https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/pooja-salhotra/The latest news by Pooja Salhotra.enThu, 30 May 2024 17:34:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/30/texas-public-schools-religion-curriculum/The proposed curriculum overhaul was released a week after the Texas GOP proposed requiring the Bible to be taught in public schools. School districts that opt to use them will get more funding.By Pooja Salhotra and Robert DownenThu, 30 May 2024 17:34:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/30/texas-public-schools-religion-curriculum/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/24/dallas-county-sheriff-race-primary-runoff-2024/Lupe Valdez previously held the sheriff’s post before unsuccessfully running for governor in 2018. Brown’s win likely clears her path to another term.By Pooja SalhotraTue, 28 May 2024 23:31:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/24/dallas-county-sheriff-race-primary-runoff-2024/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/24/uvalde-shooting-lawsuits-gunmaker-instagram-texas/The lawsuit accuses Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the shooter’s weapon, of marketing its products to young people.By Pooja Salhotra and Berenice GarciaFri, 24 May 2024 15:28:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/24/uvalde-shooting-lawsuits-gunmaker-instagram-texas/Attendees browse the Daniel Defense firearms booth at the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas on May 17, 2024.Attendees browse at the Daniel Defense firearms booth at the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas on May 17, 2024.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/13/texas-prisons-jails-tablets/A handful of Texas jails have issued electronic tablets to inmates. Counties can make money off their use.By Pooja SalhotraMon, 13 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/13/texas-prisons-jails-tablets/A man plays a game in the Brothers in Arms cell block, a new veteran-focused program, at the Harris County Joint Processing Center, part of the county jail system, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Houston.A man plays a game in the Brothers in Arms cell block, a new veteran-focused program, at the Harris County Joint Processing Center on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Houston.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunnehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/02/jay-hartzell-university-texas-republicans-protest/Hartzell’s protest response has also resulted in condemnations from students and faculty.By Zach Despart and Pooja SalhotraThu, 02 May 2024 11:31:15 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/02/jay-hartzell-university-texas-republicans-protest/The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/29/university-texas-pro-palestinian-protest-arrest/The arrests mark the second time in less than a week that police have broken up a pro-Palestinian demonstration. This time protesters tried to set up an encampment on campus.By Ikram Mohamed, Pooja Salhotra, Stephen Simpson, Julius Shieh and William MelhadoMon, 29 Apr 2024 14:42:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/29/university-texas-pro-palestinian-protest-arrest/Texas Department of Public Safety troopers surround a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Monday, April 29, 2024.Texas department of Public Safety troopers surround a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Monday, April 29, 2024.Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ut-austin-palestinian-arrests-criminal-cases/University officials banned all students arrested from campus, except for “academic reasons.”By Pooja Salhotra, Annie Xia and Julius ShiehThu, 25 Apr 2024 12:38:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ut-austin-palestinian-arrests-criminal-cases/A protester is pulled from the crowd to be arrested at the University of Texas at Austin during a demonstration for Palestinians on April 24, 2024.A protester is pulled from the crowd to be arrested at the University of Texas at Austin during a protest for Palestine on April 24, 2024.Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/22/texas-prisons-heat-deaths/With the threat of another hot summer ahead, advocates asked a federal judge to declare 100-degree-plus conditions in uncooled Texas facilities unconstitutional.By Pooja Salhotra and William MelhadoMon, 22 Apr 2024 19:28:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/22/texas-prisons-heat-deaths/Telford prison on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, in New Boston.Telford prison on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, in New Boston. Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/10/space-x-texas-boca-chica-state-park/The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is negotiating a land trade involving part of Boca Chica State Park.By Pooja SalhotraWed, 10 Apr 2024 12:03:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/10/space-x-texas-boca-chica-state-park/SpaceX rockets at the launch pad at the Brownsville facility on Oct. 20, 2021. Texas Parks and Wildlife is negotiating a land swap that would give the company part of Boca Chica State Park.SpaceX rockets at the launch pad at the Brownsville facility on Oct. 20, 2021. On Oct. 22, Elon Musk said via Twitter the Starship rocket would be ready for an orbital launch by next month.Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/10/texas-high-school-voter-registration/Voting is habit-forming and high schools are critical for starting that pattern.By Pooja SalhotraWed, 10 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/10/texas-high-school-voter-registration/DeBakey Civics Club Vice President Mihir Relan, 18, left, and President Bianca Juarez, 18, register to vote following a voter education workshop on April 5, 2024. A 1980s law requires Texas high schools to distribute voter registration forms to eligible students, but not all are complying.On the left, Mihir Relan, 18, and Bianca Juarez, 18, registers to vote with the help of Jolt Initiative, a non-profit organization that increases the civic participation of Latinos in Texas, on Friday, April 5, 2024.Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/election-administrator-turnover-rates-increases/Texas’ turnover rate has held steady at 40% since 2014. That’s slightly above the new national average.By Pooja SalhotraTue, 09 Apr 2024 16:51:16 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/election-administrator-turnover-rates-increases/Texans voted early at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center near downtown Houston in 2018.Texans cast their votes at the start of early voting at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center near downtown Houston on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/08/texas-solar-eclipse/In some parts of the state, the skies cleared enough for people to see the total solar eclipse.By Alejandra Martinez and Pooja SalhotraMon, 08 Apr 2024 16:44:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/08/texas-solar-eclipse/The Baressi family looks up at the sun in Grenwelge Park, minutes before the total solar eclipse in Llano on April 8, 2024.The Baressi family looks up at the sun Grenwelge Park, minutes before the total solar eclipse’s totality in Llano on April 8, 2024. The family traveled from across the United States to view the eclipse. The eclipse is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the area.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/07/texas-denton-principals-indictment-electioneering/A grand jury indicted the principals for allegedly using their school emails to encourage staff to vote for certain candidates in the March primary.By Pooja SalhotraSun, 07 Apr 2024 11:21:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/07/texas-denton-principals-indictment-electioneering/A woman holds a sign opposing school vouchers outside Denton Calvary Academy on March 27, 2023. Two Denton ISD principals have been indicted on allegations that they encouraged their staffs to vote against political candidates who support school choice.A woman holds a sign reading "No Vouchers" outside Denton Calvary Academy on March 27, 2023.Courtesy of Matt Iaia/The North Texas Dailyhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/02/affordable-connectivity-program-ending/The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a $30 monthly subsidy to help low-income households pay for internet service. The program is slated to run out of money at the end of the month.By Pooja SalhotraTue, 02 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/02/affordable-connectivity-program-ending/A colonia, unincorporated neighborhoods that lack basic services such as street lights, proper drainage, paved roads or waste management, is seen near Edinburg on March 25, 2020.A colonia, unincorporated neighborhoods that lack basic services such as street lights, proper drainage, paved roads or waste management, is seen near Edinburg on March 25, 2020.Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/26/ken-paxton-securities-fraud-case/In 2015, Attorney General Ken Paxton was indicted on three securities fraud felony charges. Experts in securities fraud say those charges are rarely pursued.By Pooja SalhotraTue, 26 Mar 2024 12:12:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/26/ken-paxton-securities-fraud-case/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton agreed to community service and other pretrial conditions in exchange for felony securities fraud charges being dropped.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton talks with his team in the 185th Criminal District court at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center before his pretrial hearing March 26, 2024, in Houston.Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/12/texas-parental-consent-birth-control-fifth-circuit-title-x/A three-judge panel in New Orleans ruled that a Texas law requiring minors to obtain parental consent to obtain birth control does not conflict with the goals of the federally-funded Title X program, which has given teens birth control confidentially.By Pooja SalhotraTue, 12 Mar 2024 21:49:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/12/texas-parental-consent-birth-control-fifth-circuit-title-x/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/border-rio-grande-valley-helicopter-crash/Two National Guard members and a U.S. Border Patrol agent died in the crash in Starr County Friday afternoon.By William Melhado and Pooja SalhotraFri, 08 Mar 2024 22:29:49 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/border-rio-grande-valley-helicopter-crash/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/06/texas-dallas-county-sheriff-primary-election/Valdez ran the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department until 2017, when she stepped down to run against Gov. Greg Abbott.By Pooja SalhotraWed, 06 Mar 2024 08:40:38 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/06/texas-dallas-county-sheriff-primary-election/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/donald-trump-joe-biden-texas-election-2024/President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are almost certain to win their parties’ nominations and face off in November.By Pooja SalhotraTue, 05 Mar 2024 20:01:31 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/donald-trump-joe-biden-texas-election-2024/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/03/early-voting-turnout-2024-primaries/About 3.2 million Texans voted in the state’s primary election, down from 4.1 million during the 2020 presidential primary. Democratic turnout accounted for the entirety of the decline.By Andrew Park and Pooja SalhotraSun, 03 Mar 2024 16:14:17 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/03/early-voting-turnout-2024-primaries/A 'vote here' sign is located inside of the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility on Mar. 1, 2024.A 'Vote Here' sign is located inside of the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility on Mar. 1, 2024. These signs guide voters into the room where they can cast ballots.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune