From Houston to Lebanon, Seeking Truth and Music
Meet the DJ and journalist behind Houston’s Ice House Radio, who has mingled with jazz legends and reported abroad—and for whom recent violence in the Middle East is personal.
Houston
In Texas, a Crisis of Inaction Without Consequence
In the face of our leaders’ blatant disregard, short-lived outrage is not enough. It’s time for everyday Texans to take back their power.
Texas Is Taking Back the State Highway 288 Tollway—at a Steep Price
The private firms who have operated the tollway will be paid $1.7 billion by TxDOT, adding to the profit they’ve already made in toll revenues, construction contracts, and sales of shares.
Strangest State: Robbers, Witches, and Sharks
Only in Texas
Pipeline Explosion in Deer Park Reveals Hidden Hazards Texans Face
The pipeline’s owner is “the same company that got $2.4 billion richer when Texans froze to death during Uri,” one activist points out.
After Hurricane Beryl, Cooling Centers Were Few and Slow to Arrive for Houstonians of Color—Some Died of Heat Exposure
During the power outage following the storm, a shocking lack of support in vulnerable communities reflected a larger breakdown in coordination between the state, CenterPoint Energy, and local governments.
Strangest State: Lights, Fights, and Frights
Only in Texas
SIGN UP FOR TEXAS OBSERVER EMAILS
Hunger Was Already Bad Enough. Then Beryl Hit.
Food spoils when the power goes out, exposing more people to hunger and food insecurity. But the crisis goes deeper than that.
Hurricane Beryl Was a Warning Shot for Houston
The category 1 storm dealt the city disastrous damage. Houston’s first direct hit from a hurricane in decades showed how vulnerable the nation’s energy capital remains.
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.