Drifting Toward Disaster: the (Second) Rio Grande
A century of enterprise brought the river to its brink. Now, authorities are “praying for a hurricane” as reservoirs dwindle and populations boom on both sides of the Mexico-Texas border.
News
Right-Wing Protectionism is Costing Texas
Laws banning the state from doing business with banks that are dubbed anti-fossil fuel or anti-gun will likely cost hundreds of millions in higher interest rates.
The Uvalde Parents Won’t Back Down
Alongside diligent media members, and despite local divisions, these families aren’t letting Texas move on from the Robb Elementary School tragedy.
Wind Capital in the Gulf
Upcoming offshore wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico could bring jobs as well as clean energy to Texas communities.
We Could Save the Grid by Using Less Electricity
In 1999, Texas was the first state to adopt an energy efficiency standard for utilities, but we've fallen way behind since.
GOP Win Says More About Filemon Vela than a South Texas ‘Red Wave’
When Congressman Filemon Vela decamped for K Street, he created a predictable opportunity for a Republican upset in the Valley.
Teachers Don’t Want Guns in Their Classrooms
Report shows school employees do not support arming staff.
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Jane Crow
The South has risen again, which means anything that involves substantive due process and privacy is done and gone.
The Texas Observer’s Best Longform Stories of 2021
We collected some of our best magazine stories published this year.
How Public Corruption Investigations Can Fail
A former Texas Ranger provides rare insights into the mostly secret system set up to investigate complaints about public officials.