https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jasper-scherer/The latest news by Jasper Scherer.enFri, 17 Jan 2025 12:38:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-house-speaker-democrats-dustin-burrows/The Democrats’ short list of possible benefits: A leader who learned to keep promises, a chance at chairing committees, and what they see as more chances for a fairer playing field.By James Barragán and Jasper SchererFri, 17 Jan 2025 12:38:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-house-speaker-democrats-dustin-burrows/State Rep. Toni Rose, D-Dallas, hugs fellow Reps. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and David Cook, R-Mansfield, after Burrows won the vote for speaker.State Rep. Toni Rose, D-Dallas, hugs fellow Reps. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and David Cook, R-Mansfield, after Burrows won the vote for the next Speaker of the Texas House Of Representatives on the first day of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/15/texas-house-speaker-election-dustin-burrows-winners-losers/The new speaker’s power over the budget and committee assignments is expected to bolster established Republican leaders and some Democrats who supported the winner.By Jasper SchererWed, 15 Jan 2025 16:29:10 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/15/texas-house-speaker-election-dustin-burrows-winners-losers/State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, shakes hands with state Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, after winning the vote for the next House speaker on the first day of the 2025 Texas Legislature in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, shakes hands with state Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, after winning the vote for the next House speaker on the first day of the 2025 Texas Legislature in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook with a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes.By James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 14:46:54 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-preview-2025-speaker-public-education-vouchers/From debating school vouchers and improving the state’s water supply to reining in property taxes, the GOP-led body will look to pass its conservative priorities amid fighting within the party.By Jasper SchererTue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-preview-2025-speaker-public-education-vouchers/Members of the Texas House, seen on opening day in 2023, are expected to select a new speaker Tuesday.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://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-2025-speaker-race-live-updates/The Texas House kicked off the 2025 session by electing an establishment Republican to lead the chamber, drawing criticism from within the GOP.By James Barragán, Renzo Downey, Jasper Scherer, Pooja Salhotra and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-2025-speaker-race-live-updates/Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George, right, speaks to the press on the steps of the state Capitol following the vote for House speaker on Jan. 14, 2025. Looking on are Republican freshman state Reps. Wes Virdell, David Lowe, Andy Hopper and Brent Money.Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George speaks to the press on the steps of the state Capitol following the vote for House speaker on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Looking on are Republican freshman state Reps. Wes Virdell, David Lowe, Andy Hopper and Brent Money.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/01/new-orleans-texas-truck-attack-shamsud-din-jabbar-new-years/FBI officials said Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen and Army veteran, drove the pickup truck that fatally rammed into a crowd on Bourbon Street.By Jasper SchererWed, 01 Jan 2025 15:13:08 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/01/new-orleans-texas-truck-attack-shamsud-din-jabbar-new-years/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/21/donald-trump-tilman-fertitta-ambassador/Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and Landry’s restaurant group, hosted a fundraiser for Trump earlier this year.By Jasper Scherer and Joshua FechterSat, 21 Dec 2024 18:11:49 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/21/donald-trump-tilman-fertitta-ambassador/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/texas-legislature-school-choice-vouchers-education-savings-accounts/Some voucher opponents are ready to compromise; others are hoping supporters will fumble over the program's size, eligibility and accountability.By Jasper Scherer and Jaden EdisonTue, 17 Dec 2024 13:48:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/texas-legislature-school-choice-vouchers-education-savings-accounts/Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Texas House during the Opening Day of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol. School vouchers will have strong support in the Texas Legislature next year but some opponents hope proponents will fail to agree on the details of the proposed program.Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Texas Governor Greg Abbott addressing the House chamber.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/16/dustin-burrows-texas-house-speaker/Five years after weathering a major Republican House leadership controversy, Burrows finds himself at the center of another skirmish — this time as he seeks the speaker’s gavel himself.By Jasper SchererMon, 16 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/16/dustin-burrows-texas-house-speaker/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-speaker-dustin-burrows/In a Q&A, Burrows said he’s still confident he’ll win. But he says the leadership race is bigger than any one person and his supporters are trying to protect the integrity of the House.By Jasper SchererFri, 13 Dec 2024 13:03:36 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-speaker-dustin-burrows/State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, holds a press conference in the Speaker's Committee Room saying he has the votes to become Speaker of the House in the upcoming legislative session, on Dec. 7, 2024.State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, holds a press conference in the Speaker's Committee Room saying he has the votes to become Speaker of the House in the upcoming legislative session, on Dec. 7, 2024.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/Burrows claims the support of a coalition of Republicans and Democrats, while Cook has the endorsement of the GOP caucus.By James Barragán, Renzo Downey and Jasper SchererSat, 07 Dec 2024 17:14:18 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows-dade-phelan/With Speaker Dade Phelan out of the race, Republican state Reps. David Cook and Dustin Burrows will now face off.By Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and James BarragánFri, 06 Dec 2024 12:45:09 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows-dade-phelan/The Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.The Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan/Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield.By Jasper Scherer, James Barragán and Renzo DowneyFri, 06 Dec 2024 08:08:31 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan/Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-thc-ban-dan-patrick-delta-8-9-hemp/Patrick contends retailers have exploited a law passed in 2019 to sell unregulated and potentially harmful consumable tetrahydrocannabinol products.By Jasper Scherer, Alejandra Martinez, Karen Brooks Harper and Stephen SimpsonWed, 04 Dec 2024 22:07:14 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-thc-ban-dan-patrick-delta-8-9-hemp/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Patrick said Wednesday that the THC ban would be designated as Senate Bill 3.Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/david-cook-dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker/The two-term Republican caught many Capitol observers off guard when he emerged as the standard-bearer for a coalition that wants to depose Phelan and reshape how the House operates.By James Barragán, Jasper Scherer and Renzo DowneyWed, 27 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/david-cook-dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker/State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-florida-trump-republican-rivalry-paxton-gaetz/So far Trump has looked elsewhere for his earliest cabinet and high-level staff appointments, in some cases passing over Texans who were in the mix.By Jasper SchererTue, 19 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-florida-trump-republican-rivalry-paxton-gaetz/Former President Trump speaks during a tour of an unfinished section of border wall in Pharr, Texas, on June 30, 2021.Former President Trump speaks during a tour of an unfinished section of border wall in Pharr, Texas, on June 30, 2021.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/14/ted-cruz-texas-senate-win-transgender-rights-political-future/Cruz won over Latino voters and targeted Colin Allred’s support of transgender rights to win a third term.By Jasper SchererThu, 14 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/14/ted-cruz-texas-senate-win-transgender-rights-political-future/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during the debate with U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a debate for the U.S. Senate with U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, hosted by WFAA on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOLShelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOLhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/texas-democrat-party-resigns-gilberto-hinojosa/Gilberto Hinojosa’s resignation ends a 12-year run leading the state party, dating back to his election at the 2012 Texas Democratic Convention.By Jasper SchererFri, 08 Nov 2024 09:04:08 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/texas-democrat-party-resigns-gilberto-hinojosa/Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa speaks during the first general session at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 7, 2024.Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa speaks during the first general session at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 7, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/donald-trump-near-sweep-texas-border-counties/The former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region.By Jasper Scherer, Zach Despart and Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune, and Perla Trevizo and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 06 Nov 2024 21:45:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/donald-trump-near-sweep-texas-border-counties/Democratic Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, secured a fifth term in office with bipartisan support. The county tipped strongly for Donald Trump, reflecting a broader trend of Republican gains along the border.Gabriel Garza, left, augmentee with the sheriff’s office, congratulates, Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, after the final vote counts for the night were announced around 10pm at Val Verde County Courthouse on election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Del Rio, Texas. Martinez was in the lead ahead of his opponent Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez 7,926 votes to 6,033.Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/monica-de-la-cruz-michelle-vallejo-south-texas-congressional-district/De La Cruz defeated Democrat Michelle Vallejo for Texas’ 15th Congressional District in a rematch from two years ago.By Jasper SchererTue, 05 Nov 2024 22:45:30 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/monica-de-la-cruz-michelle-vallejo-south-texas-congressional-district/U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune