DFW Political Correspondent Katie Serrano

Katie Serrano

DFW Political Correspondent Katie Serrano

Katie Serrano is the DFW Political Correspondent for COURIER Texas. She has lived in Texas for 20 years and received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas in Editorial Journalism and News Narrative Writing.

She is passionate about making local journalism accessible and engaging young audiences. Since joining COURIER Texas, she has covered education in North Texas, housing affordability, women’s issues, local politics, and more. She previously worked in editing, content management, newsletter production, social media marketing and data reporting.

Latest from Katie Serrano

  • Politics

    Weed, wages, reproductive rights: 15 bills facing Texas lawmakers in 2025

    More than 2,200 bills — from cannabis reform and public education to housing affordability — have been filed ahead of the start of the 89th Texas Legislature, which opens on Jan. 14. Here’s a recap of some of the proposed bills making headlines ahead of the legislature and how they could impact you. Legalizing recreational…

  • Politics

    VIDEO: Will Texans get to vote on legalizing casinos and sports betting?

    Thirty-eight states have legalized sports betting, but Texas isn’t one of them. Sen. Carol Alvarado, a Democrat from Houston, is hoping to change that during the upcoming legislative session. Her proposal would allow Texas voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to allow sports betting and build seven casinos across the state.

  • News

    VIDEO: Dallas could get sued over homeless encampments

    Dallas is facing the consequences of voters approving Proposition S in November. Dallas HERO, the GOP-back organization that helped get the new ordinance on the ballot, is now threatening to sue the city for allegedly failing to enforce a state law that forbids homeless encampments on public property. Prop S allows residents to sue the…

  • News

    VIDEO: Vapes get snuffed: Dallas adds vaping to city’s smoking bans

    Dallas residents won’t be able to vape anywhere in the city where smoking is already prohibited — which includes outside of building entrances and parks — starting in December 2025. The new ban comes as the city hopes to enhance air quality and safeguard the health of residents.

  • Housing

    These 3 bills could impact Dallas’ affordable housing crisis

    Dallas housing advocates are hopeful about legislation that would allow workforce housing, small dwellings on single-family lots.

  • Politics

    VIDEO: Dallas welcomes 30 new citizens

    Thirty Dallas residents from 19 different countries officially became US citizens during the city’s fourth naturalization ceremony on Dec. 6. Dallas Assistant City Manager Liz Cedillo-Pereira spoke at the ceremony, emphasizing the work of the Welcoming Dallas Strategic Plan. The effort promotes civic engagement and increases access to naturalization so that more Dallas residents can…

  • Politics

    VIDEO: Book banning in Texas schools could get a whole lot easier

    A North Texas lawmaker wants to make book banning in Texas schools even easier. Rep. Jared Patterson’s House Bill 183 would allow any Texas parent to be able to dictate what books are allowed in public schools — anywhere in the state.

  • Education

    A North Texas lawmaker wants to make book banning easier in schools

    Rep. Jared Patterson’s House Bill 183 would allow parents to request that the Texas State Board of Education review materials in public school libraries, challenging a book to be removed if they believe it to be inappropriate for the grade level or if it has “sexually explicit material.”

  • Politics

    VIDEO: Finding affordable housing in Dallas is only getting tougher

    Affordable housing options in Dallas are shrinking. More than half of renters in Dallas are cost burdened, and the city is the least affordable housing market across North Texas. These issues are likely to be top-of-mind for lawmakers when the Texas Legislature convenes in January. So, here’s a snapshot of the current state of affordable…

  • Politics

    Dallas mayor, 2 council members try to stall weed decriminalization

    During a meeting on Tuesday to certify the Nov. 5 election results, Council Member Cara Mendelsohn tried to add language to Proposition R — which passed with 66.82% of the vote — to stall implementation until the state legalizes recreational weed.