The Voice of Lone Star Poetry
Guadalupe Mendez, Texas poet laureate, reaches out to diverse communities—including his own—thanks to his unique background and vision.
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley Is at a Political Crossroads
Redistricting, retirements, and a resurgent GOP make 2022 a year of political possibilities in a Democratic border stronghold.
The Final Frontera
Elon Musk wants to go to Mars. Money, regulations, and public beaches are no object.
Troubled Water
Four days after 9/11, a towing barge crashed into the Queen Isabella Causeway, killing eight people. Twenty years later, the fishermen who saved three lives are telling what really happened that night.
‘Not Celebrating Yet’: South Texans Wait for Biden to Cancel Trump’s Wall
The president’s pause on wall construction leaves questions unanswered in Texas.
Local Organizers Explain the Republican Surge in South Texas
Democrats have long taken Latino voters for granted, while Republicans have worked to fill that organizing void.
Strangest State: Bear With Us
Weird news from far-flung Texas.
SIGN UP FOR TEXAS OBSERVER EMAILS
Underwater
Colonias on the Texas-Mexico border are hit hard even by small storms. For a local nonprofit, the solution lies in affordable, sustainable housing. But how do you rebuild in an area that keeps flooding?
‘I Think I’m Gonna Die’: Coronavirus Compounds Risk for Dialysis Patients in the Rio Grande Valley
In the Valley, about one in three people have diabetes. They’re at higher risk for COVID-19, but those who rely on dialysis can’t stay home.
Trump’s Wall May Have to Avoid Multiple Historic Cemeteries
In a bid to protect a high-profile South Texas graveyard, Congress appears to have shielded other notable cemeteries too.