Another National Guard soldier working Operation Lone Star dies by suspected suicide
The soldier is the 10th known Texas Guard member linked to the mission to die since its rapid expansion began in September 2021. Full Story
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James Barragán was a politics reporter for The Texas Tribune with a focus on accountability reporting. Prior to joining the Tribune, James worked as a statehouse reporter for The Dallas Morning News and previously had stints at the Austin American-Statesman and the Los Angeles Times. In 2021, he was a finalist for the Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Reporting for his coverage of Texas politics during the COVID-19 pandemic. James was selected as a 2023-24 Nieman Fellow at Harvard. A Southern California native, James received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was based in Austin and is a native Spanish speaker.
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![A row of shipping containers and razor wire placed on the banks of the Rio Grande River by Gov. Greg Abbott to form a makeshift border wall in Eagle Pass on Nov. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke says Gov. Greg Abbott “refuses” to debate with a live audience
Abbott’s team rejected the assertion, saying that O’Rourke agreed to the audience-free debate months ago. Full Story
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![The empty auditorium at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley campus in Edinburg prior to the debate between incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Beto O'Rourke.]()
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35 family members of Uvalde shooting victims throw their support behind Beto O’Rourke ahead of debate
In a news conference ahead of the only gubernatorial debate, 35 family members of Uvalde school shooting victims said they would support O’Rourke because of Gov. Greg Abbott’s inaction on gun control measures. Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke hosts a press conference in Edinburg, on Sept. 30, 2022, with parents and families of the 19 children killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott, O’Rourke spar over immigration, abortion and Uvalde shooting in debate
The one-hour debate took place in Edinburg. It was the only scheduled debate between the two candidates before the November election. Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke, left, and Gov. Greg Abbott during a debate in Edinburg on Sept. 30, 2022.]()
Credit: Courtesy of News Nation -
Immigration, abortion and economy expected to take center stage when Abbott, O’Rourke debate Friday
The debate, the candidates’ first and likely only one before the November election, begins at 7 p.m. Central time in Edinburg. Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial nominee Beto O'Rourke, left, and Gov. Greg Abbott.]()
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Migrant encounters at the border are higher today than they were before Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star began
The number of migrant encounters at the Texas-Mexico border has climbed from 109,456 in March 2021, the month the mission began, to 116,976 in August — a failure of Abbott’s office’s stated desire to “stop this revolving door and deter others considering entering illegally.” Full Story
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![Department of Public Safety agents oversee a group of three undocumented migrants as they continue the process of arresting them after they were caught in private property as part of Operation Lone Star in Kinney County near Brackettville, on Nov. 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for ProPublica/The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Republicans gain ground all along the Texas-Mexico border by emphasizing border security
In these historically Democratic border areas, some voters are turning to the Republican party, while others remain unmoved. Full Story
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![Freddy Arellano and Republican candidate Armando Rosales speaks to local Eagle Pass resident while dropping off yard signs.]()
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Long the subject of rhetoric, migrants have now become props in political theater
A long-reliable political playbook of highlighting immigration in election season has been escalated by Govs. Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis. Full Story
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![Dozens of migrants, including several family units, leave on a New York City-bound bus outside a shelter in El Paso on Aug. 31, 2022. The city and county of El Paso are sponsoring (to be reimbursed by FEMA) the voluntary trips to relieve pressure on local resources and shelters.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
New York Mayor Eric Adams slams Greg Abbott for refusing to coordinate migrant busing effort
In an interview for The Texas Tribune Festival, Adams called the Texas governor’s program shipping migrants to his city “inhumane” and “un-American.” Full Story
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![New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivers keynote remarks at the opening of Concordia annual summit at Sheraton Times Square in New York on Sept. 19, 2022.]()
Credit: Lev Radin/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Judge dismisses attempt to discipline Texas AG Ken Paxton’s top aide for trying to overturn the 2020 election
The State Bar of Texas brought the complaint after the aide worked on a suit to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in four states. Full Story
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![First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster speaks during an Attorney General press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.]()
Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune