Recent Execution Based on Discredited Forensic Science
Kosoul Chanthakoummane is set to be executed August 17 for the murder of a Dallas realtor in a case built on hypnosis and faulty evidence.
Michelle Pitcher
Michelle Pitcher is a staff writer at the Texas Observer covering criminal justice, housing, and education. She received her master’s in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley and was part of the team at The Marshall Project that won the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. Her reporting has been featured on NPR, FiveThirtyEight, The Dallas Morning News, and more. Michelle was born and raised in Dallas and is now based in Austin.
Articles by Michelle Pitcher
How Peter Stout Turned Around Houston’s Crime Lab
Once dubbed the worst in the country, Houston Forensic Science Center is setting a new standard for criminal investigations.
Texas’ Eviction Craze
Amid record heat and a new COVID wave, state residents are being threatened with homelessness in rising numbers.
Before ‘Roe’—and After
What criminalized abortion looked like in Texas before 1973, and what it may look like after 2022.
Immigrant Moms Get Rare Win in Long-fought Family Detention Case
The state Supreme Court weighed in on a fight to stop the state from licensing detention centers as childcare facilities.
How Much Power Do Police Oversight Offices Really Have?
In 2018, Austin created the Office of Police Oversight to try to increase police accountability. But has it really worked?
How Are Texas Officials Responding to the End of ‘Roe’?
“Austin will, to the best of its ability, do all we can to protect our values and our people.”
Teachers Don’t Want Guns in Their Classrooms
Report shows school employees do not support arming staff.
Record Highs: Springtime Heat a Dangerous New Threat to Homeless Texans
Sweltering temperatures imperil unsheltered residents, and community resources aren’t a given.
Texas Supreme Court Throws Out Protections for Trans Youth
The decision reaffirms the state child welfare agency’s ability to investigate families who seek gender-affirming care for their kids.