https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/brandon-formby/The latest news by Brandon Formby.enSun, 26 Mar 2023 19:51:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/26/texas-observer-shutting-down/The 68-year-old progressive publication, which published Ronnie Dugger, Molly Ivins and Kaye Northcott, hit financial troubles and wasn’t able to broaden its audience, board members said.By Sewell Chan and Brandon FormbySun, 26 Mar 2023 19:51:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/26/texas-observer-shutting-down/The Texas Observer was founded in 1954.The Texas Observer was founded in 1954.Texas Observerhttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/29/houston-boil-water-lifted/For more than 24 hours, nearly everyone in the nation’s fourth-most-populous city had been asked to boil water after a power outage at a water treatment plant Sunday.By Sneha Dey and Brandon FormbyTue, 29 Nov 2022 07:06:01 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/29/houston-boil-water-lifted/Isaiah Chirip helps push a pallet of bottled water during a water distribution and free flu vaccination event Monday at the Holman Street Baptist Church in Houston.Isaiah Chirip helps push a pallet of bottled water during a water distribution and free flu vaccination event at the Holman Street Baptist Church in Houston on nov. 28, 2022.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/20/texas-migrant-smuggling-trailer/The men could face life in prison or the death penalty. The gruesome crime scene and large number of people who died drew international outrage.By Brandon FormbyWed, 20 Jul 2022 22:02:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/20/texas-migrant-smuggling-trailer/A tractor-trailer found near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio contained the bodies of dozens of dead people. Two men have been indicted in connection with the smuggling deaths.A tractor-trailer found near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio contained the bodies of 46 dead people, along with 16 others who have been taken to hospitals on June 27, 2022, local officials in San Antonio said.Nick Wagner for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/26/texas-reopening-coronavirus-poll/The poll results come as Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to announce his plans for reopening a wide range of Texas businesses.By Brandon Formby and Ross RamseySun, 26 Apr 2020 00:01:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/26/texas-reopening-coronavirus-poll/Shuttered restaurant in Waco on March 25, 2020.Shuttered restaurant in Waco on March 25, 2020.Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/11/texas-angelo-state-university-president-brian-may-resigns/The university set enrollment records under Brian May, who abruptly resigned, according to KTXS.By Brandon FormbySat, 11 Apr 2020 19:04:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/11/texas-angelo-state-university-president-brian-may-resigns/After serving four years as president, Angelo State University President Brian May submitted his resignation to the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents.Angelo State University President Brian May.Angelo State University websitehttps://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/21/texas-coronavirus-crisis-dallas-county-ban-elective-medical-procedures/Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins' order, which runs through April 3, came the same day Gov. Greg Abbott sought to increase the state's number of practicing nurses.By Brandon FormbySat, 21 Mar 2020 19:39:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/21/texas-coronavirus-crisis-dallas-county-ban-elective-medical-procedures/Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins prohibited elective medical procedures through April 3 as that county and Texas grapples with the new coronavirus public health crisis.A medical clinic in Austin.Martin do Nascimento for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/01/san-antonio-coronavirus-patient-was-released-after-weakly-positive-tes/The person is back in quarantine, and health officials are tracking where they went.By Brandon FormbySun, 01 Mar 2020 21:12:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/01/san-antonio-coronavirus-patient-was-released-after-weakly-positive-tes/https://www.texastribune.org/2019/11/11/rick-perry-supporters-won-potentially-lucrative-ukraine-oil-and-gas-de/The Associated Press reports that the oil and gas exploration contract was awarded after Perry recommended one of his backers as an energy adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.By Brandon FormbyMon, 11 Nov 2019 12:03:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2019/11/11/rick-perry-supporters-won-potentially-lucrative-ukraine-oil-and-gas-de/https://www.texastribune.org/2019/10/13/ted-cruz-wants-rudy-giuliani-testify-senate-judiciary-committee/The Republican senator's comments on "Face the Nation" came days after two Texans became ensnared in the unfolding political scandal surrounding Trump.By Brandon FormbySun, 13 Oct 2019 14:39:27 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2019/10/13/ted-cruz-wants-rudy-giuliani-testify-senate-judiciary-committee/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at The Texas Tribune Festival in September.Chris Hayes interviews U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at The Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/12/texas-republican-briscoe-cain-tells-beto-orourke-his-gun-ready-him/State Rep. Briscoe Cain's tweet was taken as a death threat against a presidential candidate from a state that recently experienced two mass shootings.By Brandon FormbyThu, 12 Sep 2019 23:40:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/12/texas-republican-briscoe-cain-tells-beto-orourke-his-gun-ready-him/State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park.State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deek Park, talks with Evan Smith during a TTEvents with freshmen representatives on Feb. 7, 2017.Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/03/odessa-texas-shooter-bought-gun-private-sale-without-background-check/ABC News reported that the shooter had failed a previous gun purchase background check because he had been diagnosed with a mental illness.By Brandon FormbyTue, 03 Sep 2019 15:26:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/03/odessa-texas-shooter-bought-gun-private-sale-without-background-check/https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/25/migrant-man-and-daughter-drown-rio-grande-wanting-seek-asylum/The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the photograph “highlights the perils” that thousands of Central Americans face as they travel through Mexico in hopes of reaching the U.S. border.By Brandon FormbyTue, 25 Jun 2019 17:50:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/25/migrant-man-and-daughter-drown-rio-grande-wanting-seek-asylum/Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, an unidentified woman and his nearly 2-year-old daughter, Valeria. The AP reported that the man and his daughter drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande.Oscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, an unidentified woman and his nearly 2-year-old daughter Valeria.Photo via Social Mediahttps://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/22/texas-property-tax-levies-are-individual-homeowners-themselves/State lawmakers are trying to reform a complicated taxing system where everything from suburban growth to gentrification and a homeowner’s age influence how much Texans pay their local governments.By Chris Essig and Brandon FormbyFri, 22 Feb 2019 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/22/texas-property-tax-levies-are-individual-homeowners-themselves/A new development in Austin. Property taxes in many parts of Texas have skyrocketed since 2013 due in part to rising home values.A home in Austin, Texas. Feb. 21, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/21/texas-property-tax-relief-bills-wouldnt-cut-tax-bills-or-local-revenue/The fight over property tax rates is really about state leaders telling local officials how much their revenues can grow before voters get to step in.By Chris Essig, Ben Hasson and Brandon FormbyThu, 21 Feb 2019 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/21/texas-property-tax-relief-bills-wouldnt-cut-tax-bills-or-local-revenue/By Ben Hassonhttps://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/20/how-do-texas-governments-calculate-your-property-taxes-heres-primer/Several government entities — from appraisal districts to city councils — play independent roles that collectively determine how much money Texas landowners owe local governments each year.By Brandon Formby, Chris Essig and Ben HassonWed, 20 Feb 2019 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/20/how-do-texas-governments-calculate-your-property-taxes-heres-primer/By Ben Hassonhttps://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/11/texas-senate-property-tax-committee-passes-rollback-rate-bill/The Senate panel's vote came despite fierce pushback from city and county leaders, who say a lower election threshold on increased property tax revenues could hamstring their budgets.By Brandon Formby, Cassandra Pollock and Edgar WaltersMon, 11 Feb 2019 17:13:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/11/texas-senate-property-tax-committee-passes-rollback-rate-bill/State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, right, R-Houston, chairs the upper chamber's Property Tax Committee. At a hearing last week, he brushed aside local leaders' arguments that SB 2 would constrain city and county budgets.The Senate Property Tax Committee Hearing on Feb. 6, 2019.Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/31/texas-leaders-want-let-voters-cap-local-property-tax-revenues/The leaders of both legislative chambers say they will be united this year — even if cities and counties push back — and that local officials should come to Austin with solutions in hand if they don't like new proposals.By Brandon Formby, Aliyya Swaby and Arya SundaramThu, 31 Jan 2019 11:07:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/31/texas-leaders-want-let-voters-cap-local-property-tax-revenues/From left: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Gov. Greg Abbott; House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton; and Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speak at a news conference addressing property tax reform. The news conference followed the filing of identical bills in both chambers.From left: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Gov. Greg Abbott; House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton; and Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speak at a Jan 31, 2019, news conference addressing property tax reform.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/14/texas-bill-domestic-abuser-victims-financial-debt/A bill authored by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would make it a felony to threaten a romantic partner into taking on debt or financing expensive items like cars.By Brandon FormbyMon, 14 Jan 2019 12:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/14/texas-bill-domestic-abuser-victims-financial-debt/A Texas Senate bill aims to help people whose abusive partners coerce them into taking on debt by threatening violence.Credit card debt illustration.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/07/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-texas-history-election-results/It was the closest a Democrat came to toppling a Republican incumbent U.S. senator since 1978. And while O'Rourke beat Cruz in some traditional GOP strongholds, it wasn't enough to overcome rural Texas counties and some suburbs that remain fiercely loyal to Cruz.By Chris Essig, Ryan Murphy and Brandon FormbyWed, 07 Nov 2018 12:40:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/07/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-texas-history-election-results/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (left) and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, at their first debate, in Dallas, on Sept. 21, 2018.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (left) and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, at their first debate, in Dallas, on Sept. 21, 2018.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/05/dallas-houston-san-antonio-austin-el-paso-city-elections-2018/Houston and San Antonio firefighters are at odds with their mayors over local ballot measures. Austin is asking residents for $250 million for affordable housing. And in Dallas, voters will replace a city council member facing jail time for corruption.By Brandon FormbyMon, 05 Nov 2018 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/05/dallas-houston-san-antonio-austin-el-paso-city-elections-2018/A long line of voters wait to cast their ballots at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall in San Antonio late Friday afternoon, Nov. 2, the last day of early voting.A long line of voters wait to cast their ballots at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall in San Antonio late Friday afternoon, Nov. 2, the last day of early voting.Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune