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The Return of the MOLLY
Last week, the Texas Observer held its annual MOLLY gala and fundraiser, a tradition—named, of course, for the inimitable Molly Ivins—that was briefly interrupted last year as the organization scrambled to save itself from a near-closure but that has returned in triumphant, and poignant, form this year. In its 70th year of publication, the Observer is reestablishing its financial footing, growing its community, and, as always, publishing some of the most important journalism in the state and country. Below are a few of the highlights from the 2024 MOLLY.
The New Apostolic Reformation Wants God’s Government Back
A version of this story ran in the May / June 2024 issue. (Photos by Joseph Rushmore for the Texas Observer) Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:. This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a...
In Mexico’s Historic Vote, Politics Are Little Changed
Editor’s Note: This story, republished here with permission, was co-published by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ palabra and Puente News Collaborative. Angela Kocherga, news director at KTEP public radio, contributed to the story. Haga clic aquí para leer el reportaje en español. Crossing a historic...
Shaping the Narrative: Nate Blakeslee Discusses a Pivotal Moment in Observer History
A version of this story ran in the May / June 2024 issue. Award-winning journalist and author Nate Blakeslee grew up in Arlington and devoured every book he could find. He majored in political science and joined the University of Texas at Austin’s American Studies graduate program, but then took a detour. In 2000, Blakeslee wrote a story for the Observer about a drug bust in Tulia that reverberated nationwide. His coverage led to more than a dozen criminal exonerations and changed lives and drug task forces. After three years co-editing the Observer, Blakeslee resigned to write a book about Tulia.
Houston Underdogs Beat Established Democrats in House, Senate Runoffs
Two community organizers-turned-candidates see their wins as a progressive blueprint for taking on the establishment and mobilizing the Democratic base. Both Lauren Ashley Simmons, who trounced four-term incumbent Shawn Thierry to win the House District 146 race by 29 percentage points, and Molly Cook, who narrowly beat House Representative Jarvis Johnson in the Senate District 15 race by 74 votes, drew upon the community they helped organize to turn out votes leading up to yesterday’s runoff election. It paid off.
In Battle for Shriveled Soul of GOP, Congressman Declares Victory over Youtuber
Videos making light of the Holocaust and the Troubles appear not to have been enough to get Brandon Herrera over the hump against Tony Gonzales. On Tuesday evening, incumbent Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales declared victory over his far-right challenger Brandon Herrera, of shooting-guns-on-Youtube fame, in the pair’s GOP runoff contest for Texas Congressional District 23. Decision Desk called the race late Tuesday, and around midnight the Texas secretary of state page showed Gonzales up by a little over one percentage point with all precincts reporting. Gonzales, a combative politician with some moderate views, will likely win reelection comfortably in November and continue to represent Texas’ politically mercurial 23rd, a majority-Latino and solidly Republican district that sprawls across 29 counties from San Antonio to El Paso.
Speaker Phelan Survives Texas House Demolition
But Governor Abbott completes his evisceration of anti-voucher incumbents. Republican state House Speaker Dade Phelan showed up to his election night watch party in Beaumont with a camo campaign hat, a victory cigar, and a posse of his top lieutenants in tow after having eked out a runoff victory by just a few hundred votes.
Powerful Words from Texans Trapped in Solitary Confinement
Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:. This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative news outlet. Sign up for their weekly newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.”. Articles cannot be rewritten,...
Border Vigilantes Are Blurring the Lines of Law Enforcement
Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:. This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative news outlet. Sign up for their weekly newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.”. Articles cannot be rewritten,...
Want to Build a Wall? Don’t Try It in Her Town.
A version of this story ran in the May / June 2024 issue. On a Wednesday evening last February, Tricia Cortez stood before a crowd gathered for an emergency meeting at a community center in the tiny South Texas border town of El Cenizo. “How many of you have heard about the border wall in general?” Cortez asked. Almost everyone raised their hand. “How many of you have heard that the Texas governor wants to build a wall here? No los federales, este es el gobernador de Tejas.” Only a few hands were raised.
Two Years Later, I’ll Never Stop Fighting for Lexi
A version of this story ran in the May / June 2024 issue. (Essay by Kimberly Mata-Rubio; photos by Tamir Kalifa) Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:. This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a...
A 30-Year-Old Wrongful Conviction Is Shaping the El Paso DA Race
Daniel Villegas was acquitted of a crime for which he served nearly 20 years in prison. James Montoya, one of the prosecutors who tried to keep him locked up, is running for district attorney. Daniel Villegas stood shakily behind the defendant’s table, held up by his attorneys. He was already...
Abbott Pardons Killing by Racist Who Explicitly Texted Apparent Minor
The governor’s pardon proclamation did not address Daniel Perry's racist comments, stated desire to kill protesters, or inappropriate messages to a self-identified 16-year-old. On the same day that he received a recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation Thursday granting a...
‘The Chicano Time Traveler’
Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:. This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative news outlet. Sign up for their weekly newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.”. Articles cannot be rewritten,...
Loon Star State: ‘The Above the Law Society’
A version of this story ran in the May / June 2024 issue. All of the Texas Observer’s articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions:. Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the...
Mourning Migrants—with the Military’s Permission
A version of this story ran in the May / June 2024 issue. Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:. This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative news outlet. Sign up for their weekly newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.”
The State Says Shelby Park Is Open. Some Locals Beg to Differ.
The experiences of Eagle Pass residents and a journalist contradict government statements, which themselves are inconsistent, about access to a public park. In a January 13 filing to the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other attorneys from his office stated that Shelby Park, the central public recreation space in the border town of Eagle Pass, was open for the public to enjoy.
Forgotten Keepers of the Rio Grande Delta
A version of this story ran in the May / June 2024 issue. (Dylan Baddour for the Texas Observer/ICN) Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:. This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative...
‘You are the best El Jefe!’: Henry Cuellar’s Alleged Brazen Foreign Bribery Schemes
(Delcia Lopez/The Monitor via AP) Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story:. This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative news outlet. Sign up for their weekly newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.”
A Lawsuit 30 Years Ago Affirmed Free Speech on Texas College Campuses
In 1989, then-Southwest Texas State University (SWT) sent a warning to the Hays County Guardian: Its student employees would no longer be allowed to hand out copies of the free local newspaper on campus. The publisher of the paper was something of a firebrand. Two years later, he’d be arrested...
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