https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carla-astudillo/The latest news by Carla Astudillo.enThu, 11 Sep 2025 11:15:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/texas-water-supply-crisis/A growing population, leaking pipes and changing climate threaten the state’s water supply. Texas lawmakers hope a $20 billion investment will help.By Alejandra Martinez, Berenice Garcia, Carla Astudillo, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Jayme Lozano Carver, Jess Huff, Suraj Thapa and Yuriko SchumacherThu, 11 Sep 2025 11:15:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/texas-water-supply-crisis/Jay Ornelas, El Paso County Water Improvement District Manager (left) and Ramon Tirres (right) in Clint, Texas on march 5, 2025.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/texas-census-housing-costs/Despite efforts by Texas lawmakers to ease property tax bills, increases in expenses like insurance and utilities ate into that tax relief.By Joshua Fechter, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/texas-census-housing-costs/Homes in an East Austin neighborhood on Aug. 24, 2025.Homes in an East Austin neighborhood on Aug. 24, 2025.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/lloyd-doggett-greg-casar-texas-redistricting-retirement-democrats-aust/Doggett’s shocking decision to retire signals U.S. Rep. Greg Casar’s growing strength among Democrats in Austin politics and in Congress.By Gabby Birenbaum, Graphics by Carla AstudilloMon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/lloyd-doggett-greg-casar-texas-redistricting-retirement-democrats-aust/U.S. Reps Lloyd Doggett and Rep. Greg Casar, both of Austin, at a press conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the state Capitol on July 31, 2025.U.S. Reps Lloyd Doggett and Rep. Greg Casar, both of Austin, at a press conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the state Capitol on July 31, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/2025-texas-redistricting-maps/The new maps, which aim to flip five Democratic seats to favor Republicans, will go into effect for the 2026 midterms, barring court intervention.By Carla AstudilloThu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/2025-texas-redistricting-maps/Shapes of the new Congressional districts with the red Republicans on the left and the blue Democrat ones on the right.Illustration by Carla Astudillohttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/texas-redistricting-map-tarrant-county-congress-commissioners-court/Despite explosive growth turning Tarrant into a racially diverse swing county, two new political maps will leave it with whiter, more Republican representation.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Graphics by Carla AstudilloTue, 02 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/texas-redistricting-map-tarrant-county-congress-commissioners-court/U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, outside the Eastside YMCA he helped bring about with federal funding, on Aug. 22, 2025. Under the newly approved redistricting map passed by the Texas Legislature, most of his Tarrant County constituents will be carved into districts with majority-white, majority-Republican electorates.U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, outside the Eastside YMCA he helped bring about with federal funding, on Aug. 22, 2025. Under the newly-approved redistricting map passed by the Texas Legislature, his congressional district will become majority-white with a majority-Republican electorate.Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/greg-abbott-signs-texas-congressional-map-redistricting/The governor was expected to sign off on the new district lines, which passed the Legislature last week and aim to flip five Democratic seats in the 2026 midterms.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Graphics by Carla AstudilloFri, 29 Aug 2025 11:48:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/greg-abbott-signs-texas-congressional-map-redistricting/The Texas Capitol seen on Monday June 30, 2025 in Austin, Texas.The Texas Capitol seen on Monday June 30, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/texas-redistricting-representation-maps/The GOP push to redraw the state’s congressional maps isn’t just a partisan move but one that deeply affects how Texans are represented in Congress.By Joshua Fechter and Berenice Garcia, Graphics by Carla AstudilloWed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/texas-redistricting-representation-maps/U.S. Rep Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, testified during a July 28 redistricting committee hearing held at the University of Texas at Arlington. Veasey has represented Fort Worth for more than a decade and would be drawn out of his seat if Texas Republicans move forward with a mid-decade redistricting plan.U.S. Rep Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, testifies during a redistricting committee hearing held at the University of Texas at Arlington on July 28, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-redistricting-maps-charts-analysis/Texas lawmakers redrew congressional districts in a partisan bid to give Republicans five additional U.S. House seats. The move set off a bipartisan war across the U.S.By Carla AstudilloMon, 18 Aug 2025 12:05:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-redistricting-maps-charts-analysis/Three rectangles made up of smaller red and blue rectangles that show how cracking and packing in gerrymandering works.Carla Astudillo and Jason Kaohttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-redistricting-congressional-map-latino-hispanic-voters-gop/The plan increases the share of Hispanic voters in three of the five districts targeted by the GOP, banking that enough will turn out and vote for Republicans without Donald Trump on the ballot.By Owen Dahlkamp, Graphics by Carla AstudilloSun, 03 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-redistricting-congressional-map-latino-hispanic-voters-gop/An attendee holds a Trump hat during a prayer at a GOP event in McAllen to motivate Republicans to vote for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, and congressional candidates Monica De La Cruz and Cassy Garcia, on Nov. 6, 2022.An attendee holds a Trump hat during a prayer at a GOP event in McAllen to motivate Republicans to vote for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, running for re-election and congressional candidates Monica De La Cruz, TX-15, and Cassy Garcia, TX-28, on Nov. 6, 2022.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-congressional-redistricting-doj-coalition-districts/The Department of Justice said four districts unconstitutionally combined Black and Hispanic voters, a charge the state disputes. If the proposed map passes, two will still be multiracial.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Graphics by Carla AstudilloFri, 01 Aug 2025 17:12:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-congressional-redistricting-doj-coalition-districts/U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, walks to a congressional redistricting meeting at the University of Houston campus in Houston, Texas, on July 26, 2025.U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, walks to a Congressional Redistricting meeting at the University of Houston campus in Houston, Texas, on July 26, 2025.Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-redistricting-map-democrats-defense-targeted-seats-congress/The new proposed lines would also prevent few, if any, opportunities for Democrats hoping that an aggressive gerrymander could backfire on Republicans.By Kayla Guo and Gabby Birenbaum, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 31 Jul 2025 17:16:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-redistricting-map-democrats-defense-targeted-seats-congress/From left: U.S. Reps. Greg Casar, D-Austin, Al Green, D-Houston, and Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch.From left: U.S. Reps. Greg Casar, D-Austin, Al green, D-Houston, and Julie Johnson, D-Farmers BranchThe Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-redistricting-congressional-maps-house-republicans/The first draft of the lower chamber’s new redistricting map targets Democratic members of Congress in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas.By Gabby Birenbaum and Eleanor Klibanoff, Graphics by Carla AstudilloWed, 30 Jul 2025 10:08:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-redistricting-congressional-maps-house-republicans/Graphic by Carla Astudillohttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/26/texas-houston-redistricting-maps/Democratic members slammed the process, questioning why hearings were happening before maps were available for review. Chair Cody Vasut said follow-up public hearings will be scheduled once maps are filed.By Colleen DeGuzman, Graphics by Carla AstudilloSat, 26 Jul 2025 16:16:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/26/texas-houston-redistricting-maps/Attendees gather for a House redistricting committee hearing on the University of Houston’s campus on Saturday, July 26, 2025.On July 26, 2025, people gather for a Congressional Redistricting meeting at the University of Houston campus in Houston, Texas.Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/hill-country-texas-flooding-2025-graphics/These maps and charts show the scale and intensity of the Hill Country floods and highlight Camp Mystic’s proximity to high-risk flood zones.By Edison Wu, Carla Astudillo and Chris EssigWed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/hill-country-texas-flooding-2025-graphics/A blue line chart superimposed with a background image of the aerial view of damage along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville on July 5, 2025.Illustration by Carla Astudillo / Photo by Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/texas-floods-growth-kerr-county-camp-mystic/Experts suggested that more data and education are needed as Texas and the rest of the country build in known flood plains.By Joshua Fechter and Paul Cobler, Graphics by Carla AstudilloWed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/texas-floods-growth-kerr-county-camp-mystic/Local officials have a limited set of tools to keep people from building in flood-prone areas. And as the state continues to grow, policymakers will have to grapple with how to manage new construction and extreme weather.Damage from the flood around a bridge on Highway 39 in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/13/texas-lawmakers-address-lookup-session-2025/Our interactive tool allows you to search how state lawmakers voted on the most consequential proposals debated during the session, which ended June 2.By Carla Astudillo and Yuriko SchumacherFri, 13 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/13/texas-lawmakers-address-lookup-session-2025/Six boxes with lines and rectangles representing bills and votes for the session on a gray background. There's a large address bar with a pointer in the middle.Illustration by Carla Astudillohttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/20/track-texas-state-bills/Get up to date on the status of the session’s major bills, including some on their way to the governor’s desk.By Texas Tribune Staff, Graphics by Carla AstudilloTue, 20 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/20/track-texas-state-bills/Four squares with four icons: the top left icon is of the Texas capitol with a yellow question mark over it, the top right icon is of a bill with with a yellow question mark over it, the bottom left icon is of the Texas capitol with a red checkmark over it and the bottom right icon is of a bill with a green checkmark over it.Illustration by Ben Hassonhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/alex-fairly-texas-republican-donor-tim-dunn-texas-house/Fairly, an Amarillo businessman, backed many candidates aligned with conservative West Texas billionaire Tim Dunn’s political operation in 2024. Now he’s disavowing what he says are dishonest and aggressive campaign tactics while pondering his path forward.By Kate McGee, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 08 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/alex-fairly-texas-republican-donor-tim-dunn-texas-house/Alex Fairly speaks to Amarillo residents about an economic development project in the Texas Panhandle, during a Conservative Patriots 4 Texas PAC meeting on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Amarillo. Fairly is a new GOP megadonor backing Republican candidates in the Texas Legislature.Alex Fairly speaks to Amarillo residents during a Conservative Patriots 4 Texas meeting on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Amarillo.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/01/texas-water-crisis-oil-gas-fracking-farming/The Texas Legislature has also invested millions in research to clean the fracking wastewater. Critics say it’s not a viable solution to the state’s water crisis.By Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 01 May 2025 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/01/texas-water-crisis-oil-gas-fracking-farming/An alfalfa garden patch grows at the Texas Pacific Water Resources research and development project site outside of Midland. Researchers watered the alfalfa with cleaned produced water from a fracking site. No contaminants were detected in the plant or soil.Technical Research & Development Manager Adrianne Lopez gives a tour of the Texas Pacific Water Resources’ project site greenhouse on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, outside of Midland.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/texas-house-voucher-vote-breakdown-2025/The House approved historic legislation that would implement school vouchers in Texas. Here’s how each representative voted.By Carla AstudilloThu, 17 Apr 2025 08:19:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/texas-house-voucher-vote-breakdown-2025/Texas House of Representatives Members vote on an amendment for Senate Bill 2 in the House Chamber in Austin on April 16, 2025.Texas House of Representatives Members vote on an amendment for Senate Bill 2 in the House Chamber in Austin on April 16, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune