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Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
Tuesday's primary runoffs will determine the party nominees for key seats in the Texas Legislature, on the Texas Railroad Commission and on the State Board of Education. Here are five things to watch for on election night. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott has called for a tweaking the state's controversial Top 10 Percent Rule for college admissions, another sign that the highly controversial law could be at risk when the Texas Legislature convenes in 2017. Full Story
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Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett has made Donald Trump’s 11-person list of judges the real estate mogul would consider appointing to the U.S. Supreme Court if elected president. Full Story
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The University of North Texas is exploring becoming an exclusive higher education partner with the Dallas Cowboys football team, an unusual deal that could include sponsorship opportunities and student internships. Full Story
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Members of the University of Texas System Board of Regents expressed concern about their schools’ proposed rules for handguns on campus and signaled plans to attempt to change some of those policies before they go into effect on Aug 1. Full Story
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State Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, wasn't viewed as a particularly vulnerable incumbent in the March primary. But he barely eked into a runoff with 31-year-old attorney Briscoe Cain. Full Story
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Members of the Texas House Higher Education Committee said they were worried about the rising cost of college in Texas, but stayed away from the criticism and dramatic calls for action heard from the Senate in recent weeks. Full Story
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Also, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker comes back home to teach at her alma mater, Rice University. Full Story
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The family of former Houston Mayor Roy Hofheinz is asking a judge to block the University of Houston from changing the name of Hofheinz Pavilion as it solicits funds for a major renovation of the facility. Full Story
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The Texas A&M University System on Monday announced plans to renovate an old satellite campus to develop new research opportunities and teach as many as 10,000 new students who were "not admitted" into the university. Full Story
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