Students Taking Back ‘Ownership’ of Education
“We defended these books, which remained in the library ... We saw book banning slow down, and that was really phenomenal to see.”
Michelle Pitcher
Michelle Pitcher is a staff writer at the Texas Observer covering criminal justice. 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
Naked Man Shot In Hospital By Houston Cop Gets $900K Settlement
The city quietly paid off Alan Pean, a man injured by an off-duty Bayou City police officer during a mental health crisis.
Texas Cities Prioritize Police over People
Fort Worth spends six times more on criminal justice than community services.
Course Corrections: The Return of Prison Education
Federal grants are rebooting higher education behind bars, but the benefits aren't evenly distributed to all of the incarcerated.
Voters Reinforce Republican Stronghold on State Board of Education
“Critical Race Theory” boosts multiple new conservative voices onto the board, including a participant in January 6 pro-Trump rally.
Roland Gutierrez Won’t Let Greg Abbott Forget Uvalde
While he's not a "singular-issue" politician, "for these parents … there’s no issue out there that matters if you don’t have your kid.”
Progressive Prosecutor on Trial in Dallas Election
Incumbent John Creuzot's policies could reduce incarceration rates in his county, but a GOP challenger seeks to dismantle his efforts.
‘Girlhood,’ Interrupted
In a new memoir, a mother recounts the trauma of being investigated for supporting her trans daughter.
Despite Racist Jurors, Andre Thomas Remains on Texas’ Death Row
The convicted man’s lawyer called the prospect of his execution “an ugly spectacle.”
A Brief History of Junk Science and Bad Forensics
“Texas has a long history with the use of unreliable evidence. [It also has made] unique efforts to address that searing history.”