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• UT-Austin football players say they were forced to stay on field for “The Eyes of Texas” to appease angry donors and fans

  By Kate McGee March 3, 2021

  The football players said the athletics officials, in a meeting with the players after the Oklahoma game, referenced emails from donors who said the protests could impact their job prospects after graduating. Full Story 

• Lawyer for Texas attorney general’s office repeatedly tries to block testimony and evidence at whistleblower hearing

  By Kate McGee Updated: March 2, 2021

  A Travis County judge opted to move forward with Monday's hearing without ruling on the motion to dismiss the whistleblower lawsuit. Late Monday night, an appeals court halted the second day of proceedings at the request of the agency's attorney. Full Story 

• “UT needs rich donors”: Emails show wealthy alumni supporting “Eyes of Texas” threatened to pull donations

  By Kate McGee March 1, 2021

  Emails obtained by The Texas Tribune show alumni and donors threatened to stop supporting the university financially and demanded that the university president take a stronger stance supporting "The Eyes of Texas." Full Story 

• UT-Austin won't require SAT or ACT scores for 2022 applications due to COVID-19

  By Kate McGee Updated: Feb. 25, 2021

  Universities across the country have started to extend "test-optional" policies for undergraduate applicants as the pandemic wears on. Full Story 

• Dwindling food, flooded halls, unflushable toilets: Texas’ university dorms descend into chaos during winter storm

  By Kate McGee Updated: Feb. 19, 2021

  The past week of power outages and water shortages have been particularly challenging for college students living in large residence halls who are unable to see their families or access supplies like extra clothing, food or a car. Full Story 

• Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state's power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say

  By Erin Douglas, Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough Updated: Feb. 19, 2021

  Texas officials knew winter storms could leave the state’s power grid vulnerable, but they left the choice to prepare for harsh weather up to the power companies — many of which opted against the costly upgrades. That, plus a deregulated energy market largely isolated from the rest of the country’s power grid, left the state alone to deal with the crisis, experts said. Full Story 

• Former top aides say Attorney General Ken Paxton received assistance with home remodel, job for alleged girlfriend in return for helping political donor

  By Alex Samuels and Kate McGee Updated: Feb. 11, 2021

  A court filing documents what Paxton’s whistleblowers believe led to an alleged “bizarre, obsessive use of power.” Full Story 

• Texas Republicans want to keep transgender women out of women’s school sports teams

  By Kate McGee and Aliyya Swaby Updated: Feb. 1, 2021

  Lawmakers have filed legislation that would ban transgender girls and women who attend public K-12 schools, colleges and universities from playing on single-sex sports teams designated for girls and women. Full Story 

• Texas A&M officials say moving Sul Ross statue is no longer an option, but students say the university never made that clear

  By Kate McGee Jan. 27, 2021

  University officials said Wednesday that the decision to keep the Ross statue in place is not a new one, and that the diversity committee that has been studying the issue for the past three months was never considering removing the statue. Full Story 

• Texas A&M again delays decision on moving Sul Ross statue, as committee warns inaction will damage university

  By Kate McGee Jan. 26, 2021

  “While some universities have attempted to ignore demands surrounding symbols, names and iconography, in the majority of cases, they have been unsuccessful, and by inadequately addressing the issue, increased reputational damage,” a committee report says referring to the debate about the Confederate monument. Full Story