MYSTERIOUS: 59 - You Need To See This

Texas Draws Criticism With Plan to Lure Tourists to Sites Where Indigenous People Were Banished

Nations once exterminated or displaced are now being asked to help bring in tourism dollars.

Texas Observer · Aug 10, 2021

The Sunrise Movement’s Trailblazing Quest for a Green New Deal

Sunrise activists said they would hold President Biden’s feet to the fire on climate policy. With their latest round of activism around the Civilian Climate Corps, they’re making good on that promise.

Texas Observer · Aug 9, 2021

‘A Lifetime of Damage’ On a Creosote Plume in Houston’s Fifth Ward

Decades of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals are sickening Black residents at alarming rates. But courts and the company responsible for the contamination say the burden of proof is on the community.

Texas Observer · Aug 6, 2021

Life and Death in a Texas Homeless Camp

As the unhoused population grows, cities like Austin turn to legalized camps, where community and calamity collide.

Texas Observer · Aug 2, 2021

Battleground Plant

In Deer Park and other chemical corridor communities, the slow seepage of toxics can affect families like mine for generations.

Texas Observer · Jul 30, 2021

Texas Veterans Homes Overseen by George P. Bush Were Often the Deadliest Places to Be During COVID-19 Pandemic

Seven of the state’s nine veterans homes had a fatality rate of 25% or more, far higher than the statewide average of 11% for nursing homes. Bush has vowed to not renew the operators’ contracts.

Texas Observer · Jul 29, 2021

Small Birds in Big Bend

A stretch of arid desert in West Texas is the crown jewel of the state’s birding hotspots.

Texas Observer · Jul 28, 2021

For Greg Abbott, All the Border’s a Stage

But political theater can still get people hurt.

Texas Observer · Jul 27, 2021

A New Normal for Live Music

Black musicians were already struggling for resources and recognition before the pandemic. Now, they’re back onstage, championing lasting reform in the live music industry.

Texas Observer · Jul 26, 2021

In Memory of Santos Rodriguez

Almost 50 years after his murder, Dallas is finally taking steps to memorialize Santos Rodriguez. But justice for his family may forever be out of reach.

Texas Observer · Jul 23, 2021