https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carla-astudillo/The latest news by Carla Astudillo.enFri, 08 Nov 2024 18:11:30 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/trump-cruz-2024-election-republicans/Cruz beat his challenger by 9 points, while Trump prevailed over his by 14 points. Still, Cruz performed better this year than he did in 2018By Carla Astudillo, Yuriko Schumacher and Pooja SalhotraFri, 08 Nov 2024 18:11:30 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/trump-cruz-2024-election-republicans/President-elect Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.From left: President-elect Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/texas-house-greg-abbott-school-vouchers-funding/Last year, Abbott refused to give public schools a major raise without passing a voucher program. His tone was more conciliatory after Election Day.By Jaden Edison, Graphics by Carla AstudilloWed, 06 Nov 2024 18:31:48 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/texas-house-greg-abbott-school-vouchers-funding/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Kingdom Life Academy private school on Nov. 6, 2024, in Tyler.Governor Greg Abbott speaks about school choice during a visit to the Kingdom Life Academy private school on Wednesday November 6, 2024, in Tyler. Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-2024-general-election-results/Texas voters will choose the President, a U.S. Senator, U.S. House members and more in this election.By Carla AstudilloTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-2024-general-election-results/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-affordability-takeaways/The Texas Tribune examined the state’s housing affordability crisis and why the state has struggled to build enough homes to meet demand.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloWed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-affordability-takeaways/San Antonio neighborhoods on May 25, 2024.San Antonio neighborhoods on May 25, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-housing-affordability-zoning/Texas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with the demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloTue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-housing-affordability-zoning/Share art for the zoning regulations story for the affordable housing series.Carla Astudillohttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-housing-affordability-fight/A new breed of activists wants Texas to tame costs by building more housing. But longstanding opposition to such policies remains strong.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloMon, 28 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-housing-affordability-fight/The Austin City Council meets on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Austin.Council members and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson are present in person during the Austin city council meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Austin. Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, Paige Ellis, Mackenzie Kelly, Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool and José "Chito" Vela were in person with Mayor Kirk WatsonMaria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-ballot-2024-presidential-election-nov-5/Texas voters will elect officials in the presidential, congressional, statewide and legislative races.By Carla AstudilloFri, 30 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-ballot-2024-presidential-election-nov-5/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-ethics-campaign-finance-attorney-general/The number of fines for breaking state campaign ethics laws has exploded in recent years as Ken Paxton’s office rarely pursues stricter enforcement.By Zach Despart, Graphics by Carla AstudilloTue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-ethics-campaign-finance-attorney-general/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton enters the 185th Criminal District court at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center for a pretrial hearing in his securities fraud case on March 26, 2024, in Houston.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton enters the 185th Criminal District court at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center for a pretrial hearing in his securities fraud case on March 26, 2024, in Houston.Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/18/ted-cruz-colin-allred-fundraising-2024/Updated fundraising figures show that the Senate candidates have fundraised a combined $160 million.By Carla AstudilloThu, 18 Jul 2024 11:27:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/18/ted-cruz-colin-allred-fundraising-2024/U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/24/texas-housing-costs-homeownership-rents-harvard/A new housing report from Harvard University found that would-be homebuyers need to make more money than ever if they want to buy a home in Texas’ urban areas.By Joshua Fechter, Graphics by Carla AstudilloMon, 24 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/24/texas-housing-costs-homeownership-rents-harvard/Construction workers build houses in the new Teravista neighborhood in Georgetown on May 18, 2016.Construction workers build houses in the new Teravista neighborhood in Georgetown, TX on May 18, 2016.Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/06/texas-water-supply-big-bend-terlinuga/No one knows how much water sits beneath the desert of Terlingua. Residents worry their wells will run dry, as developers and local officials cheer the tourism boom.By Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Eli Hartman, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 06 Jun 2024 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/06/texas-water-supply-big-bend-terlinuga/Georganne Bradbury, left, and Rick Bradbury inspect their water well as they give a tour of their water system at their home on Terlingua Ranch in South Brewster County. The couple has garnered a reputation among locals for their services as the area’s trusted water haulers, often delivering between three and four 500-gallon truckloads of water a day during peak tourism season.Rick and Georganne Bradbury drive down a remote mountain road after delivering water to a client on Terlingua Ranch. Keeping his business afloat is a constant concern for Rick, who said he’s spent thousands of dollars on replacing car parts and spare water tanks damaged by the terrain.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/31/texas-house-primaries-greg-abbott-paxton-impeachment-vouchers/Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton crusaded against House Republicans who voted against school vouchers and in favor of impeachment, respectively.By Carla Astudillo and Rebekah AllenFri, 31 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/31/texas-house-primaries-greg-abbott-paxton-impeachment-vouchers/State Representatives and their families gather on the House floor on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023.State Representatives and their families gather on the House floor on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-may-2024-runoff-election-results/Get The Texas Tribune’s coverage of election results for the 2024 primary runoff elections, which includes the Texas Legislature and more.By Carla AstudilloTue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-may-2024-runoff-election-results/Voting stickers for 2024 primary election voter guide.https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/23/texas-gop-matt-rinaldi-republicans/Under outgoing chair Matt Rinaldi, the party’s donor base has shrunk as it aligns with two far-right megadonors.By Robert Downen and Carla AstudilloThu, 23 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/23/texas-gop-matt-rinaldi-republicans/Outgoing Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi gives voting directives during the 5th General Meeting of the 2022 Texas State Republican Convention on June 18, 2022.Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi gives voting directives during the 5th General Meeting of the 2022 Texas State Republican Convention on June 18, 2022.Briana Vargas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/16/texas-travis-county-drug-deaths-fentanyl-overdose/Since 2019, accidental drug deaths have been rising in Texas, with the number tripling in Travis County.By Stephen Simpson, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 16 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/16/texas-travis-county-drug-deaths-fentanyl-overdose/An Austin-Travis County EMS vehicle parked outside of St. Davidís North Austin Medical Center on July 7, 2020.An Austin-Travis County EMS vehicle parked outside of St. Davidís North Austin Medical Center on July 7, 2020.Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-may-2024-runoff-ballot/The Texas 2024 primary runoffs will take place May 28. See the full list of candidates statewide and see who’s on your ballot.By Carla AstudilloThu, 04 Apr 2024 16:36:03 -0500https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-may-2024-runoff-ballot/https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/primary-election-results-2024/Get The Texas Tribune’s coverage of election results for the 2024 primary races for president, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the Texas Legislature.By Carla AstudilloTue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/primary-election-results-2024/Voting stickers for 2024 primary election voter guide.https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/march-2024-primary-ballot/The Texas 2024 primary will take place March 5. See the full list of candidates statewide and see who’s on your ballot.By Carla AstudilloMon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/march-2024-primary-ballot/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/21/texas-house-republicans-paxton-abbott/Paxton has been seeking revenge on fellow Republicans who voted to impeach him earlier this year. Similarly, Abbott is looking to unseat GOP House members who voted against school vouchers.By Carla Astudillo and Patrick SvitekThu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/21/texas-house-republicans-paxton-abbott/Wide view of the Texas House chamber during debate on the articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.Wide view of the Texas House chamber during debate on the articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/14/texas-hate-crimes-data/A Texas Tribune analysis of hate crime data found that 82% of Texas law enforcement agencies that report to the FBI tracked no hate crimes last year. However, one suburban North Texas police agency is creating a new model of collecting hate crime data.By Carla Astudillo and Pooja SalhotraThu, 14 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/14/texas-hate-crimes-data/Bertha Germany at her home in Texarkana on Nov. 26, 2023. In 2021, Germany's home was vandalized with a racial slur, an event that was not documented as a hate crime by local police.Bertha Germany at her home in Texarkana, Texas on Friday November 26, 2023. Lawrence Jenkins for The Texas Tribune