Reporting Texas
News and features from UT-Austin's School of Journalism
Reporting Texas Archives
Apr 01, 2021

Austin Braces for 2021 Legislative Outcomes

As the 87th Texas Legislature approaches mid-session, Governor Greg Abbott’s battle with Austin City Council over police funding is reaching a boiling point as a number of bills take aim at local governments’ control over police funding.  Last August, Austin City Council members unanimously passed the city’s 2021 budget, cutting one-third of the Austin Police […]

Nov 05, 2020

A Week With Some of Austin’s Most Vehement, Revolutionary Protesters 

The Mike Ramos Brigade, or MRB, formed the night Mike Ramos, an unarmed 42-year-old Black and Mexican-American man, was shot and killed by Austin police in April. The brigade’s demands started with justice for Ramos. They quickly started calling for justice for all victims of police brutality and the abolition of the criminal justice system, capitalism and the destruction of what they call the ruling class.

May 21, 2020

Pandemic Upends Latino Lives

El que no nada se ahoga. He who does not swim drowns.

Growing up in a traditional immigrant household, this six-word declaration proved fundamental. My parents, both Salvadoran natives, imparted its wisdom on their children in response to misfortune— at times as a warning and at others as encouragement. It’s a lesson they learned from years of working long hours at one blue collared job or another, scraping together enough money to renew heftily priced work visas and keep the lights on, and finding a way to remain afloat as immigrants in the U.S.

May 20, 2019

As Hemp Bill Nears Passage, Expert Warns of Potential Pitfalls

Prohibition of the plant has made scientific work on best cultivation practices impossible, and taking market share from growers outside the state could be a challenge.

May 20, 2019

Answering Five Questions Texans Have About Hemp and Marijuana

They’re both illegal, for now, and they’re both cannabis, but the similarities just about end there.

May 08, 2019

Texas Pundits Ponder the Importance of the BriLab Scandal 40 Years On

Billy Wayne Clayton, the figure at the center of the scandal, remade the office of Texas House speaker.

May 06, 2019

Civil War Battle Rises Again in East Texas

The annual Battle of Blackjack Grove, a mock Civil War battle, started in 2017 in the East Texas town of Groveton and has attracted more and more attendees each year.

Apr 07, 2019

Poet Javier Zamora to Speak During Summit on Race

On April 10, New York-based poet and immigration activist Javier Zamora will join a panel discussion at the LBJ Presidential Library.

Apr 04, 2019

U.S. House Democrats Target Six Texas Districts for 2020, Face Uphill Battle

National Democrats are targeting six congressional districts in Texas in 2020. Despite Democratic gains in the 2018 midterms, some political scientists say the party faces an uphill battle in the Lone Star State.

Mar 26, 2019

Travis County Clerk’s Dream Voting System Gains New Life

Dana DeBeauvoir helped conceive a system that is rugged, reliable and tamper-resistant.

Mar 15, 2019

Advocates Push for Criminal Sentencing Reform

Support is growing for legislation that would allow prisoners, even those convicted of violent crimes, to reduce their sentences through good behavior.

Feb 25, 2019

Advocates Continue Push to Lessen Importance of Standardized Tests in Texas

The debate over the proper role of standard tests in evaluating student performance returns to the Capitol.

Feb 21, 2019

For Texas Republicans, a Biennial Legislature Means Less Government

Unlike most states, the Texas Legislature only meets every other year.

Oct 22, 2018

Despite Dynamic Campaign, Julie Oliver Faces Uphill Battle for Congress

While the odds are stacked against Julie Oliver in her run for U.S. Congress, she has some advantages over Democrats who have run in Texas’ Congressional District 25 in the past.

Apr 29, 2018

Kittens Help Inmates Practice Compassion, Cooperation

Kittens up for adoption in Austin find love, care and mountains of toys at an unlikely place: the Travis County jail.

Apr 12, 2018

Coming in 2020: More Secure Travis Voting System with Paper Trail

The new system will cost $12 million to $14 million, and some money already has been allocated.

Apr 10, 2018

Architects: Hardening Schools Won’t Solve School Shootings

President Trump and the National Rifle Association tout hardening as a better response than gun-control measures.

Sep 22, 2017

UT Leaders Pledge DACA Support, But Actions Remain Uncertain

If Congress does not create a legal pathway for DACA recipients to remain in the country, many will be vulnerable to possible deportation.

Aug 30, 2017

Female Soldiers Face Higher Risk of Training Injuries, Study Finds

Carrying 50-pound backs during training can be punishing for women. The military is responding with equipment adapted for their bodies.

May 20, 2017

Austin Police Officers Build Trust in a Time of Immigration Raids

Arrests and the state’s new “sanctuary cities” law make life harder for everyone on the East Side, including law enforcement.