texas

<p>For 70 years, the Observer has worked to “hew hard to the truth as we find it and the right as we see it.” </p><p>Now, more than ever, it&#x27;s crucial we keep holding power to account. Will you be a part of our 70th birthday celebration?</p><p>RSVP here: texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/70thdonate/</p><p><a href="/tags/austin/" rel="tag">#Austin</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/nonprofit/" rel="tag">#nonprofit</a> <a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/media/" rel="tag">#media</a> <a href="/tags/fundraiser/" rel="tag">#fundraiser</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a> <a href="/tags/culture/" rel="tag">#culture</a></p>

<p>ICE has canceled a $3.8 billion contract to build an immigrant detention camp in Fort Bliss, Texas, just days after issuing it. But sources say the Trump administration still intends to move ahead with its plan to build the tent camp.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ice-cancels-contract-immigrant-detention-camp-fort-bliss?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/ice-cancels-contract-immigrant-detention-camp-fort-bliss?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/ice</span><span class="invisible">-cancels-contract-immigrant-detention-camp-fort-bliss?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/ice/" rel="tag">#ICE</a> <a href="/tags/immigration/" rel="tag">#Immigration</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/trump/" rel="tag">#Trump</a> <a href="/tags/immigrants/" rel="tag">#Immigrants</a> <a href="/tags/uspolitics/" rel="tag">#USPolitics</a></p>

<p>The May/June 2025 issue of Texas Observer magazine will be out starting May 1, featuring stories from Candice Bernd, Michelle Pitcher, Brant Deboer and more.</p><p>Become a member to support our work, and get the best of our reporting in our magazine. </p><p><a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/nonprofit/" rel="tag">#nonprofit</a> <a href="/tags/media/" rel="tag">#media</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a> <a href="/tags/bitcoin/" rel="tag">#bitcoin</a> <a href="/tags/crypto/" rel="tag">#crypto</a> <a href="/tags/pollution/" rel="tag">#pollution</a> <a href="/tags/refugees/" rel="tag">#refugees</a> <a href="/tags/criminaljustice/" rel="tag">#CriminalJustice</a> <a href="/tags/deathpenalty/" rel="tag">#DeathPenalty</a></p>

<p>Remembering Carlton Carl: a patriot, feminist, Democrat, journalist, bibliophile, philanthropist, entrepreneur, art enthusiast, history buff, and more. He was a staunch supporter of his family and community, of organizations including the Observer, and of the town of Martindale. <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/carlton-carl-1945-2025/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/carlton-carl-1945-2025/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/carlton-</span><span class="invisible">carl-1945-2025/</span></a> </p><p><a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/memorial/" rel="tag">#memorial</a> <a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/rip/" rel="tag">#RIP</a></p>

<p>Texas AG Ken Paxton Won&#x27;t Face Federal Corruption Charges as He Gains Momentum for Likely Senate Run<br>—</p><p>The federal criminal investigation was the most serious legal threat the once-embattled Republican faced. With the probe now over, Paxton is gearing up to likely challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in 2026.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ken-paxton-corruption-probe-justice-department-senate-race?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/ken-paxton-corruption-probe-justice-department-senate-race?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/ken</span><span class="invisible">-paxton-corruption-probe-justice-department-senate-race?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/uspolitics/" rel="tag">#USPolitics</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/senate/" rel="tag">#Senate</a> <a href="/tags/gop/" rel="tag">#GOP</a> <a href="/tags/republican/" rel="tag">#Republican</a> <a href="/tags/election/" rel="tag">#Election</a></p>

<p>Days after issuing a $3.8B contract to build an immigrant tent detention camp in Fort Bliss, ICE canceled it.</p><p>The awarding and cancellation of such a large contract in such a short time is highly unusual in recent years, a ProPublica review found.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ice-cancels-contract-immigrant-detention-camp-fort-bliss?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/ice-cancels-contract-immigrant-detention-camp-fort-bliss?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/ice</span><span class="invisible">-cancels-contract-immigrant-detention-camp-fort-bliss?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/ice/" rel="tag">#ICE</a> <a href="/tags/immigration/" rel="tag">#Immigration</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/trump/" rel="tag">#Trump</a> <a href="/tags/immigrants/" rel="tag">#Immigrants</a> <a href="/tags/uspolitics/" rel="tag">#USPolitics</a> <a href="/tags/border/" rel="tag">#Border</a></p>

<p>Texas Senate Approves Legislation to Clarify Exceptions to Abortion Ban. But Experts Fear Confusion Would Persist.<br>— </p><p>Following ProPublica’s reporting, Republicans acknowledged women were denied care because medical providers were unsure what Texas’ abortion ban allowed. But the new legislation doesn’t remove what doctors say are the biggest impediments to care.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-senate-abortion-ban-legislation-medical-exceptions?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-senate-abortion-ban-legislation-medical-exceptions?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-senate-abortion-ban-legislation-medical-exceptions?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/abortion/" rel="tag">#Abortion</a> <a href="/tags/women/" rel="tag">#Women</a> <a href="/tags/health/" rel="tag">#Health</a> <a href="/tags/doctors/" rel="tag">#Doctors</a> <a href="/tags/hospital/" rel="tag">#Hospital</a> <a href="/tags/medicine/" rel="tag">#Medicine</a></p>

<p>NEW: “No Separation Between Church and State”: Inside a Texas Church’s Training Academy for Christians Running for Office</p><p>--<br>A Fort Worth church’s candidate training program is the “next stage” of a religion-driven political movement, which has more latitude now that the IRS has allowed religious leaders to endorse candidates from the pulpit, an expert said.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/fort-worth-mercy-culture-church-campaign-university" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/fort-worth-mercy-culture-church-campaign-university"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/for</span><span class="invisible">t-worth-mercy-culture-church-campaign-university</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/government/" rel="tag">#government</a> <a href="/tags/religion/" rel="tag">#religion</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#texas</a> <a href="/tags/irs/" rel="tag">#IRS</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#Politics</a></p>

<p>Texas Lawmakers Are Again Pushing to Spend Millions on Kits to Find Missing Kids. Experts Say They Don’t Work.<br>—</p><p>Texas legislators slipped millions for child ID kits into a 1,000-page budget proposal. The move comes two years after they quietly cut funding for such kits following a ProPublica and Texas Tribune report that showed there’s no evidence they work.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-lawmakers-child-id-kits-funding?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-lawmakers-child-id-kits-funding?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-lawmakers-child-id-kits-funding?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/children/" rel="tag">#Children</a> <a href="/tags/safety/" rel="tag">#Safety</a> <a href="/tags/government/" rel="tag">#Government</a> <a href="/tags/policy/" rel="tag">#Policy</a> <a href="/tags/budget/" rel="tag">#Budget</a> <a href="/tags/business/" rel="tag">#Business</a></p>

<p>The March/April 2025 issue of Texas Observer magazine is coming soon for our members, featuring some of our best reporting, a sneak preview of Lise Olsen&#x27;s new book, Justin Miller&#x27;s vital political analysis, and more.</p><p>Become a member: <a href="https://texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">texasobserver.fundjournalism.o</span><span class="invisible">rg/join/</span></a> </p><p>(📸 Cover photo by Shelby Tauber) </p><p><a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/media/" rel="tag">#media</a> <a href="/tags/nonprofit/" rel="tag">#nonprofit</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/criminaljustice/" rel="tag">#CriminalJustice</a> <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/culture/" rel="tag">#culture</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a> <a href="/tags/txlege/" rel="tag">#TXlege</a> <a href="/tags/border/" rel="tag">#border</a> <a href="/tags/mentalhealth/" rel="tag">#MentalHealth</a></p>

<p>In our magazine, from Candice Bernd: Texas is the national epicenter of <a href="/tags/bitcoin/" rel="tag">#Bitcoin</a> mining, with only about 24 total mines operating outside the state’s borders. Approximately 40 mines are operating in the state, together consuming about 3,200 MWs, enough to power 800,000 homes. <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/the-crypto-racket/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/the-crypto-racket/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/the-cryp</span><span class="invisible">to-racket/</span></a> </p><p>Copublished with our friends at The Nation.</p><p><a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/energy/" rel="tag">#energy</a> <a href="/tags/climatechange/" rel="tag">#ClimateChange</a> <a href="/tags/pollution/" rel="tag">#pollution</a> <a href="/tags/environment/" rel="tag">#environment</a> <a href="/tags/oilandgas/" rel="tag">#OilAndGas</a> <a href="/tags/crypto/" rel="tag">#crypto</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a></p>

<p>New today: The Texas Observer has identified the operators of four anonymous accounts that regularly share racist, antisemitic, and neo-Nazi content on X. Three of the operators appear to live or have claimed to own property in Texas. <br><a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/revealed-operators-neo-nazi-x-accounts/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/revealed-operators-neo-nazi-x-accounts/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/revealed</span><span class="invisible">-operators-neo-nazi-x-accounts/</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/extremism/" rel="tag">#extremism</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a> <a href="/tags/socialmedia/" rel="tag">#SocialMedia</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/elonmusk/" rel="tag">#ElonMusk</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a> <a href="/tags/racism/" rel="tag">#racism</a></p>

<p>The rate of sepsis in Houston surged 63% after Texas banned abortion.</p><p>In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where hospital leaders empowered doctors to intervene before patients’ conditions worsened, it rose just 29%.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-sepsis-rates-dallas-houston?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-sepsis-rates-dallas-houston?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-abortion-ban-sepsis-rates-dallas-houston?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/abortion/" rel="tag">#Abortion</a> <a href="/tags/women/" rel="tag">#Women</a> <a href="/tags/health/" rel="tag">#Health</a> <a href="/tags/doctors/" rel="tag">#Doctors</a> <a href="/tags/hospital/" rel="tag">#Hospital</a> <a href="/tags/dallas/" rel="tag">#Dallas</a> <a href="/tags/houston/" rel="tag">#Houston</a></p>

<p>“Incalculable” Damage: How a “We Buy Ugly Houses” Franchise Left a Trail of Financial Wreckage Across Texas<br>—</p><p>Charles Carrier is accused of orchestrating a yearslong Ponzi scheme, bilking tens of millions of dollars from both wealthy investors and older people with modest incomes. Despite signs of trouble, HomeVestors didn’t intervene.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/homevestors-fraud-charles-carrier-texas?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/homevestors-fraud-charles-carrier-texas?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/hom</span><span class="invisible">evestors-fraud-charles-carrier-texas?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/housing/" rel="tag">#Housing</a> <a href="/tags/fraud/" rel="tag">#Fraud</a> <a href="/tags/realestate/" rel="tag">#RealEstate</a> <a href="/tags/investing/" rel="tag">#Investing</a> <a href="/tags/business/" rel="tag">#Business</a> <a href="/tags/house/" rel="tag">#House</a></p>

<p>Texas Lawmakers Push to Enforce Election Transparency Law After Newsrooms Found School Districts Failed to Comply<br>—</p><p>ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found nearly three dozen school districts were missing required campaign finance reports online. Now lawmakers are pushing to impose steep penalties on local governments that fail to abide by the law.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-lawmakers-campaign-finance-posting-rules?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-lawmakers-campaign-finance-posting-rules?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-lawmakers-campaign-finance-posting-rules?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/election/" rel="tag">#Election</a> <a href="/tags/transparency/" rel="tag">#Transparency</a> <a href="/tags/school/" rel="tag">#School</a> <a href="/tags/report/" rel="tag">#Report</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a></p>

<p>We&#x27;ve been publishing stories all year related to our 70th anniversary, but today marks the actual date that the Texas Observer published its first issue in 1954, with the top story dedicated to a retail workers&#x27; <a href="/tags/strike/" rel="tag">#strike</a> in Port Arthur: <a href="https://archives.texasobserver.org/issue/1954/12/13#page=1" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="archives.texasobserver.org/issue/1954/12/13#page=1"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">archives.texasobserver.org/iss</span><span class="invisible">ue/1954/12/13#page=1</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/history/" rel="tag">#history</a> <a href="/tags/media/" rel="tag">#media</a> <a href="/tags/nonprofit/" rel="tag">#nonprofit</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a></p>

<p>The January/February 2025 issue is coming soon for members of the Texas Observer.</p><p>Want to be among the first to read the great reporting in every issue? Join us today: <a href="https://texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">texasobserver.fundjournalism.o</span><span class="invisible">rg/join/</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/nonprofit/" rel="tag">#nonprofit</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a> <a href="/tags/culture/" rel="tag">#culture</a> <a href="/tags/border/" rel="tag">#border</a></p>

<p>ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.</p><p>Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-tierra-walker-preeclampsia?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-tierra-walker-preeclampsia?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-abortion-ban-tierra-walker-preeclampsia?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/women/" rel="tag">#Women</a> <a href="/tags/health/" rel="tag">#Health</a> <a href="/tags/abortion/" rel="tag">#Abortion</a> <a href="/tags/pregnancy/" rel="tag">#Pregnancy</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/uspolitics/" rel="tag">#USPolitics</a></p>

<p>After fighting to keep emails between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office and billionaire Elon Musk’s companies secret, officials have released nearly 1,400 pages of documents to The Texas Newsroom.</p><p>All but about 200 pages are blacked out.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/greg-abbott-releases-elon-musk-emails-redacted?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/greg-abbott-releases-elon-musk-emails-redacted?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/gre</span><span class="invisible">g-abbott-releases-elon-musk-emails-redacted?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/elonmusk/" rel="tag">#ElonMusk</a> <a href="/tags/musk/" rel="tag">#Musk</a> <a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#Journalism</a> <a href="/tags/email/" rel="tag">#Email</a> <a href="/tags/gregabbott/" rel="tag">#GregAbbott</a></p>

<p>New Uvalde Records Reveal Details About School Safety Concerns and Shooter’s Behavioral Issues<br>—</p><p>The release is part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit that news organizations brought against state and local governments. The fight continues to get the Texas Department of Public Safety to release its own records.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/uvalde-records-shooting-campus-safety-concerns?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/uvalde-records-shooting-campus-safety-concerns?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/uva</span><span class="invisible">lde-records-shooting-campus-safety-concerns?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/uvalde/" rel="tag">#Uvalde</a> <a href="/tags/schoolshooting/" rel="tag">#SchoolShooting</a> <a href="/tags/school/" rel="tag">#School</a> <a href="/tags/education/" rel="tag">#Education</a> <a href="/tags/safety/" rel="tag">#Safety</a> <a href="/tags/students/" rel="tag">#Students</a> <a href="/tags/lawsuit/" rel="tag">#Lawsuit</a></p>

<p>Texas Officials Say They Didn’t See the Flood Coming. Oral Histories Show Residents Have Long Warned of Risks.<br>—</p><p>After a tragedy, records from local archives can help us understand how a community understands itself. Here’s some of what we learned following the devastating July 4 flooding in Texas. <br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-floods-oral-histories?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-floods-oral-histories?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-floods-oral-histories?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/floods/" rel="tag">#Floods</a> <a href="/tags/texasfloods/" rel="tag">#TexasFloods</a> <a href="/tags/history/" rel="tag">#History</a> <a href="/tags/community/" rel="tag">#Community</a></p>

<p>The latest from cartoonist Ben Sargent, in our magazine.</p><p>Read more from the May / June 2025 issue: <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/issues/may-june-2025/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/issues/may-june-2025/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/issues/m</span><span class="invisible">ay-june-2025/</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/education/" rel="tag">#education</a> <a href="/tags/religion/" rel="tag">#religion</a> <a href="/tags/schools/" rel="tag">#schools</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/txlege/" rel="tag">#TXlege</a> <a href="/tags/comics/" rel="tag">#comics</a></p>

<p>Former “We Buy Ugly Houses” Franchise Owner to Plead Guilty in Fraud Scheme That Cost Investors $40 Million<br>—</p><p>Charles Carrier agreed to plead guilty to one count of felony wire fraud that carries a potential 20-year prison sentence. The plea follows a ProPublica report detailing how Carrier bilked investors across Texas out of millions of dollars.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/charles-carrier-plea-deal-fraud?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/charles-carrier-plea-deal-fraud?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/cha</span><span class="invisible">rles-carrier-plea-deal-fraud?utm_source=mastodon&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/housing/" rel="tag">#Housing</a> <a href="/tags/home/" rel="tag">#Home</a> <a href="/tags/fraud/" rel="tag">#Fraud</a> <a href="/tags/lawsuit/" rel="tag">#Lawsuit</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/realestate/" rel="tag">#RealEstate</a></p>

<p>Ronnie Dugger, founding editor and longtime publisher of the Texas Observer and for many years the crusading conscience of the progressive movement in Texas and beyond, died of complications of dementia at a hospice center in Austin on May 27. He was 95. <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/ronnie-dugger-1930-2025/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/ronnie-dugger-1930-2025/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/ronnie-d</span><span class="invisible">ugger-1930-2025/</span></a> </p><p><a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a> <a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/rip/" rel="tag">#RIP</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/media/" rel="tag">#media</a> <a href="/tags/history/" rel="tag">#history</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a></p>

<p>New: Our Editor-in-Chief <span class="h-card"><a href="https://texasobserver.social/@gusbova" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>gusbova</span></a></span> welcomes readers to our January / February 2025 issue with a bit of hope as we enter a difficult time. <br><a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/editors-letter-january-february-2025/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/editors-letter-january-february-2025/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/editors-</span><span class="invisible">letter-january-february-2025/</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a> <a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a></p>