Editor’s Letter: Introducing Our July/August 2026 Issue
A note from the editor-in-chief
The Issue
Bloodlines
Emily Grace Spydell died in adoptive care. Her biological family says the Indian Child Welfare Act could have saved her—but her tribe’s legal code prevented it.
The Road Home
The Texas Department of Transportation intends to spend $25 billion widening highways to fix traffic in Texas cities. What if we tore them down instead?
The People’s Scientist
A COVID-19 vaccine developed in Houston is in clinical trials in India and could be ready for global use as soon as late summer.
Drawing Power
In a special session for redistricting, expect the GOP to use aggressive gerrymandering to extend the shelf life of its diminishing white base.
Moments From the Reopening of Balmorhea Pool
The popular West Texas swimming spot has been closed since 2019 for repairs.
A Feminist Rewrite of Lot
Set in Hope, Texas, God Spare the Girls subverts the biblical story, in which a man escapes while women perish.
Loon Star State: Out With Democracy
Texas Republicans have been up to some spring cleaning.
An Irreversible Sentence
Using dubious evidence, Texas condemned Clinton Young to death almost 20 years ago. I traveled 3,000 miles to Texas to help him.
Strangest State: A UFO in Austin and a Rare Cloned Horse
Weird news from far-flung Texas.