https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/zach-despart/The latest news by Zach Despart.enFri, 09 May 2025 18:29:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/google-texas-privacy-lawsuit-settlement-ken-paxton/The state attorney general sued Google in 2022, alleging it unlawfully tracked and collected users’ private data.By Zach DespartFri, 09 May 2025 18:29:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/google-texas-privacy-lawsuit-settlement-ken-paxton/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 15, 2025.Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/texas-senate-smaller-homes-vote/Lawmakers, who are preempting locals on lot sizes in new subdivisions, have been eyeing ways to allow more homes to be built as the state faces a shortage.By Joshua Fechter and Zach DespartWed, 19 Mar 2025 20:21:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/texas-senate-smaller-homes-vote/Senate Bill 15, which would reduce the amount of land cities require single-family homes in new subdivisions to sit on, cleared the chamber Wednesday by a 28-3 vote.The Mueller neighborhood in East Austin on Oct. 7, 2023.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-property-tax-delinquent-fees-attorneys/Texans who fall behind on their property taxes face one of the most punitive systems in the nation, where private collection companies can tack up to 20% onto their bill.By Zach Despart, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-property-tax-delinquent-fees-attorneys/Sarah Rojo in her home in Gardendale on Feb. 23, 2025. Rojo owes thousands in property taxes, made worse by the 20% extra fee that a private, law firm hired for collections, tacked on to the top of her debt.Sarah Rojo disscuses hardships of being delinquent property taxpayers on Febuary, 23 2025 in Gardendale, Texas.Callie Cummings for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/20/dan-patrick-texas-abortion-law-mothers-risk/Patrick on Sunday said the Legislature should amend the language of the state’s near-total abortion ban to address confusion over when doctors may terminate pregnancies.By Zach DespartMon, 20 Jan 2025 11:43:13 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/20/dan-patrick-texas-abortion-law-mothers-risk/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Texas GOP Convention on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Texas GOP Convention on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/16/texas-land-office-hurricane-harvey-aid-hud-discrimination/The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed its finding that Texas unfairly favored white residents in rural areas when it distributed $1 billion in Harvey aid in 2021.By Zach DespartThu, 16 Jan 2025 17:11:19 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/16/texas-land-office-hurricane-harvey-aid-hud-discrimination/George P. Bush, the General Land Office's then-commissioner, speaks at a Texas House of Representatives Committee on Urban Affairs hearing on Hurricane Harvey in 2017.Texas Land commissioner George P. Bush speaks to Texas House of Representatives Committee on Urban Affairs hearing on Harvey in Houston Monday, October 2, 2017.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-border-wall-greg-abbott-landowners/At least a third of landowners approached by state officials have refused to let wall be built on their properties. That’s forced the state to largely build on ranchland in remote areas, or erect sections that are full of gaps.By Zach Despart, Yuriko Schumacher and Uriel J. García, Photos by Eli HartmanThu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-border-wall-greg-abbott-landowners/Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/23/brooke-rollins-agriculture-secretary-trump/Rollins, who grew up in Glen Rose and once led the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will need Senate confirmation before becoming agriculture secretary.By Zach DespartSat, 23 Nov 2024 15:38:34 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/23/brooke-rollins-agriculture-secretary-trump/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/ken-paxton-whistleblower-lawsuit-texas-attorney-general/The attorney general has agreed not to contest a lawsuit brought by former employees accusing him of retaliation after they said he abused his office.By Zach DespartFri, 22 Nov 2024 11:22:48 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/ken-paxton-whistleblower-lawsuit-texas-attorney-general/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.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/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/texas-house-senate-election-2024-results/Gov. Greg Abbott said the House would have enough Republicans to pass school vouchers next year.By Zach Despart and Renzo DowneyWed, 06 Nov 2024 01:13:11 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-house-senate-election-2024-results/Lawmakers on the House floor during Sine Die of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin, on May 29, 2023.Lawmakers on the House floor during Sine Die of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin, on May 29, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/08/uvalde-school-shooting-videos-released-lawsuit/The new videos largely affirm prior reporting and investigations that detailed law enforcement’s failures to confront the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers.By Lomi Kriel and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Zach Despart, Terri Langford and Pooja Salhotra, The Texas TribuneTue, 08 Oct 2024 11:36:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/08/uvalde-school-shooting-videos-released-lawsuit/Previously released video shows officers gathered in the hallway of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. A gunman killed 19 students and two teachers in May 2022.Previously released video shows officers gathered in the hallway of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.Obtained by The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/14/uvalde-shooting-police-footage/Chief Homer Delgado said the department has turned over the footage to the district attorney’s office and ordered an investigation into how the error occurred.By Zach Despart, The Texas Tribune, and Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 14 Aug 2024 09:36:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/14/uvalde-shooting-police-footage/Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on July 11, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/10/uvalde-school-shooting-records-release-lawsuit/The city’s release ends a legal battle with news outlets, but other government agencies are withholding materials.By Lomi Kriel and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Zach Despart, Terri Langford and Kayla Guo, The Texas TribuneSat, 10 Aug 2024 12:37:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/10/uvalde-school-shooting-records-release-lawsuit/Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.Courtesy of Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-Newshttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-ethics-campaign-finance-attorney-general/The number of fines for breaking state campaign ethics laws has exploded in recent years as Ken Paxton’s office rarely pursues stricter enforcement.By Zach Despart, Graphics by Carla AstudilloTue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-ethics-campaign-finance-attorney-general/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton enters the 185th Criminal District court at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center for a pretrial hearing in his securities fraud case on March 26, 2024, in Houston.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton enters the 185th Criminal District court at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center for a pretrial hearing in his securities fraud case on March 26, 2024, in Houston.Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/22/texas-republicans-attack-harris-border-immigration/Everything wrong with border security is the fault of the Democratic vice president, these Republicans say.By Zach DespartMon, 22 Jul 2024 17:58:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/22/texas-republicans-attack-harris-border-immigration/Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the LBJ Museum in Austin on Oct. 8, 2022. Her role on border security is already the focus of criticism from Texas Republicans.Vice President Kamala Harris speak about abortion rights with Mini Timmaraju, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Julieta Garibay, Senior Capacity Building Director for Groundswell Fund, at the LBJ Museum in Austin on Oct. 8, 2022.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/10/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-impeach/Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday evening said the Texas House ethics committee, which scheduled a meeting for next week, is planning to recommend impeaching him a second time.By Zach Despart and Jasper SchererWed, 10 Jul 2024 20:10:25 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/10/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-impeach/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.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/2024/07/01/john-sharp-texas-am-retire/Sharp leaves after having transformed the institution, embedding it into state government, expanding its reach and boosting its academic and athletic reputation.By Zach DespartMon, 01 Jul 2024 09:14:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/01/john-sharp-texas-am-retire/Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp looks at a shelf with photos mementos outside his office on March 27, 2023 in College Station. Texas A&M’s longest serving chancellor has announced he will retire in June 2025.Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp looks at a shelf with photos mementos outside his office on Monday, March 27, 2023 in College Station, TX.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/19/kerry-max-cook-innocent-texas-court/The Texas Criminal Court of Appeals cited stunning allegations of prosecutorial misconduct that led to Cook spending 20 years on death row.By Zach DespartWed, 19 Jun 2024 10:40:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/19/kerry-max-cook-innocent-texas-court/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/31/dade-phelan-texas-speaker-runoff-win/After coming in second in the primary, Phelan was at a disadvantage heading into the runoff. With record breaking cash infusions, Phelan blanketed airwaves and hired an army of campaign staffers.By Zach DespartFri, 31 May 2024 11:11:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/31/dade-phelan-texas-speaker-runoff-win/Dade Phelan listens while being interviewed after declaring victory on May 28, 2024 at JW’s Patio in Beaumont, Texas.Dade Phelan listens while being interviewed after declaring victory on May 28, 2024 at JW’s Patio in Beaumont, Texas.Mark Felix for the Texas Tribunnehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/24/dade-phelan-david-covey-texas-house-speaker-runoff/Business-minded Republicans spent millions trying to save Phelan, whose far-right opponent had the backing of Donald Trump, Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick. Phelan won by 366 votes, according to unofficial returns.By Zach DespartTue, 28 May 2024 19:58:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/24/dade-phelan-david-covey-texas-house-speaker-runoff/House Speaker Dade Phelan celebrates after declaring victory over challenger David Covey on May 28, 2024 at JW’s Patio in Beaumont.House Speaker Dade Phelan celebrates after declaring victory over challenger David Covey on May 28, 2024 at JW’s Patio in Beaumont.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune