https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/zach-despart/The latest news by Zach Despart.enThu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/kerr-county-texas-hill-country-1987-bus-flood-camp/The Fourth of July flood bore a striking similarity to the Hill Country flood that killed 10 summer campers in 1987. In the following years, officials took little action to protect against the next storm.By Alejandra Martinez and Zach DespartThu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/kerr-county-texas-hill-country-1987-bus-flood-camp/Lavonda Koons, 65, and her husband, Richard Koons, 64, pose for a portrait at their home in Mesquite, on Thursday, August 7, 2025. The couple survived the 1987 flood that killed 10 campers from Pot O' Gold Ranch, a Christian youth camp in Kerr County. At the time, Richard was a youth pastor who drove the bus that was caught by the rising river, and Lavonda was a youth camp counselor.Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/ken-paxton-private-lawyers-texas-cases/Despite having an office with hundreds of attorneys, Ken Paxton frequently opts to hire private lawyers. One cost taxpayers more than $24,000 in one day.By Zach DespartThu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/ken-paxton-private-lawyers-texas-cases/An illustration of bags of money, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and a group of lawyers holding briefcases and documents.Margaret Flatley for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/texas-nursing-home-disabilities-intellectual-developmental-lawsuit-IDD/A federal judge determined the state illegally institutionalized severely disabled people for decades, often in poorly run facilities.By Stephen Simpson and Zach DespartFri, 20 Jun 2025 14:23:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/texas-nursing-home-disabilities-intellectual-developmental-lawsuit-IDD/An employee of the Amistad Nursing and Rehabilitation Center walks with a resident on April 1, 2021.An employee of the Amistad Nursing and Rehabilitation Center walks with a resident on April 1, 2021.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/kelly-handcock-texas-comptroller-glenn-hegar/Hancock, a North Richland Hills Republican, announced his candidacy shortly after being sworn in as chief clerk at the comptroller’s office.By Zach Despart and Alejandro SerranoThu, 19 Jun 2025 12:05:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/kelly-handcock-texas-comptroller-glenn-hegar/State Sen. Kelly Hancock will run for comptroller, he announced Thursday, shortly after being appointed to a top position at the department.Sen. KELLY HANCOCK, R-North Richland Hills, on the Senate floor on May 12, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-border-wall-funding-ends-abbott-trump/Texas officials suggested the federal government could pick up construction. However, during President Trump’s first term, his administration built about one-third of what the state was able to put up in the same amount of time.By Zach Despart and Alejandro Serrano, Graphics by Yuriko SchumacherTue, 17 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-border-wall-funding-ends-abbott-trump/State-built border wall under construction near the banks of the Rio Grande in Zapata Co. on Sept. 23, 2024.A section of state-built border wall under construction near the banks of the Rio Grande south of Laredo in Zapata Co. on Sept. 23, 2024.Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/judd-stone-chris-hilton-texas-attorney-general-sexual-harassment/The harassment allegedly took place while the two were on leave from the agency working on Paxton’s impeachment defense.By Zach DespartWed, 28 May 2025 14:39:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/judd-stone-chris-hilton-texas-attorney-general-sexual-harassment/Then-Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone II speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on April 26, 2022.Then-Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone II speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on April 26, 2022.Eric Lee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/texas-anti-red-flag-law-senate-bill-1362/Senate Bill 1362 would prevent officials from taking someone’s firearms if they haven’t been charged with a crime or aren’t subject to a protective order under the Texas Family Code.By Zach DespartTue, 27 May 2025 22:37:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/texas-anti-red-flag-law-senate-bill-1362/Patrons of the SAXET Gun Show look at handguns at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Feb. 26, 2023.Patrons of the SAXET Gun Show look at handguns at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Feb. 26, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/google-texas-privacy-lawsuit-settlement-ken-paxton/The state attorney general sued Google in 2022, alleging it unlawfully tracked and collected users’ private data.By Zach DespartFri, 09 May 2025 18:29:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/google-texas-privacy-lawsuit-settlement-ken-paxton/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 15, 2025.Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/texas-senate-smaller-homes-vote/Lawmakers, who are preempting locals on lot sizes in new subdivisions, have been eyeing ways to allow more homes to be built as the state faces a shortage.By Joshua Fechter and Zach DespartWed, 19 Mar 2025 20:21:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/texas-senate-smaller-homes-vote/Senate Bill 15, which would reduce the amount of land cities require single-family homes in new subdivisions to sit on, cleared the chamber Wednesday by a 28-3 vote.The Mueller neighborhood in East Austin on Oct. 7, 2023.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-property-tax-delinquent-fees-attorneys/Texans who fall behind on their property taxes face one of the most punitive systems in the nation, where private collection companies can tack up to 20% onto their bill.By Zach Despart, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-property-tax-delinquent-fees-attorneys/Sarah Rojo in her home in Gardendale on Feb. 23, 2025. Rojo owes thousands in property taxes, made worse by the 20% extra fee that a private, law firm hired for collections, tacked on to the top of her debt.Sarah Rojo disscuses hardships of being delinquent property taxpayers on Febuary, 23 2025 in Gardendale, Texas.Callie Cummings for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/20/dan-patrick-texas-abortion-law-mothers-risk/Patrick on Sunday said the Legislature should amend the language of the state’s near-total abortion ban to address confusion over when doctors may terminate pregnancies.By Zach DespartMon, 20 Jan 2025 11:43:13 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/20/dan-patrick-texas-abortion-law-mothers-risk/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Texas GOP Convention on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Texas GOP Convention on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/16/texas-land-office-hurricane-harvey-aid-hud-discrimination/The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed its finding that Texas unfairly favored white residents in rural areas when it distributed $1 billion in Harvey aid in 2021.By Zach DespartThu, 16 Jan 2025 17:11:19 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/16/texas-land-office-hurricane-harvey-aid-hud-discrimination/George P. Bush, the General Land Office's then-commissioner, speaks at a Texas House of Representatives Committee on Urban Affairs hearing on Hurricane Harvey in 2017.Texas Land commissioner George P. Bush speaks to Texas House of Representatives Committee on Urban Affairs hearing on Harvey in Houston Monday, October 2, 2017.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-border-wall-greg-abbott-landowners/At least a third of landowners approached by state officials have refused to let wall be built on their properties. That’s forced the state to largely build on ranchland in remote areas, or erect sections that are full of gaps.By Zach Despart, Yuriko Schumacher and Uriel J. García, Photos by Eli HartmanThu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-border-wall-greg-abbott-landowners/Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/23/brooke-rollins-agriculture-secretary-trump/Rollins, who grew up in Glen Rose and once led the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will need Senate confirmation before becoming agriculture secretary.By Zach DespartSat, 23 Nov 2024 15:38:34 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/23/brooke-rollins-agriculture-secretary-trump/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/ken-paxton-whistleblower-lawsuit-texas-attorney-general/The attorney general has agreed not to contest a lawsuit brought by former employees accusing him of retaliation after they said he abused his office.By Zach DespartFri, 22 Nov 2024 11:22:48 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/ken-paxton-whistleblower-lawsuit-texas-attorney-general/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/donald-trump-near-sweep-texas-border-counties/The former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region.By Jasper Scherer, Zach Despart and Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune, and Perla Trevizo and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 06 Nov 2024 21:45:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/donald-trump-near-sweep-texas-border-counties/Democratic Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, secured a fifth term in office with bipartisan support. The county tipped strongly for Donald Trump, reflecting a broader trend of Republican gains along the border.Gabriel Garza, left, augmentee with the sheriff’s office, congratulates, Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, after the final vote counts for the night were announced around 10pm at Val Verde County Courthouse on election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Del Rio, Texas. Martinez was in the lead ahead of his opponent Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez 7,926 votes to 6,033.Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-house-senate-election-2024-results/Gov. Greg Abbott said the House would have enough Republicans to pass school vouchers next year.By Zach Despart and Renzo DowneyWed, 06 Nov 2024 01:13:11 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-house-senate-election-2024-results/Lawmakers on the House floor during Sine Die of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin, on May 29, 2023.Lawmakers on the House floor during Sine Die of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin, on May 29, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/08/uvalde-school-shooting-videos-released-lawsuit/The new videos largely affirm prior reporting and investigations that detailed law enforcement’s failures to confront the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers.By Lomi Kriel and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Zach Despart, Terri Langford and Pooja Salhotra, The Texas TribuneTue, 08 Oct 2024 11:36:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/08/uvalde-school-shooting-videos-released-lawsuit/Previously released video shows officers gathered in the hallway of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. A gunman killed 19 students and two teachers in May 2022.Previously released video shows officers gathered in the hallway of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.Obtained by The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/14/uvalde-shooting-police-footage/Chief Homer Delgado said the department has turned over the footage to the district attorney’s office and ordered an investigation into how the error occurred.By Zach Despart, The Texas Tribune, and Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 14 Aug 2024 09:36:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/14/uvalde-shooting-police-footage/Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on July 11, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/10/uvalde-school-shooting-records-release-lawsuit/The city’s release ends a legal battle with news outlets, but other government agencies are withholding materials.By Lomi Kriel and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Zach Despart, Terri Langford and Kayla Guo, The Texas TribuneSat, 10 Aug 2024 12:37:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/10/uvalde-school-shooting-records-release-lawsuit/Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.Courtesy of Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-News