The Texas Tribune: Yuriko Schumacherhttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/yuriko-schumacher/The latest news by Yuriko Schumacher.enMon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500Migrant apprehensions are down at the Texas border. Have state policies had an impact?https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/22/texas-border-migrant-apprehensions-abbott-operation-lone-star/Abbott has credited his Operation Lone Star for a recent drop in migrant encounters on the Texas-Mexico border.By Alejandro Serrano, Graphics by Yuriko SchumacherMon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/22/texas-border-migrant-apprehensions-abbott-operation-lone-star/Texas DPS special agents apprehend a group of undocumented migrants from Honduras as part of Operation Lone Star in Kinney County near Brackettville on Nov. 8, 2021.Texas DPS special agents apprehend a group of five undocumented migrants from Honduras that were caught in private property as part of Operation Lone Star in Kinney County near Brackettville on Nov. 8, 2021. The owner of the property did not sign an affidavit for arrests of undocumented migrants to be taking place at their property so the group of Hondurans will be processed by Border Patrol instead.Verónica G. Cárdenas for ProPublica/The Texas TribuneHere’s how to vote in Texas’ May 4 local electionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/17/texas-local-elections-voting-may-2024/Early voting runs from April 22-30. The last day to apply to vote by mail is April 23.By María Méndez and Yuriko SchumacherWed, 17 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/17/texas-local-elections-voting-may-2024/Graphic that reads, Local voter guide; above a collection of voting stickers.The Texas TribuneHow a fraction of voters decide who runs Texashttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/fraction-of-texans-vote-in-primaries/In Texas, who’ll run the state is usually decided in the primary. Because of gerrymandering and noncompetitive elections, few people participate.By Yuriko Schumacher and Matthew WatkinsMon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/fraction-of-texans-vote-in-primaries/Today is the first day of early voting for the March primary electionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/15/texas-voting-primary-2024/Texans can vote early in person between today and March 1.By María Méndez and Yuriko SchumacherTue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/15/texas-voting-primary-2024/Today is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming primary electionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/15/texas-voting-primary-2024/New voters must complete and submit a paper voter registration application by today, Feb. 5, to vote in the March 5 primary election.By María Méndez and Yuriko SchumacherMon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/15/texas-voting-primary-2024/Here’s how to vote in Texas’ March 5 primary electionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/15/texas-voting-primary-2024/The deadline to register to vote was Feb. 5. The last day to apply to vote by mail was Feb. 23. Early voting ended March 1.By María Méndez and Yuriko SchumacherMon, 15 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/15/texas-voting-primary-2024/Voting stickers for 2024 primary election voter guide.Taxes, state parks, infrastructure: Texans will decide 14 constitutional amendments todayhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/Texans are being asked to cut property taxes, create a new fund for water infrastructure and give child-care facilities a tax exemption among other propositions. Here’s a breakdown of each constitutional amendment and what you need to know to vote.By Marissa Martinez, Yuriko Schumacher and Texas Tribune StaffTue, 07 Nov 2023 07:12:59 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/Voters wait to cast their ballots at the Dittmar Recreation Center in South Austin on March 1, 2022.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribunePrivate schools are ready to expand into smaller communities if Texas adopts voucher programhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/30/private-school-expansion-texas-vouchers/With rural Texas relatively underserved by private schools, the potential for expansion could play a role in the debate over whether to let families use taxpayer money to pay for private education.By Brian Lopez and Yuriko SchumacherMon, 30 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/30/private-school-expansion-texas-vouchers/A student's school supplies on the first day of in-person classes in Texas on Sept. 8, 2020.A student's school supplies on the first day of in-person classes in Texas on Sept. 8, 2020.Shelby Tauber for The Texas TribuneTaxes, state parks, infrastructure: What you need to know about the Nov. 7 constitutional amendments electionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/Early voting begins Monday in the Nov. 7 elections. Here’s a breakdown of the 14 constitutional amendments on the ballot.By María Méndez, Yuriko Schumacher and Texas Tribune StaffMon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/Voters wait to cast their ballots at the Dittmar Recreation Center in South Austin on March 1, 2022.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneVouchers return this special session — and school funding might be left out. Here’s what you need to know.https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/06/texas-education-vouchers-funding-special-session/Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to Austin to try again to pass education savings accounts, which would let families use state funds to pay for their children’s private schooling. Teacher pay was not part of his agenda.By Brian Lopez, Yuriko Schumacher and Victoria StavishFri, 06 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/06/texas-education-vouchers-funding-special-session/Texas lawmakers will start a new special session Monday. Gov. Greg Abbott has instructed them to try again to pass a school voucher program, one of his legislative priorities this year. His agenda didn't include new school funding.Chyrece Campbell holds Pierce Campbell as he looks up at the rotunda at the state capitol. Chyrece and her children, also pictured, Madison, Gregory and Kennedy, are visiting the capitol on the first day of the 86th legislative session. Miguel Gutierrez Jr.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneTaxes, state parks, infrastructure: What you need to know about the Nov. 7 constitutional amendments electionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/Texans will decide the fate of 14 constitutional amendments approved for the ballot by state lawmakers. Here’s a breakdown of each constitutional amendment and requirements to vote.By María Méndez, Yuriko Schumacher and Texas Tribune StaffFri, 15 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/Voters waited to cast their ballots at the Dittmar Recreation Center in South Austin on March 1, 2022.Voters wait to cast their ballots at the Dittmar Recreation Center in South Austin on March 1, 2022.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneTexas just recorded its second hottest summer on recordhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/07/texas-hottest-summer-2023/The average temperature in Texas this summer was 85.3 degrees, putting it behind only 2011 for summer misery.By Erin Douglas and Yuriko SchumacherThu, 07 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/07/texas-hottest-summer-2023/Texas just recorded its second-hottest summer since record-keeping began, behind only the scorching summer of 2011.Tumbleweeds cling to a barbed wire fence approximately 10 miles north of Brownfield on the Lubbock Road. High winds kicked up a dust storm that blanketed parts of West Texas on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 14, 2023.Mark Rogers for The Texas TribuneHere’s how Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial will operatehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/04/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-operate/Under rules previously adopted by the Texas Senate, the trial will feature crucial votes on dismissing articles of impeachment as well as testimony under oath, private deliberations by senator-jurors and votes conducted without debate or discussion.By Yuriko Schumacher and James BarragánMon, 04 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/04/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-operate/The Senate gallery as technical staff prepares communications for the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton. Paxton is accused of several ethics violations during his three terms as Texas Attorney General.The Texas Senate gallery as technical staff prepares communications for next week's start in the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton on September 5th. Paxton is accused of several ethics violations during his three terms as Texas Attorney General.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneWho’s who in the Ken Paxton impeachment trial, from key participants to potential witnesseshttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-witnesses-parties/The suspended attorney general has been ordered to appear in the Texas Senate chamber to answer to 16 allegations of misconduct that were approved by the House in May.By Yuriko Schumacher and James BarragánFri, 01 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-witnesses-parties/Climate change has sent temperatures soaring in Texashttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/27/texas-climate-change-heat/Hotter days and nights. More record highs. Climate change has shifted the entire range of Texas heat upwards.By Yuriko Schumacher, Alex Ford and Erin DouglasTue, 27 Jun 2023 15:54:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/27/texas-climate-change-heat/A dust storm blows over cotton fields ahead of a late-summer thunderstorm in Terry County in August 2022. A Texas Tribune analysis shows that extreme heat is becoming more common across Texas due to climate change, but the effects aren’t felt the same everywhere.Cotton plants grow in a field while a dust storm blows ahead of a late summer thunderstorm Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, in Terry County, Texas. (Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune)Justin Rex for The Texas TribuneHow could Texas spend its record $32.7 billion surplus?https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/13/texas-budget-surplus/If Texas’ budget surplus were distributed directly to Texans, it could pay for 12 years of school lunches, seven months of rent or 11,000 miles of travel. Here’s how to put the big number into perspective.By Karen Brooks Harper, Yuriko Schumacher and Alex FordMon, 13 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/13/texas-budget-surplus/An illustration of people gathered.Alex Ford/The Texas TribuneSearch the newly updated Government Salaries Explorerhttps://salaries.texastribune.org/The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of October 1. It includes detailed data for the 112 agencies in state government and positions at each of those agencies.By Chris Essig and Yuriko SchumacherTue, 15 Nov 2022 13:50:00 -0600https://salaries.texastribune.org/Government Salaries ExplorerPhoto Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas TribuneTexas voter turnout fell from 2018. It was still higher than other midterms.https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/10/texas-voter-turnout-2022/In Texas, 45.7% of the 17.7 million registered voters cast ballots in the 2022 midterm election. That’s 7.3 percentage points lower than the state’s total turnout in 2018 but higher than in every other midterm election in the last 20 years.By Yuriko Schumacher and Alexa UraThu, 10 Nov 2022 14:45:42 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/10/texas-voter-turnout-2022/Eliza Smarr and her son Mason, 8, wait in line to cast their ballots on Election Day at the Blue Mound City Hall in Blue Mound on Nov. 8, 2022.Eliza Smarr and her son Mason, 8, wait in line to cast their ballots on Election Day at the Blue Mound City Hall in Blue Mound on November 8, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas TribuneJust over a third of Texas’ registered voters turned out early this year, falling short of 2018 numbershttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/28/texas-2022-election-turnout-tracker/The high turnout seen in 2018 may have been an anomaly rather than the start of a long-term trend.By Caroline Covington and Yuriko SchumacherFri, 28 Oct 2022 18:20:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/28/texas-2022-election-turnout-tracker/Graphic that reads, "Turnout Tracker" above a collection of voting stickers.Emily Albracht/The Texas TribuneĐây là cách để đi bầu trong cuộc bầu cử ngày 8 Tháng Mười Một tại Texashttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/07/texas-voter-guide-vietnamese/Hạn chót để ghi danh đi bầu là ngày 11 Tháng Mười. Ngày cuối cùng để ghi danh bỏ phiếu qua thư là ngày 28 Tháng Mười. Bỏ phiếu sớm diễn ra từ ngày 24 Tháng Mười đến ngày 4 Tháng Mười Một.By María Méndez, Yuriko Schumacher and Celie LeFri, 07 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/07/texas-voter-guide-vietnamese/