How Texas Commission On Environmental Quality Helps Polluters Evade Federal Law Environmental lawyers say TCEQ, the state watchdog agency lets polluters escape regulation through legal loopholes. Texas Observer · Jan 2, 2024
Cruzin’ for a Bruisin: Can Anyone Defeat Ted? The junior senator podcasts more than he legislates.But history suggests Texans will give Ted Cruz six more years to talk. Texas Observer · Jan 2, 2024
Kelly Siegler: Trading Favors Two men convicted by Kelly Siegler uncovered the dark secret to her success. From the Intercept's Jordan Smith and Liliana Segura. Texas Observer · Dec 27, 2023
Top 20 Stories From the Year We Nearly Went Under After our big comeback (an issue on women's health), we exposed heat deaths at Tesla and USPS, went after the Paxtons, and broke LGBTQ+ news. Texas Observer · Dec 26, 2023
Kelly Siegler: The Cold Case Killer Kelly Siegler is a true-crime celebrity. Did she frame an innocent man for murder? From Liliana Segura and Jordan Smith at The Intercept. Texas Observer · Dec 21, 2023
Working Class Perspectives on the ‘Migrant Crisis’ NYC Mayor Eric Adams was supposed to welcome immigrants bused from Texas. That's not what's happened. From Reporting Fellow Josephine Lee. Texas Observer · Dec 20, 2023
Oil and Gas Wastewater Spills Pollute the Lone Star State Pollution from energy sector spills impacts soil, contaminates water resources and kills wildlife while the state resists new regulations. Texas Observer · Dec 18, 2023
Poem: From There to Here A silhouette, stationed at his Dallas valet stand awaiting the healthy, the wealthy, the privileged, the favored. Poetry by Ann Graham. Texas Observer · Dec 15, 2023
Texas Is Challenging 150 Years of Immigration Law Senate Bill 4 could be the vehicle for the U.S. Supreme Court to finally unleash Texas Republicans on the world’s huddled masses. Texas Observer · Dec 14, 2023
Prosecutors Won’t Drop Charges Against Brownsville ISD Honor Student Timothy Murray was put in solitary confinement after reporting Principal Myrta Garza for bullying. Texas Observer · Dec 14, 2023
The Texas Observer’s 2023 Must-Read Lone Star Books From poetic dreamworlds to the people’s hospital, Texas authors paint very different portraits of our diverse state. Texas Observer · Dec 13, 2023
Unmasking the Klansman A new book reveals the untold story of a Ku Klux Klan member’s literary double life under the names of both Asa and Forrest Carter. Texas Observer · Dec 12, 2023
The Death Toll: An Expensive Tollway’s High Cost in Human Lives State Highway 288 was built by a private equity firm, letting TxDOT abdicate its responsibility to both drivers and construction workers. Texas Observer · Dec 11, 2023
Phạm Thiên Ân: From ‘Yellow Cocoon’ to Cannes A Vietnamese filmmaker with Houston ties reveals more about his contemplative, award-winning film, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell. Texas Observer · Dec 8, 2023
Texas Observer · Dec 7, 2023 Texas Observer School Board Investigation Spurs Call for Reform State Representative Erin Zwiener says Texas must improve campaign finance transparency and adopt contribution limits.
Texas Observer · Dec 6, 2023 Texas Court Strikes Down Air Pollution Permit for Gulf Coast Oil Terminal A judge reversed a 2022 decision by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) which involved its controversial “one-mile rule."
Texas Observer · Dec 6, 2023 A Paris to Marfa March for Reproductive Rights A West Texas teenager says she’s only begun to fight for access to livesaving care. From Editor-at-Large Gayle Reaves.
Texas Observer · Dec 5, 2023 Houston Mayoral Candidates Inspire Yawns As Run-Off Election Looms Two veteran (and older) politicians running for mayor in Texas’ largest city are generating little excitement among its youthful population.
Texas Observer · Dec 4, 2023 Texas GOP Rejects Ban on Association with Nazis It’s the latest instance of the state Republican party's right-wing officialdom embracing extremism, and vengeance, above all else.
Texas Observer · Dec 4, 2023 Going Extinct in Texas The path to getting a species declared extinct is longer than you might think. From Fall 2023 Fellow Paula Levihn-Coon.
Texas Observer · Dec 1, 2023 Strangest State: Eclipses and Flying Snakes A young teen reporter covers the Ken Paxton impeachment on typewriter, serpents fall from the sky, and more dispatches from far-flung Texas.
Texas Observer · Nov 29, 2023 Texas Rangers Investigation Sheds Light on Dallas Judge’s ‘Bizarre’ Behavior Dallas County Judge Amber Givens was accused of having her court coordinator impersonate her during a 2021 Zoom bond hearing, prompting a Rangers inquiry.
Texas Observer · Nov 22, 2023 The Fish Whisperer Half of the fish in the Mission-Aransas Estuary vocalize. One scientist is dedicated to recording and decoding their sounds.
Texas Observer · Nov 21, 2023 Braving ‘La Bestia’ Asylum-seekers risk life and limb to reach America as President Biden tries to dissuade them. Includes one of TIME's Top 100 photos of 2023.
Texas Observer · Nov 20, 2023 Beyond the Refrigerator Door Multifaceted, multidimensional, Meow Wolf is "art for everybody." Digital Editor Kit O'Connell visits Meow Wolf Grapevine.