Past Contributions

• Sid Miller faced online backlash a month ago for posting the phrase 'get a rope' on Facebook. This weekend, Gov. Abbott said it on Twitter.

  By Chase Karacostas Dec. 16, 2019

  Abbott responded to criticism about his language by pointing to a decade's old Pace salsa ad. He told a critic to "lighten up." Full Story 

• A year before Fort Worth ISD fired a teacher over her tweets about immigrants, students say she threatened to call the FBI on them

  By Chase Karacostas Dec. 16, 2019

  Fort Worth ISD fired Georgia Clark after she asked President Trump on Twitter in May to "remove the illegals from Fort Worth." The Texas Education Agency reversed their decision late last month mostly on procedural grounds, but the school district plans to appeal. Full Story 

• Fort Worth teacher who asked Trump to deport students said her tweets were protected by the First Amendment. Texas officials agreed.

  By Davis Rich and Chase Karacostas Dec. 2, 2019

  Commissioner of Education Mike Morath wrote that Georgia Clark did not waive her First Amendment rights when she signed her contract with Fort Worth ISD. Full Story 

• Texas AG Ken Paxton joins effort to stop Fort Worth hospital from removing 9-month-old girl from life support

  By Chase Karacostas Nov. 22, 2019

  The case centers around the Texas Advance Directives Act, a controversial law that allows doctors to end treatment for patients when further care is deemed futile. Full Story 

• Texas isn't providing major support for the 2020 Census. Local officials and nonprofits say they will instead.

  By Chase Karacostas Nov. 20, 2019

  Several nonprofits, local governments and philanthropy organizations have formed Texas Counts, a coalition aimed at ensuring an accurate census count in 2020, which could affect representation in Congress and billions in federal funding. Full Story 

• Texas athletes could make money from pending NCAA rule changes. How much? It's not yet clear.

  By Chase Karacostas Nov. 19, 2019

  The NCAA's proposed rule changes could let prominent athletes generate major endorsement money. But for most athletes, there won't likely be much of a windfall. Full Story 

• Toxic algae blooms that kill dogs are becoming more common. And climate change is making it worse, scientists say.

  By Chase Karacostas Nov. 14, 2019

  A toxic algae bloom in Austin that killed five dogs caught officials by surprise, but despite how dangerous the blooms are, there's almost no way for cities to combat them. Full Story 

• Sid Miller heard a Confederate group was excluded from a Veteran's Day parade. His Facebook response? "Get a rope."

  By Chase Karacostas Nov. 9, 2019

  Miller, Texas' Agriculture Commissioner, has a history of making inflammatory, offensive and false posts on social media. Full Story 

• Ted Cruz calls efforts to halt Rodney Reed's execution "remarkable bipartisan coalition"

  By Jolie McCullough and Chase Karacostas Updated: Nov. 9, 2019

  "If there is credible evidence there’s a real chance a defendant is innocent, that evidence should be weighed carefully," Cruz tweeted Friday night. Full Story 

• Texas law requires retired police dogs be auctioned off. Proposition 10 would send them home with their handlers.

  By Chase Karacostas Oct. 31, 2019

  On Nov. 5, voters have the chance to change the Texas Constitution to ensure retired law enforcement animals can be adopted by their handlers, erasing a decades-old requirement that government property must be sold or destroyed when no longer in use. Full Story