Central Texas faith leaders and politicians rebuke antisemitic incidents after fire outside Austin synagogue
Austin fire officials said they’re investigating a Sunday incident that caused about $25,000 in damage as a potential arson. Full Story
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James Pollard
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James Pollard is a student at Northwestern University and a fall reporting fellow. James interned this summer on the NBC Owned Television Stations digital team. He has covered his hometown of St. Louis as an intern with the Riverfront Times and reported on President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial for Medill News Service. He has also been managing editor of The Daily Northwestern.
Past Contributions
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![Rabbi Neil Blumofe spoke at a press conference at the Dell Jewish Community Center on Nov. 1, 2021, after a fire outside Congregation Beth Israel.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
Texas sues the Biden administration over federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott have been at war with locals and federal officials over vaccinate mandates. Earlier this month, Abbott expanded an executive order to block the requirement for any entity in Texas, including health care facilities and private businesses. Full Story
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![Joseph Situentes Peña, 13, receives his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic held in partnership between the Central Texas Food Bank and University of Texas in Austin on July 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans want to make the state the center of the cryptocurrency universe
Texas Republicans have largely welcomed the blockchain technology industry with open arms. But skeptics are concerned about cryptocurrency mining’s impact on the environment and energy grid. Full Story
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![Computers mine for Bitcoin at Whinstone's Rockdale facility on Oct. 22, 2021. At capacity, the building can support 22,000 computers.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
Texas reaches $290 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson in nationwide opioid case
“We’re not done going after these other companies,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. Overdose deaths related to opioids increased by 30% nationally in 2020. Full Story
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![Johnson & Johnson company offices in Irvine, California, on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott signs dog tethering bill after vetoing similar proposal over the summer
Abbott criticized an earlier proposal as “micro-managing.” But advocates say the differences between the original bill and the new law won’t affect its impact. Full Story
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![Bloodhounds are held in a pen in Refugio on Aug. 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Supreme Court considers taking up abortion providers’ challenge to Texas’ near-total ban on the procedure
Providers want the Supreme Court to take the case before an appeals court hears it. The high court gave defendants, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, until Thursday to respond to the providers’ request. Full Story
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![Protestors joined several Democratic lawmakers outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2019, to show their opposition to the recent abortion ban implemented by several states.]()
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How a doughnut-shaped district breaks up voters of color near Fort Hood and helps House Republicans
The doughnut district would be in Bell County, a traditionally red area that has trended blue in recent years as the diverse community around the nation’s biggest military installation grows. Full Story
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![Killeen City Hall on Oct. 11, 2021, in Killeen.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
After minor changes, advocates are confident a bill requiring adequate shelter for dogs can avoid another Gov. Greg Abbott veto
The new proposal, like its predecessor, would amend the health and safety code to make the unlawful restraint of a dog a criminal offense — and more clearly outline proper treatment. Full Story
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![Bloodhounds are held in a pen in Refugio on Aug. 21, 2019. The dogs are trained to use scent in the capture of criminals and migrants that attempt to evade law enforcement.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Two Black Houston members of Congress decry redistricting map that pits them against each other as discriminatory
Despite the objections of U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green, the Senate committee voted out the redrawn congressional map Monday without addressing the district overlap. The map heads next to the full Senate for a vote. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, speaks as the House Judiciary Committee meets on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 8, 2019.]()
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Ted Cruz's challenge to campaign finance reimbursement law reaches Supreme Court
Under a 2002 federal law, no more than $250,000 in contributions collected after an election may be used to repay a candidate’s loans to their campaign. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing for U.S. Secretary of Transportation nominee Pete Buttigieg in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Stefani Reynolds/Pool via REUTERS