Past Contributions

• An open-government mystery solved: McAllen paid Enrique Iglesias $485,000 for 2015 performance

  By Emma Platoff Jan. 7, 2020

  The pop star's contract with the city — long hidden by what critics described as gaping holes in the state's open-records laws — became public this week after new legislation governing the public's right to know went into effect. Full Story 

• How the Texas Legislature saved billionaire John Paul DeJoria $123 million

  By Emma Platoff Dec. 19, 2019

  The Texas billionaire wanted U.S. courts to throw out a hefty judgment won against him in Morocco. The law wasn’t on DeJoria’s side. So Texas legislators changed it. Full Story 

• Individual mandate is unconstitutional, federal appellate court rules in Texas-led Affordable Care Act lawsuit

  By Emma Platoff Updated: Dec. 18, 2019

  A panel on the conservative-leaning U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sent the lawsuit back to a district court in Texas to reassess how much of the Affordable Care Act can stand if the individual mandate must fall. Full Story 

• Waco judge sues state agency after receiving public warning for refusing to officiate same-sex marriages

  By Emma Platoff Dec. 17, 2019

  Dianne Hensley, who received a warning last month from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, will be represented by First Liberty Institute, a high-profile religious liberty law firm with close ties to the Texas Attorney General's Office. Full Story 

• Appointees claim Gov. Greg Abbott ousted them from board for voting to sanction judge who refused to perform same-sex marriages

  By Emma Platoff Updated: Dec. 5, 2019

  After those two appointees left the commission, it handed down just a warning to the judge, Dianne Hensley. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott orders state agencies to reduce licensing regulations, cut fees

  By Emma Platoff Nov. 22, 2019

  Abbott has set a Dec. 1 deadline for agencies to tell his office how they plan to limit regulations, reduce fees and, "where appropriate," remove licensing barriers for people with criminal records. Full Story 

• Optimistic Democrats are lining up to run for Texas’ high courts in 2020

  By Emma Platoff Nov. 14, 2019

  The depth of the bench for non-marquee statewide races, like the state’s two high courts and the Railroad Commission, is a measure of how high Democratic hopes have soared ahead of the 2020 election. Full Story 

• Two Texas Democrats have been campaigning in a statewide race that probably won't be on the ballot

  By Emma Platoff Nov. 8, 2019

  Amid confusion over the state’s mandatory retirement law, a state official confirmed to the Democratic Party months ago that the race for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 6 would appear on the 2020 ballot. It probably won't. Full Story 

• Beto O'Rourke drops out of presidential race

  By Patrick Svitek and Emma Platoff Updated: Nov. 1, 2019

  The former El Paso congressman announced the decision Friday. Full Story 

• Empower Texans helped topple House Speaker Dennis Bonnen. Did it further the conservative movement?

  By Emma Platoff Nov. 1, 2019

  The hardline conservative group can claim a victory for ousting Bonnen. But will that be good for its ideological interests? Full Story