https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alex-nguyen/The latest news by Alex Nguyen.enFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-police-records-g-file-senate-bill-15/Senate Bill 15’s supporters say police shouldn’t be publicly maligned for unproven allegations. Critics say the bill disincentivizes agencies from properly investigating complaints.By Alex Nguyen, Hayden Betts and Stephen SimpsonFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-police-records-g-file-senate-bill-15/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/texas-tdcj-prison-new-executive-director-appointed/Bobby Lumpkin, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s COO, will take over the the top role on Sept. 1, following Bryan Collier’s retirement.By Alex NguyenTue, 19 Aug 2025 17:37:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/texas-tdcj-prison-new-executive-director-appointed/Telford prison in New Boston on March 21, 2017.Telford prison on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, in New Boston. Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-senate-second-special-session-thc-disaster-relief-bathroom-bills/Senators moved fast on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the second special session. With House Democrats back in Texas, bills can now move through that chamber.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Alejandra Martinez, Alex Nguyen, Ayden Runnels, Eleanor Klibanoff, Emily Foxhall, Joshua Fechter and Stephen SimpsonMon, 18 Aug 2025 21:30:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-senate-second-special-session-thc-disaster-relief-bathroom-bills/State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/17/texas-senate-redistricting-committee-maps-second-special-session/A second special session that has made approving the map a priority started Friday, shortly after the first one ended.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Alex NguyenSun, 17 Aug 2025 18:53:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/17/texas-senate-redistricting-committee-maps-second-special-session/State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, who authored redistricting legislation during the two special sessions this year, at the Texas Capitol on July 29, 2025. The Texas Senate's redistricting committee advanced on Sunday legislation with the same maps proposed during the first special session. It now heads to the Senate floor for a full vote.State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, listens to testimony during a special Senate virtual hearing on Texas redistricting at the Texas Capitol on July 29, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-senate-bill-sex-trafficking-victims-prosecution-crimes-protectio/Senate Bill 11 would shield victims from prosecution from some crimes if they’re threatened or coerced into the act by their trafficker.By Jessica Shuran Yu and Alex NguyenWed, 13 Aug 2025 17:11:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-senate-bill-sex-trafficking-victims-prosecution-crimes-protectio/The Texas Senate voted this week to approve a bill that would protect sex trafficking victims from prosecution when they're coerced into committing non-prostitution crimes.The state Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/uvalde-new-records-media-lawsuit-texas/Local records released this week — after a yearslong lawsuit —affirm previous reporting about law enforcement’s flawed response to Texas’ deadliest school shooting.By Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Alex Nguyen and Paul Cobler, The Texas TribuneMon, 11 Aug 2025 22:31:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/uvalde-new-records-media-lawsuit-texas/Hundreds of flowers, toys, and candles surround the crosses in memorial of the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting at Robb Elementary in 2022.Hundreds of flowers, toys, and candles surround the crosses in memorial of the 21 victims of the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on June 9, 2022.Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-voter-id-mail-in-ballot-ruling/The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the state’s voter ID requirements for mail-in ballots do not violate the Civil Rights Act.By Alex NguyenTue, 05 Aug 2025 17:24:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-voter-id-mail-in-ballot-ruling/An election worker submits a mail-in ballot at the Harris County ballot drop-off site at NRG Stadium in Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020.An election worker submits a mail-in ballot at the Harris County ballot drop-off site at NRG Stadium in Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-gender-affirming-care-ban/Texas joins 17 other states restricting transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapies. Opposing legal groups have vowed to sue to stop the new law from taking effect.By Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoFri, 02 Jun 2023 18:37:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-gender-affirming-care-ban/People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during a "Fight for Our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ bills on March 27.People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ+ bills on March 27, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/30/texas-special-session-property-taxes/The House passed a bill without Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s preferred increase to homestead exemptions — then abruptly adjourned for the special session. That basically tells the Senate to take the House bill Gov. Greg Abbott backs or leave it.By Joshua Fechter, Uriel J. García and Alex NguyenTue, 30 May 2023 16:49:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/30/texas-special-session-property-taxes/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recaps the 2023 regular legislative session with Sherry Sylvester, distinguished senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, at TPPF headquarters in downtown Austin on May 30, 2023.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recaps the 88th Legislative Session with Sherry Sylvester, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, at TPPF Headquarters in downtown Austin, on May 30, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-investigation-democrats-lawyers/A Texas Tribune review of the investigators’ employment history, voting records and campaign donations found a lack of support for the attorney general’s claim.By Alex Nguyen and Carla AstudilloWed, 24 May 2023 21:09:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-investigation-democrats-lawyers/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on Oct. 26, 2021.State Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on Oct. 26, 2021.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-dont-say-gay-legislature/For the third time, the Senate is pushing a proposal critics say will ignore the existence of LGBTQ people in every grade level. Two other bills that contained similar language missed key legislative deadlines.By Alex NguyenMon, 22 May 2023 20:12:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-dont-say-gay-legislature/Lufkin students sit in an art class in January. A Texas bill would prohibit classroom lessons and teacher guidance about gender identity or sexual orientation.Students sit in art class at Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas, U.S., on Friday, January 27, 2023. Public school officials in rural areas like Lufkin face budget challenges because of proposed school choice legislation, which provides taxpayer-funded alternatives to sending a child to a local public school.Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-drag-performers/The bill no longer targets drag performers, but LGBTQ advocates say the legislation’s vague language could still be used to criminalize such shows.By William Melhado and Alex NguyenFri, 19 May 2023 11:46:49 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-drag-performers/A drag queen performs at the Nasher Sculpture Center during the Pride Block Party in Dallas last year.A drag queen performs at the Nasher Sculpture Center during the Pride Block Party in Dallas, TX on June 17, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban-sb14/Gov. Greg Abbott said he will sign Senate Bill 14 into law, which will make Texas one of over a dozen states that restrict transition-related care for transgender minors. Legal groups have already pledged to challenge it in court.By Alex NguyenWed, 17 May 2023 19:20:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban-sb14/People gather on the stairs across from the House floor on May 12 to protest against Senate Bill 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the chamber.People gathered on the stairs across from the House floor to protest against SB 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the House at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/15/texas-legislature-local-control/Gov. Greg Abbott and other supporters of the bill have long sought legislation to push back against local regulations that they say hamper business owners and harm the state’s economy.By Joshua Fechter and Alex NguyenMon, 15 May 2023 19:24:25 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/15/texas-legislature-local-control/The Austin skyline on July 13, 2022.The Austin skyline on July 13, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/13/austin-dell-childrens-gender-affirming/Attorney General Ken Paxton previously announced an investigation into “potentially illegal” activity. Parents are scrambling to find transition-related care for their kids as the Legislature appears poised to ban it altogether.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Alex NguyenSat, 13 May 2023 14:54:53 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/13/austin-dell-childrens-gender-affirming/People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the Texas Capitol in Austin, waving signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of bills affecting LGBTQ people in March.People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ+ bills on March 27, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/The House approved a bill Monday that would ban doctors from providing transition-related care to children. It now heads back to the Senate, which can accept the changes or ask for a committee to iron out the chambers’ differences.By Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoFri, 12 May 2023 13:41:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, gives instructions Friday to people gathered outside the House to protest against Senate Bill 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth.Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, gives instructions regarding a press conference to people who have gathered on the stairs across from the House floor to protest against SB 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the House at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-sodomy-ban-repeal-bill/In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas’ law banning sodomy in 2003. It took almost 20 years for Democrats to get a bill to repeal the defunct ban on the House calendar.By Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoThu, 11 May 2023 23:59:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-sodomy-ban-repeal-bill/State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, speaks with fellow lawmakers on the Texas House floor on April 6.State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, speaks with fellow lawmakers on the House floor on April 6, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/09/texas-house-education-savings-account/The Texas House’s education committee is soon expected to discuss the new version of Senate Bill 8, which was heavily modified to sway votes in the lower chamber.By Brian Lopez and Alex NguyenTue, 09 May 2023 23:17:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/09/texas-house-education-savings-account/House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, gavels the House into session at the state Capitol in Austin on April 11, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, gavels the House into session on the House floor during session at the state Capitol in Austin on April 11, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/05/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/Senate Bill 14 spurred protests that led to altercations with state police earlier this week. Bill supporters and opponents again showed up at the Capitol for an expected vote Friday.By Alex NguyenFri, 05 May 2023 13:57:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/05/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/House lawmakers discuss a point of order called on Senate Bill 14 on the chamber floor on Friday.House lawmakers discuss a point of order called on SB 14 on the House floor on May 5, 2023. Left to right.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-senate-bill-14-transgender-care-protests/Senate Bill 14, which spurred demonstrations earlier this week, is again scheduled for House debate Friday. Trans Texans consider it one of this year’s most consequential bills.By Lucy Tompkins, The Texas Tribune and The New York Times, and Alex Nguyen, The Texas TribuneThu, 04 May 2023 22:23:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-senate-bill-14-transgender-care-protests/