Full Story 

• After decades of lobbying by Christian conservative donors, school voucher legislation may finally have the votes

  By Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica June 21, 2024

  Gov. Greg Abbott succeeded in his campaign against Republicans who defied him on school vouchers. Now he may finally get the votes he needs to pass a bill. Full Story 

• Former far-right hard-liner says pro-voucher billionaires are using school board races to sow distrust in public education

  By Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 15, 2024

  The largesse from billionaires Tim Dunn and brothers Farris and Dan Wilks has made its way into local politics. Courtney Gore, a Republican school board member in Granbury, says it’s part of their strategy to build support for vouchers. Full Story 

• Help ProPublica and The Texas Tribune report on your community’s school board and bond elections

  By Jessica Priest, Jeremy Schwartz, Lexi Churchill and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 15, 2024

  We want to hear about how heated elections affect the people learning, teaching and living in districts across Texas. Full Story 

• How shifting U.S. policies led to one of the deadliest incidents involving immigrants in Mexico’s history

  By Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 1, 2024

  A year ago, 40 men died in a detention center fire in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. An examination by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica shows that it was the foreseeable result of landmark shifts in U.S. border policies. Full Story 

• Texas school districts violated a law intended to add transparency to local elections

  By Jessica Priest and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica April 25, 2024

  The Texas Tribune and ProPublica analyzed 35 Texas school districts that held trustee elections last fall and found none that posted all of the required campaign finance records. Full Story