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Alex Samuels was a reporter for The Texas Tribune from 2017 to 2021. She helped with national campaign coverage, wrote stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covered the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She was also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex began at the Tribune as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
A conference committee Saturday voted to strip an amendment that would have blocked cities from regulating short-term rentals like Airbnb, all but killing the measure with less than two days left in the legislative session. Full Story
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On Saturday, both chambers approved a "Buy American" iron and steel bill that will expand a provision already in effect for the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Water Development Board. The measure now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
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After signing a bill and testing out a few guns at a shooting range Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott held up his bullet-riddled target sheet and joked, "I'm gonna carry this around in case I see any reporters." Full Story
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A high school senior reflects on his unlikely victory over an incumbent school board member, and what his generation is bringing to Texas politics. Full Story
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Senate Bill 1289 by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would require large state projects to purchase iron and steel from an American supplier if the cost doesn’t exceed 20 percent more than the price of cheaper, foreign imports. Full Story
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Uber and Lyft are returning to Austin on Monday, the same day Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign ride-hailing legislation passed by Texas lawmakers. Full Story
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At 14, Trevicia Williams was forced to marry a 26-year-old ex-convict. Nearly 40,000 children were married from 2000 to 2014 in Texas, but a bill that made it to the governor’s desk Tuesday seeks to stop this practice. Full Story
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Rep. Helen Giddings announced the launch of a donation page that allows the public to contribute money to clear the debt of schools that feed schoolchildren when their lunch accounts are empty. Full Story
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The Texas House on Friday approved two measures aimed at combating sexual assault on college campuses across the state. Full Story
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The Texas House on Thursday tentatively backed legislation that would require three-point seat belts be installed on new school buses across the state. Full Story
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