The Texas Senate’s Most Conservative Democrat Is Retiring
“I want somebody that has compassion for people—especially the unborn,” said Eddie Lucio of his eventual replacement.
Gus Bova
Gus Bova is a senior staff writer and assistant editor at the Texas Observer. He writes about labor, politics, the border, homelessness, and occasionally other topics. Before coming to the Observer, he worked at a shelter for recently arrived immigrants and asylum-seekers. He studied Latin American Studies at the University of Kansas.
Articles by Gus Bova
Austin Voters Reject Proposal to Super-Fund Police in Victory for Progressives
Fear and propaganda weren’t enough to save an expensive proposal to swell the police department in Texas’ bluest city.
The Woman Who Beat the Border Wall
For nearly 15 years, Pamela Rivas fought to save her land from the wall. But her property still crawls with Border Patrol and surveillance technology.
The Final Frontera
Elon Musk wants to go to Mars. Money, regulations, and public beaches are no object.
Dallas’ Hidden History of Terror
A 34-year-old old book set for re-release unearths a painful past with poignant provocation.
Newspaper Unions in Texas Fight for First Contracts
Big corporate chains are proving to be recalcitrant negotiators.
Life and Death in a Texas Homeless Camp
As the unhoused population grows, cities like Austin turn to legalized camps, where community and calamity collide.
For Greg Abbott, All the Border’s a Stage
But political theater can still get people hurt.
Again, Texas Republicans Fail to Gut Local Labor Protections
The win for worker advocates came unexpectedly—and may not last long.
As Homeless Camping Drama Rages, Protestors Camp Outside Austin City Hall
“What they want is to push us back to where they don’t see us anymore.”