Ted Cruz endorses Donald Trump for president
The Republican U.S. senator threw his support behind the former president during a Fox News appearance. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/094874a502dcd43bdf987c4a30489330/Ted%20Cruz%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
William Melhado
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/William_Melhado_2x3.jpg)
William Melhado was an Austin-based general assignment reporter until 2024. He originally joined the Tribune in 2022 as a Poynter-Koch fellow. Before his time at the Tribune, William worked as a staff writer at the Santa Fe Reporter, an alt-weekly newspaper in New Mexico, and he also worked as an educator for five years at a public high school in the Bronx, New York and at international schools in Tanzania and Nepal. A native of Boulder, Colorado, William graduated from Middlebury College with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and earned a master’s in secondary science education at CUNY Lehman College.
Past Contributions
-
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks on the 1st day of the CPAC Washington conference at Gaylord National Harbor Resort & Convention Center in Maryland on March 2, 2023.]()
Credit: Lev Radin/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Seattle Children’s Hospital sues Texas Attorney General over trans patient records
Suspecting the Washington-based hospital of providing gender-affirming care to Texas children, which is now banned in Texas, AG Ken Paxton issued investigative subpoenas demanding medical information. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6809d622b6e7bf5d0ffa1afc577882b1/UNT%20Kelly%20Neidert%20EL%20TT%2033.jpg)
![A protester waves a transgender pride flag during a protest at the University of North Texas in Denton on March 23, 2022.]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
Texas gained more people than any other state in the last year
Texas grew by nearly half a million people in the past year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But it was South Carolina that led the nation with its rate of population growth. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8bbc3caa03b2a6fabe239fff8c43cb3a/Office%20Conversion%20BT%20TT%2032.jpg)
![Pedestrians walk through downtown Dallas on Nov. 07, 2023.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
As Israel-Hamas war sparks tensions on Texas campuses, universities struggle with how to respond
A series of incidents across Texas campuses have brought attention to universities’ handling of heated political debates about the war. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ec6b3164e2c1ab0a0aab4c0d1e314e84/1112%20ATX%20Palestine%20Protest%20JS%20TT%2024.jpg)
![Thousands of Texans march in support for Palestine in downtown Austin on Nov. 12, 2023.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
DA drops most charges against Austin police officers accused of excessive force in 2020 protests
The Travis County district attorney still plans to pursue criminal charges in four cases. The officers whose cases are being dismissed will be allowed to return to duty. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/46edade4c9217f246c101dd6b650b74d/Austin%20Protest%20June%204%20EG%20TT%2008.jpg)
![Demonstrators gather outside Austin Police headquarters for another night of protest against police violence towards people of color, in Austin on June 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
A Texas university removed its unique public billboards after students used them to share thoughts on Gaza war
The University of Texas at Dallas replaced three boulders — known as the Spirit Rocks — with trees, citing “extended political discourse.” Students say the quirky public square is a frequent venue for political messaging. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c0c8d8992ebd5d8e409cac85cb24df6a/UT%20Dallas%20Covid%20File%20ST%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Dallas on Aug. 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton announces investigation of media group following Elon Musk’s lawsuit
After a report from Media Matters showed advertisements from major brands appeared next to antisemitic posts on X, the company sued the media watchdog group and its reporter. The Texas Attorney General’s Office plans to investigate the nonprofit for potential fraud. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5b90696972e54c3c04710649e75b45ea/0902%20Labor%20Day%20Paxton%20AS%20TT%2011.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Collin County Labor day picnic in Plano, Texas on Sept. 2, 2023, just days before his impeachment trial.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribune -
Texas executes David Renteria for 2001 murder of El Paso girl
Renteria’s attorneys unsuccessfully argued that the El Paso District Attorney’s Office violated his constitutional rights by not releasing all documents in his case. He was the eight person executed in Texas in 2023. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/06/Witness_Viewing_RoomCrop.jpg)
![The execution chamber seen from one of two witness viewing rooms at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Huntsville Unit.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Texas executes Brent Brewer, who spent three decades on death row, for murder of Amarillo man
Brewer lost a clemency appeal earlier this week, despite one of his jurors pleading that his life be spared and an expert witness’ methods put into question. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to pause Brewer’s execution Thursday afternoon to hear arguments about the “junk science” used against him. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c59db92d2010777efa01731a5121a7a4/Brent%20Brewer%20Still%20TT.jpg)
![A still of Brent Brewer from a video provided by his attorneys.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Attorneys for Brent Brewer -
Texas voters reject proposal to increase judges’ retirement ages
Texans soundly defeated a constitutional amendment that would have let judges stay on the bench longer. Proposition 13 would have increased the minimum retirement age from 70 to 75 and the mandatory retirement age from 75 to 79. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/98713730b223ef9590e675aa28052143/0621%20Ancestral%20Lands%20EL%20TT%2060.jpg)
![The county courtroom in the Camp County Court House in Pittsburg on June 21, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune