https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/william-melhado/The latest news by William Melhado.enThu, 21 Dec 2023 19:01:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/21/texas-attorney-general-trans-seattle-childrens/Suspecting the Washington-based hospital of providing gender-affirming care to Texas children, which is now banned in Texas, AG Ken Paxton issued investigative subpoenas demanding medical information.William MelhadoThu, 21 Dec 2023 19:01:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/21/texas-attorney-general-trans-seattle-childrens/A protester waves a transgender pride flag during a protest at the University of North Texas in Denton on March 23, 2022.A protester waves a transgender pride flag during a protest at the University of North Texas in Denton on March 23, 2022.Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/19/texas-2023-population-growth-census/Texas grew by nearly half a million people in the past year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But it was South Carolina that led the nation with its rate of population growth.William MelhadoTue, 19 Dec 2023 19:06:27 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/19/texas-2023-population-growth-census/Pedestrians walk through downtown Dallas on Nov. 7.Pedestrians walk through downtown Dallas on Nov. 07, 2023.Ben Torres for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/08/israel-hamas-war-texas-universities/A series of incidents across Texas campuses have brought attention to universities’ handling of heated political debates about the war.William Melhado and Julius ShiehFri, 08 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/08/israel-hamas-war-texas-universities/Thousands of Texans march in support for Palestine in downtown Austin on Nov. 12.Thousands of Texans march in support for Palestine in downtown Austin on Nov. 12, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/04/austin-police-2020-protests-criminal-charges/The Travis County district attorney still plans to pursue criminal charges in four cases. The officers whose cases are being dismissed will be allowed to return to duty.William MelhadoMon, 04 Dec 2023 15:49:07 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/04/austin-police-2020-protests-criminal-charges/Demonstrators gathered outside Austin Police headquarters to protest against law enforcement violence toward people of color on June 4, 2020.Demonstrators gather outside Austin Police headquarters for another night of protest against police violence towards people of color, in Austin on June 4, 2020.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/22/ut-dallas-israel-palestine-spirit-rocks/The University of Texas at Dallas replaced three boulders — known as the Spirit Rocks — with trees, citing “extended political discourse.” Students say the quirky public square is a frequent venue for political messaging.William MelhadoWed, 22 Nov 2023 14:10:33 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/22/ut-dallas-israel-palestine-spirit-rocks/Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Dallas on Aug. 27, 2021.Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Dallas on Aug. 27, 2021.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/20/texas-ken-paxton-elon-musk-media-matters/After a report from Media Matters showed advertisements from major brands appeared next to antisemitic posts on X, the company sued the media watchdog group and its reporter. The Texas Attorney General’s Office plans to investigate the nonprofit for potential fraud.William MelhadoMon, 20 Nov 2023 21:45:12 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/20/texas-ken-paxton-elon-musk-media-matters/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Collin County Labor day picnic in Plano, Texas on Sept. 2, just days before his impeachment trial.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Collin County Labor day picnic in Plano, Texas on Sept. 2, 2023, just days before his impeachment trial.Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/16/texas-execution-david-renteria/Renteria’s attorneys unsuccessfully argued that the El Paso District Attorney’s Office violated his constitutional rights by not releasing all documents in his case. He was the eight person executed in Texas in 2023.William MelhadoThu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/16/texas-execution-david-renteria/The execution chamber seen from one of two witness viewing rooms at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Huntsville Unit.The execution chamber seen from one of two witness viewing rooms at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Huntsville Unit.Texas Department of Criminal Justicehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/09/texas-execution-brent-brewer/Brewer lost a clemency appeal earlier this week, despite one of his jurors pleading that his life be spared and an expert witness’ methods put into question. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to pause Brewer’s execution Thursday afternoon to hear arguments about the “junk science” used against him.William MelhadoThu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/09/texas-execution-brent-brewer/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/07/texas-judges-retirement-proposition-results/Texans soundly defeated a constitutional amendment that would have let judges stay on the bench longer. Proposition 13 would have increased the minimum retirement age from 70 to 75 and the mandatory retirement age from 75 to 79.William Melhado and Pooja SalhotraTue, 07 Nov 2023 22:20:57 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/07/texas-judges-retirement-proposition-results/The county courtroom in the Camp County Court House in Pittsburg on June 21, 2023.The county courtroom in the Camp County Court House in Pittsburg on June 21, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/07/uvalde-mayor-election-kimberly-mata-rubio/Mata-Rubio’s daughter Lexi was among 19 children killed in the massacre at Robb Elementary last year. In a special election, Mata-Rubio lost to Cody Smith, who previously held the position.Pooja Salhotra and William MelhadoTue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/07/uvalde-mayor-election-kimberly-mata-rubio/Kimberly Mata-Rubio, mother of Alexandria Rubio, one of the children killed in the 2022 Uvalde mass shooting, speaks with Tribune reporter Uriel Garcia at a Texas Tribune event held at Southwest Texas Junior College on May 20. Mata-Rubio is running for mayor of Uvalde.Kimberly Mata-Rubio, mother of Alexandria Rubio, one of the children killed in the 2022 Uvalede mass shooting, speaks with Tribune reporter Uriel Garcia a Texas Tribune event held at Southwest Texas Junior College on May 20th, 2023 in Uvalde. Mata-Rubio is running for mayor of Uvalde.Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/26/texas-israel-gaza-hostage-seige/Two Texans — a Jewish man, a Muslim woman — want more support from the federal government to bring their loved ones home. Their families are stuck in a war zone, along with hundreds of other Americans.William MelhadoThu, 26 Oct 2023 19:48:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/26/texas-israel-gaza-hostage-seige/Doron Katz Asher, center, and, from left, Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2, have been held hostage by Hamas militants since Oct. 7.Doron Katz Asher, center, and, from left, Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2 are still in hostage under Hamas militants.Courtesy of Chen Dori-Robertshttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/26/texas-execution-william-speer/Speer has been on death row for decades after strangling another inmate at a Texas prison. The victim’s sister and faith leaders have both called on the parole board to halt the execution.William MelhadoThu, 26 Oct 2023 16:05:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/26/texas-execution-william-speer/Interior of the Texas death chamber.Interior of Death Chamber in Texas.Jenevieve Robbins/Texas Department of Criminal Justicehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/19/texas-house-voucher-school-choice-bill/House Bill 1 would make an educational savings account program available to 25,000 Texas students in its first year, with increased participation to follow. The governor’s office indicated that the proposal was lacking.William Melhado and Brian LopezThu, 19 Oct 2023 21:21:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/19/texas-house-voucher-school-choice-bill/State representatives meet on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11.State representatives meet on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/12/special-session-border-immigration-bills/Two immigration bills advanced in the Senate on Thursday evening. A bill that would increase the minimum sentence for smuggling migrants passed with bipartisan support and will head to the House.Uriel J. García and William MelhadoThu, 12 Oct 2023 21:56:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/12/special-session-border-immigration-bills/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/29/greg-abbott-texas-leglislature-school-vouchers/The session comes as a rift between the Texas House and the Senate grew following Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial, raising questions about the chambers’ ability to compromise on education issues. The governor has threatened to call for more special sessions if lawmakers fail to pass a “school choice” proposal.Brian Lopez and William MelhadoFri, 29 Sep 2023 21:13:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/29/greg-abbott-texas-leglislature-school-vouchers/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/27/texas-migrant-tractor-trailer-truck-deaths-suspect/Fifty-three migrants died in what remains the nation’s deadliest human smuggling event. Eight children and one pregnant woman were among the victims discovered in the sweltering trailer parked next to an isolated road in 2022.William MelhadoWed, 27 Sep 2023 19:58:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/27/texas-migrant-tractor-trailer-truck-deaths-suspect/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/26/texas-drag-queen-law-unconstitutional/Senate Bill 12 would have prohibited performers from dancing suggestively or wearing certain prosthetics in front of children. Critics sued the state, saying it violated the First Amendment.Alejandro Serrano and William MelhadoTue, 26 Sep 2023 15:13:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/26/texas-drag-queen-law-unconstitutional/Drag queen Scarlett Kiss performs at Long Play Lounge in East Austin on June 12, 2021.Drag queen Scarlett Kiss performs at Long Play Lounge in East Austin on June 12, 2021.Sophie Park/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/25/texas-attorney-general-state-court-appeal/Lawyers criticize a provision they say erodes the separation of powers between Texas’ executive branch and its courts. It’s been used repeatedly this year as Texans try to block new state laws from going into effect.William MelhadoMon, 25 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/25/texas-attorney-general-state-court-appeal/Amanda Zurawski, middle, addresses the press following the first day of testimony in a lawsuit in which she and other Texans are suing the state over its strict abortion ban.Amanda Zurawski, middle, addresses the press following the first day of testimony for Zurawski v. State of Texas outside the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility in Austin on July 19, 2023.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/23/joe-manchin-texas-tribune-festival/The West Virginia Democrat said running as an independent would help bring a divided nation together, not hand the election to former President Donald Trump.William MelhadoSat, 23 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/23/joe-manchin-texas-tribune-festival/Tribune co-founder Evan Smith speaks with U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, about his political plans at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 23, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/22/texas-drag-show-west-texas-ruling/U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the student fundraiser featuring drag performers was not protected, raising the stakes for a battle over First Amendment rights and drag shows.William MelhadoFri, 22 Sep 2023 18:38:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/22/texas-drag-show-west-texas-ruling/Students rallied against the university president’s decision to cancel a drag performance at West Texas A&M University on March 23, 2023.Students rallied against the university president’s decision to cancel a drag performance at West Texas A&M University on March 23, 2023.David Bowser for The Texas Tribune