https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayden-runnels/The latest news by Ayden Runnels.enFri, 26 Sep 2025 19:01:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/26/texas-state-university-fired-professor-court-reinstatement/A Texas State spokesperson said Monday evening that the professor’s employment had been “terminated, effective immediately” after a university review.By Ayden Runnels and Lindsey BymanFri, 26 Sep 2025 19:01:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/26/texas-state-university-fired-professor-court-reinstatement/Professor Thomas Alter, who was fired by Texas State University for remarks he made at a virtual conference put on by a socialist group, speaks on Sept. 25, 2025, at a downtown San Marcos rally calling for his reinstatement.Thomas Alter delivers speaks at a rally calling for him to be reinstated in downtown San Marcos on Sept. 25, 2025. The Texas State University professor was fired by the university for remarks he made at a virtual conference put on by a socialist group.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/26/texas-tech-university-system-transgender-identity-restrictions/Professors are afraid to publicly speak out, system leaders left key questions unanswered and advocates worry for LGBTQ+ students’ mental health.By Jessica Priest, Jayme Lozano Carver, Sneha Dey, Ayden Runnels, Lindsey Byman, Stephen Simpson and Terri LangfordFri, 26 Sep 2025 11:00:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/26/texas-tech-university-system-transgender-identity-restrictions/The Texas Tech University's administration building on July 8, 2020. The Texas Tech University System issued guidance Thursday instructing faculty to comply with recent executive orders and state laws recognizing only the male and female genders.View of the Administration building on the Texas Tech University campus on July 8, 2020.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-execution-blaine-milam/Blaine Milam, who was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. Thursday, is the fifth death row inmate executed by the state in 2025.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-execution-blaine-milam/Death row inmates are executed at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, which is also known as the "Walls Unit.”The Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, also known as the "Walls Unit,” near downtown Huntsville, on Aug. 16, 2022.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/23/camp-mystic-flood-reopening-cypress-lake-2026/Despite a plea by the family of a camper who is still missing to halt all discussions of reopening and memorials to those who died, Mystic officials say they’ll proceed with their plans.By Ayden RunnelsTue, 23 Sep 2025 20:06:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/23/camp-mystic-flood-reopening-cypress-lake-2026/Camp Mystic is seen along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-victoria-president-finalist/System Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the Board of Regents chair have stood by the new president amid criticism from some conservatives about her previous work around diversity and equity.By Ayden Runnels and Nicholas GutteridgeThu, 18 Sep 2025 21:34:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-victoria-president-finalist/The Texas A&M University System officially took over the Victoria campus from the University of Houston System in September after state lawmakers approved the transfer.The Texas A&M Water Tower on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station on Aug. 18, 2023.Meredith Seaver for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-president-mark-welsh-resigns/Calls for Welsh’s ousting intensified over his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity discussions in a children’s literature class.By Jessica Priest, Ayden Runnels and Nicholas GutteridgeThu, 18 Sep 2025 18:05:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-president-mark-welsh-resigns/Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III and his wife Betty are greeted by faculty and students as he leaves campus after resigning on Sept. 19, 2025. His departure followed criticism of his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity discussions in a children’s literature class.President Mark A. Welsh III and his wife Betty are greeted by A&M faculty and students as he leaves campus after resigning on Sept. 19, 2025.Cassie Stricker for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/16/texas-state-university-student-charlie-kirk-comments/The university's announcement came hours after Gov. Greg Abbott called for the student's expulsion.By Ayden RunnelsTue, 16 Sep 2025 21:28:18 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/16/texas-state-university-student-charlie-kirk-comments/Students walk through an area known as “The Quad” at Texas State University in San Marcos on August 24, 2020.Students walk through an area known as “The Quad” on the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos on August 24, 2020.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/15/texas-education-teacher-comments-charlie-kirk/Several school districts have already taken disciplinary action against staff for comments made about the Christian conservative activist’s death.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 15 Sep 2025 20:01:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/15/texas-education-teacher-comments-charlie-kirk/Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath, seen in Austin on Sept. 9, 2025, said in a statement that he would recommend a state board suspend the licenses of teachers who are disciplined for comments made on the death of Charlie Kirk.Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath participates in a roundtable at the Alpha School campus in Austin on Sept. 9, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/15/texas-gambling-daily-fantasy-sports-prediction-market-betting/While the state's strict ban on gambling hasn’t changed, fast-growing daily fantasy sports and prediction market apps are giving Texans new ways to wager without leaving home.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 15 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/15/texas-gambling-daily-fantasy-sports-prediction-market-betting/While a legislative session filled with scrutiny for lottery couriers' unclear legality ended with a ban on the services, daily fantasy sports apps went unnoticed despite operating in a similarly gray legal area.While a legislative session filled with scrutiny for lottery couriers' unclear legality ended with a ban on the services, daily fantasy sports apps went unnoticed despite operating in a similarly gray legal area.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/texas-legislature-charlie-kirk-freedom-speech-committee/The committees were made to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk and come as university faculty have come under online scrutiny.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 12 Sep 2025 19:25:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/texas-legislature-charlie-kirk-freedom-speech-committee/A student walks through the Library Mall at the University of North Texas in Denton in 2022.A student walks through the Library Mall at the University of North Texas in Denton on March 22, 2022.Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/10/texas-state-university-professor-fired/Thomas Alter’s lawyer said the professor would seek legal action for being fired after allegedly violating university policy in a video posted on social media.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 10 Sep 2025 22:16:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/10/texas-state-university-professor-fired/Texas State University's Alkek Teaching Theater is seen on the first day of the fall semester in San Marcos on Aug. 24, 2020.Empty seats in the Alkek Teaching theatre on the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos on Aug. 24, 2020.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/texas-am-video-professor-student-gender-identity-content/After the video fueled outrage, a professor was fired and two college leaders removed from their administrative roles for approving content inconsistent with the course’s description.By Jessica Priest, Nicholas Gutteridge, Alex Nguyen and Ayden RunnelsMon, 08 Sep 2025 23:08:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/texas-am-video-professor-student-gender-identity-content/The Texas A&M University bell tower is seen on Aug. 21, 2024, in College Station.The Texas A&M bell tower on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in College Station.Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-gop-republican-party-closed-primary-elections/Currently, any Texas voter can cast a ballot in GOP primaries. The party wants to limit eligibility to registered members.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 04 Sep 2025 21:39:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-gop-republican-party-closed-primary-elections/Republican Party of Texas Vice-Chair D’rinda Randall, left, and Chair Abraham George speak during the Texas GOP Convention on May 25, 2024, in San Antonio. The Texas GOP on Thursday sued Secretary of State Jane Nelson to restrict primaries to only voters registered with the party.Newly elected Republican Party of Texas Vice-Chair D’rinda Randall, left, and Chair Abraham George and speak during the Texas GOP Convention Saturday, May 25, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-legislature-disaster-emergency-response-bill/Both legislative chambers adjourned without agreeing on changes to Senate Bill 2, which aimed to create new training and licensing requirements for local officials.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 04 Sep 2025 02:10:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-legislature-disaster-emergency-response-bill/Camp Mystic is seen along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/texas-camp-safety-legislation/The parents of children who died at Camp Mystic advocated for the new legislation, which now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.By Emily Foxhall and Ayden RunnelsWed, 03 Sep 2025 22:49:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/texas-camp-safety-legislation/Damaged cabins are seen along the Guadalupe River in Ingram on July 7, 2025, days after flooding devastated the area.Damaged cabins seen along the river in Ingram on Monday July7, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-lottery-department-licensing-regulation/After months of controversy, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must tackle poor sales and legislative scrutiny as it takes over the games on Sept. 1.By Ayden Runnels and Alex NguyenFri, 29 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-lottery-department-licensing-regulation/Commissioner Lori High and Vice Chair Thomas F. Butler are seen during a hearing of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation Meeting on Aug. 21, 2025.Commissioner Lori High and Vice Chair Thomas F. Butler during The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation Meeting on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/texas-house-bathroom-bill-transgender/Senate Bill 8, which goes into effect on Dec. 4, restricts bathroom use in government buildings and schools to the sex assigned at birth.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 28 Aug 2025 19:15:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/texas-house-bathroom-bill-transgender/The Texas House, led by Speaker Dustin Burrows, seen on Aug. 18, 2025, passed Senate Bill 8, also called the “Texas Women’s Privacy Act,” after several hours of debate Thursday.House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speaks on the floor of the Texas House on Aug. 18, 2025, two weeks after democrats walked out during the middle of the special session.Lorianne Willett for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/23/texas-congressional-map-lawsuit/One lawsuit, filed by LULAC on behalf of 13 Texas residents, states that the redrawn districts in the new map are racially discriminatory and violate voter protection laws.By Colleen DeGuzman and Ayden RunnelsSat, 23 Aug 2025 14:29:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/23/texas-congressional-map-lawsuit/A map of the proposed changes to Texas congressional districts sits on a Texas House member’s desk on Aug. 20, 2025.A map of the proposed changes to Texas congressional districts sits on a Texas House member’s desk on Aug. 20, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/exas-house-transgender-bathroom-senate-bill-8/Senate Bill 8, which now heads to the House floor, would restrict which bathrooms in government buildings transgender people would be allowed to use.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 22 Aug 2025 12:59:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/exas-house-transgender-bathroom-senate-bill-8/House security confronts CJ Grisham in the rear of the State Affairs Committee hearing on the "bathroom bill" on Aug. 22, 2025. Grisham was later removed from the hearing room for disruption.House Sergeant-At-Arms, l, and Texas DPS argue with a witness who was later removed from the hearing for rowdyness against HB 8 in THe House State Affairs Committee meeting on August 22, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-congressional-redistricting-map-senate-governor-desk/Republican lawmakers pushed the map through over fierce Democratic opposition, positioning the GOP to net up to five additional seats in Texas.By Kayla Guo and Ayden RunnelsFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-congressional-redistricting-map-senate-governor-desk/State lawmakers gather around Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's desk before the final vote on the mid-decade redistricting bill in the Texas Senate.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gathers the senators at his desk before the final vote on the mid-decade redistricting bill in the Texas Senate on Aug. 22, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune