https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayden-runnels/The latest news by Ayden Runnels.enFri, 22 Aug 2025 12:59:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/exas-house-transgender-bathroom-senate-bill-8/Senate Bill 8 would restrict which bathrooms in government buildings transgender people would be allowed to use. Testimony drew expletives and anger.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 22 Aug 2025 12:59:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/exas-house-transgender-bathroom-senate-bill-8/House security confronts CJ Grisham in the rear of the State Affairs Committee hearing on the "bathroom bill" on Aug. 22, 2025. Grisham was later removed from the hearing room for disruption.House Sergeant-At-Arms, l, and Texas DPS argue with a witness who was later removed from the hearing for rowdyness against HB 8 in THe House State Affairs Committee meeting on August 22, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-congressional-redistricting-map-senate-governor-desk/Republican lawmakers pushed the map through over fierce Democratic opposition, positioning the GOP to net up to five additional seats in Texas.By Kayla Guo and Ayden RunnelsFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-congressional-redistricting-map-senate-governor-desk/State lawmakers gather around Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's desk before the final vote on the mid-decade redistricting bill in the Texas Senate.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gathers the senators at his desk before the final vote on the mid-decade redistricting bill in the Texas Senate on Aug. 22, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/texas-legislature-flood-response-bills-camp/Here’s where the proposed laws to address camp safety, flood warnings and emergency response stand in the Legislature.By Emily Foxhall, Ayden Runnels and Kayla GuoThu, 21 Aug 2025 17:43:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/texas-legislature-flood-response-bills-camp/Parents of the Camp Mystic girls who died during the Guadalupe River flooding of July 4, 2025, fill seats in the Senate chamber Thursday night to view the passage of Senate Bill 1, called the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, which strengthens summer camp regulations to help prevent future tragedies.Parents of Camp Mystic girls lost during the Guadalupe River flooding of July 4, 2025 pack seats in the Senate Chamber to view passage of Senate Bill 1 which strengthens summer camp regulations to help prevent future tragedies.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/abbott-special-session-agenda-quorum-break-penalties/The governor announced he was expanding his special session agenda shortly after the Texas House passed a congressional map that Democrats had delayed by leaving the state.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 20 Aug 2025 20:09:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/abbott-special-session-agenda-quorum-break-penalties/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Abbott spoke about Texas’ response to the New World screwworm outbreak, as well as California Gov. Gavin Newsom's comments and actions regarding redistricting.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Abbott spoke about Texas’s response to screwworm as well as addressed California Governor Gavin Newsom's comments and actions regarding redistricting.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/robert-roberson-texas-death-row-new-trial-petition/A new petition claims Anderson County judges acted unconstitutionally multiple times in both Roberson’s case and in recognizing custody of his daughter.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 20 Aug 2025 17:23:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/robert-roberson-texas-death-row-new-trial-petition/Robert Roberson is led into court by Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies on July 16, 2025, in Palestine.Shackled and chained, Robert Roberson is led into court by Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies on July 16, 2025. A new execution date of Oct. 16, 2025 was set by presiding Judge Austin Jackson of Smith County at the Anderson County Courthouse in Palestine.Joel Andrews for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/texas-legislature-transgender-bathroom-bill-history/More than 20 bills that would restrict restroom use for transgender people have been proposed since 2015, but their language — and reception — have shifted.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/texas-legislature-transgender-bathroom-bill-history/Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, speaks during a press conference, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, on Senate Bill 6, the Texas Privacy Act, also known as the "bathroom bill," on Feb. 6, 2017, at the Texas Capitol in Austin.Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, speaks during a press conference, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, on SB 6 The Texas Privacy Act, also known as the "bathroom bill," on Feb. 6, 2017, at the Texas Capitol in Austin.Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/nicole-collier-texas-house-dps-escort-redistricting-quorum/The Fort Worth Democrat refused to sign a permission slip that allowed quorum-breaking lawmakers to leave the Capitol while being shadowed by a state trooper.By Kayla Guo and Ayden RunnelsTue, 19 Aug 2025 11:05:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/nicole-collier-texas-house-dps-escort-redistricting-quorum/https://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/2025/08/11/texas-redistricting-map-vote-senate/Democrats' absence has halted work in the Texas House, which must also approve the new boundaries, for more than a week.By Ayden Runnels and Kate McGeeTue, 12 Aug 2025 12:38:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/texas-redistricting-map-vote-senate/The Texas Senate approved new congressional boundaries Tuesday as House Democrats stayed away from Austin, paralyzing the lower chamber from approving the maps ordered up by President Donald Trump.A newly released redistricting map of Texas is visible on a laptop during a Senate session on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-democrats-ken-paxton-court-vacate-seats-quorum-break/Legal experts say it’s “inconsistent with the Texas Constitution” to argue that leaving the state to halt legislative action qualifies as abandoning an office.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Ayden RunnelsTue, 05 Aug 2025 14:13:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-democrats-ken-paxton-court-vacate-seats-quorum-break/Gov. Greg Abbott at a bill-signing ceremony at the Texas Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025. The governor asked the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday to remove Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic Caucus chair, from office over Wu's departure from the state with other Democrats to block a new congressional map.Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 2308, the Ibogaine Treatment Research law, at the Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-senate-transgender-bathroom-bill/Senate Bill 7 would require people to use restrooms that match their birth gender and fine institutions up to $25,000 for repeated violations.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 04 Aug 2025 17:25:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-senate-transgender-bathroom-bill/State Sen. Brian Birdwell R-Granbury, speaks with Sens. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, and Mayes Middleton R-Galveston, during a committee hearing in the Senate Chambers at the Capitol on Aug. 4, 2025, in Austin.Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell R-Granbury speaks as Texas Sen. Bob Hall R-Edgewood and Texas. Sen. Mayes Middleton R-Galveston during a senate committee hearing at the Senate Chambers Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 in Austin, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-lottery-winner-payout-settlement-83-million/The agency initially blocked the payout because of two state investigations into now-banned lottery courier services, one of which sold the winning ticket.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 01 Aug 2025 20:00:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-lottery-winner-payout-settlement-83-million/More than five months after winning an $83.5 million Texas Lotto jackpot on Feb. 17, Kristen Moriarty is set to receive a payout.Lottery tickets sit near the entrance of Hyde Park Market in Austin on May 5, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-hill-country-flood-survivors-hearing/Residents told state lawmakers about what they’ve lost and the hardships they’re experiencing almost a month after the July 4 disaster devastated the region.By Hayden Betts and Ayden RunnelsThu, 31 Jul 2025 20:19:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-hill-country-flood-survivors-hearing/Alicia Jeffrey Baker, who lost her 11-year-old daughter Emmy and her parents Emlyn and Penelope Jeffrey in the flooding, receives a hug after testifying during a joint committee hearing.Alicia Jeffrey Baker receives a hug after testifying during a joint committee hearing at Hill Country Youth Event Center on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Baker lost her parents Emlyn and Penelope Jeffrey and her daughter Madelyn “Emmy” Jeffrey in the flooding.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-death-penalty-case-remanded-david-leonard-wood/Dissenting judges expressed frustration over a lack of clarity on why the case of David Leonard Wood, whose execution in March was halted, was remanded to the lower court.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 30 Jul 2025 17:50:49 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-death-penalty-case-remanded-david-leonard-wood/In March, death row inmate David Leonard Wood's execution was halted by the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals.Huntsville, Texas: Exteriors of the Texas State Penitentiary “Walls Unit” August 20, 2020 in Huntsville, Texas.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-unt-free-speech-lawsuit-timothy-jackson/Professor Timothy Jackson was accused of making racist remarks at the height of the racial reckoning that followed George Floyd's murder. His free speech suit against the university comes to an end in the era of DEI bans.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 30 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-unt-free-speech-lawsuit-timothy-jackson/McConnell Tower is framed by The Sustaining Arch at the University of North Texas in Denton on Feb. 14, 2024. Earlier this month, UNT agreed to pay one of its professors $725,000 to settle a First Amendment lawsuit.McConnell Tower is framed by The Sustaining Arch at the University of North Texas in Denton on Feb. 14, 2024.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-senate-house-transgender-bathroom-bills/The bills would carry a $5,000 fine for a first-time violation and comes as momentum for such restrictions has increased in the state and nationally.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 24 Jul 2025 17:49:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-senate-house-transgender-bathroom-bills/Two bills in the Texas Legislature would mandate that multiuse bathrooms at K-12 schools, public universities and state and municipal government buildings only be used by people of one sex or another, as indicated on their birth certificate.Social distancing decals are posted in front of the sinks to be used in a boys restroom at Ott Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 in San Antonio. The school plans to turn off the water for the sinks and urinals not in use to maintain social distancing between students in the restroom.Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/23/texas-house-giovanni-capriglione-retirement/The Southlake Republican will serve the remainder of his seventh term. Keller Mayor Armin Mizani said on Wednesday he would run for the District 98 seat.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 23 Jul 2025 20:33:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/23/texas-house-giovanni-capriglione-retirement/State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, during the Texas Rally for Life at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 22, 2022.State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, during the Texas Rally for Life at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 22, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/23/texas-hill-country-floods-legislative-committee-hearing/Lawmakers serving on special committees investigating deadly floods blasted a river authority for failing to build a flood warning system on the Guadalupe River.By Emily Foxhall, Hayden Betts, Paul Cobler and Ayden RunnelsWed, 23 Jul 2025 17:05:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/23/texas-hill-country-floods-legislative-committee-hearing/Members of the Texas Senate and House hold a joint Disaster Preparedness and Flooding committee meeting on July 23 at the state Capiol in Austin. The joint committee was formed in the aftermath of recent devastating flooding in the Hill Country.Members of the Texas Senate and House hold a joint Disaster Preparedness and Flooding committee meeting Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Austin. The joint committee was formed in the aftermath of recent devastating flooding in the Hill Country.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/texas-ken-paxton-trans-athletes-swimming-san-antonio-lawsuit/The Texas attorney general said U.S. Masters Swimming violated the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act by allowing trans athletes to compete in women’s events.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 17 Jul 2025 17:14:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/texas-ken-paxton-trans-athletes-swimming-san-antonio-lawsuit/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seen on Jan. 15, 2025, accused U.S. Masters Swimming of cowering "to radical activists pushing gender warfare" by allowing trans athletes to compete at an event in San Antonio.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media during a press conference in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/16/uvalde-school-shootings-records-release/Eighteen news organizations including The Texas Tribune have been seeking the records since 2022, when 19 children and 2 teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 16 Jul 2025 15:17:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/16/uvalde-school-shootings-records-release/Memorial crosses are seen in 2024 outside Uvalde's Robb Elementary School, where 19 students and two teachers were killed two years earlier.Memorial crosses outside Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, on Jan. 18, 2024.Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune