New from @jlbuch.bsky.social: Earlier this month, the San Antonio-area enclave of Castle Hills agreed to pay $500,000 to former city council member Sylvia Gonzalez, who had alleged that political opponents in the local government orchestrated criminal charges to silence her.

New from @jlbuch.bsky.social: Research suggests a harm reduction approach helps drug users stay healthier and enter recovery. But doing this work on the border has become more dangerous and difficult as troop presence increases.

Across the border from El Paso, Chihuahua is setting up a massive surveillance network. In the past, intel collected by Mexican law enforcement (or provided by the U.S.) has gone straight to the cartels. Now Texas wants to participate. www.texasobserver.org/texas-chihua...

ICYMI: The real-life consequences of DOGE. How DOGE Left Mohammad Halimi’s Life in Tatters

Our top story, from @michellepitcher.bsky.social: Advocates for police transparency say a new bill would supercharge cops' ability to shield misconduct from the public. www.texasobserver.org/secrecy-g-fi...

Since Democratic lawmakers left Texas to delay Republicans’ new map, state leaders have challenged the limits of traditional democratic norms to break the impasse.

Unauthorized immigration is at a record low and former Pres. Biden, who TX Gov. Greg Abbott claimed opened the border, is out of office, yet the Texas lege just renewed a controversial border security grant for local governments. So for @expressnews.com I investigated how that money is being spent.

Texas DPS director’s son is still an active trooper weeks after injuring bystander in 101 mph crash www.statesman.com/politics/tex...

Went to Seguin for some interviews on a feature I’m working on spec. Picked up these classics

Under Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg Abbott has distributed $177 million in border security grants to 115 Texas counties and cities. Explore our interactive gameboard to see which cities and counties received Abbott's grants and how they used the money. bit.ly/4ljnbCf

I thought I was old enough to never make another social media account

Lone Star grants paid for pickups, office furniture, workout rooms and other items with little connection to border security. 'There it is,' we'll take it,' one county judge said of the state money.