https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-priest/The latest news by Jessica Priest.enThu, 20 Feb 2025 14:36:22 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-staar-standardized-test/The bill would require the state to reduce the test’s length, prioritize post-secondary preparation and launch a revamped version by 2026.By Jessica PriestThu, 20 Feb 2025 14:36:22 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-staar-standardized-test/A Texas House bill filed Thursday would revamp the state's standardized test and launch a new version by 2026.A calculator and a test sheet on a desk at Elsik High School in 2018.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/19/university-texas-austin-jim-davis/The decision to name Davis, UT-Austin's chief operating officer since 2023, ends President Jay Hartzell’s tenure months earlier than anticipated.By Jessica Priest and Kate McGeeWed, 19 Feb 2025 14:21:49 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/19/university-texas-austin-jim-davis/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-universities-research-carnegie-foundation/The designations come at a tumultuous time for universities as funding could be cut off and efforts to end tenure continue.By Jessica PriestThu, 13 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-universities-research-carnegie-foundation/The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio was named of the state's newest top-tier research universities.Scenes from the main campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio on June 15, 2021.Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/10/texas-universities-research-nih/A federal judge blocked a new National Institutes of Health policy from going into effect in 22 states that sued the agency, but Texas wasn’t part of the suit.By Jessica PriestMon, 10 Feb 2025 18:07:21 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/10/texas-universities-research-nih/UT Tyler Health East Texas is seen from a garage in Tyler on Dec. 7, 2023.UT Tyler Health East Texas is seen from a garage in Tyler on Dec. 7, 2023. The regional system of hospitals was bought by The University of Texas System, UT Health Northeast and Arend Health Services in March 2018.Greta Díaz González Vázquez/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/07/ut-dallas-student-newspaper-palestinian-protest-coverage/Students at the university created their own news organization — The Retrograde — after they reached an impasse with administrators regarding oversight and the firing of the campus newspaper’s editor-in-chief.By Jessica PriestFri, 07 Feb 2025 13:06:51 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/07/ut-dallas-student-newspaper-palestinian-protest-coverage/Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez, editor-in-chief of the University of Texas at Dallas’s alternative student newspaper, The Retrograde, hands out copies of the first edition at the student union on Jan. 29.Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez, editor-in-chief of the University of Texas at Dallas’s new student newspaper The Retrograde, hands out copies of the first edition of the newspaper to students at the UTD student union on January 29, 2025.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/texas-higher-education-legislation/Legislators are expected to take up a $360 million proposal that would change the landscape of financial aid in the state.By Jessica Priest and Sneha DeyThu, 06 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/texas-higher-education-legislation/Students walked across the Texas State University campus in this file photo from 2018. Texas lawmakers may expand a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities during the 2025 legislative session.Students walk through Texas State University campus Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, in San Marcos, Texas.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/texas-trump-federal-spending-freeze/Texas cities, counties, higher education institutions and nonprofits clambered Tuesday to gauge the potential fallout from the suspension, later blocked temporarily by a federal judge.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Jessica Priest, Joshua Fechter, Matthew Choi and Terri LangfordTue, 28 Jan 2025 20:35:02 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/texas-trump-federal-spending-freeze/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-greg-abbott-am-mark-welsh-dei/Abbott's comments came after A&M invited staffers and students to attend a conference that a conservative activist said broke the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.By Jessica PriestTue, 14 Jan 2025 10:25:48 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-greg-abbott-am-mark-welsh-dei/Gov. Greg Abbott, speaks at a press conference in Houston on July 14, 2024.Governor Greg Abbott, speaks about Centerpoint Energy during a press conference at Gallery Furniture, Houston, Thursday, Sunday July 14,2024. Doug Sweet Jr. for Texas TribuneDouglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/10/texas-university-presidents-ut-austin-jay-hartzell/In recent years university presidents have been facing growing political pressures, student and faculty pushback and an increasingly demanding job.By Jessica Priest, The Texas TribuneFri, 10 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/10/texas-university-presidents-ut-austin-jay-hartzell/Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin in Aug. 25, 2021.Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin in Aug. 25, 2021.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/07/texas-ut-austin-smu-jay-hartzell/Hartzell leaves UT-Austin after four years of tense political battles and legislative efforts to implement a more conservative vision of public higher ed.By Kate McGee and Jessica PriestTue, 07 Jan 2025 11:20:46 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/07/texas-ut-austin-smu-jay-hartzell/The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell, middle, on April 18, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/trump-medicaid-cuts-texas-residents/State leaders have shown a decadeslong antipathy toward the health insurance program. If Trump makes severe reductions, it’s unlikely leaders would have the political will to make up any lost federal funds with state money, experts say.By Lomi Kriel and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, Data reporting by Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 04 Dec 2024 10:30:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/trump-medicaid-cuts-texas-residents/A hospital bedMaria Crane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-2024-election-voting-issues/Tell us about any trouble you have trying to vote, so we can continue to report on potential challenges Texans may face at the ballot box.By Vianna Davila and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and María Méndez, The Texas TribuneTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-2024-election-voting-issues/Francisco Hinojosa, 71, who declares himself as a straight democrat, poses for a photo after voting at Lark Branch Library in McAllen, Texas on Oct. 22, 2024.Francisco Hinojosa, 71, who declares himself as a straight democrat, poses for a photo after voting at Lark Branch Library in McAllen, Texas on Oct. 22, 2024.Verónica Gabriel Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/23/weatherford-college-donates-land-community-christian-school/Two years later, the donation highlights a gap in government oversight at a time when state and local officials are increasingly blurring the lines between church and state.By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaFri, 23 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/23/weatherford-college-donates-land-community-christian-school/The U.S. flag, the Texas flag and the Christian flag are flown outside of Community Christian School’s new facility in Mineral Wells, Texas. Nearly two years after Weatherford College donated the land to the religious organization, the property sits empty.The U.S. flag, the Texas flag and the Christian flag are flown outside of Community Christian School’s new facility in Mineral Wells, Texas. Nearly two years after Weatherford College donated the land to the religious organization, the property sits empty.Shelby Tauber for ProPublica and The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/08/pastor-abilene-fined-illegal-campaign-contributions/Fines issued to Scott Beard of Abilene’s Fountaingate Fellowship and two pastors follow reporting from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune that revealed the churches donated to his campaign for local office despite state and federal prohibitions.By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaMon, 08 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/08/pastor-abilene-fined-illegal-campaign-contributions/A sign for Scott Beard’s campaign for City Council outside the Hope 4 Life Church in Abilene in April 2023. Beard was recently fined for accepting donations from churches and posting campaign signs on church property.Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/15/texas-school-board-bond-elections/We want to hear about how heated elections affect the people learning, teaching and living in districts across Texas.By Jessica Priest, Jeremy Schwartz, Lexi Churchill and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 15 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/15/texas-school-board-bond-elections/A group that calls itself “pro public education” offers ballot suggestions outside a voting center in Granbury.Shelby Tauber for ProPublica and The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/texas-school-districts-violated-election-transparency-law/The Texas Tribune and ProPublica analyzed 35 Texas school districts that held trustee elections last fall and found none that posted all of the required campaign finance records.By Jessica Priest and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, Research by Dan Keemahill and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaThu, 25 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/texas-school-districts-violated-election-transparency-law/A photo illustration shows a web search box with “BOARD ELECTION Campaign Finance Report” and “Page Not Found” over a photo of a Texas school building.Photo illustration by ProPublica. Photo by Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune.https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/21/texas-ken-paxton-refused-represent-state-agencies/The Texas attorney general said he’s “back to work” after his recent acquittal, but his office has repeatedly declined to fulfill one of its key duties: representing state agencies who are being sued.By Jessica Priest and Vianna Davila, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaThu, 21 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/21/texas-ken-paxton-refused-represent-state-agencies/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during his impeachment trial last week. He was ultimately acquitted.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/05/ken-paxton-state-agencies/Records obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune give deeper insight into how Paxton’s representation denials often pushed agencies to look for outside legal counsel that was ultimately funded by taxpayers.By Vianna Davila and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaTue, 05 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/05/ken-paxton-state-agencies/Ken Paxton, who is currently suspended from his post as Texas attorney general, at a news conference in Austin last year.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a news conference at the William P. Clements State Office Building on a pilot program to dispose of medications, especially opioids on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2022 in Austin, TX. Paxton was joined by a group of former athletes and coaches to make the announcement. (Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune)of former athletes and coaches to make the announcement.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/abilene-churches-election-donations-investigations/West Texas voters rejected three conservative Christian candidates who sought to infuse religious values into local politics. The campaign support the candidates received from local churches has prompted calls for state and federal probes.By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaTue, 16 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/abilene-churches-election-donations-investigations/Campaign signs outside the polling location at South 11th & Willis Church of Christ in Abilene on election day May 6.Campign signs outside of the 11th & Willis St. Church of Christ in Abiele, Texas, on May 6.Johnathan Johnson for ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/05/texas-churches-abilene-donations/A candidate for the Abilene City Council said that three churches made an honest mistake by donating to his campaign and that he is returning the money. The race has been beset by allegations of electioneering by churches.By Jessica Priest and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaFri, 05 May 2023 13:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/05/texas-churches-abilene-donations/Despite IRS prohibitions against political campaign activity, three West Texas churches made donations to Scott Beard, a pastor who is running for Abilene City Council.An American flag waves in the wind next to a sign for Scott Beard in Abilene, Texas on Thursday, April 27, 2023. (Photo by Emil T. Lippe for Pro Publica)Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribune and ProPublica