The Fall of Hope Rising
The demise of a Brenham nonprofit intended to help young victims of trafficking is a cautionary tale about Texas’ overreliance on religious organizations to fix its troubled foster care system.
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Politics ⋆
In Congress, Christian Menefee Says He’s Fighting for ‘the Least, the Last, and the Lost’
The latest politician to represent H-Town’s historic 18th Congressional District talks about his recent primary against Al Green, ICE, voting rights, and the U.S. Senate race.
With Texas’ Data Center Boom, Uncertainty Is the Business Plan
Proposed projects are driven by sketchy numbers nobody has to prove: inflated demand, water use most companies never report, power plans that route around ordinary review. Either way, the public pays.
Houston Is Testing Whether Trump’s ICE Is Above Texas Law
After the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, local authorities have struggled to stake their claim on an investigation into a killing within the most populous Texas city’s limits.
Postcard ⋆
Cycling the Rio Grande as Trump’s Wall Looms
“We’re gonna be riding around areas where most everybody thinks it’s unsafe, and you’re gonna see that there’s really nothing to be worried about.”
Politics ⋆
Can a Tejano Star Restore Dems’ Power in South Texas?
In his bid to win a Trumpy congressional seat, Bobby Pulido is blending his moderate message with charismatic campaigning.
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Politics
The Tides of Tarrant
In Texas’ key swing county, Democratic commissioner Alisa Simmons is turning to voters to oust the arch-conservative county judge.
The Hard Ceiling over Texas Cities’ Climate Plans
From the biggest cities to smaller towns, local officials wrote serious climate plans. One law at a time, state policy has narrowed the tools to carry them out.
Unity and Discontent at the Texas Dems’ Corpus Convening
The convention showcased populism as the core of the party’s messaging. Will it hold true in November?
Border and Immigration
Excerpt: How to Close a Camp
Detention was sold as both a law-and-order necessity and an economic opportunity, welding together the racist politics of the drug war with the rise of private prisons.
What Is (and Isn’t) Happening with the Border Wall in Big Bend
Government flip-flopping and semantic ambiguity have led to premature declarations of victory over Trump’s attack on my home region.
Worker’s Death at SpaceX Factory Followed Hundreds of Injuries in Recent Years
A 25-year-old died last month of “blunt force trauma due to a fall.” An Observer analysis found that the injury rate at “Starbase” was well above an industry national average.
Culture
The Bats of Bracken
As many as 20 million of the winged mammals gather at one Texas Hill Country cave, creating one of nature’s most jaw-dropping displays.
Throwing the Book at Books in Prison
Inside Books Project volunteers have sent used books to Texas inmates for nearly 30 years. A new crackdown is threatening their work.
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July/August 2026
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