Patrick Michels
By Patrick Michels:
Abbott Veto is a Major Setback for Oversight of Troubled Adult Guardianship System
Out of Reach
Forgotten by East Texas courts, a woman is left in the care of a husband her family says is abusive.
Forgotten by East Texas courts, a woman is left in the care of a husband her family says is abusive. Read More
In Response to Observer Report, Lawmaker Proposes Ban on ‘Donations’ in Lieu of Prosecution
A bill introduced Thursday by state Representative Mike Lang would ban prosecutors from accepting gifts and donations from defendants.
A bill introduced Thursday by state Representative Mike Lang would ban prosecutors from accepting gifts and donations from defendants. Read More
State of Texas: The Bigger the Roof, the Closer to God
Recent trends would suggest megachurches are on the way out, but Texans continue to like everything bigger, including their places of worship. Read More
Rationale for Texas’ Largest Corporate Welfare Program was a ‘Typographical Error’
What if Texas blew billions of dollars because someone misread an obscure business report 15 years ago? In March, the Observer took a close look at the state’s largest corporate welfare program, the Texas Economic Development Act, which is meant … Read More
Making Crime Pay and Pay and Pay…
In Texas, paying for cops, courts and prosecutors with fees from defendants has become more and more popular. But what happens when the drive to do justice on the cheap collides with a rogue prosecutor?
In Texas, funding courts with defendants' fees has become commonplace. But what happens when this system collides with a rogue prosecutor? Read More
Legal Loophole May Have Helped Houston Attorney Allegedly Defraud Immigrants
Prince Ucheche Nwakanma has been the subject of lawsuits, and an investigation by Univision, claiming he defrauded clients at his immigration law practice.
Prince Ucheche Nwakanma has been the subject of lawsuits, and an investigation by Univision, claiming he defrauded clients at his immigration law practice. Read More
Strangest State: Clowns, Bomb Squads, and Chicken-Launching
In this edition of Strangest State, featuring weird news from far-flung Texas: Beer is the "devil's draft" in Canyon, plus "clown busters" in Amarillo. Read More
Scholars Find 400 New Errors in ‘Racist’ Textbook Revamp (Updated)
Rallying scholars say the revised Mexican-American studies textbook, which describes Mexican Americans as dangerous and lazy, also introduces hundreds of new errors.
Scholars say the revised Mexican-American studies textbook, which describes Mexican Americans as dangerous and lazy, also introduces hundreds of new errors. Read More
Prairie View Students See Long Lines as Waller County May Elect First Black Sheriff
Student turnout is key for the man who could be the first black sheriff in the county where Sandra Bland died.
Student turnout is key in Prairie View, where Democrat Cedric Watson is running to become the first black sheriff in the county where Sandra Bland died. Read More