CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/","20150408090821","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1428484101"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Matthew Watkins | The Texas Tribune</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/favicon.ico"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta charset="utf-8"><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(e,n,t){function r(t){if(!n[t]){var o=n[t]={exports:{}};e[t][0].call(o.exports,function(n){var o=e[t][1][n];return r(o?o:n)},o,o.exports)}return n[t].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<t.length;o++)r(t[o]);return r}({QJf3ax:[function(e,n){function t(e){function n(n,t,a){e&&e(n,t,a),a||(a={});for(var u=c(n),f=u.length,s=i(a,o,r),p=0;f>p;p++)u[p].apply(s,t);return s}function a(e,n){f[e]=c(e).concat(n)}function c(e){return f[e]||[]}function u(){return t(n)}var f={};return{on:a,emit:n,create:u,listeners:c,_events:f}}function r(){return{}}var o="nr@context",i=e("gos");n.exports=t()},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],ee:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("QJf3ax")},{}],3:[function(e,n){function t(e){return function(){r(e,[(new Date).getTime()].concat(i(arguments)))}}var r=e("handle"),o=e(1),i=e(2);"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=window.NREUM);var a=["setPageViewName","addPageAction","setCustomAttribute","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","noticeError"];o(a,function(e,n){window.NREUM[n]=t("api-"+n)}),n.exports=window.NREUM},{1:12,2:13,handle:"D5DuLP"}],"7eSDFh":[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){if(r.call(e,n))return e[n];var o=t();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,n,{value:o,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),o}catch(i){}return e[n]=o,o}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],gos:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("7eSDFh")},{}],handle:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("D5DuLP")},{}],D5DuLP:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){return r.listeners(e).length?r.emit(e,n,t):(o[e]||(o[e]=[]),void o[e].push(n))}var r=e("ee").create(),o={};n.exports=t,t.ee=r,r.q=o},{ee:"QJf3ax"}],id:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("XL7HBI")},{}],XL7HBI:[function(e,n){function t(e){var n=typeof e;return!e||"object"!==n&&"function"!==n?-1:e===window?0:i(e,o,function(){return r++})}var r=1,o="nr@id",i=e("gos");n.exports=t},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],G9z0Bl:[function(e,n){function t(){var e=d.info=NREUM.info,n=f.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(e&&e.licenseKey&&e.applicationID&&n){c(p,function(n,t){n in e||(e[n]=t)});var t="https"===s.split(":")[0]||e.sslForHttp;d.proto=t?"https://":"http://",a("mark",["onload",i()]);var r=f.createElement("script");r.src=d.proto+e.agent,n.parentNode.insertBefore(r,n)}}function r(){"complete"===f.readyState&&o()}function o(){a("mark",["domContent",i()])}function i(){return(new Date).getTime()}var a=e("handle"),c=e(1),u=(e(2),window),f=u.document,s=(""+location).split("?")[0],p={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js"},d=n.exports={offset:i(),origin:s,features:{}};f.addEventListener?(f.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o,!1),u.addEventListener("load",t,!1)):(f.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",r),u.attachEvent("onload",t)),a("mark",["firstbyte",i()])},{1:12,2:3,handle:"D5DuLP"}],loader:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("G9z0Bl")},{}],12:[function(e,n){function t(e,n){var t=[],o="",i=0;for(o in e)r.call(e,o)&&(t[i]=n(o,e[o]),i+=1);return t}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],13:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){n||(n=0),"undefined"==typeof t&&(t=e?e.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=t-n||0,i=Array(0>o?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=e[n+r];return i}n.exports=t},{}]},{},["G9z0Bl"]);</script><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","queueTime":0,"licenseKey":"8636ab2091","agent":"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js","transactionName":"ZwZWZ0NWD0VRAE1YCV5MckZfVBVfXw0WUARfFkAdR14EQUNZa1QWXxFAVkNhCFNH","applicationID":"452513","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","applicationTime":703}</script> <meta name="author" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="copyright" content="? The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="language" content="EN"/> <meta name="audience" content="All"/> <meta name="publisher" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="distribution" content="global"/> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow"/> <meta name="siteinfo" content="http://www.texastribune.org/robots.txt"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/http://static.texastribune.org/common/images/apple-touch-icon.png"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="2RECdeH7aeA9-RQoGzkfTpP5i_3Qz4rtBIR-CdCtvus"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="3EMut9KLnb_7fohrI_bDaR4py76QIWAt4uPidjagbzI"/> <meta name="p:domain_verify" content="1a464e3e99298d39e0cdaaeeb2c10dfd"/> <meta name="y_key" content="36169ff9ee60f3ab"/> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="DB22C31255557D1E219990CA92192CBB"/> <meta name="medium" content="news"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/http://static.texastribune.org/common/images/apple-touch-icon.png"/> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes"/> <meta name="apple-touch-fullscreen" content="yes"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Matthew Watkins's Feed" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/feeds/staff/matthew-watkins/"/> <meta name="description" content="Matthew Watkins's profile"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="154122474650943"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/"/> <meta property="twitter:url" content="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/"/>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821js_/https://use.typekit.com/brb4jmm.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">try{Typekit.load();}catch(e){}</script> <link href="https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089/" rel="publisher"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/css/2c1c9bbe6a0c.css" type="text/css"/>  <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-9827490-1', 'texastribune.org'); ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script>// var tt = tt || {}; tt.debug = false; tt.media_url = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/'; tt.facebook = {appId: '154122474650943'}; // Doubleclick integration tt.ads = { // targeting: {}, // addTarget: function(key, value) { if (typeof key === 'undefined'){ // get all attrs return tt.ads.targeting; } else { // set attr tt.ads.targeting[key] = value; } } }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821js_/https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821js_/https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.18/jquery-ui.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery.ui || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jqueryui/jquery-ui-1.8.18.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/modernizr/modernizr.min.js"></script> </head> <body class=" index reporters"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _qevents = _qevents || []; (function() { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js"; elem.async = true; elem.type = "text/javascript"; var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script> <div class="wrapper-r"> <div id="site_roofline" style="position:relative;"> <div class="hide-for-mobile large_ad_container"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div class="mobile-only"> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="greeting"> <ul> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/accounts/register/" title="Register for your free Texas Tribune account">Register</a> </li> <li class="last"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/accounts/login/?next=">Login</a> <script> (function(){ var allScripts = document.getElementsByTagName('script'), currentScript = allScripts[allScripts.length - 1], node = currentScript; while (node = node.previousSibling) { if (node.nodeName == "A"){ node.href += document.location.pathname; break; } }; })(); </script> </li> </ul> </div> <header id="site_header"> <nav class="navbar primary"> <ul> <li class="hide-for-mobile navbar-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input id="site_search_q" name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="Search..."> <button type="submit" aria-label="Submit"><i class="icon-search"></i></button> </form> </li> <li class="active hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="dropdown-toggle" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/"> Front Page </a> <div class="mega-dropdown grid" id="sections"> <div class="cell w-3 tab_nav_cell"> <ul id="sidemenu" class="tab-nav"> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="sections-tab-container" class="cell w-9 tab_container" data-content-resource="/esi/components/megadropdown/"> <div style="padding: 1em; font-family: 'LeagueGothicRegular'; font-size:2.1em; color: #999; ">Loading...</div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/library/data/"> Data </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://txlege.texastribune.org/" title="84th Lege Session landing page"> 84th Lege </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/directory/"> Directory </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/events/"> Events </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="multimedia" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/"> Multimedia </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/subscribe/"> Subscriptions </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://www.tribtalk.org/"> TribTalk </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/tribinvestigates/" title="Trib Investigates"> Investigations </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> <li class="mobile-only active dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Menu<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/">Front Page</a> </li> <li> <a class="data" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/library/data/">Data</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://txlege.texastribune.org/" title="84th Lege Session landing page"> 84th Lege </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/directory/">Directory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/events/">Events</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/">Multimedia</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://www.tribtalk.org/">TribTalk</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/tribinvestigates/" title="Trib Investigates"> Investigations </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Sections<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/search/"><i class="icon-search"></i></a> <div class="mobile-dropdown mobile-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="SEARCH"> <button type="search" alt="Do Search"> <i class="icon-search"></i> </button> </form> </div> </li> <li class="mobile-only active" id="mobi_join"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/join/"> Support Us </a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="ad last"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/join/" title="Contribute Today" style="display: block; padding-top: .5em"> <div style="background:url(//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/membership/TT-supportus-flag.png) no-repeat; width: 120px; height:60px; background-size: 120px 60px;"></div> </a> </div> <div class="below_nav"> <h1 id="logo"><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/logo.png" width="453" height="50" alt="The Texas Tribune"></a></h1> <time datetime="2015-04-08T04:08:22.491911">Wednesday, April 8, 2015</time> </div> </header> </div> <div class="wrapper content-wrapper"> <div id="site_content" class="content "> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-8 main_column"> <header class="auxiliary content_header"> <ul class="actions"> <li class="rss"> <a type="application/rss+xml" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/feeds/staff/matthew-watkins/">RSS <span></span></a> </li> </ul> <h1>Matthew Watkins <span></span></h1> </header> <div class="intro"> <div class="media headshot_portrait"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Watkins-Matt_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox inline"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Watkins-Matt_jpg_131x197_crop_q100.jpg" alt=""/> </a> </div> <p> <strong>Matthew Watkins</strong> writes about higher education and the business of college sports for the Tribune. Previously, he has covered local government at The Dallas Morning News and The Eagle in Bryan-College Station. A Texas native, Matthew grew up in Austin and has lived in Houston, Dallas and Bryan. He earned his bachelor's degree from Texas A&M; University in 2008. </p> <ul class="social_links"> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#731e041207181a1d003307160b120007011a11061d165d1c0114"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91fce6f0e5faf8ffe2d1e5f4e9f0e2e5e3f8f3e4fff4bffee3f6">[email protected]</span><script cf-hash="f9e31" type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&&t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]> */</script></span> </a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://twitter.com/MWatkinsTrib" target="_blank"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>@MWatkinsTrib</span> </a></li> </ul> </div> <section id="contributions"> <a name="contributions"></a> <h2>Recent Contributions</h2> <div class="contributions"> <nav class="pagination"> </nav> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-eyes-rainy-day-fund-changes-pay-debt/">Bid for Rainy Day Fund Changes Moves Forward</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-eyes-rainy-day-fund-changes-pay-debt/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/31/HS1472Otto2_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="House Appropriations Chair John Otto explains a budget amendment to a colleague during House Bill 1 debate March 31, 2015."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/31/HS1472Otto2_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="House Appropriations Chair John Otto explains a budget amendment to a colleague during House Bill 1 debate March 31, 2015." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Bob Daemmrich </cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">House Appropriations Chair John Otto explains a budget amendment to a colleague during House Bill 1 debate March 31, 2015.</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 7 Apr 2015 11:55:10 -0500" title="2015-04-07 11:55"> April 7, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-eyes-rainy-day-fund-changes-pay-debt/comments/"><span class="value">2</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p>The Texas House on Tuesday approved a resolution calling for a constitutional election over whether to send surplus dollars from the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/rainy-day-fund/" target="_blank">Rainy Day Fund</a> into a new account to pay down state debt.</p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-eyes-rainy-day-fund-changes-pay-debt/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/ut-regents-call-meeting-discuss-new-wallace-hall-r/">UT Regents Call Special Meeting on New Wallace Hall Requests</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/ut-regents-call-meeting-discuss-new-wallace-hall-r/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/19/BDA_3552_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="Regent Wallace Hall, Jr. at a regular meeting of the University of Texas Board of Regents in Ashbell Smith Hall in Austin."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/19/BDA_3552_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Regent Wallace Hall, Jr. at a regular meeting of the University of Texas Board of Regents in Ashbell Smith Hall in Austin." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Bob Daemmrich</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Regent Wallace Hall, Jr. at a regular meeting of the University of Texas Board of Regents in Ashbell Smith Hall in Austin.</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 6 Apr 2015 11:10:38 -0500" title="2015-04-06 11:10"> April 6, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/ut-regents-call-meeting-discuss-new-wallace-hall-r/comments/"><span class="value">10</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p><span>The meeting comes after UT System Regent Wallace Hall asked to visit with one of the investigators from Kroll Associates, </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/12/ut-system-releases-admissions-report/">which found</a><span> that UT-Austin President Bill Powers h</span><span>elped secure admittance for some students over the objections of the admissions office.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/ut-regents-call-meeting-discuss-new-wallace-hall-r/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/cruz-wont-speak-texas-m-international-graduation/">Cruz Won't Speak at Texas A&M International Graduation</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/cruz-wont-speak-texas-m-international-graduation/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/31/Cruz_HQ_2_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to supporters with his father Rafael, his wife Heidi and their children outside his new presidential campaign headquarters in Houston on Tues. March 31, 2015."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/31/Cruz_HQ_2_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to supporters with his father Rafael, his wife Heidi and their children outside his new presidential campaign headquarters in Houston on Tues. March 31, 2015." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Michael Stravato</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to supporters with his father Rafael, his wife Heidi and their children outside his new presidential campaign headquarters in Houston on Tues. March 31, 2015.</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Fri, 3 Apr 2015 15:17:55 -0500" title="2015-04-03 15:17"> April 3, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/cruz-wont-speak-texas-m-international-graduation/comments/"><span class="value">48</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p>In a brief statement, the school said it was notified that Sen. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/ted-cruz/">Ted Cruz</a> is "regrettably unable to join us" at the May event. No reason was given.</p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/cruz-wont-speak-texas-m-international-graduation/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/buyouts-shaka-smart-rick-barnes-add-longhorns/">Buyouts for Shaka Smart, Rick Barnes Add Up for UT</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/buyouts-shaka-smart-rick-barnes-add-longhorns/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/03/Shaka_and_Tower_MoneyTT_g6ZfFTz_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="New UT basketball coach Shaka Smart."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/03/Shaka_and_Tower_MoneyTT_g6ZfFTz_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="New UT basketball coach Shaka Smart." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Rickster2/T. Wiseman / A. Miscoe / Bill Oriani</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">New UT basketball coach Shaka Smart.</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Fri, 3 Apr 2015 06:16:18 -0500" title="2015-04-03 06:16"> April 3, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/buyouts-shaka-smart-rick-barnes-add-longhorns/comments/"><span class="value">20</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p>Buyouts for Rick Barnes and Shaka Smart could force the Longhorns to pay $2.5 million.</p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/buyouts-shaka-smart-rick-barnes-add-longhorns/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/02/cruz-offers-speak-texas-m-international-graduation/">Cruz Offers to Speak at Texas A&M International Graduation</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/02/cruz-offers-speak-texas-m-international-graduation/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/13/TxTrib-CruzBorder007_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz holding a press conference at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission surrounded by a group of local ranchers who said they've been affected by poor border security."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/13/TxTrib-CruzBorder007_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz holding a press conference at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission surrounded by a group of local ranchers who said they've been affected by poor border security." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Doug Young</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz holding a press conference at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission surrounded by a group of local ranchers who said they've been affected by poor border security.</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 2 Apr 2015 11:48:40 -0500" title="2015-04-02 11:48"> April 2, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/02/cruz-offers-speak-texas-m-international-graduation/comments/"><span class="value">76</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p>U.S. Sen. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/ted-cruz/">Ted Cruz</a> has approached Texas A&M International University about speaking at the Laredo college's spring commencement, the A&M System confirmed Thursday. </p> <p> </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/02/cruz-offers-speak-texas-m-international-graduation/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/01/huston-tillotson-university-names-new-president/">Huston-Tillotson University Names New President</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/01/huston-tillotson-university-names-new-president/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/01/TT-leadart-hustontill_uqxOmzq_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="Colette Pierce Burnette was named president of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/01/TT-leadart-hustontill_uqxOmzq_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Colette Pierce Burnette was named president of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Courtesy of Huston-Tillotson</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Colette Pierce Burnette was named president of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin.</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Wed, 1 Apr 2015 15:14:02 -0500" title="2015-04-01 15:14"> April 1, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/01/huston-tillotson-university-names-new-president/comments/"><span class="value">3</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p>Colette Pierce Burnette will be the first woman to run the private school since Tillotson College and Samuel Huston College merged in 1952. </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/01/huston-tillotson-university-names-new-president/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/uh-pay-135000-matthew-mcconaughy-speech/">UH to Pay $135,000 for Matthew McConaughey Speech</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/uh-pay-135000-matthew-mcconaughy-speech/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/31/Matthew_McConaughey_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="Matthew McConaughey at the Austin Club in Austin, Texas on Feb. 5, 2015."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/31/Matthew_McConaughey_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Matthew McConaughey at the Austin Club in Austin, Texas on Feb. 5, 2015." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Bob Daemmrich</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Matthew McConaughey at the Austin Club in Austin, Texas on Feb. 5, 2015.</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:02:50 -0500" title="2015-03-31 17:02"> March 31, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/uh-pay-135000-matthew-mcconaughy-speech/comments/"><span class="value">25</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p>Call it the Houston Buyers Club: The University of Houston is paying $135,000 plus travel expenses to get Matthew McConaughey to speak at its spring commencement. The actor is donating the money to charity. </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"> </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/uh-pay-135000-matthew-mcconaughy-speech/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/grand-jury-rules-wallace-hall/">Grand Jury Recommends UT Regent's Removal</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/grand-jury-rules-wallace-hall/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/12/18/BestOf-2014-005_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="UT Regent Wallace Hall on April 28, 2014. Lawmakers admonished and censured Hall, who was waging a personal investigation into lawmaker influence in the UT-Austin admissions process."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/12/18/BestOf-2014-005_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="UT Regent Wallace Hall on April 28, 2014. Lawmakers admonished and censured Hall, who was waging a personal investigation into lawmaker influence in the UT-Austin admissions process." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Charlie Pearce</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">UT Regent Wallace Hall on April 28, 2014. Lawmakers admonished and censured Hall, who was waging a personal investigation into lawmaker influence in the UT-Austin admissions process.</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a> and <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/terri-langford/">Terri Langford</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:22:56 -0500" title="2015-03-31 10:22"> March 31, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/grand-jury-rules-wallace-hall/comments/"><span class="value">28</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p><span>In an unusual, strongly worded report, </span>a Travis County grand jury recommended this week that University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall be removed from office. </p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"> </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/grand-jury-rules-wallace-hall/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <article class=""> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/zachry-group-to-donate-25-million-to-texas-am/">Zachry Group to Donate $25 Million to Texas A&M</a></h1> </header> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/zachry-group-to-donate-25-million-to-texas-am/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/AnM_Tower_AggieLand_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="Texas A&M University"> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/AnM_Tower_AggieLand_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Texas A&M University" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Todd Wiseman</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Texas A&M University</div> </div> <header> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:02:00 -0500" title="2015-03-31 10:02"> March 31, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/zachry-group-to-donate-25-million-to-texas-am/comments/"><span class="value">4</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <section class="summary"> <p>Zachry Group, a San Antonio-based <span>construction and engineering firm, is </span>donating $25 million to Texas A&M University’s engineering college, aiming to help the college's plans to become the country's largest engineering school.</p> <p> </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/zachry-group-to-donate-25-million-to-texas-am/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> <nav class="pagination"> </nav> </div> </section> </div> <div class=" rail cell w-4 hide-for-medium-down"> <section class="sidebar_block content_list"> <header> <h1>Matthew’s Twitter Feed</h1> </header> <a class="twitter-timeline" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://twitter.com/MWatkinsTrib" data-widget-id="557283380245430272" data-screen-name="MWatkinsTrib" data-tweet-limit="3" data-chrome="noborders nofooter noheader">Tweets</a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-r"> <footer id="site_footer" class="wrapper-r"> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> </div> <div id="footer" class="grid"> <dl id="staff_writers" class="cell w-3"> <dt>Writers</dt> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/becca-aaronson/">Becca Aaronson</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/julian-aguilar/">Juli谩n Aguilar</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/christine-ayala/">Christine Ayala</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/aman-batheja/">Aman Batheja</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/bobby-blanchard/">Bobby Blanchard</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/annie-daniel/">Annie Daniel</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/justin-dehn/">Justin Dehn</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rodney-gibbs/">Rodney Gibbs</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eva-hershaw/">Eva Hershaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/john-jordan/">John Jordan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/terri-langford/">Terri Langford</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/abby-livingston/">Abby Livingston</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/corrie-maclaggan/">Corrie MacLaggan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-mccrimmon/">Ryan McCrimmon</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jolie-mccullough/">Jolie McCullough</a> </dd> </div> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayan-mittra/">Ayan Mittra</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-murphy/">Ryan Murphy</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-muto/">David Muto</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-pasztor/">David Pasztor</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/">Ross Ramsey</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/emily-ramshaw/">Emily Ramshaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rocha-alana/">Alana Rocha</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jay-root/">Jay Root</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/neena-satija/">Neena Satija</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/evan-smith/">Evan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/morgan-smith/">Morgan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alexa-ura/">Alexa Ura</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edgar-walters/">Edgar Walters</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a> </dd> </div> </dl> <div id="footer_topics" class="cell w-3"> <h6>Sections</h6> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <dl id="offsite_outlets" class="cell w-3"> <dt>TT Social Media</dt> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://facebook.com/texastribune" title="Facebook" class="external"><span class="favicon facebook"></span>Facebook</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://twitter.com/texastribune" title="Twitter" class="external"><span class="favicon twitter"></span>Twitter</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://youtube.com/user/thetexastribune" title="YouTube" class="external"><span class="favicon youtube"></span>YouTube</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://instagram.com/texas_tribune" title="Instagram" class="external"><span class="favicon instagram"></span>Instagram</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-tribune" title="LinkedIn" class="external"><span class="favicon linkedin"></span>LinkedIn</a> </dd> <dd class="hidden"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089" class="external" rel="publisher">Google+</a> </dd> </dl> <ul id="footer_nav" class="cell w-3"> <li>© 2015 The Texas Tribune</li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/about/" title="About Us">About Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/" title="Who Funds Us?">Who Funds Us?</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/terms-of-service/" title="Terms of Service">Terms of Service</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/ethics/" title="Code of Ethics">Code of Ethics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/privacy/" title="Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98f1f6e9edf1eaf1fdebd8ecfde0f9ebeceaf1faedf6fdb6f7eaff" title="Contact Us">Contact Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/corrections/" title="Corrections">Corrections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/feeds/" title="Feeds">Feeds</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/mobile/" title="Mobile">Mobile</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/advertise/" class="advertise">Advertise</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/signup/" title="Newsletter Signup">Newsletter Signup</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150408090821/https://www.texastribune.org/donate/" title="Donate" class="donate">Donate</a> </li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/js/38cc1e8308b2.js"></script> <script> try { tt.ads.addTarget("is_member", "no"); tt.ads.addTarget("logged_in", "no"); var tt = tt || {}; tt.username = ''; } catch(e) {} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> window._tpm = window._tpm || []; window._tpm['paywallID'] = '36783210'; window._tpm['trackPageview'] = true; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821js_/https://code.tinypass.com/tpl/d1/tpm.js"></script> <script> (function(){ function loadAddThis() { var addthis = document.createElement('script'); addthis.src = document.location.protocol+'//web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53beb39e1b9725fb&domready=1'; addthis.type = 'text/javascript'; addthis.async = true; var at = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; at.parentNode.insertBefore(addthis, at); } window.onload(loadAddThis()); })(); </script> <script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script> <script type="text/javascript"> _qevents.push( { qacct:"p-f74d4O38hiiiM"} ); </script> <noscript> <div style="display: none;"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-f74d4O38hiiiM.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/> </div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ _sf_async_config.uid = 14324; _sf_async_config.domain = 'texastribune.org'; if (window.tt && tt.currentPage) { if (tt.currentPage.sections) { _sf_async_config.sections = tt.currentPage.sections.join(','); } if (tt.currentPage.authors) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authors.join(','); } else if (tt.currentPage.authorsText) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authorsText; } } /** CONFIGURATION END **/ (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (('https:' == document.location.protocol) ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150408090821/http://static.chartbeat.com/') + 'js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> <script> (function() { jQuery.scrollDepth(); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function(){try{var s,a,i,j,r,c,l=document.getElementsByTagName("a"),t=document.createElement("textarea");for(i=0;l.length-i;i++){try{a=l[i].getAttribute("href");if(a&&a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection") > -1 && (a.length > 28)){s='';j=27+ 1 + a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection");if (a.length > j) {r=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16);for(j+=2;a.length>j&&a.substr(j,1)!='X';j+=2){c=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16)^r;s+=String.fromCharCode(c);}j+=1;s+=a.substr(j,a.length-j);}t.innerHTML=s.replace(/</g,"<").replace(/>/g,">");l[i].setAttribute("href","mailto:"+t.value);}}catch(e){}}}catch(e){}})(); /* ]]> */ </script> </body> </html>