Dave Mann

Dave Mann has been with the Observer since 2003. Before that, he worked as a reporter in Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. He was born and raised in Philadelphia. He thinks border collies are the world’s greatest dogs, and believes in the nourishing powers of pickup basketball.

State of Texas: The Road to 500 ExecutionsMay 17, 2013
Texas will soon execute its 500th person since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Full Story
State of Texas: Who Pays How Much In TaxesApr 18, 2013
Texas' tax system is one of the most regressive in the country, meaning it falls especially hard on the poor. Full Story
Oops: The Top 10 Perry GaffesFeb 02, 2012
Full Story

Hot List: Day 140 of the LegislatureMay 27, 2013
The Lead: Well, kids, we’ve reached sine die—the 140th, and last, day of the 83rd Legislature’s regular session. (The circus is apparently staying in [...] Full Story
Hot List: Day 139 of the LegislatureMay 26, 2013
The Lead: It’s the penultimate day of the session, and lawmakers have much left to do. The House still must pass the budget and [...] Full Story
State of Texas: The Road to 500 ExecutionsMay 17, 2013
Texas will soon execute its 500th person since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Full Story
Hot List: Day 127 of the LegislatureMay 14, 2013
The Lead: The Legislature went after mucus yesterday. That would be Michael Quinn Sullivan (often referred to as MQS—or mucus) who leads the tea [...] Full Story
Observer Story Wins SPJ AwardApr 24, 2013
When Texas Observer staff writer Emily DePrang first met Josh Gravens in early 2012, his life was in shambles. The 25-year-old husband and father [...] Full Story

Oops: The Top 10 Perry GaffesFeb 02, 2012
Full Story
Hate on the InsideSep 19, 2011
The remains of James Byrd Jr.’s body were found on a Sunday morning. The 49-year-old African-American father of three had been dumped outside an [...] Full Story
Let’s Get This Party StartedAug 08, 2011
The Texas Democratic Party’s futility has lasted so long, we’re running out of fresh ways to describe it. The past 15 years for Texas [...] Full Story
Aiding Wounded WarriorsJul 28, 2011
On a recent July morning, Chuck Luther got a call from a soldier serving in northern Iraq. The staff sergeant on the line was [...] Full Story
How the Budget Got CutJun 08, 2011
The 82nd Texas Legislature passed perhaps the leanest and cruelest budget in state history. That’s really saying something. The Legislature isn’t exactly known for [...] Full Story