https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayden-runnels/The latest news by Ayden Runnels.enThu, 26 Jun 2025 15:35:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-death-row-ruben-gutierrez-supreme-court/Ruben Gutierrez is challenging the constitutionality of a state law that restricts death row inmates from seeking tests that he says will prove he’s not a murderer.By Ayden Runnels and Kayla GuoThu, 26 Jun 2025 15:35:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-death-row-ruben-gutierrez-supreme-court/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/25/texas-lottery-commission-abolished-couriers-restrictions/Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday signed Senate Bill 3070, which will also criminalize the online sale of lottery tickets through couriers.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 25 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/25/texas-lottery-commission-abolished-couriers-restrictions/A Texas Lottery stand at an Austin convenience store on Feb. 20, 2025. State lawmakers agreed to let the lottery continue in Texas but placed new restrictions on the games and abolished the Texas Lottery Commission.Texas Lottery stand at an Austin convenience store on Feb. 20, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/texas-federal-environmental-review-agreement/The agreement targets the environmental review process and cuts down the time it takes for new highways to be approved.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 20 Jun 2025 18:30:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/texas-federal-environmental-review-agreement/Construction workers are seen along Loop 1604 in San Antonio in December 2024. Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Marc Williams lauded the state's continued agreement with the federal government as a way to speed up highway construction.Construction workers are seen along Highway 1604 in San Antonio on Thursday, December 19, 2024.Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/texas-national-military-zone-trespass-conviction/The Ecuadorian man was acquitted by a jury on a separate charge after crossing into the new military zone in May.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 18 Jun 2025 19:52:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/texas-national-military-zone-trespass-conviction/A U.S. Army M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle, known as a Stryker, deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border under Title 10 in Sunland Park, New Mexico on March 28, 2025.A U.S. Army M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle, known as a Stryker, deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border under Title 10 in Sunland Park, New Mexico on March 28, 2025.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/texas-legislature-gun-restrictions/Lawmakers passed a handful of bills aimed at easing access to guns as a new pediatric study links state legislation to increased firearm deaths.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 18 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/texas-legislature-gun-restrictions/Among the gun-related bills waiting for Gov. Greg Abbott's approval is Senate Bill 3053, which bans gun buyback programs.San Antonio police officers collect firearms and ammunition during a gun buyback event that exchanges unused or unwanted firearms for H-E-B gift cards, at the Alamodome on Nov. 24, 2024.Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-protests-anti-trump-immigration-no-kings/Demonstrations in McAllen, Midland, Odessa, Austin and elsewhere in Texas were largely peaceful, as some protests went well into the night.By Berenice Garcia, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Ayden Runnels and Jessica Shuran YuSat, 14 Jun 2025 15:40:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-protests-anti-trump-immigration-no-kings/Beth Vaughan, center, chants as protesters march up Walker Street during a “No Kings” protest at Houston City Hall on June 14.Beth Vaughan, at center, chants as protestors march up Walker Street during a No Kings protest at City Hall, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Houston.Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-credible-threats-lawmakers/The agency said there was no additional active threat, as Austin demonstrators took aim at the Trump administration.By Renzo Downey and Ayden RunnelsSat, 14 Jun 2025 14:19:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-credible-threats-lawmakers/Texas Department of Public Safety vehicles outside of the state Capitol on Aug. 11, 2021.Texas Department of Public Safety vehicles outside of the state Capitol on Aug. 11, 2021.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/greg-abbott-texas-national-guard-immigration-raid-protests/Demonstrations against immigration raids began in Los Angeles last week and have spread across the country, including to Texas. More are planned this weekend.By Jessica Shuran Yu and Ayden RunnelsWed, 11 Jun 2025 14:31:55 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/greg-abbott-texas-national-guard-immigration-raid-protests/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to law enforcement officials during a Southern Border Coalition event in Austin on April 29, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to law enforcement officials during a Southern Border Coalition event in Austin on April 29, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-bills-restrictions-lgbtq-transgender/Of the more than 100 bills aimed at LGBTQ+ people in the state, less than 10 were approved by lawmakers this session.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 11 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-bills-restrictions-lgbtq-transgender/Austin Pride Parade attendees wave rainbow flags as they pass the Capitol building on Aug. 20, 2022.Austin Pride Parade attendees wave rainbow flags as they pass the Capitol building, on Aug. 20, 2022.Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/austin-protest-immigration-customs-enforcement/Thirteen people were arrested on various charges during the protest Monday, which ended when officers fired tear gas into a crowd that neared a federal building.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 09 Jun 2025 23:04:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/austin-protest-immigration-customs-enforcement/Demonstrators march in front of the Capitol in Austin during a protest against ICE on Monday, June 9, 2025.Demonstrators march in front of the Capitol in Austin during a protest against ICE on Monday, June 9, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/texas-el-paso-trial-immigration-military-zone/The trial of the Peruvian woman was the first test of the Trump administration’s new policy aimed at prosecuting immigrants who crossed the border illegally with military-related charges.By Uriel J. García and Ayden RunnelsThu, 05 Jun 2025 14:59:27 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/texas-el-paso-trial-immigration-military-zone/A sign seen on May 12 near Marker 4 east of the Texas-New Mexico state line — illegible from the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande — warns that the U.S. Department of Defense has taken over the area.Near Marker 4 east of the Texas-New Mexico state line, a sign, illegible from the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande, warns that the U.S. Department of Defense has taken over the area, May 12, 2025.Courtesy of Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Mattershttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-justice-department-lawsuit-undocumented-in-state-tuition/Within hours of a federal lawsuit targeting Texas’ policy of letting undocumented students qualify for lower public tuition rates, the 24-year-old law was no more.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Jessica Priest, Sneha Dey and Ayden RunnelsWed, 04 Jun 2025 14:45:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-justice-department-lawsuit-undocumented-in-state-tuition/Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/03/texas-comptroller-blackrock-boycott-energy/The firm’s removal from a state list of companies “boycotting” the fossil fuel industry was lauded by Comptroller Glenn Hegar as a “meaningful victory” for Texas’ energy economy.By Ayden RunnelsTue, 03 Jun 2025 19:46:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/03/texas-comptroller-blackrock-boycott-energy/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/texas-school-library-bill/Senate Bill 13 would require school boards or advisory councils to approve new books and review complaints. In most cases only 50 parents’ approval would be needed to create the oversight councils.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 26 May 2025 19:25:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/texas-school-library-bill/The Texas House approved a bill Monday that would give parents and school boards more control over the books that students can access in school libraries.The Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary School library in San Elizario on July 23, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/25/texas-lottery-commission-legislature/SB 3070, which awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, would move the lottery game to Texas’ Department of Licensing and Regulation and includes new restrictions on ticket purchases.By Ayden RunnelsSun, 25 May 2025 21:11:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/25/texas-lottery-commission-legislature/Members of the Texas Lottery Commission at a public meeting in Austin on April 29, 2025.Members of the Texas Lottery Commission at a public meeting in Austin on April 29, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-house-gender-medical-records-requirement/The bill, which is poised to become law, creates up to a $250,000 fine for medical professionals who change a patients’ listed sex outside of certain exemptions.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 22 May 2025 19:56:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-house-gender-medical-records-requirement/Texas House opponents of Senate Bill 1188 said the required reporting of gender assigned at birth excludes transgender and intersex patients who may be forced to have a gender they don't identify with displayed in their records.Various identity and quote pins sit in a tray in the Center for Women's & Gender Studies on Feb. 19, 2024.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/20/texas-execution-2025-matthew-johnson/Matthew Johnson, who testified he did not intend to kill the elderly clerk, received the death penalty in 2013. The execution is Texas’ fourth and may be the last for 2025.By Ayden RunnelsTue, 20 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/20/texas-execution-2025-matthew-johnson/Matthew Johnson is set to be executed in Huntsville on Tuesday for killing Nancy Harris, a 76-year-old Garland convenience store clerk, in 2012.The Huntsville Unit Texas State Penitentiary on Jan. 31, 2024. The prison houses the state's execution chamber.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/16/texas-attorney-general-district-attorneys-lawsuits/Over half of the district attorneys affected by the rule filed lawsuits challenging it, saying it violates state and federal law.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 16 May 2025 20:08:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/16/texas-attorney-general-district-attorneys-lawsuits/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seen in 2024, called the lawsuit filed by a trio of district attorneys seeking to block a new county oversight rule "meritless."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/2025/05/15/texas-senate-bill-texas-lottery-commission-abolishment/Senate Bill 3070 would allow the Texas Lottery’s games to continue under a new department, abolish the agency and create restrictions on ticket purchases.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 15 May 2025 20:05:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-senate-bill-texas-lottery-commission-abolishment/A bill approved by the Texas Senate on Thursday mandates that Texas Lottery tickets can only be bought within licensed retail stores.A Texas Lottery display at Winners Corner, a board game, lottery and gift store, in Austin on Feb. 20, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/12/texas-lottery-commission-senate-bill-new-agency/A key Senate critic threw a lifeline to the Texas Lottery when he proposed moving its oversight to a new agency instead of eliminating it entirely.By Ayden RunnelsMon, 12 May 2025 22:12:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/12/texas-lottery-commission-senate-bill-new-agency/A new Senate bill filed by Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, would abolish the Texas Lottery Commission and move supervision of the state-sponsored game under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.Lottery tickets sit near the entrance of Hyde Park Market in Austin on May 5, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune