The Texas Tribune: Rebekah Allenhttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rebekah-allen/The latest news by Rebekah Allen.enThu, 08 Dec 2022 07:29:19 -0600Houston native Brittney Griner, a WNBA star, released from Russian custody in prisoner swaphttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/08/brittney-griner-wnba-russia/The Texas basketball star was first detained in February and was recently moved to a Russian penal colony before her release Thursday.By Rebekah Allen and Alejandro SerranoThu, 08 Dec 2022 07:29:19 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/08/brittney-griner-wnba-russia/Brittney Griner.WNBA MVP candidate and All Stars player Brittney Griner during media day before she enters her eighth season with Phoenix Mercury.Nick Oza/The Republic-USA TODAY NETWORKTed Cruz is skeptical about red flag provision in federal bipartisan deal on gunshttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/14/ted-cruz-senate-gun-bill/Red flag laws are designed to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has championed the bipartisan agreement.By Rebekah AllenTue, 14 Jun 2022 18:03:14 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/14/ted-cruz-senate-gun-bill/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to members of the media outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 25.UVALDE, TX-MAY 25: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to members of the media outside Robb Elementary School on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 in Uvalde, TX. Twenty one people were killed after a gunman after a high school student opened fire inside Robb Elementary School on Tuesday where two teachers and 19 students were killed.Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneTed Cruz and 16 other Texans refused to certify the 2020 election. None would say whether they see it as legitimate today.https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/06/texas-congress-ted-cruz-2020-election-jan-6/Cruz was objecting to certifying Arizona’s election results when the Capitol was overrun. His speech that day and his misleading comments that cast doubts on the election led to calls for his resignation.By Rebekah AllenThu, 06 Jan 2022 12:05:15 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/06/texas-congress-ted-cruz-2020-election-jan-6/Ted Cruz says Joe Biden could be impeached if Republicans take U.S. Househttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/04/ted-cruz-joe-biden-impeachment/The Republican senator from Texas said Democrats weaponized impeachment with former President Donald Trump, adding, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”By Rebekah AllenTue, 04 Jan 2022 14:37:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/04/ted-cruz-joe-biden-impeachment/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz participates in a Senate committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 15.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) participates in a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 15, 2021.REUTERS/Chip SomodevillaTexas Gov. Greg Abbott bans any COVID-19 vaccine mandates — including for private employershttps://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/11/texas-greg-abbott-covid-19-vaccine-mandate/Abbott also called on the Legislature to pass a law expanding the ban on vaccine mandates.By Rebekah AllenMon, 11 Oct 2021 17:58:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/11/texas-greg-abbott-covid-19-vaccine-mandate/Gov. Greg Abbott issued a new executive order Monday that said "no entity" in Texas can issue a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference with nine other governors regarding the southern border at Anzalduas Park in Mission on Oct. 6, 2021.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneTexas Senate opens redistricting debate with proposed map one senator labels “intentional discrimination”https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/18/texas-senate-redistricting-map/The first draft of the Senate map was authored by a Republican who chairs the Senate Redistricting Committee. It immediately drew fire from a Democratic member who said her district was being redrawn to dilute voting power of people of color.By Rebekah Allen and James BarragánSat, 18 Sep 2021 16:41:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/18/texas-senate-redistricting-map/The Texas Senate floor.The Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2021.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneT-Squared: Our new women’s health reporter and copy editorhttps://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/21/texas-tribune-new-womens-health-reporter-and-copy-editor/Shannon Najmabadi will cover women’s health at The Texas Tribune, and Emily Goldstein is our new staff copy editor.By Corrie MacLaggan and Rebekah AllenTue, 21 Apr 2020 00:01:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/21/texas-tribune-new-womens-health-reporter-and-copy-editor/Shannon Najmabadi, left, and Emily Goldstein.From left: Women's health reporter Shannon Najmabadi and copy editor Emily Goldstein.Miguel Gutierrez Jr.: Najmabadi | Eddie Gaspar: GoldsteinRice University canceling in-person classes after employee tested positive for novel coronavirushttps://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/08/new-coronavirus-prompts-texas-rice-university-cancel-person-classes/It's the first Texas university to issue major cancellations, which come after the number of Houston-area people who were exposed to the virus overseas continued to rise. There has been no known community spread in Texas, officials said.By Rebekah AllenSun, 08 Mar 2020 18:44:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/08/new-coronavirus-prompts-texas-rice-university-cancel-person-classes/Rice University in Houston.An aerial view of Rice University in Houston.Rice University Police Department