New today: Data shows that firearms were purchased in 212 #Texas counties before being trafficked to Mexico and recovered as crime guns from 2015-2022, for a total of nearly 22,000 firearms. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-mexico-guns-border-crime/
#GunViolence #news #border #politics #USpol #Mexico #CriminalJustice
THIS MONTH in #Austin: We're excited to present Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annette Gordon-Reed at "In Conversation." We'll discuss her book On Juneteenth and explore #Texas history and how it's taught.
The Texas Observer will also honor Kathleen McElroy with a special MOLLY First Amendment Prize for her achievements in #journalism education and commitment to academic freedom.
Oct 19, 7pm, The Stateside at Paramount Theatre. Get tix today: https://texasobserver.org/agr/
#fundraising #Nonprofit
https://sb-m2njfr12vp.b-cdn.net/media_attachments/files/111/190/089/079/143/720/original/f12638363065a982.jpg
For the first time under President Joe #Biden, officials are using authority established under former President Donald #Trump to waive dozens of laws in order to continue construction on the racist southern #border wall.
From our friends at Truthout:
https://www.texasobserver.org/biden-border-wall-expansion/
#immigration #news #Mexico #BorderWall #politics #USpol #law
Murder was the leading cause of death among pregnant and postpartum people in the U.S. In 2022 alone, at least 17 #Texas women were killed while pregnant or shortly after giving birth.
From a newly issued report, Staff Writer Michelle Pitcher shares the shocking facts about the domestic violence crisis in our state and America at large: https://www.texasobserver.org/domestic-violence-murders-in-texas-are-going-up/
#DomesticViolence #abuse #murder #CriminalJustice #news #HumanRights
From our magazine: "I just want to artistically render the stories of patients going through what they do and what their medical odysseys say about life or about the world."
https://www.texasobserver.org/ricardo-nuila-peoples-hospital-ben-taub/
#books #culture #politics #health #healthcare #medicine #Texas #USpol
From the magazine: Can 15th-century doctrine explain today's #culture wars?
@a3bd3047 reviews Robert P. Jones' The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future ... https://www.texasobserver.org/the-origins-of-white-christian-supremacy/
#books #history #WhiteSupremacy #racism #religion #Christianity
Featured story: "We need to celebrate and nurture the next generation of journalists, who often defy their parents and cultural pressure to become accurate, unbiased storytellers across platforms."
https://www.texasobserver.org/kathleen-mcelroy-journalism-am-essay/
#journalism #JournoLife #diversity #politics #news #USpol #Texas #schools #education
A #Texas writing guru reflects on his mentor, Larry McMurtry, with the help of other Lone Star authors influenced by the Lonesome Dove creator in this new collection of essays.
Senior Staff Writer and Editor Lise Olsen catches up with George Getschow: https://www.texasobserver.org/larry-mcmurtry-george-getschow-writing-pastures/
#books #culture #history @b2e37e2e #film #writing
From yesterday: Jedidiah Murphy doesn't claim to be innocent, but thousands have signed a petition calling for clemency due to his troubled upbringing and devout faith he found behind bars ...
https://www.texasobserver.org/jedidiah-murphy-death-row-clemency/
#news #politics #USpol #Texas #DeathPenalty #CriminalJustice #law #HumanRights #religion
@70d508ed@30700d9a Apologies, we had an outdated price on this toot and the cost has indeed, gone up, to more realistically reflect the cost of keeping us afloat. But we didn't mean to bamboozle anyone!
@90831753 our lowest price tier has actually gone up to $3/month, to more accurately reflect the cost of keeping us afloat, Sorry for the confusion over this, we hope you'll still consider supporting us if you can!
Do you enjoy having the Texas Observer in the fediverse? Then, please consider joining!
We're kicking off our fall membership drive and asking you to be a part of our journalism. With your support, TXO will keep tooting into our 70th year and beyond.
Membership starts at just $0.99/month: https://hype.co/@texasobserver/zdmn6ya7
#journalism #nonprofit #TexasNeedsAnObserver
“I cannot undo what took place, and I carry that with me all the time, and I think it should be that way.”
Advoctates urge clemency, or at least a delay of execution for Jedidiah Murphy, who they say has struggled with mental health and found religious devotion behind bars, reports Staff Writer Michelle Pitcher:
https://www.texasobserver.org/jedidiah-murphy-death-row-clemency/
(CW: Descriptions of severe child #abuse)
#DeathPenalty #CriminalJustice #religion #Texas #Dallas #prison #HumanRights #law #news #MentalHealth
Earlier: “They stole 20 years of my life from me. I just want them held accountable.”
Ralph Petty worked part-time for Midland county judges while simultaneously trying cases for district attorneys. One victim of his conflict of interest is seeking justice through a new lawsuit ...
https://www.texasobserver.org/clinton-young-death-row-lawsuit-midland/
#Texas #news #politics #CriminalJustice #law #corruption #TXpol
We're excited to welcome Paula @52e90a7b as our new Fall 2023 Environmental Reporting Fellow.
Paula is enthusiastic about all things outdoors; she is a native plant enthusiast and a #Texas Master Naturalist. She received her master’s degree in #journalism and #media from the University of Texas at #Austin.
We're so excited to have you here for the next 10 weeks, Paula!
#journalism #JournoLife #nonprofit #TexasNeedsAnObserver
https://sb-m2njfr12vp.b-cdn.net/media_attachments/files/111/150/615/002/091/921/original/b86b1e0c4ae162ad.jpeg
@04a10faa Back when I worked at Firedoglake (blog in the HuffPo, DailoKos type era) we had one of our regular contributors disappear into there for a day or two, chained to a bench with no bathroom breaks. Terrifying!—Kit @d9fa809e
“First responders must put themselves between the shooter and the victims as quickly as possible.”
For #Newstodon Friday, we'd like to highlight Correspondent Jason Buch's report on the continued avoidance of a real public hearing on the many questions that still remain about the botched response to the #Uvalde school shooting:
https://www.texasobserver.org/dps-still-avoiding-a-public-hearing-on-uvalde-massacre/
#police #guns #GunViolence #politics #USpol #Texas #schools #education #CriminalJustice #safety
“Heading into the desert sun,
I tail an enthusiastic storm.
Tires zing on sizzling pavement,
slash through puddles
on the rain-darkened highway ...”
From our magazine, #poetry by Cade Huie: https://www.texasobserver.org/poem-west-texas-sage-cade-huie/
#Poem #Texas #WestTexas #travel #weather #nature #plants #culture
To submit a poem, please send an email, with the poem as an attachment, to poetry@texasobserver.org. We are looking for previously unpublished works of no more than 30 lines, by #Texas poets who have not been published by the Observer in the last two years. Pay is $100 on publication. Poems will be chosen by our guest editors.
#poetry
We're excited to welcome @32f81fc0 as one of our new Fall 2023 Reporting Fellows.
Malachi Key (He/They) is a Fall 2023 Fellow at the Texas Observer. He’s currently the Opinion Editor at the University of Houston student newspaper and has previously interned at Houston’s NPR station. He has a particular focus on investigative #journalism #LGBTQIA+ issues, and political reporting.
#JournoLife #nonprofit #Texas
https://sb-m2njfr12vp.b-cdn.net/media_attachments/files/111/144/627/032/843/418/original/00b529edecb7f97f.jpg
In his spare time, he loves watching (and occasionally participating in) pro #wrestling, is an avid participant in local #theater and can talk your ear off about #Houston’s surprisingly good #punk scene.
We're excited to welcome @32f81fc0 to our team (and Mastodon instance) for the next 10 weeks.
#journalism #JournoLife #Texas #nonprofit
From our magazine: "I just want to artistically render the stories of patients going through what they do and what their medical odysseys say about life or about the world."
https://www.texasobserver.org/ricardo-nuila-peoples-hospital-ben-taub/
#books #culture #politics #health #healthcare #medicine #Texas #USpol
“Why are you postponing? Why are you stalling this?”
Texas Department of Public Safety is owed a reckoning for their mishandling of the #Uvalde massacre. In our latest investigation, Correspondent Jason Buch explains how they keep putting it off as long as possible ... https://www.texasobserver.org/dps-still-avoiding-a-public-hearing-on-uvalde-massacre/
#guns #Texas #politics #police #CriminalJustice #schools #GunViolence #TXpol
@bac61381@ebda91f0 yes that is definitely not an optimal nap in the photo! @8a880067 donated his very comfy couch to our office recently when he got a new one.
@1d5590ab Thank you for reading. I hadn't had a chance to read this one till I loaded it on our site yesterday, and it moved me quite intensely.—Kit @d9fa809e
What if ... we all took naps? 😴
The practice of taking siestas could make a comeback during extreme #heat and record-breaking summers. From our partners at @grist: https://www.texasobserver.org/siestas-naptime-extreme-heat-climate/
#ClimateChange #environment #HeatWave #summer
From yesterday: When it came to his father's killer, Mitesh Patel "was a typical Texan who was waiting for him to get executed.” Then they got to know one another and everything changed ...
https://www.texasobserver.org/christopher-young-death-penalty-mitesh-patel/
#DeathPenalty #CriminalJustice #law #USpol #news #Texas #politics #Prison #HumanRights
Loren began her career as part of the development team at @b0f4f9de magazine, where her responsibilities included digital fundraising and creative strategy, and managing special revenue programs and events. She holds bachelor’s degrees in English and philosophy, and a MA in international affairs with a focus on media and culture from The New School in New York City.
Loren will be helping with our fall fundraiser and Annette Gordon-Reed event, as well as stepping in while our business manager Nikki Kobiljak takes a brief absence. Thanks for coming back to help, Loren! 🤠
Loren began her career as part of the development team at @b0f4f9de magazine, where her responsibilities included digital fundraising and creative strategy, and managing special revenue programs and events. She holds bachelor’s degrees in English and philosophy, and a MA in international affairs with a focus on media and culture from The New School in New York City.
Featured story from our magazine: The #drag queens of #Austin remain defiant but face growing pressure from politicians and fascists in the streets. We learned their stories and how they're fighting back ...
https://www.texasobserver.org/austin-drag-queens-defy-ban/
@39888179@0ce2ccc4 you're absolutely correct, though there's still some chance this particular one will face some consequences on the federal level, or on other charges.
Just in: The #Texas Senate sided with Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 charges, letting him slip free of consequences yet again.
But there's still more trouble to come for K-Pax, writes our #Politics Reporter @0ce2ccc4 in his wrap-up of the #impeachment trial:
https://www.texasobserver.org/ken-paxton-acquitted-impeachment/
#Politics #USpol #news #KenPaxton #corruption #Republicans #GOP #TXlege
David Lee Espinoza was one of the last Americans to die in the war in #Afghanistan, killed by a suicide bomber during the waning days of the conflict. He was 20 years old.
This is his story, and other #Latinos like him, lured to the #military by false promises:
https://www.texasobserver.org/latinos-lured-to-the-military/
Presented in partnership with Latino USA.
#war #Texas #news #politics #USpol #schools #education #immigration
Once again, the #Texas government is pushing full-steam ahead while ignoring scientists, this time in the roll-out of undersea carbon capture and sequestration facilities, which the #oil and gas industry hope will halt the effects of carbon #pollution Experts warn this #tech may not be ready for widespread use in the undersea floor: https://www.texasobserver.org/carbon-capture-sequestration-gulf-mexico-climate/
Via our friends at @d43eb01b.
#news #environment #ClimateChange #GulfCoast #OilAndGas #energy #Science
“I’m not innocent, I broke the law and deserve to pay for my crime. However, I’m still a human. They even have warnings on the radio ... but we sit here and fry.”
Prisoners wrote to our Criminal Justice reporter Michelle Pitcher about the intense #heat in Texas prisons. They say it's often the worst at night, and #science supports the damage high nighttime temps can cause:
https://www.texasobserver.org/prison-heat-air-conditioning-texas-summer/
#ClimateChange #news #politics #Prison #HumanRights #CriminalJustice #Texas #HeatWave #health
Top story: Short-term rental platforms, like VRBO and #AirBNB, are disrupting the fabric of American life by bringing violence to our neighborhoods and contributing to unaffordable #housing and rental prices. Simultaneously, they're also pouring lots of money into urban economies. https://www.texasobserver.org/short-term-rentals-airbnb-vrbo-neighborhoods/
#Texas #cities #economy #inequality #Houston #Dallas #news #politics #USpol
@b911a7ab it's hard to say how effective it really is, but if you're looking for other options have you considered a Feliway dispenser? It seems to keep our cats calmer.
Oddbean new post about login | logout
Notes by Texas Observer | export