Past Contributions

• After taking bullet to head, Texas lawmaker planning "celebratory gunfire" bill

  By Eleanor Dearman Jan. 2, 2017

  After being hit in the head with a bullet shortly after midnight on New Year's Eve, state Rep. Armando Martinez plans to file legislation aimed at reducing or preventing celebratory gun firings. Full Story 

• Report: Texas Rep. Armando Martinez shot in head, in stable condition

  By Eleanor Dearman Jan. 1, 2017

  State Rep. Armando Martinez, D-Weslaco, is in stable condition after being hit by a “stray bullet” early Sunday morning, according to a report from The Monitor. Full Story 

• Texas judge issues injunction on federal transgender health mandate

  By Alexa Ura and Eleanor Dearman Dec. 31, 2016

  A Texas judge issued a preliminary injunction Saturday against a federal mandate aimed to protect transgender people, finding that the federal health rule violates existing law. Full Story 

• Corpus Christi residents scrambling after water supply contamination

  By Eleanor Dearman Dec. 15, 2016

  Residents in Corpus Christi were caught by surprise Wednesday evening as city officials announced a ban on using the city’s water after a chemical made its way into the supply. Full Story 

• Texas fights drugs at the border, but is that the right place?

  By Eleanor Dearman, Jolie McCullough and Todd Wiseman Dec. 14, 2016

  An estimated 1.6 million adult Texans have substance use disorders, many addicted to drugs that arrive illegally from Mexico. Full Story 

• Here's what Rick Perry has said about his potential future colleagues on Capitol Hill

  By Eleanor Dearman and Nicole Cobler Dec. 13, 2016

  If Rick Perry heads to Washington as Donald Trump's energy secretary, he’ll have to reconcile his new gig with his past comments on D.C., the federal government, and of course, Trump himself. Take a look at what he's said. Full Story 

• Texas wages a war on drugs at the border. That might be the wrong place.

  By Jolie McCullough and Eleanor Dearman Dec. 13, 2016

  An estimated 1.6 million adult Texans have substance use disorders, many addicted to drugs that arrive illegally from Mexico. Full Story 

• Legalizing marijuana might have negligible impact on border security

  By Eleanor Dearman Dec. 9, 2016

  Supporters of legal marijuana say it would help ease problems with drug smuggling at the southern border, but experts say drug cartels would probably just switch to other products. Full Story 

• Risk of terrorists crossing U.S. border into Texas is real — but low

  By Eleanor Dearman Dec. 1, 2016

  The number of illegal border crossers from far flung places— including countries deemed sponsors of terrorism — has been increasing, but they remain a small fraction of total border apprehensions. Full Story 

• Illegal Central American Immigration Surges Again at U.S. Border

  By Eleanor Dearman and Travis Putnam Hill Sept. 15, 2016

  For the second time in three years, the U.S. Border Patrol is apprehending more non-Mexicans than Mexicans along the southwest border, most of them in Texas. Full Story