https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-priest-the-texas-tribune-and-propublica/The latest news by Jessica Priest.enTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://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 ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/23/mass-shootings-guns-obtained-legally/Most of the state’s 19 mass shootings over the past six decades were carried out by men who legally possessed firearms, an investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found.By Jessica Priest and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaThu, 23 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/23/mass-shootings-guns-obtained-legally/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks in Uvalde three days after a man used legally purchased firearms to kill 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a presser at Uvalde High School on May 27, 2022.Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/16/mass-shootings-texas-gun-control/State lawmakers have rejected dozens of bills that would have prevented people from legally obtaining weapons used in many mass shootings. Instead, they’ve made it easier for residents to get guns and harder for local governments to regulate them.By Jessica Priest and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaThu, 16 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/16/mass-shootings-texas-gun-control/A group of men embrace during a vigil on Aug. 4, 2019, one day after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas.A group of men embrace during a vigil a day after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, U.S. August 4, 2019. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1E05433300Callaghan O’Hare/Reutershttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/07/churches-list-violations-johnson-amendment/Churches aren’t supposed to endorse political candidates, according to IRS rules. Across the country, churches appear to be doing so anyway.By Jessica Priest and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Chris Morran, ProPublicaMon, 07 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/07/churches-list-violations-johnson-amendment/Video editing by Gerardo del Valle/ProPublica. Source videos: Cowboy Church of Corsicana, Mercy Culture, KingdomLife, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Sojourn Church, Beth Sar Shalom, Abundant Life Church, Unite Church, Legacy Church.Video editing by Gerardo del Valle/ProPublica. Source videos: Cowboy Church of Corsicana, Mercy Culture, KingdomLife, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Sojourn Church, Beth Sar Shalom, Abundant Life Church, Unite Church, Legacy Church.https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/06/texas-churches-johnson-amendment-election/Churches in Texas invited Beto O’Rourke and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to speak to their congregations before the 2022 midterms, raising questions about the effectiveness of the Johnson Amendment.By Jeremy Schwartz, Jessica Priest and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaSun, 06 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/06/texas-churches-johnson-amendment-election/Juanjo Gasull for ProPublica/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/30/religious-organizations-elections-johnson-amendment/Federal law bars churches and other nonprofit groups from endorsing candidates or helping to fundraise, but we know they regularly sidestep — or flat-out ignore — these rules. Help us identify examples.By Jessica Priest and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaSun, 30 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/30/religious-organizations-elections-johnson-amendment/Juanjo Gasull for The Texas Tribune/ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/30/johnson-amendment-elections-irs/For nearly 70 years, federal law has barred churches from directly involving themselves in political campaigns, but the IRS has largely abdicated its enforcement responsibilities as churches have become more brazen about publicly backing candidates.By Jeremy Schwartz and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaSun, 30 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/30/johnson-amendment-elections-irs/https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/09/military-justice-system/We’re looking into how the military investigates service members accused of crimes, intersects with the civilian justice system and treats cases that do not make it to courts-martial. Guide us to important stories.By Vianna Davila, Ren Larson, Lexi Churchill and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Adriana Gallardo, ProPublicaTue, 09 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/09/military-justice-system/Joan Wong for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/25/uvalde-school-shooting-victims/Loving children and beloved educators were killed at Robb Elementary School on May 24 in the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.By Sneha Dey, Erin Douglas, Andrew Zhang and Brooke Park, The Texas Tribune, and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaFri, 27 May 2022 18:51:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/25/uvalde-school-shooting-victims/Portraits of the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde.Photographs of the 21 victims of the Uvalde Elementary School shooting.Texas Tribune Staffhttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/06/texas-threats-democracy/Are you an election worker facing intimidation? Are you a voter encountering significant hurdles to casting a ballot? Are there any people, groups or organizations exerting undue influence over elections in your community? The Texas Tribune and ProPublica want to hear from you.By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaFri, 06 May 2022 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/06/texas-threats-democracy/Voters waited in line to cast their ballots in 2020 at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park polling site.Voters wait in line to cast their ballot at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park polling site in Dripping Springs.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/21/texas-operation-lone-star-help-us/We’re looking into Texas’ border security initiatives, including what has worked, what hasn’t and how they affect residents. If you have experience on the border, we’d like to hear from you.By Jessica PriestMon, 21 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/21/texas-operation-lone-star-help-us/