Ag Commissioner Sid Miller’s former political consultant pleads guilty to bribery
Todd Smith’s plea comes days before he was set to go to trial, where Miller was subpoenaed to testify. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/32f03cae924a54e9550c130095ce2bb1/Todd%20M%20Smith%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/240610_Juan_Salinas_II_2x3.jpeg)
Juan Salinas II was a reporting fellow based in Arlington. He is a senior at the University of Texas at Arlington majoring in journalism and a transfer student from Tarrant County College, where he worked at the student newspaper, The Collegian. As an intern at public radio station KERA, he covered state politics and local governments, and he was a year-long reporting fellow at the Fort Worth Report. Juan was born and raised in the North Side neighborhood of Fort Worth.
Latest Contributions
-
![Todd M Smith.]()
Credit: Social Media -
In Texas’ biggest purple county, this far-right Republican is creating a playbook for local governing
From cutting social services to changing election rules, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare has pushed his agenda with an uncompromising approach. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cbad68104aec576a913fde3981c1bb51/0418%20Tarrrant%20Co%20CommCo%20ST%2023.JPG)
![Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare listens to Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks after Brooks tells the attendees of the meeting that O’Hare “broke the system” in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023. Following a conversation between O’Hare and Elections Administrator Heider Garcia, Garcia announced his resignation. O’Hare denied responsibility, saying “I did not ask Heider to resign. I did not put pressure on Heider to resign. I did not threaten to fire Heider, I did not threaten to bring him before the election commission for review to determine if he would keep his employment. He chose to resign on his own.”]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller subpoenaed to testify in his former political consultant’s criminal trial
Todd Smith was indicted in 2022 on felony charges of theft and commercial bribery related to taking money in exchange for hemp licenses that are issued by Miller’s office. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/92e2cca2d11022ac60baa0ae3a073fe5/0801%20Sid%20Miller%20OA%2047%20TT.jpg)
![Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller speaks during a "Make America Great Again" rally on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Caldwell. The rally was one of Miller's stops on his "Gas and Groceries Truth Tour,” during which he visited various swing states to denounce President Joe Biden’s management of the economy.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court leaves State Fair’s gun ban in place
Attorney General Ken Paxton had turned to the high court to overturn the ban after other lower courts declined to intercede. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d69c76e793a76ead8908d12c227798f9/State%20Fair%20of%20Texas%20AVS%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Children enjoy a ride at the State Fair of Texas on Oct. 20, 2016 in Dallas.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for The Texas Tribune -
Public education takes center stage at Houston lawmakers discussion
Lawmakers reflected on Houston ISD takeover and prospect of the Legislature creating subsidies for private school tuition Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d5b5dc0f1150ee0b059bf060059f2a4a/10-02_HoustonLaw-Lead-Title-01-v1.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Judge allows Texas State Fair’s gun ban to stand for now
Texas AG Ken Paxton says the fair's gun ban violates state law, which bars most government bodies from prohibiting weapons. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8e68a2c6d25908ad5d8d27949ca3dc26/1019%20Texas%20State%20Fair%2001%20AVS%20TT.jpg)
![The State Fair of Texas in Dallas on Oct. 20, 2016.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for The Texas Tribune -
Tarrant County GOP sought an election advantage with failed effort to shutter college voting locations
In a resolution signed Friday, the party blasted two Republicans who voted against the measure and accused them of undermining its electoral chances. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/97af2a225e80efbfa325cc2a6a581918/0506%20Heider%20Tarrant%20County%20AS%2025.jpeg)
![Cases of ballots and equipment at the Tarrant County Elections Administration building in Fort Worth, Texas. on May 6, 2023.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune -
What you need to know about the Venezuelan gang that Texas is targeting
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared the Venezuelan gang a foreign terrorist organization and asked the Department of Public Safety to create a strike team targeting them. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2db164a6d7de2adb87cba39035629dd5/%20Tren%20de%20Aragua%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Members of the Chilean Armed Forces participate in a security operation against suspects with links to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, on May 29, 2024.]()
Credit: Patricio Cortés B./Ulan/POOL via REUTERS -
Gov. Greg Abbott announces crackdown on Venezuelan gang
Abbott signed a proclamation declaring Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization and directed Texas DPS to create strike teams targeting the gang. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/198ee11829104a907ba67c88e5bceb81/0204%20Eagle%20Pass%20KGB%20TT%2013.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott arrives at a press conference with several other states leadership at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Feb. 04, 2024.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
Democratic Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos joins crowded Texas House speaker race
Rodríguez Ramos faces an uphill battle, as Democrats are the minority party with 64 seats in the 150-member Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4d56336064e342e873270f5df7eb7105/Texas%20House%20Progressive%20Caucus%20EG%20TT%2012.jpg)
![State Rep. Ana-Maria Rodríguez Ramos, D-Richardson, speaks at a Texas House Progressive Caucus press conference at the Capitol on Sept. 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune