New from @ujosephinelee.bsky.social: No state has taken over as many public school districts as Texas. Since 2020, the Texas Education Agency has installed its own hand-picked leaders in 8 districts. At least another 10 are at risk of takeover. Co-published with our partners at @ProPublica.org.

In our first @propublica.org / @texastribune.org collab w/ the Big Bend Sentinel, as part of our TX investigative partnership, we examine scrutiny of the Trump admin's billion dollar border wall contracts. From Sam Karas,@perla-trevizo.bsky.social & Misty Harris bigbendsentinel.com/2026/05/21/t...

A lot of blame following last year's TX Hill Country floods focused on the camps where many victims died. But TX lawmakers for decades rejected laws that could have saved lives. Read more from Lexi Churchill, @emfoxhall.bsky.social & @pratheekrebala.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/texa...

Last year, the @propublica.org / @texastribune.org investigative unit started a new partnership with newsrooms across TX. We produced some incredible accountability journalism. I'm so excited to announce our new TX newsroom partners for year two. www.propublica.org/atpropublica...

Before Trump sent federal forces into U.S. cities, a Dallas nonprofit pushed the same narrative of violence run amok. Our partners @wfaa.com.web.brid.gy report on how the city is now dealing with the consequences of that messaging. @propublica.org @texastribune.org www.wfaa.com/article/news...

Elon Musk refused to answer our questions about a massive flood control project his Boring Co. wants to build in Houston. Then he posted about it on X. Read our fact check of his statement from our partners at the @houstonchronicle.com & @kutnews.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/fact...

Earlier this year, we revealed three charter leaders in TX who have made hundreds of thousands on top of what's been reported to the state. New accountability ratings show that each of their districts have failing or near-failing performance. One may be shut down. www.propublica.org/article/texa...

NEW: Internal records show how Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt has worked to get Elon Musk access to state and local officials ahead of a formal bidding process for a Houston flood project. Both stand to benefit should Musk be selected. By @lmcgaughy.bsky.social‬ and @chengyilun.bsky.social‬

NEW: A Texas Congressman Is Quietly Helping Elon Musk Pitch a $760M Plan to Build Tunnels Under Houston to Ease Flooding, by @lmcgaughy.bsky.social @chengyilun.bsky.social w/ Texas Newsroom @houstonchronicle.com and @texastribune.org

LOTS of Texas news this week, but don't miss this one from our colleagues and partners in Fort Worth:

The IRS has given religious leaders the green light to endorse political candidates. Our @fortworthreport.bsky.social partners spoke to state Rep Nate Schatzline about his plans to push pastors to get more politically involved. @propublica.org @texastribune.org fortworthreport.org/2025/08/04/t...

Proud to have edited this excellent investigation from @zachdespart.bsky.social about TX Attorney General Ken Paxton's increasing use of pricey outside lawyers, rather than the 100s of attorneys he has on staff. Read more from @propublica.org & @texastribune.org www.propublica.org/article/ken-...

A special session starts today in TX to address, in part, flood prevention in the wake of deadly July 4 flooding. But our latest from @propublica.org & the @texastribune.org shows how state lawmakers have repeatedly failed to take meaningful flood control measures www.propublica.org/article/texa...

All eyes were on Elon Musk in DC this year. But what he was up to in Texas? The brilliant @lmcgaughy.bsky.social dives DEEP into what he got out of the TX legislative session. Read more on @kutnews.bsky.social , part of our new @propublica.org / @texastribune.org collab www.kut.org/politics/202...

TX politicos built a brand against illegal immigration. Yet unlike other GOP states, they refuse mandating E-Verify for companies. Doing so, said an ex-GOP state rep, "would create even worse problems. Do you want to go to a restaurant & use paper plates?" www.propublica.org/article/texa...

I'm excited to announce that @propublica.org & the @texastribune.org will partner w/5 local TX newsrooms over the next year: @elpasomatters.bsky.social @fortworthreport.bsky.social @houstonchronicle.com @kutnews.bsky.social & @wfaach8.bsky.social Read more: www.propublica.org/atpropublica...

Apologies! I posted the wrong link b4! This is a must-read from @jschwartzreporter.bsky.social & Dan Keemahill about how TX's main method of electing school boards leads to white officials leading districts primarily made up of students of color. www.propublica.org/article/texa...

Some professional news: starting this week, I became deputy editor of our ProPublica/Texas Tribune joint investigative unit. I'm very excited to help some amazing journalists uncover abuses of power in Texas. Keep sending news tips this way www.propublica.org/atpropublica...

Some thought Texas AG Ken Paxton might be a candidate for Trump’s new attorney general. He didn’t get the job. But there’s a significant way Paxton could benefit from the new administration & his longtime ally. My latest for @propublica.org & @texastribune.org www.propublica.org/article/trum...

NEW: The DOJ has been investigating Texas AG Ken Paxton since 2020 on allegations that he misused his position to help a political donor. Under Trump, a Paxton ally, the yearslong investigation could come to an end. By @viannadavila.bsky.social w/ @texastribune.org

NEW: Texas AG Ken Paxton has been under investigation for years for alleged corruption. Trump's Justice Department could end that. Smart story from @viannadavila.bsky.social of @propublica.org and @texastribune.org. www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Well let's see how this goes. I'm a @propublica.org / Texas Tribune investigative reporter based in Austin, born and raised in San Antonio. I want to hear your stories!