https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/katharine-wilson/The latest news by Katharine Wilson.enFri, 23 May 2025 18:23:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/23/texas-impact-house-spending-bill/Many low-income families would see cuts in health care and food benefits. The state hopes for a big reimbursement for border security spending.By Katharine WilsonFri, 23 May 2025 18:23:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/23/texas-impact-house-spending-bill/Any reduction in food aid under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would put pressure on state spending or nongovernmental organizations to make up the difference.A volunteer loads a box of groceries into a truck for delivery to a nearby community in the the panhandle.Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-border-spending-reconcilliation-congress/The U.S. House approved the budget reconciliation bill, which also includes preservation of 2017 tax cuts and changes to Medicaid and SNAP.By Katharine WilsonWed, 21 May 2025 21:13:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-border-spending-reconcilliation-congress/A member of the Texas National Guard looks down at his rifle ahead of the arrival of Gov. Greg Abbott and several other states leadership ahead of a press conference at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Feb. 04, 2024.A member of the Texas National Guard looks down at his rifle ahead of the arrival of Gov. Greg Abbott and several other states leadership ahead of a press conference at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Feb. 04, 2024.Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/20/tax-credit-k-12-scholarships-senator-ted-cruz/The bill, titled the Universal School Choice Act, would provide a tax credit to match an amount donated to organizations that provide K-12 scholarships.By Katharine WilsonTue, 20 May 2025 09:53:16 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/20/tax-credit-k-12-scholarships-senator-ted-cruz/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/19/take-it-down-act-deepfakes-digital-nudes-texas-student/A high school victim was one of the victims, but she and her mother fought back, with the help of Senator Ted Cruz.By Katharine WilsonMon, 19 May 2025 15:52:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/19/take-it-down-act-deepfakes-digital-nudes-texas-student/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/snap-benefits-texas-snap-restrictions/Texas’ governor joins other Republican governors making similar requests to ban purchases of candy and soda through the SNAP program.By Katharine WilsonThu, 15 May 2025 17:34:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/snap-benefits-texas-snap-restrictions/Under a Gov. Greg Abbott plan, low-income Texans could use federal SNAP benefits to pay for healthy food, but not for low-nutrition, highly processed junk food.The fresh produce section of a Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Buffalo on June 29, 2023.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/texas-rep-henry-cuellar-condemn-dropped-democrats/Concerns about measures to enforce a ban against a lawmaker’s access to voter files led the party to drop the vote, a party leader said.By Katharine WilsonFri, 09 May 2025 15:28:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/texas-rep-henry-cuellar-condemn-dropped-democrats/U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, will not face a planned vote by Texas Democrats to condemn him, a party leader said.U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks about the U.S.-Mexico border at the World Trade Bridge at a news conference in Laredo on Feb. 17, 2023.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/operation-lone-star-billions-reimbursement-john-cornyn/Texas Republicans are pushing the federal government to pay the state’s costs of Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg’s Abbott’s border security initiative.By Katharine WilsonFri, 09 May 2025 13:17:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/operation-lone-star-billions-reimbursement-john-cornyn/A member of the Texas Army National Guard patrols the Rio Grande atop a line of shipping containers in Eagle Pass. The state border security effort, Operation Lone Star, has cost Texas $11 billion.A member of the Texas Army National Guard patrols the Rio Grande from atop a line of shipping containers in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/06/henry-cuellar-texas-democratic-party-condemnation/The Laredo congressman could be blocked from party campaign resources and social events if the party sanction is passed.By Katharine WilsonTue, 06 May 2025 16:27:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/06/henry-cuellar-texas-democratic-party-condemnation/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/01/dan-patrick-trump-religious-liberty-commission/The commission includes Ben Carson, “Dr. Phil” McGraw and religious figures.By Katharine WilsonThu, 01 May 2025 15:21:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/01/dan-patrick-trump-religious-liberty-commission/President Donald Trump and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speak at a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden at the White House on May 1, 2025 in Washington, D.C.President Donald Trump and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speak at a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden at the White House on May 1, 2025 in Washington, D.C.Samuel Corum/Sipa USA via REUTERShttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/tilman-fertitta-texas-ambassador-italy/The Texas billionaire has said he will drop his position at Landry’s, but will continue his ownership of the Houston Rockets.By Katharine WilsonTue, 29 Apr 2025 20:51:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/tilman-fertitta-texas-ambassador-italy/University of Houston President Renu Khator talks with Tilman Fertitta, board of regents chair. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Fertitta to be ambassador to Italy.University of Houston President Renu Khator talks with the U of H board of regents Chairman Tilman Fertitta at the university on Feb. 21, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-congressional-seat-flores-cuellar/Hours after the announcement, the Flores team said that the new candidate had been hospitalized and is now recovering. There were no details about her condition.By Katharine WilsonTue, 15 Apr 2025 12:08:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-congressional-seat-flores-cuellar/Candidates for the congressional seat in the 28th district include U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and former Rep. Mayra Flores, a Republican.U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and former Rep. Mayra Flores. Flores briefly served in Congress in 2022 after winning a special election.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/chip-roy-texas-us-house-save-act-voting-name-change/Democrats argue that the bill places unnecessary hurdles on voting and could cause issues for people who have changed their name — like millions of married women.By Katharine WilsonThu, 10 Apr 2025 11:03:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/chip-roy-texas-us-house-save-act-voting-name-change/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/texas-ted-cruz-trump-tariffs-trade-war/The Texas senator also highlights a potential “upside,” saying the Trump tariffs could entice other countries to negotiate lower trade barriers.By Katharine WilsonFri, 04 Apr 2025 17:00:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/texas-ted-cruz-trump-tariffs-trade-war/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/ken-paxton-corruption-clear-senate-campaign/The federal criminal investigation into corruption allegations was the most serious inquiry Paxton faced. Its end nearly clears his slate of numerous legal battles.By Kayla Guo and Katharine WilsonThu, 03 Apr 2025 17:18:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/ken-paxton-corruption-clear-senate-campaign/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has all but declared a run for U.S. Senate. As a legal cloud created by a federal investigation lifts, he can see a clearer path toward a primary campaign against the incumbent, John Cornyn.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/texas-cia-director-group-chat/The former Texas congressman says his communication in the chat was lawful and did not include classified information.By Katharine WilsonTue, 25 Mar 2025 15:40:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/texas-cia-director-group-chat/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-congress-cornyn-mccaul-trump-chips-act/Although the president has said he wants to “get rid of” the act, Rep. Michael McCaul and Sen. John Cornyn say it supports jobs and national security.By Katharine WilsonWed, 12 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-congress-cornyn-mccaul-trump-chips-act/From left: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott and then-Samsung co-CEO Ki Nam Kim at a 2021 announcement about a new $17 billion chip plant in Taylor, the third such plant in central Texas.From left: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Gov. Greg Abbott look on as then-Samsung co-CEO and Vice Chairman Ki Nam Kim speaks at an economic announcement at the Texas Governor's Mansion on Nov. 23, 2021, in Austin. Greg Abbott was joined by John Cornyn and Samsung's Ki Nam Kim to announce a new $17 billion chip plant in Taylor, the third such plant in the area.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/06/house-censure-rep-al-green/Green, a Democrat from Houston, was protesting any planned cuts in Medicaid. He said it was worth a punishment to stand up for those who depend on government benefits.By Katharine WilsonThu, 06 Mar 2025 10:15:46 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/06/house-censure-rep-al-green/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/greg-casar-elon-musk-texas-clash-dc/From Austin city council to the halls of Congress, this lawmaker has been increasingly critical of Musk, saying the billionaire receives special treatment and has conflicts of interest.By Katharine WilsonWed, 05 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/greg-casar-elon-musk-texas-clash-dc/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/texans-nungaray-trump-speech-to-congress/The Texas Democrat who has a history of attention-getting acts repeatedly shouted “no mandate to cut Medicaid.”By Katharine WilsonTue, 04 Mar 2025 16:57:15 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/texans-nungaray-trump-speech-to-congress/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/olivia-julianna-democratic-campaign-criticism/Olivia Julianna, 22, loves politics but hates the in-fighting she sees in too many Democratic campaigns in the state.By Katharine WilsonMon, 24 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/olivia-julianna-democratic-campaign-criticism/Olivia Julianna in her office in Houston on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.Olivia Julianna in her office on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Houston. Julianna, a Texas Democratic activist and a content creator, hopes to set Democrats up for success in the state.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune