Notices by Texas Observer (texasobserver@texasobserver.social)

New from Jason Buch: “That facility is, like, terrible, horrible. There’s a lot of people in there. A lot. Each room has like 45 capacity. And they’re putting like 60 people in each room. The restroom is a mess. Dirty. People are sleeping on the floor, people are sleeping in the restroom.” https://www.texasobserver.org/trump-ice-detention-bond-prosecutorial-discretion/

#ICE #politics #USpol #news #HumanRights #Texas

Each data center can “drink” as much as an entire community. Yet #Texas does not require data center operators to disclose projected #water use or report actual consumption. This makes research difficult and limits visibility for water-stressed municipalities. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-ai-data-centers-water-usage-regulation/

#tech #AI #politics #USpol #environment #ClimateChange #news

"I grew up #undocumented in this country. From an early age, I learned how fear can live quietly inside a child. I learned to listen for sirens, notice unfamiliar cars, and worry whether a normal school day would end with my family separated." https://www.texasobserver.org/local-police-collaborate-ice-families/

#ICE #police #politics #USpol #news #immigration

When children witness classmates detained, hear about neighbors deported, or watch a parent disappear after a routine interaction with #police, the damage ripples outward. Entire communities retreat into silence. https://www.texasobserver.org/local-police-collaborate-ice-families/

#ICE #politics #USpol #news #immigration

At least on paper, the 2026 Democratic nominees for the top four races (senator, governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general) are almost sure to be the most formidable class in recent memory.

In our magazine, Editor-in-Chief Gus Bova takes a closer look at the midterms ... https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-democrats-slate-2026-midterms/

#Democrats #midterms #politics #USpol #news

Still open! We currently have two openings accepting applications:

⚫McHam Fellowship for Investigative Reporting
⚫2026 Elections Internship

Find out more and how to apply at https://www.texasobserver.org/jobs/

#jobs #journalism #JournoJobs #GetFediHired #FediHire #news #media

“If #Congress does nothing, if the committee does nothing, then we’re sending the message that this type of behavior is tolerable, that accountability is optional, and that white supremacy can continue to be subsidized with taxpayer dollars.”

Congress failed to vote on the amendment. https://www.texasobserver.org/congressman-veasey-salary-james-rodden-ice-x-account/

#ICE #news #WhiteSupremacy #racism #politics #USpol #law

One study found that on campuses with officers present, more people died in shootings than at schools without #police. The study didn’t look at cases where the shooter was stopped before firing, but cases of officers or even armed bystanders thwarting potential shooters are rare. https://www.texasobserver.org/uvalde-trial-acquittal-shooting-columbine-police/

#education #politics #USpol #news #schools #GunViolence #Uvalde #guns #Texas

Out of 291 #schools already registered for the #Texas voucher program,. more than 100 require or prioritize for admission students of the same faith, and more than 60 have a written policy that discriminates against #LGBTQ+ students, the schools’ own data shows. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-voucher-schools-openly-discriminate/

#LGBTQIA #vouchers #education #politics #USpol #news #TXlege #religion

“There is a huge role these out-of-touch, right-wing billionaires and megadonors play in shaping homelessness policy, and they’re the last people who should be shaping homeless policy.”

Our top story: One of Texas' wealthiest people wants to reverse progress for some of the state's poorest. https://www.texasobserver.org/dallas-texas-monty-bennett-homeless-policy/

Last February, the Texas Observer investigation revealed the identity of James Rodden, an #ICE attorney who operates an openly white supremacist account on X. This year, we proved he's back in court trying #immigration cases: https://www.texasobserver.org/ice-prosecutor-racist-account-back-at-immigration-court/

#NorthTexas #Dallas #law #politics #USpol #fascism #WhiteSupremacy #news

“Either this is just a massive waste of taxpayer money, right? They’re spending all this money on the tool that they’re not actually using or they’re using it and hiding it from judges, criminal defense attorneys, criminal defendants and the press, which is a big story in itself.” https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-police-invest-tangles-sheriff-surveillance/

#surveillance #police #law #privacy #tech #politics #USpol #news #Texas

New today: The neo-fascist group Patriot Front is building a network of businesses in North #Texas in an attempt to create a parallel, self-sufficient white nationalist economy. The Observer identified the men behind 4 of these companies. https://www.texasobserver.org/revealed-four-businesses-patriot-front-north-texas/

#politics #Dallas #NorthTexas #USpol #extremism #news #WhiteSupremacy #fascism

New from Steven Monacelli and Tristan Lee: Through analysis of publicly available information, interviews and in-person observation, the Observer identified multiple companies in the #Dallas-Fort Worth area operated by individuals with connections to Patriot Front. https://www.texasobserver.org/revealed-four-businesses-patriot-front-north-texas/

#NorthTexas #politics #USpol #news #Texas #WhiteSupremacy #fascism #racism

Update from Steven Monacelli: James Rodden, the attorney for ICE which we identified as the operator of a white supremacist account on X, is back on the job in a Dallas immigration court. https://www.texasobserver.org/ice-prosecutor-racist-account-back-at-immigration-court/

“Police are doing an end run around this well-articulated system of judicial oversight by just paying money instead of going to a judge.”

New from Francesca D'Annunzio: Civil liberties experts are raising the alarm about "Tangles," a law-enforcement surveillance software that allows police to bypass judicial oversight by spying on smartphone users without a warrant.
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-police-invest-tangles-sheriff-surveillance/

#tech #Texas #police #news #politics #USpol #law

“There is a huge role these out-of-touch, right-wing billionaires and megadonors play in shaping homelessness policy, and they’re the last people who should be shaping homeless policy.”

From Steven Monacelli in our magazine: One of #Texas' wealthiest people wants to reverse progress for some of the state's poorest.
https://www.texasobserver.org/dallas-texas-monty-bennett-homeless-policy/

#politics #USpol #news #NorthTexas

"You talk about the fact that while you may not be on SNAP benefits, everyone’s cost of #food is going to go up. You talk about the fact that they’re pulling this money away from those that are just trying to eat and that also impacts our #farmers—as we’re seeing record bankruptcies with farmers and ranchers." https://www.texasobserver.org/jasmine-crockett-interview-senate-december/

#Texas #politics #USpol #news #Democrats #midterms #elections

“Chevron will be the leader and the most astute operator in this ever-changing, very dynamic playing field. They’re good at this. … There’s a reason they’re the only company in #Venezuela. There’s a reason that they got away with mass environmental ecocide in Ecuador.”
https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-oil-majors-hesitant-venezuela/

#politics #USpol #Texas #news #GulfCoast #Houston #environment #ClimateChange #OilAndGas #energy

New from Candice Bernd: At a time when the globe is warming at alarming rates, #Venezuela's oil reserves represent a "climate bomb" waiting to go off. Here are the Gulf Coast companies hoping to tap into that blood money ... https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-oil-majors-hesitant-venezuela/

#GulfCoast #Houston #politics #USpol #war #Trump #OilAndGas #energy #environment #ClimateChange #news