Latest Contributions

• A Texas lender sued thousands of low-income Latinos during the pandemic. Now the feds are investigating.

  by Kiah Collier and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica March 8, 2021

  Oportun Inc., a small-dollar loan company, disclosed to investors that it is the subject of a probe by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau following reporting by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica. Full Story 

• “Power companies get exactly what they want”: How Texas repeatedly failed to protect its power grid against extreme weather

  by Jeremy Schwartz, Kiah Collier and Vianna Davila, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Feb. 22, 2021

  Texas regulators and lawmakers knew about the grid’s vulnerabilities for years, but time and again they furthered the interests of large electricity providers. Full Story 

• A lender sued thousands of lower-income Latinos during the pandemic. Now it wants to be a national bank.

  by Kiah Collier and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Jan. 8, 2021

  Oportun, which lends in only a dozen states, applied for a bank charter late last year. Consumer and Latino civil rights groups are pushing back, citing the findings of a joint investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. Full Story 

• This loan company was founded to help Latino immigrants. It has sued thousands of low-income Latinos during the pandemic.

  by Kiah Collier, Ren Larson and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Aug. 31, 2020

  A monthslong investigation revealed that Oportun Inc. routinely uses lawsuits to intimidate a vulnerable population into keeping up with high-interest loan payments — even amid COVID-19. Full Story 

• Oportun Inc. has filed nearly 10,000 lawsuits this year against lower-income Texans. This is how we found out.

  by Ren Larson and Kiah Collier, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Aug. 31, 2020

  Justice of the peace courts, where a majority of debt claims are filed in Texas, aren’t required to report case-level information. Here’s how ProPublica and Texas Tribune reporters got around it to reveal one company’s aggressive tactics. Full Story 

• This Silicon Valley-based lender sued thousands of Texans during the pandemic. It stopped when we started asking questions.

  by Kiah Collier and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica July 28, 2020

  The company didn’t say exactly how many pending lawsuits it would drop in Texas and elsewhere, but it confirmed that “several thousand cases” would be impacted. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott is limiting enforcement of COVID-19 orders, but many cities already took a lax approach

  by Sally Beauvais, Lexi Churchill, Kiah Collier, Vianna Davila and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 14, 2020

  Texas cities and counties have dramatically different interpretations of the state’s COVID-19 emergency orders. Complaint data from a dozen cities shows that disparate approaches to enforcement, particularly among businesses, have been incredibly common. Full Story 

• Coronavirus put her out of work, then debt collectors froze her savings account

  by Kiah Collier and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica April 22, 2020

  Kim Boatswain's tax refund could have helped her get through the coronavirus slowdown. But debt collectors seized it. There are few options for Texans like Boatswain whose money was taken just before the state temporarily banned such garnishments. Full Story 

• Despite coronavirus risks, some Texas religious groups are worshipping in person — with the governor's blessing

  by Kiah Collier, Perla Trevizo and Vianna Davila, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica April 2, 2020

  COVID-19 has spread rapidly in Texas, and many congregations closed their doors and moved religious services online. But there are some religious groups who say it’s their right to remain open because they believe they provide an essential service to their communities. Full Story 

• Texas regulators vote to ban residential utility shut-offs during pandemic while buoying companies

  by Kiah Collier and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica March 26, 2020

  The Texas Public Utility Commission approved an order Thursday that would ban disconnections of water and power service for Texans financially impacted by COVID-19 and put them on deferred payment plans. But advocates and experts say the real winner might be utility providers. Full Story 

• Patients face canceled appointments and delayed surgeries as doctors respond to coronavirus. They're worried about the wait.

  by Kiah Collier March 20, 2020

  On Friday, several major health care providers announced they would postpone elective surgeries and other non-urgent procedures and appointments. Full Story 

• While other states fighting coronavirus enforce widespread closures, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott goes with a patchwork system

  by Kiah Collier and Cassandra Pollock March 17, 2020

  While most states have mandated the closure of schools, bars and restaurants; deployed their militaries; or diverted state resources to COVID-19 response, Texas is largely leaving it up to schools and local governments to decide how to proceed. Some say the approach can undermine response efforts. Full Story 

• How will collapsing oil prices affect Texas? It depends on these two factors, experts say.

  by Kiah Collier March 9, 2020

  A dramatic drop in oil prices over the weekend could harm Texas' oil and gas industry and economy, but experts say it all depends on how long they remain low — and how the COVID-19 epidemic plays out. Full Story 

• A&M study: The future of Texas depends on climate preparedness

  by Kiah Collier March 5, 2020

  A study by five Aggie scientists indicates Texas should prepare for more extreme weather in the coming years — though it offers some glimmers of hope. Full Story 

• Did Pierce Bush's family name doom his congressional run, or did his campaigning?

  by Kiah Collier March 4, 2020

  The grandson of the late President George H.W. Bush failed to make the runoff in a crowded GOP race to represent Texas' 22nd District. Experts say the reasons are more complicated than the decline of the Bush family's political influence. Full Story 

• U.S. Reps. Kay Granger and Henry Cuellar claim victory in congressional primary races

  by Abby Livingston, Juan Pablo Garnham, Kiah Collier and Sami Sparber Updated: March 4, 2020

  Cuellar faced a challenge from attorney Jessica Cisneros, while Granger defeated former Colleyville City Council member Chris Putnam. Full Story 

• Texas sues company whose Port Neches chemical plant exploded

  by Kiah Collier Feb. 22, 2020

  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued TPC Group on Friday, citing a slew of environmental violations at its Port Neches facility, including ones connected to a Nov. 27 explosion. Full Story 

• Federal judge dismisses suit against Army Corps for post-Harvey flooding

  by Kiah Collier Feb. 19, 2020

  U.S. Judge Loren A. Smith threw out a case brought by Houstonians whose properties flooded as a result of releases from Addicks and Barker dams. Full Story 

• Report: Six Texas oil refineries spewing cancer-causing pollutant above federal threshold

  by Kiah Collier Feb. 6, 2020

  An environmental nonprofit has released an analysis of first-of-its-kind air monitoring data that shows benzene levels at 10 U.S. petroleum refineries exceeded limits established in an Obama-era environmental regulation. Six are in Texas. Full Story 

• Ahead of explosion, Port Neches plant reported an increase of rogue emissions of explosive gas

  by Kiah Collier Jan. 30, 2020

  After the federal government required TPC Group to install air monitors at its Port Neches plant, the company detected a significant increase in the number and size of butadiene emissions in the months leading up to multiple blasts at the plant on Nov. 27. Full Story