<p>Despite having an office of hundreds of attorneys, Ken Paxton is frequently opting for private lawyers — many to whom he has personal or political ties — to argue on behalf of Texas.</p><p>One attorney cost taxpayers more than $24,000 for a day’s work.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ken-paxton-private-lawyers-texas-cases?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/ken-paxton-private-lawyers-texas-cases?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/ken</span><span class="invisible">-paxton-private-lawyers-texas-cases?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&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/kenpaxton/" rel="tag">#KenPaxton</a> <a href="/tags/attorneygeneral/" rel="tag">#AttorneyGeneral</a></p>
texas
<p>Nathan Albers once co-owned a company that schemed to hire and conceal undocumented workers.</p><p>Now his company could make hundreds of millions from work on the nation's largest detention camp. <br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/nathan-albers-fort-bliss-immigration?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/nathan-albers-fort-bliss-immigration?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/nat</span><span class="invisible">han-albers-fort-bliss-immigration?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/immigration/" rel="tag">#Immigration</a> <a href="/tags/ice/" rel="tag">#ICE</a> <a href="/tags/detention/" rel="tag">#Detention</a> <a href="/tags/immigrants/" rel="tag">#Immigrants</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a></p>
<p>“The whole system is premised on commodifying human beings.” </p><p>From Sandy West in our magazine: In the aftermath of Roe v. Wade, adoptions are on the rise in <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a>. But some private foster care and adoption agencies may have crossed serious ethical lines. <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/private-adoption-agencies-legal-custody-battles/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/private-adoption-agencies-legal-custody-battles/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/private-</span><span class="invisible">adoption-agencies-legal-custody-battles/</span></a> </p><p><a href="/tags/roevwade/" rel="tag">#RoeVWade</a> <a href="/tags/children/" rel="tag">#children</a> <a href="/tags/humanrights/" rel="tag">#HumanRights</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/adoption/" rel="tag">#adoption</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a></p>
Edited 259d ago
<p>Over the years, Texas legislators have declined to pass at least three bills that would create siren or alert systems, a tool that Kerr County officials tried to secure for years before the July 4 flooding.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-flooding-inaction-state-legislature?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-flooding-inaction-state-legislature?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-flooding-inaction-state-legislature?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&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/kerrcounty/" rel="tag">#KerrCounty</a> <a href="/tags/flood/" rel="tag">#Flood</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/emergency/" rel="tag">#Emergency</a> <a href="/tags/disaster/" rel="tag">#Disaster</a></p>
<p>The IRS Says Churches Can Now Endorse Candidates. That Could Give Texas Pastors More Power Than Ever.</p><p>While the IRS move applies across the country, Texas — with more than 200 megachurches — will be the epicenter for pastors and congregations to test out their new influence, one expert said.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/irs-churches-endorse-candidates-texas?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/irs-churches-endorse-candidates-texas?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/irs</span><span class="invisible">-churches-endorse-candidates-texas?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&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/church/" rel="tag">#Church</a> <a href="/tags/uspolitics/" rel="tag">#USPolitics</a> <a href="/tags/gop/" rel="tag">#GOP</a> <a href="/tags/religion/" rel="tag">#Religion</a> <a href="/tags/elections/" rel="tag">#Elections</a></p>
<p>❄️ Even investigative journalists need a little holiday cheer </p><p>🎄This season, we’re grateful for a community that believes in truth-telling in Texas—especially when it matters most. </p><p>👉 Double your gift: <a href="https://texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/?campaign=701UQ00000bxAKbYAM" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/?campaign=701UQ00000bxAKbYAM"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">texasobserver.fundjournalism.o</span><span class="invisible">rg/join/?campaign=701UQ00000bxAKbYAM</span></a></p><p>(🎄🧵 1/3)</p><p><a href="/tags/supportlocaljournalism/" rel="tag">#SupportLocalJournalism</a> <a href="/tags/texasobserver/" rel="tag">#TexasObserver</a> <a href="/tags/holidaygiving/" rel="tag">#HolidayGiving</a> <a href="/tags/independentmedia/" rel="tag">#IndependentMedia</a> <a href="/tags/doubleyourimpact/" rel="tag">#DoubleYourImpact</a> <a href="/tags/nonprofit/" rel="tag">#nonprofit</a> <a href="/tags/fundraising/" rel="tag">#fundraising</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a></p>
Edited 114d ago
<p>Texas Private Schools Hire Relatives and Enrich Insiders. Soon They Can Do It With Taxpayer Money.<br>—</p><p>An investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found more than 60 instances of nepotism, self-dealing and conflicts of interest among 27 private schools that likely would have violated state laws had the schools been public. <br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-vouchers-private-schools-conflicts-of-interest?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-vouchers-private-schools-conflicts-of-interest?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-vouchers-private-schools-conflicts-of-interest?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/education/" rel="tag">#Education</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/school/" rel="tag">#School</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/ethics/" rel="tag">#Ethics</a> <a href="/tags/students/" rel="tag">#Students</a> <a href="/tags/teaching/" rel="tag">#Teaching</a></p>
<p>Introducing the September/October 2025 issue of Texas Observer magazine, with cover art by Adrià Volt, and stories by Michelle Pitcher, Julie Poole, Francesca D'Annunzio and more. </p><p>Become a member to get our magazine 6 times per year: <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/media/" rel="tag">#media</a> <a href="/tags/humanrights/" rel="tag">#HumanRights</a> <a href="/tags/healthcare/" rel="tag">#healthcare</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/disability/" rel="tag">#disability</a> <a href="/tags/nonprofit/" rel="tag">#nonprofit</a></p>
<p>“This is the most massive secrecy grab in <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> since the adoption of the Public Information Act.” </p><p>New today from Michelle Pitcher: A move to "standardize" <a href="/tags/police/" rel="tag">#police</a> personnel files could have devastating consequences for <a href="/tags/transparency/" rel="tag">#transparency</a>. <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/secrecy-g-file-police-records-texas-legislature/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/secrecy-g-file-police-records-texas-legislature/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/secrecy-</span><span class="invisible">g-file-police-records-texas-legislature/</span></a> </p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a> <a href="/tags/politics/" rel="tag">#politics</a> <a href="/tags/uspol/" rel="tag">#USpol</a> <a href="/tags/fascism/" rel="tag">#fascism</a> <a href="/tags/txlege/" rel="tag">#TXlege</a> <a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/humanrights/" rel="tag">#HumanRights</a> <a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a> <a href="/tags/democracy/" rel="tag">#democracy</a></p>
<p>Join Mother Jones, Capital B, and the Texas Observer in <a href="/tags/houston/" rel="tag">#Houston</a> for The Lingering Storm: Stories of Hope and Action—a powerful in-person event reflecting on Hurricane Katrina’s legacy and how communities are rising in the face of climate change and displacement.</p><p>Where: Julia Ideson Building, Houston, <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a><br>When: Wed., Sept. 10 | Doors 6:30PM | Program 7–9PM<br>Donation-based RSVP (suggested $5): <a href="https://bit.ly/KatrinaEvent2025" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>bit.ly/KatrinaEvent2025</a> </p><p>(🧵 1/2: See reply for lineup!) <br><a href="/tags/events/" rel="tag">#events</a> <a href="/tags/thelingeringstorm/" rel="tag">#TheLingeringStorm</a> <a href="/tags/climatejustice/" rel="tag">#ClimateJustice</a></p>
Edited 234d ago
<p>A Tarrant County resident who has worked as an election judge criticized the county’s move to cut more than 100 polling sites.</p><p>“You’re not saving money,” she said. “You’re sacrificing democracy to save a buck.”</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/tarrant-county-texas-polling-sites-early-voting-cuts?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/tarrant-county-texas-polling-sites-early-voting-cuts?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tar</span><span class="invisible">rant-county-texas-polling-sites-early-voting-cuts?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&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/tarrantcounty/" rel="tag">#TarrantCounty</a> <a href="/tags/vote/" rel="tag">#Vote</a> <a href="/tags/elections/" rel="tag">#Elections</a> <a href="/tags/democracy/" rel="tag">#Democracy</a> <a href="/tags/voting/" rel="tag">#Voting</a></p>
<p>The Texas <a href="/tags/redistricting/" rel="tag">#Redistricting</a> Fight Has Been the Testing Ground for the <a href="/tags/trump/" rel="tag">#Trump</a> Administration’s Latest Legal Strategy<br>==</p><p>The administration has been testing a strategy of using the courts as leverage to force political outcomes. In <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a>, the state’s leaders and conservative activists have been willing, if not eager, collaborators.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-redistricting-trump-lawsuits-courts?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-mastodon-post&utm_content=8-25" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-redistricting-trump-lawsuits-courts?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-mastodon-post&utm_content=8-25"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-redistricting-trump-lawsuits-courts?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-mastodon-post&utm_content=8-25</span></a></p>
<p>Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Elon Musk is “one of the only people in the world” who could build Houston’s much-needed tunnel system for flood water mitigation.</p><p>But his company, Boring, has never completed a major public project in Texas.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/elon-musk-wesley-hunt-houston-tunnels-boring-co?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/elon-musk-wesley-hunt-houston-tunnels-boring-co?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/elo</span><span class="invisible">n-musk-wesley-hunt-houston-tunnels-boring-co?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a> </p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/elonmusk/" rel="tag">#ElonMusk</a> <a href="/tags/musk/" rel="tag">#Musk</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/houston/" rel="tag">#Houston</a> <a href="/tags/flood/" rel="tag">#Flood</a> <a href="/tags/tunnel/" rel="tag">#Tunnel</a></p>
<p>New records show that Uvalde school leaders initially planned to defend Police Chief Pete Arredondo after the Robb Elementary shooting.</p><p>The details were revealed in over 25,000 pages the district released after a legal fight with news outlets.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/uvalde-pete-arredondo-new-records?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/uvalde-pete-arredondo-new-records?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/uva</span><span class="invisible">lde-pete-arredondo-new-records?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&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/records/" rel="tag">#Records</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/police/" rel="tag">#Police</a> <a href="/tags/uvalde/" rel="tag">#Uvalde</a> <a href="/tags/shooting/" rel="tag">#Shooting</a></p>
<p>Trump Says America’s Oil Industry Is Cleaner Than Other Countries’. New Data Shows Massive Emissions From Texas Wells.<br>---</p><p>The oil industry touts Texas as a success story in controlling climate-warming methane emissions. The state’s regulator, however, grants nearly every request to burn or vent gas into the atmosphere.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-methane-oil-emissions-climate?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-methane-oil-emissions-climate?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-methane-oil-emissions-climate?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&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/oil/" rel="tag">#Oil</a> <a href="/tags/gas/" rel="tag">#Gas</a> <a href="/tags/data/" rel="tag">#Data</a> <a href="/tags/climate/" rel="tag">#Climate</a> <a href="/tags/environment/" rel="tag">#Environment</a> <a href="/tags/trump/" rel="tag">#Trump</a></p>
<p>The Barbed Wire is a queer centric media outlet covering all things Texas. And they are on the fediverse.</p><p>I highly recommend their newsletter as well. </p><p><span class="h-card"><a href="https://threads.net/@thebarbedwiretexas/" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>thebarbedwiretexas</span></a></span></p><p><a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a></p>
<p>Guards have taken away crayons, colored pencils and paper during recent room searches at Dilley, according to detainees and others.</p><p>After one inspection, the children just “cried and cried and cried,” a mother said. The facility denies the claims.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/dilley-detention-center-kids-art-removal?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/dilley-detention-center-kids-art-removal?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/dil</span><span class="invisible">ley-detention-center-kids-art-removal?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&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/dhs/" rel="tag">#DHS</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/immigration/" rel="tag">#Immigration</a> <a href="/tags/children/" rel="tag">#Children</a> <a href="/tags/immigrants/" rel="tag">#Immigrants</a> <a href="/tags/family/" rel="tag">#Family</a> <a href="/tags/art/" rel="tag">#Art</a></p>
<p>Faith Family Academy is one of eight Texas charter school districts on track to be shut down at the end of the year after receiving an “F” rating.</p><p>Board members paid its superintendent a peak annual compensation of $560,000 in recent years.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-charter-superintendent-pay-performance?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/texas-charter-superintendent-pay-performance?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tex</span><span class="invisible">as-charter-superintendent-pay-performance?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&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/education/" rel="tag">#Education</a> <a href="/tags/school/" rel="tag">#School</a> <a href="/tags/parents/" rel="tag">#Parents</a> <a href="/tags/family/" rel="tag">#Family</a> <a href="/tags/charterschool/" rel="tag">#CharterSchool</a> <a href="/tags/superintendent/" rel="tag">#Superintendent</a></p>
<p>In response to our investigation that raised questions about the effectiveness of Boring’s pitch to build tunnels to ease Houston flooding, Musk said tunnels can be added if more floodwater needs to be moved. Engineers said it is not that simple.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/fact-checking-elon-musk-response-boring-houston-tunnels?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/fact-checking-elon-musk-response-boring-houston-tunnels?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/fac</span><span class="invisible">t-checking-elon-musk-response-boring-houston-tunnels?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/elonmusk/" rel="tag">#ElonMusk</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/houston/" rel="tag">#Houston</a> <a href="/tags/flood/" rel="tag">#Flood</a> <a href="/tags/infrastructure/" rel="tag">#Infrastructure</a> <a href="/tags/engineering/" rel="tag">#Engineering</a></p>
<p>ProPublica and Other News Organizations Fight to Unseal Texas AG Ken Paxton’s Divorce Records<br>--</p><p>A group of eight state and national media organizations are arguing that the records are of public interest, especially in light of Paxton’s bid for a U.S. Senate seat. <br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ken-paxton-divorce-case-records-unseal?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/ken-paxton-divorce-case-records-unseal?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/ken</span><span class="invisible">-paxton-divorce-case-records-unseal?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/media/" rel="tag">#Media</a> <a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#Journalism</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/kenpaxton/" rel="tag">#KenPaxton</a> <a href="/tags/government/" rel="tag">#Government</a></p>
<p>32 People Died in ICE Custody in 2025, as <a href="/tags/minneapolis/" rel="tag">#Minneapolis</a> Killings Spark Outrage</p><p>“Of those who died in <a href="/tags/ice/" rel="tag">#ICE</a> custody last year include Geraldo Lunas Campos, whose death in <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> has been ruled a homicide. </p><p>Also Wael Tarabishi, who died of a rare genetic disease thirty days after his father, Wael’s primary caregiver, was detained by ICE after a routine check-in at an immigration facility in Dallas.”</p><p><a href="https://people.com/deaths-ice-custody-last-year-as-fatal-shootings-spur-outrage-11890261" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="people.com/deaths-ice-custody-last-year-as-fatal-shootings-spur-outrage-11890261"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">people.com/deaths-ice-custody-</span><span class="invisible">last-year-as-fatal-shootings-spur-outrage-11890261</span></a></p>
<p>Are you interested in covering politics in the Lone Star State? The Texas Observer is hiring an intern to help us cover the 2026 elections! Apply here: <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/jobs/" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.texasobserver.org/jobs/</a> </p><p><a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/jobs/" rel="tag">#jobs</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/elections/" rel="tag">#elections</a> <a href="/tags/democracy/" rel="tag">#democracy</a></p>
<p>Democratic and Republican lawmakers across the country tried to push through bills to tighten gift limits, toughen conflict-of-interest provisions or expand financial disclosure reporting requirements. But many of the measures were derailed.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ethics-reform-legislation-blocked-statehouses?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/ethics-reform-legislation-blocked-statehouses?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/eth</span><span class="invisible">ics-reform-legislation-blocked-statehouses?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/ethics/" rel="tag">#Ethics</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/government/" rel="tag">#Government</a> <a href="/tags/virginia/" rel="tag">#Virginia</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/newmexico/" rel="tag">#NewMexico</a> <a href="/tags/northdakota/" rel="tag">#NorthDakota</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/maine/" rel="tag">#Maine</a></p>
<p>Despite falling crime rates, leaders at a nonprofit argued Dallas was descending into anarchy to sell voters on increasing police.</p><p>Some residents now fear the push could be used as a playbook for other cities.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/police-dallas-hero-crime-proposition?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/police-dallas-hero-crime-proposition?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/pol</span><span class="invisible">ice-dallas-hero-crime-proposition?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/dallas/" rel="tag">#Dallas</a> <a href="/tags/texas/" rel="tag">#Texas</a> <a href="/tags/police/" rel="tag">#Police</a> <a href="/tags/crime/" rel="tag">#Crime</a> <a href="/tags/trump/" rel="tag">#Trump</a> <a href="/tags/gop/" rel="tag">#GOP</a> <a href="/tags/uspolitics/" rel="tag">#USPolitics</a></p>
<p>Out today from Gus Bova: Highlights of our newest issue include criminal justice reporting from Michelle Pitcher, exploring <a href="/tags/houston/" rel="tag">#Houston</a> culture with <span class="h-card"><a href="https://texasobserver.social/@josephinelee" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>josephinelee</span></a></span>, the war over homelessness policy with <span class="h-card"><a href="https://mstdn.social/@stevanzetti" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>stevanzetti</span></a></span>, and much more. <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/editors-letter-january-february-2026/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.texasobserver.org/editors-letter-january-february-2026/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.texasobserver.org/editors-</span><span class="invisible">letter-january-february-2026/</span></a> </p><p><a href="/tags/journalism/" rel="tag">#journalism</a> <a href="/tags/media/" rel="tag">#media</a> <a href="/tags/humanrights/" rel="tag">#HumanRights</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/culture/" rel="tag">#culture</a> <a href="/tags/gulfcoast/" rel="tag">#GulfCoast</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#law</a></p>