https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayden-runnels/The latest news by Ayden Runnels.enFri, 02 May 2025 18:30:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/university-texas-system-chancellor-jb-milliken-john-zerwas/Former state Rep. John Zerwas will temporarily replace Chancellor JB Milliken in leading the 256,000-student university system.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 02 May 2025 18:30:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/university-texas-system-chancellor-jb-milliken-john-zerwas/University of Texas System Chancellor James Milliken at a regents meeting in Austin on April 2, 2019. Milliken will leave his position in June to become president of the University of California, system officials said Friday.Then-UT System Chancellor James Milliken at a regents meeting in Austin on April 2, 2019.Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/30/texas-attorney-general-race-john-bash-exit/The former federal prosecutor cited shifting priorities after a family health scare for his withdrawal, which comes less than a month after his entry into the race.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 30 Apr 2025 19:21:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/30/texas-attorney-general-race-john-bash-exit/John Bash, seen in 2018, has worked in the private sector since leaving his role as a federal prosecutor in 2020, including representing Elon Musk in a defamation lawsuit.U.S. Attorney John Bash and the prosecution team leave the courthouse following Carlos Uresti's sentencing, on June 26, 2018.Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/texas-lottery-courier-ban-vote/After years of claiming that companies selling lottery tickets online could not be regulated, the Texas Lottery Commission voted to ban the practice.By Ayden RunnelsTue, 29 Apr 2025 11:49:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/texas-lottery-courier-ban-vote/Members of the Texas Lottery Commission sit at the front of the room during a Texas Lottery Commission meeting on April 29, 2025.Members of the Texas Lottery Commission sit at the front of the room during a Texas Lottery Commission meeting on April 29, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-lottery-courier-ban-lawsuit/Lotto.com’s suit, which was filed Thursday, comes less than a week before the state agency votes to ban the third-party services.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 24 Apr 2025 20:21:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-lottery-courier-ban-lawsuit/Some Texas lawmakers want to ban third-party services that sell lottery tickets online, including Jackpocket, which owns Winners Corner in North Austin.Winners Corner TX LLC in Austin sold the winning $83.5 million Lotto Texas ticket.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/23/texas-execution-moises-mendoza/Moises Mendoza, who was convicted in 2005 of killing a Farmersville woman, became the third inmate Texas has put to death this year.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 23 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/23/texas-execution-moises-mendoza/On Wednesday, Moises Mendoza, 41, became the third inmate executed in Texas in 2025.The Huntsville Unit Texas State Penitentiary houses the execution chamber of Texas and is located in Huntsville on Jan. 31, 2024.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/21/texas-lottery-commission-resignation-executive-director/The Texas Lottery Commission did not immediately clarify why Ryan Mindell chose to resign, as lawmakers have discussed abolishing the lottery outright.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 21 Apr 2025 17:02:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/21/texas-lottery-commission-resignation-executive-director/The Texas Lottery Commission has faced scrutiny this year over the proliferation of third-party lottery ticket couriers and a $95 million jackpot in 2023 won by a single group.Texas Lottery stand at an Austin convenience store on Feb. 20, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/dallas-high-school-shooting/Hours after the shooting, officials said the suspect had evaded security protocols at Wilmer-Hutchins High School.By Ayden RunnelsTue, 15 Apr 2025 18:43:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/dallas-high-school-shooting/Dallas school officials said Tuesday that four students were taken to two nearby hospitals after a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School.Police blocked off the scene July 8 where chaos erupted the night before when officers were targeted by sniper fire following a peaceful Black Lives Matter Protest in downtown Dallas.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/texas-house-budget-approval/The lower chamber’s plan largely aligns with the Senate’s proposal and puts billions toward teacher pay, border security and property tax cuts.By Jasper Scherer, Kayla Guo and Ayden RunnelsFri, 11 Apr 2025 03:09:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/texas-house-budget-approval/Texas House Parliamentarian Sharon Carter, listens as state Reps. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton (from left), Richard Hayes, R-Hickory Creek, Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, negotiate in the lower chamber on April 10, 2025.House Parliamentarian Sharon Carter, left, listens as state Reps: Cody Vasut, Richard Hayes, Tom Oliverson and Trey Martinez Fischer, negotiate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/09/texas-universities-international-students-legal-status/The people affected include a University of Houston professor from Korea who was teaching upper level math under a type of student visa that allows graduates to work in their field of study.By Jessica Priest and Ayden RunnelsWed, 09 Apr 2025 19:25:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/09/texas-universities-international-students-legal-status/Nineteen University of Texas at Dallas students were removed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System database, according to UTD officials, who said they were working through the situation with those affected.University of North Texas students walk past the eagle statue on Feb. 13, 2024. The Soaring Eagle Statue was comissioned in celebration of UNT's centennial in 1990.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/texas-eagle-pass-shelby-park-reopens-operation-lone-star/The Texas Department of Public Safety and National Guard presence has largely disappeared from Shelby Park, which sits next to the Rio Grande.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 07 Apr 2025 15:49:51 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/texas-eagle-pass-shelby-park-reopens-operation-lone-star/The state seized control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass in 2024 to use it as an operating base for Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg Abbott's border security initiative.Operation Lone Star activity at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Jan. 18, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/ken-paxton-whistleblower-case-judgment/Paxton vowed to appeal the “bogus ruling” that found he improperly fired the four plaintiffs after they reported him to the FBI on allegations of corruption.By Ayden Runnels and Jasper SchererFri, 04 Apr 2025 22:41:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/ken-paxton-whistleblower-case-judgment/In a statement Friday night, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling that found his former aides were fired improperly “a ridiculous judgment that is not based on the facts or the law.”Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024..Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/02/texas-lottery-tickets-couriers-legislature/Lottery couriers have gained newfound scrutiny in Texas after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick raised questions about the use of a courier to sell an $83.5 million jackpot ticket.By Ayden Runnels, Graphics by Chris EssigWed, 02 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/02/texas-lottery-tickets-couriers-legislature/Some workers for Jackpocket, a lottery courier service, were tasked with scratching off game tickets in the company's fulfillment center in Austin, according to one former employee.Texas Lottery cards in a 7-Eleven in Central Austin on Feb 20, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/31/ken-paxton-transgender-athlete-ban-dallas/Paxton’s office launched an investigation into the district’s policy after an administrator was caught on tape discussing a possible loophole in the state’s ban.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 31 Mar 2025 18:13:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/31/ken-paxton-transgender-athlete-ban-dallas/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants Dallas school officials to testify under oath about its transgender athlete policy.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton addresses the crowd during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/26/carole-strayhorn-texas-comptroller-died/She served on the Texas Railroad Commission, and was the first woman elected Austin mayor.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 26 Mar 2025 21:21:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/26/carole-strayhorn-texas-comptroller-died/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/texas-lottery-jackpot-win-withheld/The winning ticket, purchased online through the courier Jackpocket, is being scrutinized by lawmakers concerned about the legality of third-party services.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 19 Mar 2025 18:13:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/texas-lottery-jackpot-win-withheld/The Lotto Texas ticket that won an $83.5 million jackpot was purchased via a courier in February at Winner's Corner in Austin.Winners Corner TX LLC in Austin, on Feb. 20, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-lottery-commission-bingo-senate/A possible reassignment of the charitable games comes as 15 bills in the Legislature seek to either alter or abolish the troubled agency.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 17 Mar 2025 19:18:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-lottery-commission-bingo-senate/Senate Bill 1721 would move bingo operations from the Texas Lottery Commission to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.A player keeps a collection of good luck charms among her cards, computer and other bingo supplies at Bingoland Evening Bingo Hall in Corpus Christi on May 12, 2021.Eddie Seal for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-tech-university-lubbock-explosion-closure/A day after the incident in which green flames could be seen coming out of manholes, 40% of the university in Lubbock remains without power.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 12 Mar 2025 23:11:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-tech-university-lubbock-explosion-closure/Firefighters work the scene after an explosion at LP&L Brandon Power Station sparked a campus-wide power outage at Texas Tech University in Lubbock on March 12, 2025.Firefighters work the scene after an explosion at LP&L Brandon Power Station sparked a campus-wide power outage on March 12, 2025.Courtesy of Jacob Lujan/The Daily Toreadorhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/texas-execution-stay-david-leonard-wood/The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals did not clarify why it halted the execution of David Wood in its order granting the stay.By Ayden RunnelsTue, 11 Mar 2025 18:51:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/texas-execution-stay-david-leonard-wood/The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' brief order on Tuesday recognized the claims in death row inmate David Leonard Wood’s appeal and granted an indefinite stay of his execution.The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Jan. 15, 2020. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/07/texas-capitol-house-transgender-staff/Mo Jenkins is one of only a few openly transgender staffers working in the Capitol as lawmakers are making headway in restricting rights for LGBTQ+ Texans.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 07 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/07/texas-capitol-house-transgender-staff/Mo Jenkins, center, walks with state Rep. Lauren A. Simmons, D-Houston, at left, ahead of a House session on Feb. 11. Jenkins works as Simmons’ chief of staff, a role she earned after working five years in the state Capitol.Mo Jenkins walks with State Rep. Lauren A. Simmons (D-Houston) ahead of a House meeting on Feb. 11, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/texas-house-bathroom-bill-transgender/House Bill 239, which echoes a bathroom bill that failed in 2017, includes new provisions for shelters and prisons.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 05 Mar 2025 20:34:23 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/texas-house-bathroom-bill-transgender/House Bill 239, which seeks to segregate the use of restrooms and other private spaces based on the state's definitions of sex, is authored by Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring.Bathroom stalls at the Austin Convention Center in 2017.Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune