Latest Contributions

• Opponent says Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins wore blackface in 1983 college trespass

  By Joshua Fechter Updated: Oct. 13, 2022

  GOP candidate Lauren Davis’ campaign surfaced a Waco police report about a prank for which Jenkins apologized in 2010. He says he was only wearing camouflage at the time. Full Story 

• With rents rising fast, Texas homeless shelters see more families seeking help

  By Joshua Fechter Oct. 6, 2022

  Amid rising housing costs and relentless inflation, an increasing number of Texans are struggling to pay their rent and stay in their homes. Full Story 

• Pete Buttigieg blasts Texas Republicans on handling of migrants, LGBTQ rights

  By Joshua Fechter Updated: Sept. 23, 2022

  At the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival, Buttigieg said the efforts of Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in sending migrants to Democrat-led cities are “hurting people in order to get attention.” Full Story 

• Texas’ housing market shows signs of cooling down after the pandemic drove it to new heights

  By Joshua Fechter Sept. 1, 2022

  Texas had more houses on the market in July than any time since late 2020 as home sales declined in the state’s major metros. Sellers have had to cut prices to entice buyers. Full Story 

• Texas officials accuse Harris County of slashing constables’ budgets — but they’re actually going up

  By Joshua Fechter Aug. 23, 2022

  Comptroller Glenn Hegar said the state could block the approval of Harris County’s budget because it’s not allowing constables to roll $3 million in unspent funds into next year’s budget — even though the constables’ total funding will go up next year. Full Story 

• As monkeypox cases climb and vaccine is in short supply, some Texas cities declare an emergency

  By Karen Brooks Harper and Joshua Fechter Aug. 11, 2022

  While there are currently 780 confirmed monkeypox cases statewide, Texas cities are bracing for an increase in infections. Full Story 

• Texas cities say streaming giants Disney, Hulu and Netflix owe them millions of dollars in unpaid fees

  By Joshua Fechter Aug. 4, 2022

  As people have cut cable subscriptions in favor of streaming services over the years, Texas cities say they have lost out on revenue from franchise fees they claim are owed by streaming giants like Disney, Hulu and Netflix. Full Story 

• Dallas landlord made record profits while evading eviction moratoriums, U.S. House committee says

  By Joshua Fechter July 28, 2022

  Four corporate landlords, including Dallas-based Invitation Homes, tried to evict thousands of tenants during a federal ban on evictions, according to an investigation by a congressional subcommittee. Full Story 

• Homeless Texans left with few places to cool off during record heat

  By Erin Douglas and Joshua Fechter, The Texas Tribune, and Lucy Tompkins, The Texas Tribune and The New York Times July 27, 2022

  Heat-related emergency calls have spiked amid historic heat. Cooling centers are available in major cities but often close in the late afternoon — during the hottest parts of the day. Full Story 

• A neighborhood’s new anti-Section 8 rules will push many Black residents out of a North Texas suburb

  By Joshua Fechter July 21, 2022

  Landlords in Texas don’t have to accept renters who receive federal housing assistance, but a Denton County community is taking it a big step further: making most of the town off limits to Section 8 tenants. Full Story