‘They Bought a Legislature’: What the GOP’s Gains Mean for Vouchers in Texas
Republicans nearly ran the table in state House races, shoring up Governor Abbott’s school voucher majority for the 2025 session.
Josephine Lee
Josephine Lee is a former staff writer at the Texas Observer covering education and labor. She previously worked as an educator and community organizer. Her reporting has been featured in Salon, The Daily Beast, Truthout, and other outlets. She was raised and lives in Houston.
Articles by Josephine Lee
‘No Trust, No Bond’: Houston School Bond Fails amid State Takeover Backlash
“In my 33 years as an educator, I’ve never known teachers to come out against a bond. I’ve never seen so much community involvement and participation, mainly because we do not trust Mike Miles.”
In San Antonio, House Races Could Determine Future of Public Ed and Vouchers
Abbott-induced financial crises in public school districts are at the center of key legislative elections in Bexar County and beyond.
Texas Is Taking Back the State Highway 288 Tollway—at a Steep Price
The private firms who have operated the tollway will be paid $1.7 billion by TxDOT, adding to the profit they’ve already made in toll revenues, construction contracts, and sales of shares.
When Will Texas Workers Finally Get Protections from Heat Exposure?
U.S. Representative Greg Casar discusses the timing and impact of a new federal workplace heat safety rule.
After Hurricane Beryl, Cooling Centers Were Few and Slow to Arrive for Houstonians of Color—Some Died of Heat Exposure
During the power outage following the storm, a shocking lack of support in vulnerable communities reflected a larger breakdown in coordination between the state, CenterPoint Energy, and local governments.
Mike Miles Moved Texas School Funds to Colorado Through a Possible Shell Corporation Without a Paper Trail
An Observer investigation has found irregularities in how the Houston ISD superintendent's Colorado charter school nonprofit did business in Texas.
Texas’ Plantation Prisons: Inside a 200-Year History of Forced Labor Shrouded in Secrecy
Punishments, injuries, and deaths—including from heat—on TDCJ farms are more hidden than they were in the years following convict leasing.
The Struggle to Fulfill Juneteenth’s Promise and Reckon with Its History
Sam Collins, better known as Professor Juneteenth, says his work to educate Americans about the holiday’s legacy is unfinished.
Houston Underdogs Beat Established Democrats in House, Senate Runoffs
Two community organizers-turned-candidates see their wins as a progressive blueprint for taking on the establishment and mobilizing the Democratic base.