Late-Night Rush Shatters Travis County Voter Registration Record

byAnna Casey

The county has topped its 90-percent registration goal; now the goal is to set another record for voter turnout.

Pronghorns Making a Comeback in West Texas

byTravis Putnam Hill

Private landowners are working with the state to rebuild the herd in the face of drought, disease and habitat loss.

Textbook Warrior Fights ‘Satanic Thought’

byJohn Savage

Neal Frey campaigns to make sure Texas textbooks include the conservative Christian perspective on issues such as evolution, American exceptionialism and sexual mores.

In Texas’ Troubled Foster Care System, Treatment Centers Are a Bright Spot

bySamantha Ketterer

The centers provide therapy and special care for children traumatized by abuse and neglect.

Six Years Later, Deepwater Restoration Money Starts Flowing

byAnna Casey

A Texas coalition reviewing applications for projects to repair will award grants worth millions of dollars from a trust fund fed by fines paid by British Petroleum and the other companies responsible for the disaster.

Texan Is the Stuff of Legends in the Taxidermy World

byDestinee Reyes

Joe Kish can make dead animals come alive again — even elephants and crocodiles. In the taxidermy industry, he’s regarded as a pioneer.

Out of the Shadows: Wicca Grows in Austin and Beyond

byQiling Wang

The number of self-identified Wiccans in the United States has increased to 342,000 in 2008 from 134,000 in 2001, according to a survey. Wicca’s growth follows the rise in unconventional religions.

Correcting Gender on IDs a Painful Hurdle for Transgender Texans

bySwathi Narayanan

Texas is one of 19 states with no statutory guidelines on changing the gender on driver licenses and birth certificates.

Company Trains Civilians to Take Out Active Shooters

byEstefania Espinosa

Against a backdrop of more frequent mass shootings across the country, Combative Weapon Solutions founder and chief executive Lee Vernon, 42, an Austin firefighter, saw a need for tactical training for people who could fight back.

Texas Lags Behind in Screening New Moms for Depression

byAnna Casey

An estimated 79,000 women in Texas experience PPD each year. While the state has taken steps to increase awareness about PPD among expectant mothers and healthcare professionals, it does not require depression screenings.

Chocolate Factory in Texas Is Syrian Family’s Escape Route from War

byCate Malek

The Ghraowis are hoping for a sweet life in the town of Portland as they rebuild their family business.

No Escape: ‘Panic Rooms’ Are Popping Up Everywhere

byMegan Dolan

People pay to be locked up and try to find their way out.

He Built It. They Came: West Texas’ Iconic Baseball Diamond

byJoe Cook

The Alpine Cowboys play on a field where Satchel Paige and Gaylord Perry once pitched.

‘John Schools’ Look to Curb Sex Trade

byJames Grandberry

The programs aim to prevent repeat offenses by people who solicit prostitutes.

Learning Arabic Begins Early for Houston Magnet School Students

byAdam Hamze

At Houston’s Arabic immersion school, 4- and 5-year-olds pick up one of the most difficult languages.

Many Animals Remain Homeless Four Months After Memorial Day Flood

byMegan Dolan

In Wimberley, which was hardest hit by the storm, shelters are still struggling to house lost pets.

Police, Community Gaps are Wide in East Texas

The region has large racial disparities between police departments and the communities they serve.

In Numbers and Culture, Policewomen are Outsiders

Women outnumber men in Texas, but they make up only 11.5 percent of licensed peace officers.

In Diverse Texas, Whites Dominate Police Ranks

Many police and sheriff’s departments do not mirror the communities they serve.

Scholars Work to Tell a Dark Chapter in Texas History

byLucia Benavides

In early 20th Century, Texas Rangers and vigilantes killed hundreds of Mexicans and Tejanos.