FDA Blocks Texas Import of Execution Drug
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has told the Texas Department of Criminal Justice it is tentatively barred from importing a drug used in executions. Full Story
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Madlin Mekelburg
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Madlin Mekelburg was a reporting fellow for the Tribune in 2015 and 2016. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and French. Madlin previously worked at the Houston Chronicle as both a metro intern in Houston and as an intern in their Austin bureau covering the Texas Legislature.
Past Contributions
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![The view of Texas' execution chamber from a witness viewing room.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Travis Co. DA Reportedly Investigating Rep. Dukes
The Texas state auditor's office has referred its investigation into possible misuse of state workers by state Rep. Dawnna Dukes to Travis County prosecutors, the Austin American-Statesman reported late Friday. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin.]()
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Attorney General Ken Paxton Backs Right of Dallas Council to Bar Porn Convention
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said it is “perfectly reasonable” for Dallas to bar a pornography expo from the city's convention center in court documents filed Thursday. Full Story
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![EXXXotica Expo 2010 in Miami, Florida.]()
Credit: BRH Images -
New Prison Rule Means Jailbirds Can't Tweet
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has decided that prison inmates should not be allowed to have active social media accounts, even if friends or family on the outside run them. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva -
Ahead of Austin Election Over Regulating Uber, Local Leaders Take Sides
With less than a month until Austin voters will be asked to decide how to regulate vehicle-for-hire companies like Uber and Lyft, advocates on both sides are amping up their campaign efforts. Full Story
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![President of Taxi Drivers Association of Austin, Dave Passmore, right, and board member, Nega Taddesse, left, spoke to the media about their concerns with Uber and Lyft on March 15, 2016. Alongside Passmore and Taddesse, a group of drivers gathered outside a major South by Southwest event to protest Uber’s attempt to bully the City of Austin into adopting its version of a ride-sharing ordinance.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles/ Texas Tribune -
A Surprise Endorsement in SD-1 Contest From Bill Ratliff
Also, lawmakers grill state agencies on new legislation regulating vendor contracts and a new round of grants is announced for construction at Texas military installations. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
UT Steps Up Security After Body of Student Found on Campus
Urging students to be more careful on campus, University of Texas at Austin officials are stepping up security after determining that a body found on campus this week belonged to a freshman dance student. Full Story
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![University of Texas at Austin student Haruka Weiser was found slain on campus in April 2016.]()
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Timeline: The Rise and Fall of the Cruz/Trump Bromance
It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for the two leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. Less than a year ago, Ted Cruz was praising Donald Trump as "terrific." Full Story
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![GOP presidential contenders Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at the CNN debate in Las Vegas, Nevada on Dec. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Defense Secretary Ash Carter: We Will Increase Austin Presence
Also, Greg Abbott makes good on a promise to pay more attention to black business community, addresses leaders at an African American Chambers of Commerce summit at the Capitol. Full Story
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![U.S Secretary of Defense is Ashton Carter, visits the University of Texas at Austin where he held a discussion with students on March 31, 2016]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Paying Off Toll Roads Could Top $30 Billion
If Texas decided to pay off construction debt on nearly all of its toll roads tomorrow, the price tag would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 billion, according to a preliminary report. Full Story
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![The Sam Houston Parkway, along with the Sam Houston Tollway, in Houston.]()
Credit: Ken Lund
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