Tropical Storm Imelda Will Likely Be Southeast Texas’ Fifth 500-Year Flood in Five Years “It’s a sign of the times.” Texas Observer · Sep 20, 2019
The Green New Deal Can Exist in Texas The state has already shown what can be accomplished when renewable energy is prioritized. Now, Texans want to take action. Do lawmakers? Texas Observer · Sep 19, 2019
Some Small Texas Towns Are Declaring Themselves ‘Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn’ Frustrated with the Legislature, Texas city officials are taking on abortion rights through local policy measures. Texas Observer · Sep 18, 2019
Trump’s USDA Lets Animal Abusers Off the Hook A South Texas facility has been repeatedly penalized for violating animal treatment standards. Under newly loosened rules, will it and other offenders be held to account next time? Texas Observer · Sep 18, 2019
How BP Oil Spill Fines Could Help Protect the Texas Coast Other states were harder hit by the spill, but Texas is still receiving millions of dollars that can be used for vital restoration and conservation efforts. Texas Observer · Sep 18, 2019
Why Trump Was Tweeting About Texas After Drone Strikes on a Saudi Arabian Oil Facility Energy expert Jim Krane explains the politics behind the president’s desire to release American oil reserves. Texas Observer · Sep 17, 2019
In This Twisted Coming-of-Age Tale, the Monsters in the Closet Are Real Set in a creepier version of North Texas, Shaun Hamill's debut novel is equal parts beautiful and terrifying. Texas Observer · Sep 17, 2019
Climate Change Will Make Harmful Algae Blooms in Texas Waterways More Common Blue-green algae exists in almost all of the state’s waterways. Once it starts to bloom, it’s hard to get rid of it. Texas Observer · Sep 17, 2019
Migrants at Laredo Tent Court Tell Stories of Kidnappings and Violence While Pleading Not to Be Returned to Mexico Under Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols, asylum-seekers have been waiting for their hearings in Mexico. Many aren’t making it back to court. Texas Observer · Sep 16, 2019
Attica Locke’s New Mystery Novel Unearths East Texas Secrets “Heaven, My Home” explores how black and white people can live almost entirely different experiences inside the same time and place. Texas Observer · Sep 16, 2019
The Large Ask Naomi Klein concedes in her new book that fighting climate change will be expensive and disruptive. She also passionately argues that it remains our most necessary battle. Texas Observer · Sep 16, 2019
Bridge to Nowhere Where the Texas Gulf Coast meets Mexico, a trio of fossil fuel companies is planning an industrial complex the likes of which Texas’ Rio Grande Valley has never seen. Texas Observer · Sep 16, 2019
How Earl Campbell Changed Football in Texas In "Earl Campbell: Yards After Contact," a new biography of the famed player, Asher Price writes, “Earl Campbell tried, through carrying the football, to transcend race.” Texas Observer · Sep 13, 2019
Texas’ Presidential Candidates Break Out Briefly During the Democratic Debate by Amal Ahmed, Gus Bova, and Andrea Valdez September 13, 2019 The third Democratic presidential debate and all its attendant hullabaloo stampeded into Texas Thursday night. It was a historic night for Texas Southern University, the historically black university in … Texas Observer · Sep 13, 2019
Texas Observer · Sep 12, 2019 The Trump Administration Blows Its Border Wall Budget in South Texas A Texas Observer review of federal documents found that Congress gave CBP $445 million to build 25 miles of border wall in Hidalgo County. The money only paid for 13 miles.
Texas Observer · Sep 12, 2019 Rent By Another Name As rent continues to rise across the state, an increasing number of Texas tenants are also saddled with mandatory fees for everything from doorstep trash collection to cable television.
Texas Observer · Sep 11, 2019 Journalists Blocked from Attending Secretive Immigration Tent Courts Normally, the press can observe immigration court proceedings. But journalists are being turned away from the first asylum hearings in Laredo under the Migrant Protection Protocols.
Texas Observer · Sep 11, 2019 Ken Burns’ New Documentary Builds a Bigger Tent for Country Music Co-opted by whites, country music was largely shaped by black and immigrant musicians.
Texas Observer · Sep 11, 2019 Eye on Texas: An El Paso Times Photographer Mourns With the City “What people don’t understand about El Paso is this is the biggest small town in the world.”
Texas Observer · Sep 10, 2019 American Health Care is Broken, Especially in Texas. What Can We Do About It? Physician Marty Makary’s new book shows how sky-high medical bills can ruin patients’ lives—but puts the burden on individuals to demand change.
Texas Observer · Sep 10, 2019 Texas Leads in Polling Place Closures Since 2013 750 polling places in Texas have been shuttered since Shelby v. Holder, the Supreme Court decision that released the state from federal oversight in changing its voter laws and practices.
Texas Observer · Sep 9, 2019 The Casualties of Texas’ War on Voter Fraud Crystal Mason’s vote didn’t count. Will her prosecution scare away others whose votes would?
Texas Observer · Sep 9, 2019 ‘Owned’ Explores the Racist Foundation of Homeownership in America Giorgio Angelini, the film’s director and a native Houstonian, discusses the movie ahead of a showing in Austin on September 10.
Texas Observer · Sep 8, 2019 ‘El Paso Firme’ Music Festival Calls on Texans to Peacefully Resist White Supremacy About 1,200 people attended the El Paso Firme Music Fest on Saturday, a call to action against white supremacy through “the healing power of music.” The all-day event held at Ascarate, a community park surrounded by a lake and a …
Texas Observer · Sep 6, 2019 Public Camping Bans Won’t Solve Homelessness. But Could They Get Us Talking About Real Solutions? In Victoria, an anti-camping ordinance stands to harm the homeless. But it could also lead to important conversations about a statewide problem.