Patrick Michels

Patrick Michels, a former Observer staff writer, is a reporter at the Center for Investigative Reporting.

George Clayton, the GOP official who flipped parties to run for the Texas Legislature, now the Dem who joined the Trump campaign.

LGBT Rights

From GOP Moderate to Democratic Lege Hopeful to Trump Campaigner

Fri, May 6, 2016 |

Feeling abandoned by both the GOP and Democrats, former State Board of Education member George Clayton found a home in the Trump campaign. Read More

Tyler resident Wayne Propst believes he's found fossils from the biblical flood.

Criminal Justice

Strangest State: Biblical Fossils, Ebola Meth and a Push-Up King

Thu, May 5, 2016 |

In this month's weird news from far-flung Texas, a Tyler man believes he's found biblical history in his back yard, and the unofficial Popeye of Victoria. Read More

The Jefferson Center disciplinary campus in Abilene, an "alternative" campus for children as young as kindergarteners.

Criminal Justice

Three Families Take ‘Abusive’ Abilene School Cop to Court

Fri, Apr 29, 2016 |

In May 2014, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday, an Abilene school police officer used a pain submission maneuver called an “arm bar” to pick up a 6-year-old kindergarten student and pull him into to class. In February 2015, … Read More

Janet Baker, joined by Houston activist Biko Gray, finishes recording the first episode of her KCOH radio show "Journey to Justice" in April. Baker's son Jordan was killed by an off-duty Houston police officer in 2014.

Criminal Justice

Make the Road by Talking

Tue, Apr 26, 2016 |

Janet Baker, whose son Jordan Baker was shot by a cop, takes calls on-air during her first radio show for those who've lost loved ones to police violence. Read More

Save Texas Schools rally at the Texas Capitol, Saturday, February 25. opt-out movement

Education

Test Score Woes in Lewisville Could Signal More STAAR Trouble Across Texas

School district will spend over $50,000 to check for more erroneous scores.

Wed, Apr 20, 2016 |

Lewisville could spend over $50,000 checking STAAR scores after finding some students' tests, which they must pass to graduate, were wrongly graded zero. Read More

Former San Antonio ISD police officer Joshua Kehm.

Education

District Fires Cop Who Threw Girl to Ground in Viral Video

San Antonio ISD officer Joshua Kehm had completed trainings on active shooters and gangs but hadn’t yet finished school policing instruction.

Mon, Apr 11, 2016 |

Joshua Kehm, who had not yet completed school policing training, was fired after a video surfaced showing him throwing a 12-year-old girl to the ground. Read More

Par Meng and her toddler, Peter Lien, are Burmese refugees who've lived in Amarillo for two years. Local leaders and conservative activists have pressured resettlement groups to bring fewer refugees like them to the city.

Human Rights

The Strangers Next Door

How Amarillo became a safe haven from violence across the world — and Ground Zero in the backlash against refugees.

Mon, Apr 11, 2016 |

How Amarillo became a safe haven from violence across the world — and Ground Zero in the backlash against refugees. Read More

Education

Right-Wing Think Tank: Let the Market Sort Out School Finance

Tue, Apr 5, 2016 |

A new Texas Public Policy Foundation report argues lawmakers don't need to figure out how much money Texas students need — they can leave it to the market. Read More

Mesquite ISD teachers encourage their students to "focus," "work hard" and "dream on" to ace the STAAR test.

Education

STAAR Stars, Volume Two: the Best Get Pumped for the Test

Mon, Apr 4, 2016 |

Shore up your secondhand embarrassment allowance, because these Texas teachers up the dork factor in their schools' STAAR test prep videos. Read More