Free Tickets, Familiar Jokes, and an Unsettled Party Grasping for Unity—and a Fight
At the unusual midterm convention, Republicans pleaded with voters not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Dallas
Civil Rights Groups are Changing Bail Practices in Texas, One City at a Time
On Thursday, a federal judge ruled against Dallas County’s strict reliance on cash bail, saying it discriminates against poor people and violates their equal protection rights.
How the Police Shooting of Botham Jean Disrupted Dallas’ Reputation for Reform
The brain-twisting shooting of a man inside his own apartment is yet another example of both police escalation and the flexibility often afforded cops who commit egregious acts.
Leaving the Gay Place Lights a Candle for the Patron Saint of Austin’s Counterculture
Tracy Daugherty’s new biography of The Gay Place author Billy Lee Brammer is part poetic ode, part oral history — and always a wild ride.
Videos of Dallas Bail Hearings Show Assembly-Line Justice in Action
Footage obtained by the Observer shows cursory bail hearings that routinely last fewer than 15 seconds.
The Murder Conviction of Dallas-area Cop Roy Oliver is Nothing Short of Extraordinary
The case illustrates the high bar that prosecutors must clear for a conviction, particularly in Texas, where prosecutions for on-duty killings are virtually unheard of.
How Pete Sessions Lives the High Life on Corporate Donors’ Dime
For years, the powerful Dallas congressman has used a largely unregulated political fund to court powerful special interests with luxurious perks.
Homeward Bound
The first-of-its-kind Museum of Street Culture challenges art-world norms by employing homeless docents and displaying art on the street.
When Islamophobia Backfires
While Muslim-bashing is relatively common in Texas and other red states, two recent incidents from North Texas show that it’s not always political gold.
