Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls for better background checks after Florida shooting
In his first public comments since the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting last week, Abbott called the status quo "unacceptable." Full Story
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Rishika Dugyala
Rishika Dugyala was a 2018 reporting fellow at The Texas Tribune, where she covered politics and policy through breaking news and enterprise stories. She graduated from Northwestern University, where she studied journalism and political science. Before the Tribune, Rishika covered housing and homelessness for the San Francisco Public Press, criminal justice for the Medill Justice Project and the 2016 election for the Medill News Service. She also worked for The Daily Northwestern.
Past Contributions
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![Gov. Greg Abbott talks to the press after casting his vote in Austin on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, the first day of early voting in Texas for the March primary elections.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas AFL-CIO changes decision, endorses U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke for Senate
In a special board meeting, the group overturned its decision not to endorse in the race after O’Rourke failed to appear at the organization's convention last month. Full Story
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![The headquarters of Texas AFL-CIO in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Republican state Rep. Sarah Davis on voting for Gov. Greg Abbott: "It'll be hard to do that."
After the governor released multiple attack ads against her in her Republican primary race, state Rep. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place, said she might "just not vote" in Gov. Greg Abbott's race for re-election this year. Full Story
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![State Rep. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place, speaks with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith at the Austin Club on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House candidate: Post about “bloody cops” was only targeting “bad cops”
CJ Grisham, a candidate challenging state Rep. Hugh Shine in the Republican primary, wrote Facebook posts suggesting violent responses to excessive force by police. But Grisham told The Texas Tribune he would "take a bullet for good cops." Full Story
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![CJ Grisham is a Republican candidate for Texas House District 55.]()
Credit: Courtesy candidate -
More than half of Texas public school students are in districts where teacher certification isn’t required
Districts often say they will only hire uncertified teachers for career and technology courses. But because there are no state restrictions, some experts are concerned that uncertified educators will teach core classes. Full Story
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Today is the deadline to register to vote in time for the 2018 primaries
Texas will host the first statewide primaries of 2018 on March 6. Unlike some other states, Texas doesn't allow voter registration on the day of an election. Full Story
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More LGBTQ Texans than ever are running for office, magazine says
At least 48 openly LGBTQ Texas candidates are running for office, a number roughly three times higher than any previous election cycle, according to OutSmart, a Houston LGBTQ magazine. Full Story
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![Some of the LGBTQ Texas candidates running for public office in 2018. Top row, left to right: Mauro Garza, Celia Israel and Julie Johnson. Middle row: Gina Ortiz Jones, Steven Kirkland and Shannon McClendon. Bottom row: Jeffrey Payne, Mark Phariss and Lupe Valdez.]()
Credit: Courtesy candidates -
Rep. Dan Huberty's primary challenger declared ineligible to run
State Rep. Dan Huberty's only primary challenger was on Friday declared ineligible to run to represent House District 127. Reginald C. Grant's name will remain on the ballot. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston (left), and his GOP primary challenger, Reginald Clyde Grant, Jr.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages -
Democratic gubernatorial candidate calls for ending death penalty
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew White on Thursday called for the abolishment of the death penalty. Full Story
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![Andrew White, Democratic candidate for governor, speaks at a Texas Tribune event on Jan. 11, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera