Why Aren’t Texas Democrats Talking About Abortion?
Once seen as a crucial issue after the fall of "Roe," candidates here are now largely ignoring it altogether.
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Abandoned Oil Well Spreads Toxic Fumes, Dread Across San Antonio Subdivision
As new neighborhoods are built in Texas, residents don’t always know they are living on top of old oilfields.
Is Brandon Gill the Future of MAGA in Texas?
The young-ish right-wing Republican has rapidly gone from freshman lawmaker to one of Trump’s top attack dogs.
Highways and Hunting, Parasites and Panopticons
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Despite Surge in Prison Overdoses, State Agency Requests No New Treatment Funding
“Funding drug interdiction alone is a misguided approach,” one state senator told the Observer. “The state must also address the ongoing problem of addiction in our prison system through treatment and rehabilitation, in addition to prevention.”
School Vouchers Take Center Stage in Texas’ Most Flippable State House District
On San Antonio’s South Side, a progressive Democrat faces off with an architect of the new private school voucher program.
Jim Hightower’s Revenge? A Long-Shot Bid Could Restore Left Populism to the Agriculture Commissioner’s Office.
Clayton Tucker is pitching a throwback style of politics the Texas electorate hasn’t embraced in decades. Is 2026 just crazy enough for it to work?
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‘Earth Has No Sorrow’: Visions of a Caldwell County Long Gone
The Observer resurfaces a 50-year-old collection of fine arts photography and unique oral history.
A ‘Politically Motivated Cover-Up’: Why the State’s Maternal Death Report Was Pushed Until After Midterms
Advocates and lawmakers warn the state health agency's decision to delay releasing the annual report will further harm women—and make it harder to enact necessary laws in 2027.