https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayden-runnels/The latest news by Ayden Runnels.enFri, 12 Sep 2025 19:25:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/texas-legislature-charlie-kirk-freedom-speech-committee/The committees were made to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk and come as university faculty have come under online scrutiny.By Ayden RunnelsFri, 12 Sep 2025 19:25:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/texas-legislature-charlie-kirk-freedom-speech-committee/A student walks through the Library Mall at the University of North Texas in Denton in 2022.A student walks through the Library Mall at the University of North Texas in Denton on March 22, 2022.Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/10/texas-state-university-professor-fired/Thomas Alter is the second professor in the state to be terminated for allegedly violating university policy after a video was posted on social media.By Ayden RunnelsWed, 10 Sep 2025 22:16:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/10/texas-state-university-professor-fired/Texas State University's Alkek Teaching Theater is seen on the first day of the fall semester in San Marcos on Aug. 24, 2020.Empty seats in the Alkek Teaching theatre on the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos on Aug. 24, 2020.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/texas-am-video-professor-student-gender-identity-content/After the video fueled outrage, a professor was fired and two college leaders removed from their administrative roles for approving content inconsistent with the course’s description.By Jessica Priest, Nicholas Gutteridge, Alex Nguyen and Ayden RunnelsMon, 08 Sep 2025 23:08:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/texas-am-video-professor-student-gender-identity-content/The Texas A&M University bell tower is seen on Aug. 21, 2024, in College Station.The Texas A&M bell tower on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in College Station.Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-gop-republican-party-closed-primary-elections/Currently, any Texas voter can cast a ballot in GOP primaries. The party wants to limit eligibility to registered members.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 04 Sep 2025 21:39:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-gop-republican-party-closed-primary-elections/Republican Party of Texas Vice-Chair D’rinda Randall, left, and Chair Abraham George speak during the Texas GOP Convention on May 25, 2024, in San Antonio. The Texas GOP on Thursday sued Secretary of State Jane Nelson to restrict primaries to only voters registered with the party.Newly elected Republican Party of Texas Vice-Chair D’rinda Randall, left, and Chair Abraham George and speak during the Texas GOP Convention Saturday, May 25, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-legislature-disaster-emergency-response-bill/Both legislative chambers adjourned without agreeing on changes to Senate Bill 2, which aimed to create new training and licensing requirements for local officials.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 04 Sep 2025 02:10:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-legislature-disaster-emergency-response-bill/Camp Mystic is seen along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/texas-camp-safety-legislation/The parents of children who died at Camp Mystic advocated for the new legislation, which now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.By Emily Foxhall and Ayden RunnelsWed, 03 Sep 2025 22:49:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/texas-camp-safety-legislation/Damaged cabins are seen along the Guadalupe River in Ingram on July 7, 2025, days after flooding devastated the area.Damaged cabins seen along the river in Ingram on Monday July7, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-lottery-department-licensing-regulation/After months of controversy, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must tackle poor sales and legislative scrutiny as it takes over the games on Sept. 1.By Ayden Runnels and Alex NguyenFri, 29 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-lottery-department-licensing-regulation/Commissioner Lori High and Vice Chair Thomas F. Butler are seen during a hearing of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation Meeting on Aug. 21, 2025.Commissioner Lori High and Vice Chair Thomas F. Butler during The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation Meeting on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/texas-house-bathroom-bill-transgender/Senate Bill 8 restricts bathroom use in government buildings and schools to sex assigned at birth.By Ayden RunnelsThu, 28 Aug 2025 19:15:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/texas-house-bathroom-bill-transgender/The Texas House, led by Speaker Dustin Burrows, seen on Aug. 18, 2025, passed Senate Bill 8, also called the “Texas Women’s Privacy Act,” after several hours of debate Thursday.House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speaks on the floor of the Texas House on Aug. 18, 2025, two weeks after democrats walked out during the middle of the special session.Lorianne Willett for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/23/texas-congressional-map-lawsuit/One lawsuit, filed by LULAC on behalf of 13 Texas residents, states that the redrawn districts in the new map are racially discriminatory and violate voter protection laws.By Colleen DeGuzman and Ayden RunnelsSat, 23 Aug 2025 14:29:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/23/texas-congressional-map-lawsuit/A map of the proposed changes to Texas congressional districts sits on a Texas House member’s desk on Aug. 20, 2025.A map of the proposed changes to Texas congressional districts sits on a Texas House member’s desk on Aug. 20, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/exas-house-transgender-bathroom-senate-bill-8/Senate Bill 8, which now heads to the House floor, would restrict which bathrooms in government buildings transgender people would be allowed to use.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, Kayla Guo and Alejandra MartinezThu, 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 Tribune