After Santa Fe, 54 percent of Texas parents support arming teachers, poll says
The poll was conducted in the days immediately following a deadly school shooting in Southeast Texas. Full Story
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Emma Platoff
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Emma Platoff was a reporter at the Tribune from 2017 to 2021, most recently covering the law and its intersection with politics. A graduate of Yale University, Emma is the former managing editor of the Yale Daily News.
Past Contributions
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![People outside a middle school set up as a reunion point for parents and students in Santa Fe, Texas on Friday, March 18, 2018 after a gunman killed at least 10 people at Santa Fe High School.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott announces school safety plan and proposed changes to gun laws after Santa Fe shooting
The governor's announcement follows three days of roundtable discussions about school safety last week at the Capitol. He said he was open to a special session to implement some of his ideas. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces new school safety measures in response to the Santa Fe High School shooting at the Dallas Independent School District Headquarters on May 31, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court sides with short-term renters, likely bolstering state’s fight against Austin’s ordinance
Friday's ruling doesn't directly address regulations implemented by some Texas cities restricting homeowners' use of services like Airbnb. But it bolsters the case against the City of Austin's short-term rental ordinance in several major ways, lawyers said. Full Story
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![Homes on Garden Street in Austin on Feb. 24, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Report: Lupe Valdez, the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, owes $12,000 in property taxes
According to the Houston Chronicle, the former Dallas County sheriff owes money on seven properties in two counties. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for governor Lupe Valdez during a Jolt the Vote event in Austin on April 29, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
After Arkema chemical fires, industry needs more guidance on flood protections, federal investigators say
Workers at the Arkema chemical plant outside Houston "appeared to be unaware" that the site was at risk of flooding. Both the company and the industry's regulators need to do more to plan for flooding, federal investigators said in a new report. Full Story
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![The Arkema chemical plant in Crosby on March 20, 2018, where a pressure release after a power failure during Hurricane Harvey caused an evacuation and many people reported health issues after breathing the air around the plant.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
A gay Texas teacher is on leave after she showed students a photo of her wife. She has few legal protections.
Texas law prohibits employment discrimination based on a host of factors, including sex, race, religion and disability. But there’s no express protection for LGBTQ employees. Full Story
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![Stacy Bailey, left, has sued Mansfield Independent School District alleging that it discriminated against her based on her sexual orientation.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Stacy Bailey -
Lawsuit claims one of Texas' top Republican judges fired his secretary for supporting Democrats on social media
Olga Zuniga, who worked as a secretary on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for 14 years, claims she was fired by her Republican boss for her social media posts favoring Democrats. Full Story
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![Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Kevin Yeary.]()
Credit: Court of Criminal Appeals -
Hard-line conservatives lose big in Texas House runoffs
Most of the seven Texas House Republican primary runoffs fell along familiar ideological fault lines in the Republican Party. The more moderate candidates won in most cases. Full Story
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![9:50 p.m. Arguments break out on the House floor.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Santa Fe shooter used his father’s guns. But his parents aren’t liable under Texas law.
The 17-year-old shooter who killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School last week used his father's guns. But his family would not be liable under Texas' safe storage law, since the law only applies to children under 17. Full Story
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![Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff's Office on the scene of Santa Fe High School, where a shooting occurred Friday morning.]()
Credit: Harris County Sheriff's Office -
After Santa Fe shooting, prominent Texas House Republican asks Abbott to call special session on school shootings
House State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook joined a growing chorus of Texas politicians who have already asked Abbott to call back lawmakers to weigh proposals on the issue. Full Story
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![State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, during the first hearing of the House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness on Nov. 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune