Sam DeGrave
The Interview: Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg
Photos: SB 4 Protesters Flood Capitol to Jump-Start ‘Summer of Resistance’
From an overnight mariachi-themed protest at the governor’s mansion to more than 1,000 protesters flooding the Capitol, here’s what the Observer saw at the start of the “summer of resistance.”
When Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law, opponents of the anti-immigrant “show your papers” legislation answered with a promise. Two days after the governor signed the bill — on a Sunday night over Facebook Live — lawmakers … Read More
Texas Republican Called ICE on SB 4 Protesters, Threatened to Shoot Colleague
The incident happened as more than 1,000 immigrant rights supporters flooded the Texas Capitol.
A Texas Republican threatened to “put a bullet in one of his colleague’s heads” during a scuffle on the House floor over the state’s new anti-‘sanctuary cities’ law on Monday, the final day of the regular legislative session. Representative Matt … Read More
3 A.M. ‘Sanctuary’ Protest at Governor Abbott’s Mansion Blares Mariachi Music
“You’ve disturbed our peace, so we’re disturbing yours,” one sign held by protesters read.
While most Texans slept early Sunday morning, dozens of opponents of the state’s new “sanctuary cities” law, including undocumented immigrants, protested loudly outside the governor’s mansion. At 3 a.m. Sunday, around 50 protesters met in front of the downtown Austin … Read More
Photos: They Fought the Lege (and the Lege Won)
The Observer recaps the efforts of those who challenged the Republican-controlled Legislature. Photos and reporting by Sam DeGrave As far as controversial sessions go, the 85th Texas Legislature probably won’t stand above all others, but it was certainly wild and … Read More
In Passing ‘Bathroom Bill,’ Joe Straus’ House ‘Rolled’ By Dan Patrick
“We are being rolled by the Senate, and trans children are part of that bargain,” said Representative Celia Israel.
In the final days of the 85th Texas Legislature, the House bent to the will of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick by approving a version of the anti-transgender bathroom legislation that has drawn fierce opposition from civil rights advocates. With legislative … Read More
Traffic Ticketing Program That Feeds Debtors’ Prison Pipeline May Be in its Final Year
To repeal the Driver Responsibility Program, lawmakers are proposing to increase all Texas traffic fines by $20.
Since 2003, an obscure Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) program has trapped more than a million Texans in a cycle of debt, opponents say. For nearly as long, lawmakers critical of the program have sought to repeal it. This … Read More
Sandra Bland Act Passes Senate Unanimously After Key Provisions Dropped
“I would’ve preferred a more robust bill, but I’m happy — I’m elated — that there is a bill,” said author Garnet Coleman, D-Houston.
The version of the Sandra Bland Act that unanimously passed the Texas Senate Thursday afternoon isn’t the uncompromising criminal justice overhaul it was once was. If it were, it likely wouldn’t have cleared the ultraconservative body at all, let alone … Read More
Legislature Plans to Close Four Correctional Facilities. Will They Become Immigrant Detention Centers?
Many see the closures as a step in the right direction, but some advocates worry what the empty prisons could mean for immigrant detention.
Lawmakers, agency heads and policy advocates alike see this as a “step in the right direction,” but some worry what empty prisons could mean for immigrant detention. Read More
Overnight Hearing on House ‘Bathroom Bill’ Draws 95 Percent Opposition
Beginning at 11:40 p.m., lawmakers heard more than five hours of heartfelt testimony on HB 2899.
Lawmakers on the House State Affairs Committee didn’t begin considering the chamber’s so-called bathroom bill until nearly midnight Wednesday, after a marathon debate of other bills that lasted almost 12 hours on the House floor. For a high-profile meeting on … Read More