Wednesday’s execution of Kimberly McCarthy for the 1997 stabbing death of her neighbor will mark Texas’ 500th execution since 1976 and the 261st during Gov. Rick Perry’s tenure. Use our interactive to view information on each execution under Perry.
Noah Seger
Noah Seger was a software engineer at the Tribune, writing web and news applications. In addition to his background in secure software development with the Denim Group he has worked at TexasFile.com making public records from across the state available online. Originally from Corpus Christi, he studied computer science and linguistics at Trinity University in San Antonio.
Posted inHigher Education
Interactive: Campus Construction Funding Proposals
Lawmakers failed during the regular session to approve money for construction at public universities, but some are hoping the special session will provide a second chance at the money. Use this interactive to see what’s at stake.
Posted inState Government
Best & Worst Lawmakers: Your Turn to Choose
Texas Monthly’s list of the best and worst legislators of the 83rd session doesn’t come out until June 12, but why should Paul Burka and his colleagues have all the fun? Use this interactive between now and 6 p.m. Tuesday to select your own personal list.
Posted in
Bidness As Usual
Interactive: Track Public Education Donors
Whether they have a longstanding interest or are branching into new territory, some of the state’s top political donors advocate for education issues. Use our interactive to track contributions to lawmakers who make decisions affecting Texas schools.
Posted in
Bidness As Usual
Interactive: Track Energy and Environment Donors
From protecting endangered lizards to changing industry standards on fracking, energy and environmental groups have many competing interests in Texas. Use this interactive to track campaign contributions by some of the most influential such groups and donors.
Posted inState Government
Interactive: Tracking Education Reform Bills
At the start of the legislative session, bills that would strengthen the state’s charter school system, overhaul teaching requirements and address accountability for underperforming school districts were a top priority for many advocacy groups and some lawmakers. Use our interactive to track their progress.
Posted inEconomy, State Government
Interactive: Tracking Franchise Tax Bills
Tax relief has become a key issue in the final weeks of the legislative session, and nearly all of the relief efforts are focused on the franchise tax paid by businesses. Use our interactive to track the status of those bills.
Posted inPublic Education
Texas Tribune Public Schools Explorer 2.0
In the latest iteration of our one-of-a-kind Public Schools Explorer, compare individual schools and districts to one another, cross-filter by metrics like performance and spending, and check out the latest data on everything from TAKS to enrollment.
Posted inState Government
Visualization: Executions on Perry’s Watch at 250
The execution of Donnie Lee Roberts Jr., 41, on Wednesday for the 2003 shooting death of a Polk County woman marked the 250th execution during Gov. Rick Perry’s tenure, and the 12th in 2012. The total is the largest — by far — under any recent governor in the United States.
Posted inState Government
News App: Campaign Finance Database Adds Recent Expenditures
We’ve updated our campaign finance database to reflect state contribution and expenditure data reported by candidates and committees 30 days before Election Day. Use our tool to find out how much money was being spent in the final weeks of the 2012 election cycle.