A Texas Austerity Crisis Is Playing Out City by City, School by School
Texas' local governments are facing growing fiscal pain. What’s that mean for the 2026 elections—and the 2027 session?
Austin
Jesse Jackson Comes to Town
In honor of the late civil rights leader, the Observer resurfaces an encounter between the reverend and Molly Ivins.
As Contract Negotiations Drag On, Texas Starbucks Workers Have Learned the Power of Organizing
“We have an in everywhere. It's not hard to talk to other people that do the same thing that you do on a daily basis, and oftentimes they have the same grievances that you do."
Off the Charts
Inside an Austin nonprofit where teen musicians unlock opportunities—and blow the roof off the place while they’re at it
To Lead Blue Backlash, Texas Dems Turn to Austin
November's liberal army will be helmed by James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, after the capital city and Latino-majority areas propelled the former to victory over Jasmine Crockett.
Editor’s Letter: Introducing Our March/April 2026 Issue
A note from the editor-in-chief
When Local Police Collaborate with ICE, Children Pay the Price
I know exactly what message the recent deportation of an Austin mom and her 5-year-old sends to kids. They learn that calling 911 is dangerous.
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Austin’s Willy Baltazar Is a Man of Many Masks
From Veracruz to Texas, he keeps a centuries-old tradition alive.
At Barton Springs, Trans Existence Becomes Resistance
Following a transphobic incident earlier this year, community members gathered to "protect trans joy."
Why the City of Austin Wants Voters to Hike Their Property Taxes
And what Prop Q could mean for the future of local governments in Texas