The Texas Observer

Graves of Shame
by John Carlos Frey
Jul 06, 2015
A year ago, a Texas Rangers inquiry found “no evidence” of wrongdoing in the botched handling of migrant remains in Brooks County. New evidence indicates rampant violations of the law. Full Story
Doing the Lord’s Work
by Katie Sherrod
Jul 01, 2015
A San Antonio woman is counting on Texas’ Religious Freedom Restoration Act to trump a local ordinance that could end her decade-old ministry of feeding the homeless, mentally ill and others who are simply down on their luck. Full Story
Gay Marriage Arrives in Texas
by Texas Observer Staff
Jun 26, 2015
In a landmark victory for marriage equality, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against statewide bans on same-sex marriage, granting gay and lesbian couples in Texas the right to legally marry. Full Story
Wrong Side of the Tax
by Patrick Michels
Jun 24, 2015
Big Spring’s fast-rising home appraisals this year are particularly wreaking havoc on low-income homeowners, exposing another problem with Texas' heavy reliance on property taxes. Full Story

Meet the First Same-Sex Couple to Marry in Dallas County
by John Wright
Jun 30, 2015
Jack Evans and George Harris, who have been together for 54 years, became the first same-sex couple to marry in Dallas County after the U.S. Supreme Court's historic marriage equality decision. Full Story
Eye on Texas: Hot Fun in the Summertime
by Sarah Lim
Jun 25, 2015
As part of her series "Bitche$ on a Budget," Austin-based photographer Sarah Lim shows that one cheap way to beat the Texas heat is crashing apartment-complex pools. Full Story
State of Texas: Who We Kill
by Joe Cutbirth
Jun 23, 2015
According to data collected by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, an unsurprising trend has emerged among death row inmates, the majority of whom are black or Hispanic and have lived a debilitating existence prior to their execution. Full Story
Eye on Texas: Cowboys & Cul-De-Sacs
by Lisa Krantz
May 19, 2015
In what began as an assignment for the San Antonio Express-News, “Cowboys & Cul-de-Sacs” tells the story of Helotes, a small town just outside of San Antonio city limits experiencing rapid growth that threatens its rural ambiance. Full Story
Eye on Texas: UT-Austin’s Petawatt Laser
by Texas Observer Staff
Apr 27, 2015
Once the most powerful laser in the world, the Texas Petawatt Laser lies beneath the University of Texas, and continues to awe scientists around the world. Full Story

Graves of Shame