Special Report

Issues, Voting Challenges Made Midterms Personal for Highly Engaged Students

byKatie Pratt and Lisette Lopez

Young voters across a divided nation are being credited by political analysts for preventing a Republican-dominated midterm from coming to life. Yet, that “red wave” did come to shore in the Lone Star State. Every statewide Republican candidate won by double percentage points, and a frustration from the large majority of UT students the day after the election was palpable. Still, at UT Austin, the lead-up to the 2022 midterm election was marked by a strong passion from students getting out the vote and campaigning for ideas and candidates they believed in.

Voices of Eden: Texas Town Looks to Future in Time of COVID-19

byHope Lenamon, Cat DeLaura, Aimée Knight, Tyler Lewis and Nataleah Small

Eden and other rural areas that were once mainstays of the Lone Star State are falling victim to increased urbanization. As people move to cities for better jobs, education, housing and recreational opportunities, it becomes increasingly difficult for rural towns to remain viable places to live. Against this backdrop, residents are now dealing with the repercussions of COVID-19. Here are their stories.

The Banned: Stories of Austin Immigrants Affected by the Trump Order

byThe Reporting Texas staff

University of Texas students and researchers from countries named in President Trump’s executive order talk about why they’re here, and how the travel ban has affected them.

Immigrant Families on the Border Struggle with ‘Criminal’ Tag

byAnna Casey

Deportation and detention of undocumented family members is a pervasive fear for millions of U.S. citizens. According to the Human Rights Watch, illegal entry and re-entry are the country’s most prosecuted crimes.

Feb 19, 2016

In El Paso’s Segundo Barrio, Pope’s Message Has Special Relevance

byTravis Putnam Hill

Francis’ message resonated in a neigborhood that has both poverty and resilience. “I hope for the better, for our sister city Juárez and us,” one resident said.

Feb 18, 2016

Pope Francis Beams Into the Sun Bowl

byAnna Casey

In his homily, the pope addressed issues of immigration, calling the situation at the border – and across the globe – a “crisis.”

Feb 18, 2016

Pilgrims Journey from Afar to See the Pontiff

byJacqueline Sanchez

Nearly 200,000 people are expected to visit El Paso-Juárez this week to witness the pope, many of them drawn by his message of inclusion for minority communities and compassion for the poor.

Feb 14, 2016

Pope Francis Will Finish His Mexico Trip at the Edge of the Rio Grande

byTravis Putnam Hill

Papal visit has meaning for people on both sides of the border. “It’s a message of love and respect and dignity,” one woman said.

Feb 14, 2016

In the Path of a Political Pope

byDestinee Harrison and Cate Malek

On his journey through Mexico, Pope Francis chose to include cities that have been most affected by long-running crises such as migration and drug violence.

May 13, 2015

Police, Community Gaps are Wide in East Texas

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

May 12, 2015

Dallas: An Urban Center Ringed by Disparity

Suburban police demographics haven’t kept up with community population shifts.

May 11, 2015

In Numbers and Culture, Policewomen are Outsiders

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

May 08, 2015

In Diverse Texas, Whites Dominate Police Ranks

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

Sep 02, 2014

The Millennial Dollar Question

Reporting Texas takes a look at student debt and unemployment in a three-part series.

May 05, 2013

Risks Seen in Resegregation of Schools

Though circumstances differ, thousands of Texas public schools are nearly as segregated as they were 60 years ago, when the U.S. Supreme Court sought to end racial divisions in public education.

May 05, 2013

Legislature Seeks to Restore Some Funding

The money struggles over public education in Texas also are being waged in the courts. Part of a special report on resegregation in Texas schools.

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