Forrest Wilder, a native of Wimberley, Texas, joined the
Observer as a staff writer in 2005. Forrest specializes in environmental reporting and runs the “Forrest for the Trees” blog. Forrest has appeared on
Democracy Now!,
The Rachel Maddow Show and numerous NPR stations. His work has been mentioned by
The New York Times, the
Washington Post, the
New Yorker,
Time magazine and many other state and national publications. Other than filing voluminous open records requests, Forrest enjoys fishing, kayaking, gardening and beer-league softball. He holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Texas Observer reporter Forrest Wilder provides video stills from The Response, Texas Governor Rick Perry’s, Aug. 6th prayer rally held in Houston. Read more [...] Full Story
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In a last-ditch effort to salvage payday loan reform, Rep. Mike Villarreal called on a recalcitrant Texas House committee to send legislation to the House. Full Story
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In hindsight, perhaps Greg LaMantia, a scion of a South Texas family who made its fortune as a regional Budweiser distributor, shouldn't have named his 5,000-acre spread near Wimberley "Needmore Ranch."
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Since 2005, immigration has been criminalized as never before. Full Story
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Late into the night, the payday loan industry strutted its stuff before a very friendly House committee. The hearing came just a week after the Senate passed a surprisingly tough bill that the industry insists would shut down most of Texas' 3,400 payday and auto-title storefronts. Even though the legislation aired last night is a faint shadow the Senate bill, it got a rough treatment from six of the seven committee members. Full Story
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While rain slicked the streets of Austin, lawmakers heatedly debated legislation that would use $2 billion from the state's Rainy Day Fund to fund the state water plan, an increasingly urgent issue for lawmakers. But, after hours of stop-and-go debate, a procedural error derailed the legislation.
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Polling indicates that Democrats have no lock on the Latino vote, and that control of Texas may hinge on which Latino voters show up at the polls.
Full Story
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In hindsight, perhaps Greg LaMantia, a scion of a South Texas family who made its fortune as a regional Budweiser distributor, shouldn't have named his 5,000-acre spread near Wimberley "Needmore Ranch."
Full Story
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Since 2005, immigration has been criminalized as never before. Full Story
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Consumer advocates and Democrats are divided over a Senate bill that would impose light regulations on payday and auto-title lenders. Full Story
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The question of whether Texas—which continues to grow in political and economic stature—is a model for emulation or mockery remains. Full Story
