“Rank favoritism, such as a sole-source award to a contractor who is a major donor to the governor, leads past waste to outright #corruption, for the motivation of the award is not the bid’s economy but the governor’s campaign treasury.” https://www.texasobserver.org/abbott-operation-lone-star-contractors-bonanza/

#politics #USpol #border #immigration #GregAbbott #Texas #TXlege police #HumanRights #news

The March/April 2025 issue of Texas Observer magazine is coming soon for our members, featuring some of our best reporting, a sneak preview of Lise Olsen's new book, Justin Miller's vital political analysis, and more.

Become a member: https://texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/

(📸 Cover photo by Shelby Tauber)

#journalism #media #nonprofit #politics #USpol #Texas #CriminalJustice #books #culture #news #TXlege #border #MentalHealth

“Eighty-eight percent of us identify as women. Seventy-nine percent of us are people of color. We don’t get any sick leave. We have no health care benefits, and so this is the population of workers that we’re talking about. This is definitely a woman’s issue.”

Over at @deceleration, I interviewed an organizer with a caretakers' and personal attendants' group who are demanding fair wages for their often physically demanding work caring for the #disabled. Also included was legendary #disability rights organizer Bob Kafka of ADAPT of #Texas. Together, they discussed how they're preparing for #Trump and the Texas lege: https://deceleration.news/disability-rights-texas-bob-kafka/

#TXlege #HumanRights #politics #USpol #news #activism #TXlege #DonaldTrump #GregAbbott #workers #labor #accessibility

I'm slowly getting back to work in 2025. Right now, I'm collaborating with @deceleration on a series of articles about how different movements, such as #disability rights or #LGBTQIA+ rights, are preparing for both the return of Donald #Trump and the 89th #Texas legislative session.

#journalism #TXlege #politics #USpol #news

TEA vs. the Media: An agency report challenging media stories overlooks the charter schools’ compliance with federal tax and state business laws, on the watch of the now-HISD superintendent, while revealing new out-of-state payments. https://www.texasobserver.org/mike-miles-tea-report-houston-charter-schools/

#Houston #GulfCoast #schools #education #politics #USpol #TXlege #news #media

“TEA investigating Mike Miles is like the fox guarding the hen house.”

New from @josephinelee: A new report seeking to clear the name of the controversial Houston ISD superintendent leaves out key details, and raises new questions. https://www.texasobserver.org/mike-miles-tea-report-houston-charter-schools/

#Houston #GulfCoast #news #politics #USpol #education #schools #TXlege #journalism #media

“When you consider the reduction in the capitol staff of most of the big dailies, who else will write and provide the sort of critical coverage that the Observer does if it disappears? So I really do see a more essential role now. And if there is a change, I think the Observer will have a place in bringing that change about.”
https://www.texasobserver.org/the-phones-are-still-ringing/

#journalism #history #politics #USpol #Texas #TXlege #news #nonprofit #media

“There are really serious implications for LGBTQ communities in states where we’re seeing more severe restrictions from the legislative side. It also emboldens folks to go out and harass LGBTQ people, trans and gender non-conforming people within their own communities.”

In my latest for Austin Free Press, I took #GLAAD data on hate incidents and looked at how bigotry has manifested in Central #Texas. Incidents have included assault, protests, and even a murder. https://austinfreepress.org/legislating-intolerance-anti-lgbtq-legislation-tied-to-massive-rise-in-hate-incidents/

#extremism #Fascism #news #Austin #politics #USpol #TXlege #LGBTQIA+ #bigotry #homophobia #transphobia #trans #transgender #Republicans