Ryan McCrimmon

Ryan McCrimmon was a reporting intern for The Texas Tribune in 2015. A graduate of Northwestern University, Ryan previously covered national politics and foreign affairs for the Medill News Service in Washington, D.C. He has also worked as an anchor and producer for the Northwestern News Network and a local news reporter for the C-ville Weekly in his hometown, Charlottesville, Virginia. Ryan studies journalism and Middle East studies at Northwestern.

Past Contributions

Pot Legalization Bill Clears House Panel

By Ryan McCrimmon May 6, 2015

State Rep. David Simpson's proposal to legalize marijuana in Texas moved closer to a full House after it was approved by a House committee Wednesday evening. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Texas Unlikely to Ban Powdered Alcohol This Session

By Ryan McCrimmon May 6, 2015

Despite warning that powdered alcohol could lead to a spike in underage drinking that would “make the darkest days of the Four Loko era look tame,” a lawmaker on Wednesday pulled back his measure to outlaw the product in Texas. Full Story
Protesters Want Family Immigration Detention Center Shut Down

By Ryan McCrimmon May 2, 2015

On the side of a dusty highway about 70 miles southwest of San Antonio on Saturday, more than 500 protesters gathered in front of the largest immigration detention center in the U.S. and chanted "shut it down." Full Story

Credit: Ryan McCrimmon/The Texas Tribune
House Approves Use of Sales Tax for Highways

By Ryan McCrimmon April 30, 2015

The Texas House gave initial approval Thursday to a major boost in transportation funding from sales taxes, setting the stage for a showdown with the Senate over the best way to pay for Texas roads. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
House Panel Debates Bills to Rein In Film Incentives

By Ryan McCrimmon April 30, 2015

A Texas House committee on Thursday considered a pair of bills taking aim at the state film incentives program. One would block state grants for films and video games containing adult content. Another would abolish the program altogether. Full Story

Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson
House Moves to End High-Stakes Writing Tests

By Ryan McCrimmon April 29, 2015

The Texas House Wednesday moved a step closer to changing end-of-course writing assessments for high school students that critics say are overly burdensome and prevent too many students from graduating. Full Story
Panel of #txlege Members "Likes" Texas Hashtag Proposal

By Ryan McCrimmon April 28, 2015

Members of a House committee used "Twitter language" as they discussed legislation Tuesday to designate three official social media "hashtags" for the state, including the widely used #txlege. Lawmakers voted "hashtag yes" on the measures. Full Story
Straus Taps House Team for Budget Negotiations

By Ryan McCrimmon April 22, 2015

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus Wednesday named his five-member team to craft a final budget for the next two years, and House members urged the team not to focus on tax cuts — a contentious issue between the House and Senate. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
When in Texas: Wear a Hat, Eat a Steak, Thank a Bee

By Ryan McCrimmon April 21, 2015

One of the Legislature's less consequential duties came before a House committee Tuesday: designating state capitals and symbols, from the Steak Capital of Texas (Hico) to the official State Pollinator of Texas (the western honeybee). Full Story

Credit: Illustration by John Jordan
Integrity Unit Won't Resume Inquiry Into DPS Contracts

By Ryan McCrimmon April 20, 2015

Responding to a request by the Texas Department of Public Safety to renew an investigation into the department’s border security contracts, the head of the state’s anti-corruption unit said Monday that it was not equipped to continue the investigation. Full Story

Credit: Julián Aguilar