Latest Contributions

• Coronavirus vaccine deliveries to Texas pick up after winter storm

  by Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Feb. 20, 2021

  Texas will get nearly 600,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for next week, allowing the state to distribute the vaccine to the largest number of counties so far. The deliveries will help catch up storm-delayed first and second shots for eligible Texans. Full Story 

• The Trump administration awarded border wall contracts to build on land it doesn't own in Texas

  by Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Dec. 23, 2020

  The government’s strategy of awarding contracts before acquiring titles to land in Texas has led to millions of dollars in costs for delays. Things could get even more complicated if President-elect Joe Biden stops border wall construction. Full Story 

• Records show Trump’s border wall is costing taxpayers billions more than initial contracts

  by Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Oct. 27, 2020

  As the presidential election nears, a review of federal spending data found modifications to contracts have increased the price of the border wall by billions, costing about five times more per mile than it did under previous administrations. Full Story 

• Texas counties temporarily blocked from offering multiple mail-in ballot drop-off locations

  by Jolie McCullough and Cassandra Pollock, The Texas Tribune, and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Updated: Oct. 11, 2020

  An order from a federal appeals court Saturday set up another potential legal showdown over voting in Texas as mail-in ballots are already being collected and just days before early voting begins. Full Story 

• Privately built border wall will fail, engineering report says

  by Jeremy Schwartz and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Sept. 2, 2020

  The report, set to be filed in federal court this week, confirms reporting from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune that found portions of the wall were in danger of overturning if not fixed due to extensive erosion just months after it was built. 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 

• Nonprofit that financed a private border wall is now the focus of a corruption case

  by Perla Trevizo, Jeremy Schwartz and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Updated: Aug. 21, 2020

  Investigators say fundraisers for nonprofit We Build the Wall, including Steve Bannon and founder Brian Kolfage, lied to donors and pocketed funds. Trump has tried to distance himself from the group but Kolfage has bragged about their ties. Full Story 

• “It cost me everything”: Hispanic residents bear brunt of COVID-19 in Texas

  by Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News Updated: July 30, 2020

  Not only are Hispanic Texans catching the coronavirus at higher rates in the state's largest county, but they also suffer some of the worst outcomes. Full Story 

• This private border wall was already at risk of falling down if not fixed. A hurricane made things worse.

  by Perla Trevizo and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica July 29, 2020

  Engineering experts said photos of damage from last weekend’s storms reinforce the idea that building and maintaining a border fence so close to the river poses serious challenges. Full Story 

• Trump says he disagreed with privately funded border wall. The builder got $1.7 billion in wall contracts from his administration.

  by Perla Trevizo and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica July 12, 2020

  President Donald Trump now claims this privately funded border wall in the Rio Grande Valley — touted as the "Lamborghini" of fences — was built to "make me look bad," even though the project's builder and funders are all Trump supporters. Full Story 

• Eroding private border wall to get an engineering inspection just months after completion

  by Jeremy Schwartz and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica July 9, 2020

  Months after the "Lamborghini" of border walls was built along the Rio Grande, the builder agreed to an engineering inspection of his controversial structure. Experts say the wall is showing signs of erosion that threatens its stability. Full Story 

• He built a privately funded border wall. It's already at risk of falling down if not fixed.

  by Jeremy Schwartz and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica July 2, 2020

  Trump supporters funded a private border wall on the banks of the Rio Grande, helping the builder secure $1.7 billion in federal contracts. Now the "Lamborghini” of border walls is in danger of falling into the river if nothing is done, experts say. Full Story 

• When small businesses can’t access PPP, local governments struggle to close the gap

  by Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica June 5, 2020

  Thousands of small businesses, especially those owned by people of color, have been left behind by the stipulations of the Paycheck Protection Program. In Texas, local governments are lending millions of dollars, and it’s not enough. Full Story 

• COVID-19 cases at a Texas immigration detention center soared. Now, town leaders want answers.

  by Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 11, 2020

  Coronavirus infections continue to rise at migrant detention facilities in towns with limited resources. Some local governments want details on what’s being done to safeguard the public. Full Story 

• Officials knew coronavirus could spread at the Houston Rodeo and proceeded with the event anyway

  by Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica April 20, 2020

  The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the city’s largest annual event, attracting 2.5 million people and generating nearly $400 million. But officials pushed forward with this year's 20-day event until there was a positive coronavirus case from community spread. 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 

• Migrants say COVID-19 fears led to disturbance in Texas immigration detention center

  by Julián Aguilar, The Texas Tribune, and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica March 25, 2020

  About 60 detainees in the South Texas ICE Processing Center staged an uprising this week. Some detainees say fear of infection sparked the incident; Immigration and Customs Enforcement disputes that account. Full Story