Ayden Runnels
@aydenrunnels.bsky.social
they/them | Afternoon/evening reporter @texastribune.org | Previously: Las Vegas Sun & North Texas Daily | UNT 2023 | Texas native
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday blocked a deposition intended to unearth the identity of the people or group behind the Texas Transgender Student Union, which mailed pamphlets purporting to support trans students but appear to be an attempt to rile conservative voters.
Texas Supreme Court blocks trans mailer deposition
The ruling came 15 minutes before a Wyoming-registered group was scheduled to answer questions in a deposition ordered by a Travis County judge.
texastribune.org
Voters in the Houston-area suburb of League City will be the first in Texas to decide whether to remove Flock surveillance cameras from city streets.
Houston-area voters will get to decide fate of Flock cameras
Tuesday’s election will determine if League City can keep its 55 cameras operating along city roads.
texastribune.org
New: A Republican district attorney in West Texas has opened a criminal investigation into pamphlets mailed to homes across Texas purporting to come from a transgender rights organization.
West Texas DA opens forgery probe into transgender mailers
The pamphlets appear to be an attempt to anger voters ahead of the midterm elections, GOP District Attorney Sarah Stogner said.
texastribune.org
Breaking: The Texas Tribune has identified the ICE agent who witnesses say fired through an open van window and killed 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston nearly three months ago.
ICE agent who shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston identified
The federal government has withheld his identification, even as major state and local law enforcement agencies across the country typically identify officers involved in shootings on the job soon afte...
texastribune.org
Breaking: At Gov. Greg Abbott’s direction, the Texas Department of Transportation has stopped issuing permits allowing Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers to be installed along state roads.
Texas freezes installation of Flock cameras on state roads
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the state Department of Transportation to stop issuing permits for automated license plate readers.
texastribune.org
The week’s prolonged flooding hit Uvalde harder than almost anywhere else in the state, Gov. Greg Abbott said. Homeowners never imagined they’d have to deal with a flood in the South Texas city. bit.ly/44ADQLy
Uvalde residents shocked by rare flooding
The week’s prolonged flooding hit Uvalde harder than almost anywhere else in the state, Gov. Greg Abbott said. Homeowners never imagined they’d have to deal with a flood in the South Texas city.
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This year’s July flood disaster differed from last year’s, sparing Texas lives. Emergency responders say better tools and preparation also played a life-saving role after intense storms dropped incredible amounts of rain. bit.ly/4fp008y
Key differences spared Texas lives in second straight July flood
Emergency responders say better tools and preparation played life-saving roles after intense storms dropped heavy amounts of rain.
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Speakers at the vigil and a statement from Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family elevated calls for an independent investigation into his death and raised doubts about ICE’s description of events.
Vigil for Houston man killed by ICE brings crowd seeking justice
Speakers at the vigil and a statement from Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family elevated calls for an independent investigation into his death and raised doubts about ICE’s description of events.
texastribune.org
Houston Mayor John Whitmire on Wednesday cast doubt that the city’s police department could open a criminal investigation into the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed a day earlier by a federal immigration agent.
Houston mayor questions city[s authority to probe ICE shooting
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family, federal lawmakers and community advocates are pushing for local scrutiny, expressing distrust in federal officials.
texastribune.org
From investment fraud to sophisticated schemes involving hard-to-trace digital currency, Texans lost more than $1 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2025. Here’s what to know. bit.ly/4p7d6LU
What to know as cryptocurrency scams rise in Texas
From investment fraud to sophisticated schemes involving hard-to-trace digital currency, Texans lost more than $1 billion to crypto scams in 2025.
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Border wall through Big Bend state park in “planning stages” as updated map includes 2-mile barrier
CBP: Border wall through Big Bend park in “planning stages”
An online map published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows plans for a wall near Big Bend Ranch State Park’s westernmost sections closest to the U.S.-Mexico border.
texastribune.org
‘The SBC is dead to me’: Survivors say Southern Baptists have lost their way on abuse reforms www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Why Southern Baptist abuse survivors say they aren't fighting the convention now
The Southern Baptist Convention elected a president who questioned its abuse crisis. Survivors say they saw it coming.
houstonchronicle.com
A Muslim Texan hoping to participate in the state Republican convention left in tears after after being told explicitly that he should leave the country. bit.ly/4eo3nfd
Muslims at Texas GOP Convention told to leave party, country
Muslim delegates and attendees hoping to participate in the state Republican convention were shunned and rejected by members as they espoused themes of party unity ahead of the November election.
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In far West Texas, the threat of land seizures for a border wall has families on edge. In the Big Bend region, where some families have lived for generations, government letters seeking access to their land is sparking fear and resistance.
Feds threaten land seizures for border wall in Big Bend area
In the Big Bend region, where some families have lived for generations, government letters seeking access to their land is sparking fear and resistance.
texastribune.org
Bigger price tag, smaller footprint: How Austin’s Project Connect went off the rails.
How Austin’s Project Connect went off the rails
Legal and political challenges continue to threaten Austin’s multibillion-dollar light rail project that voters approved in 2020.
texastribune.org
Dan Patrick eyes closing “gambling loophole” for prediction markets. The feds stand in Texas’ way.
Texas eyes prediction market limits. The feds stand in the way.
A Trump administration agency has sued other states that sought to regulate Kalshi, Polymarket and other prediction operations under their gambling laws.
texastribune.org
A group of 80 South Texas plaintiffs are suing Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, alleging its rocket testing caused “massive” sonic booms that damaged their houses repeatedly over a two-year period.
SpaceX sued for alleged home damage in South Texas
The lawsuit filed by 80 plaintiffs Thursday accuse Elon Musk's company of gross negligence and trespassing for loud blasts from 11 rocket tests.
texastribune.org
Breaking: Federal court blocks rule that let Texans obtain out-of-state abortion pills. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that mifepristone must be obtained in person.
Federal court cuts off Texans’ access to abortion pills by mail
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that mifepristone must be obtained in person.
texastribune.org
The University of North Texas is cutting or consolidating more than 70 academic programs, minors and certificates as it works to close a projected $45 million budget shortfall.
UNT cuts more than 70 programs, minors to trim $45M deficit
Degrees in linguistics and Latin American and women’s and gender studies will be phased out. LGBTQ, Mexican American, Africana and Asian studies are among 25 undergrad minors that will also be cut.
texastribune.org
Corpus Christi produces 5% of the nation’s refined products like gas and jet fuel, and experts say a serious water shortage could force production down and push fuel prices up even further.
Corpus Christi refineries seek new water sources amid crisis
The city produces 5% of the nation’s refined products like gas and jet fuel, and experts say a serious water shortage could force production down and push fuel prices up even further.
texastribune.org
What does the Bible say about immigration? It depends who you ask. Story here: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Trump’s deportation push has Christians split, with both sides citing the Bible
Some Christians support President Donald Trump's mass deportation agendas, while others stand against it. Both groups say they're justified by the Bible.
houstonchronicle.com
After one of El Paso’s only pediatric endocrinologists was accused of illegally providing gender-transitioning treatments to kids, his patients who aren’t transgender lost care.
In El Paso, SB 14 hindered care for kids who aren’t transgender
After one of El Paso’s only pediatric endocrinologists was accused of illegally providing gender-transitioning treatments to kids, his patients who aren’t transgender lost care.
texastribune.org
NEW: Renée Good. Alex Pretti. Before: Ruben Martinez. Friday TX DPS released body cam + docs for the 23yo who DHS agents killed while on vacation in South Padre. Videos shows him driving while brake lights on, before gunshots. w/ @aydenrunnels.bsky.social www.texastribune.org/2026/03/06/s...
Videos shows run-up to immigration officer’s fatal shooting of Texas man
The clips, from multiple angles, don’t include everything, including key audio. But lawyers for the man’s family argue they refute the Trump administration's explanation that his killing was self-defe...
texastribune.org
John Cornyn, Ken Paxton advance to runoff to be Republican nominee for U.S. Senate
Cornyn, Paxton advance to GOP runoff for Senate
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt came in third, missing the runoff which is May 26.
texastribune.org
UNT officials said international graduate enrollment fell from about 6,200 students in fall 2024 to just under 3,400 in fall 2025. International students typically pay significantly higher tuition than Texas residents, making their enrollment decline especially costly for public universities.
UNT blames shortfall on loss of international students, cuts
Travel restrictions and sharper federal attention are dissuading foreign students from attending U.S. colleges, advocates say, hitting the Denton university harder than most.
texastribune.org
Cuban man’s death at El Paso tent camp was result of “spontaneous use of force,” ICE says.
ICE says Cuban detainee’s death from use of force
His death is the first homicide in ICE custody in recent history, experts said. It comes after the deadliest year in ICE detention in decades and six deaths in six weeks at Texas facilities.
texastribune.org
🧵 (1) SIX ICE DEATHS IN TEXAS IN SIX WEEKS; 3 at a Fort Bliss camp holding +3K immigrants. A homicide involving staff. That’s after the deadliest year in ICE detention in decades as Trump seeks to expand it. Lawyers call it an ‘unfolding humanitarian crisis.’ www.texastribune.org/2026/02/19/i...
What you need to know about Texas ICE detention deaths
Last year was the deadliest year in ICE detention in two decades. Nearly a quarter of those deaths occurred in Texas.
texastribune.org
Two cases of tuberculosis detected at El Paso ICE facility. Eighteen cases of COVID-19 were also identified. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar on Friday visited the 5,000-bed tent facility on the Fort Bliss Army base and said she saw many "chronic issues."
Two tuberculosis cases detected at Camp East Montana ICE facility
Eighteen cases of COVID-19 were also identified. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar on Friday visited the 5,000-bed tent facility on the Fort Bliss Army base and said she saw many "chronic issues."
texastribune.org
New: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a list of priorities for Texas senators to consider before next year’s legislative session, including property taxes and “preventing Sharia law in Texas,” which comes amid a wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions taking over GOP campaigns this election cycle.
Property taxes, Sharia law among Dan Patrick’s 2027 to-dos
Patrick’s initial five-item to-do list also included assessing risks posed by hostile foreign entities to the grid’s supply chain and preventing fraud in Texas’ health and human services.
texastribune.org
Texas passed a '23 immigration law in response to record border crossings under the Biden admin. Today, a challenge to the law returns to court under v diff circumstances: crossings are low + TX is helping the Trump admin + the DOJ is no longer a plaintiff. www.texastribune.org/2026/01/22/t...
Appeals court to reconsider 2023 Texas immigration law, SB 4
Senate Bill 4 returns to the 5th Circuit with border crossings at record lows, a sharp reversal from the influx that inspired Texas’ law authorizing state police to arrest undocumented immigrants.
texastribune.org
