Strangest State: Skulls, Shells, Smugglers, and Sheriffs
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‘Suicide by Cop’: How a Poorly Defined Term Shifts Accountability for Lost Lives
In the early hours of July 24, someone placed a call to Austin’s 911 dispatch. The male caller told the operator he was looking out of his window and saw a teenager who may have had a gun. He wasn’t … Continued
Observer Masthead Additions and a Farewell
I’m proud to announce that the Observer has hired Mary Tuma, a freelance contributor since 2020, as a staff writer covering reproductive rights and politics starting late next month. Mary has been a leading reporter on repro rights in Texas … Continued
What the Data Says About Electricity Shutoffs During Sweltering Texas Summers
In July 2024, the city-owned electric utility in Georgetown recorded two disconnections for nonpayment for every 10,000 residential accounts it served. In Garland, outside Dallas, the city-owned utility recorded 250, data shows. Same state, same month. Neither utility was covered … Continued
Texas Maternal Mortality Committee’s Next Report Will Skip Post-‘Roe’ Deaths. Lawmakers Suspect Political Influence.
Hope Ngumezi never imagined he would be a single father. When he met his late wife Porsha at Lamar University in Beaumont, Ngumezi was instantly enamored of her energy, drive, and compassion. Both Ngumezi and Porsha came from large families … Continued
Indigenous Group Sues to Stop Big Bend Border Wall on Religious Grounds
The People of La Junta for Preservation, a nonprofit founded in 2024 that works to preserve Indigenous sites, and two Indigenous worshippers of Lipan Apache lineage are suing the federal government to stop the highly contentious border barrier construction and … Continued