Politics & Policy
May 3, 2024
Henry Cuellar Has Been Indicted on Charges of Bribery and Money Laundering
The Texas congressman said he and his wife, Imelda, are innocent, and that he is still seeking reelection this November.
News
News & Politics
May 3, 2024
Meet the Rebel Alliance Taking On the Texas History Establishment
Last year, an ideological battle nearly ripped apart the 127-year-old Texas State Historical Association. Now, many of the state’s most prominent historians have broken away to start a rival organization.
Politics & Policy
April 30, 2024
No, a Magazine Called ‘Israel Monthly’ Did Not Put Greg Abbott on Its Cover
A bizarre social media fabrication goes viral.
Politics & Policy
April 25, 2024
“This Would Have Been a Peaceful Gathering”: Behind the Scenes of the UT Protest
Students protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza say they were demonstrating peacefully at the University of Texas at Austin when police tackled and arrested them.
News & Politics
April 23, 2024
A Lonely Man, a Bizarre Billboard, and a Quest for Everlasting Love
For weeks now, motorists have puzzled over a billboard advertising a senior citizen’s desire to find love in—and relocate to—tiny Sweetwater, Texas. Is it a sincere bid for companionship or an elaborate hoax? Texas Monthly investigates.
News & Politics
April 17, 2024
What Is Alex Jones Doing in This Tiny Far West Texas Town?
The bankrupt Infowars host is the latest colorful character to stake out a place in the desert outpost of Terlingua.
Business
April 11, 2024
The Rich Legacy of a Bighearted Beer Guy
Carlos Alvarez, who died this week at 73, made a fortune bringing Corona to the U.S. and reviving Shiner Bock. Then, from his base in San Antonio, he cheerfully gave much of that fortune away.
Politics & Policy
April 8, 2024
John Whitmire Is a 20th-Century Mayor in 21st-Century Houston. You Got a Problem With That?
The tough-talking former state senator loves cars, firefighters, and police. Critics say he’s taking the city backward.
Politics & Policy
April 3, 2024
They’ve Previously Voted Democratic. Now They’re Supporting Ted Cruz.
Texas’s junior senator is courting a somewhat novel constituency for someone so active as a culture warrior.
True Crime
April 1, 2024
The Daring Jewel Thief Who Preyed on Dallas High Society
An elusive bandit was sneaking into glitzy mansions and making off with millions in jewels from some of the richest people in the world. With the FBI on his tail, could he get away with the perfect crime? An exclusive excerpt from ‘The King of Diamonds.’
Politics & Policy
March 28, 2024
Ahead of the Solar Eclipse, Hill Country Towns Are Bracing for Chaos
The area west of Austin and San Antonio will be one of the most popular destinations in America for witnessing the historic phenomenon. Given its rural nature, it also could face the most challenges.
Politics & Policy
March 27, 2024
Some Leaders of the Texas GOP Have Found a New Enemy: H‑E‑B Chairman Charles Butt
Party officials in several counties have adopted resolutions against the grocery store magnate for a litany of alleged offenses against the state Republican platform.
News
March 20, 2024
Confusion Reigned at an Appeals Court Hearing Over Texas’s Now-Blocked Immigration Law
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments about whether to allow back into effect a law allowing state and local authorities to deport migrants.
Politics & Policy
March 19, 2024
SCOTUS Has Ruled That Texas Police Can Arrest Migrants They Suspect of Illegal Crossings
The ruling allows Texas to start enforcing Senate Bill 4 while a lawsuit over its constitutionality remains pending before a federal appeals court.
News & Politics
March 13, 2024
Friends of Aaron Bushnell, Who Self-Immolated to Protest Violence in Gaza, Remember a Devoted Helper
After the active duty airman self-immolated as an act of protest against the violence in Gaza, friends of Bushnell from the San Antonio church he attended remember someone who “loved hard and loved quickly.”
Politics & Policy
March 13, 2024
“No Good Deed Goes Unpunished”: A Veteran East Texas Legislator Reflects on Getting Rolled Over by Greg Abbott’s School-Voucher Crusade
In a post-election interview, Travis Clardy calls his defeat a slap in the face for rural districts with few alternatives to public schools.
Border & Immigration
March 11, 2024
More Migrants Are Drowning in the Rio Grande Than Ever. No Agency Is Keeping Track of How Many.
U.S. policy is designed to force those entering Texas to cross at dangerous choke points. Those who don't make it are often never identified.
Sports
March 8, 2024
For These Veterans, Jiujitsu Helps Ease the Psychic Toll of War
At former Green Beret Alan Shebaro's North Texas gym, U.S. military veterans create community and find support through jiujitsu.
News & Politics
March 6, 2024
After a Wildfire Killed Thousands of Cows, Texas Ranchers Quietly Count Their Losses
On the rolling hills outside Canadian, Texas, where cattle herds were decimated and fertile ranchland has been reduced to a charred wasteland, some things are too painful to discuss.
Politics & Policy
March 5, 2024
Texas Primary Elections Results and Analysis
Donald Trump and Joe Biden cruised to victory, the Democrats chose Colin Allred to challenge Ted Cruz, and Dade Phelan is heading to a runoff.
Politics & Policy
March 4, 2024
The Rio Grande Is Getting Saltier. Texan Farmers Are Desperate for a Fix.
The river’s spikes in salinity are killing crops in the Rio Grande Valley. Finding a solution will require negotiations between Texas and Mexico policymakers.
Politics & Policy
February 29, 2024
Why Many Democrats Are Turning Against One of the Most Powerful Prosecutors in Texas
Kim Ogg ran on a platform of bail reform to become district attorney of Harris County, home of Houston. Now those who championed her rise are trying to unseat her.
News
February 16, 2024
The Company Behind Fake, AI-Generated Biden Robocalls Used to Run a Singles Hotline
Last week, the novel use of AI technology to suppress Democratic voter turnout prompted investigations by federal and New Hampshire officials. The Texas company under scrutiny has a colorful history.
News & Politics
February 15, 2024
To Live and Die in Dallas: A Year Inside the City’s Homicide Unit
The city’s homicide unit granted a year of unprecedented access to photographer Richard Sharum. His pictures tell a vivid story of cops, criminals, and victims—and the violent act that binds them together.
News & Politics
February 11, 2024
A Woman Was Killed by Police After Opening Fire at Joel Osteen’s Houston Church
The woman was accompanied by a young child who was shot and is in critical condition, police said.
Politics & Policy
February 7, 2024
Sheila Jackson Lee Has Been in Congress for Three Decades. Challenger Amanda Edwards Thinks That’s Long Enough.
The longtime representative recently lost her bid for Houston mayor by a two-to-one margin. Can she retain control of her congressional seat?
Politics & Policy
February 7, 2024
Kate Cox’s Doctor Is Still Fighting to Provide Emergency Abortions, Despite Legal Threats
The Kate Cox case, and the attorney general’s threats against physicians and hospitals, exemplifies the “circular” logic of abortion law in Texas.
Border & Immigration
February 2, 2024
Eagle Pass, the Site of a Tense Border Standoff, Has Become a “Movie Set”
The small border town once again finds itself at the center of a performance that’s less about immigration control than political posturing.
Politics & Policy
February 1, 2024
Is the Texas Secession Movement Getting Serious?
It’s unlikely Texas will depart from the union. But with Governor Greg Abbott spouting secessionist rhetoric over border security, talk of a “Texit” is getting a fresh look.
Politics & Policy
January 26, 2024
Roland Gutierrez and Colin Allred Are Finally Debating. Here’s What They Need to Be Asked.
Ahead of Sunday’s AFL-CIO Senate Democratic primary debate, we came up with a slate of questions for both candidates. This is the only debate both Allred and Gutierrez, the race’s two front-runners, will attend.
Books
January 26, 2024
A Conservative Court Blocked the Texas Law Requiring Booksellers to Rate Books Sold to Schools
The law, which would have required booksellers to rate every book they sold to school libraries, was overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Politics & Policy
January 26, 2024
Could Two Texas Politicians Really “Duel”? Texas Law Says Yes.
Agriculture commissioner Sid Miller said he would duel state rep Glenn Rogers—with words. Technically, the real thing isn’t off the table.
Energy
January 19, 2024
The Freeze Has Thawed. The Grid Survived. What Was Different This Time?
Governor Greg Abbott said ERCOT performed “flawlessly." But there were several factors at play.
Politics & Policy
January 17, 2024
Feds Approve 12 Months of Medicaid Coverage for New Moms in Texas
Medicaid covers half of all births in Texas.
News
January 17, 2024
Is the “Ted Cruz Curse” Real? A Texas Monthly Investigation
The Longhorns and the Cowboys got thumped after receiving Cruz’s endorsement. Some say the junior senator is to blame.
Politics & Policy
January 17, 2024
Not Even a Federal Judge Can Make Texas Protect Kids
Nine years ago, U.S. district judge Janis Jack ordered the state to fix its foster care system. Activists say kids are still suffering.
News & Politics
January 12, 2024
You Can Prep Your Plants, Pets, and Pipes for a Texas Freeze. But What About Your Peace of Mind?
Plants covered, pets inside, pipes wrapped, and faucets dripping. A calm and confident attitude? Harder won.
News & Politics
January 8, 2024
Fire, Ice, and Wind: Texans Brace for Impact as Severe Weather Swallows the State
Whether it’s a Panhandle blizzard, a Houston thunderstorm, or a South Texas fire hazard, no matter where you are in Texas, there’s no escaping the chaos.
News & Politics
January 5, 2024
Are Texas’s Abnormally Warm Winters the New Normal?
During the height of Texas’s unbearably hot summer a few months ago, I told you all how excited I was for winter. The period of June through August—when temperatures reached the triple digits and it was impossible to step outside without breaking a sweat—was a true test of my
News & Politics
December 20, 2023
Despite Legislation and Local Policies Targeting LGBTQ Youth, Gay-Straight Alliances Persist in Public Schools
At one Fort Worth high school, recent changes in state law and district regulations have made it harder for LGBTQ students to be themselves.
Politics & Policy
December 12, 2023
The 2024 Primaries Are Upon Us. Here Are the Key Races in Texas.
A weak slate of statewide Dems, a feeding frenzy among Republicans for open House seats, and some Abbott-versus-Paxton showdowns are all on the menu.
Politics & Policy
December 12, 2023
“A Complete Waste of Time”: What the Colony Ridge Hysteria Says About the Right-wing Media Ecosystem
Glenn Beck went looking for proof that the Liberty County community is a cartel-controlled nightmare. He was surprised by what he found.
News & Politics
December 4, 2023
Does Rice University Have a Drinking Problem?
For decades, my alma mater has maintained a permissive alcohol culture that discourages students from going off campus to drink. But seven hospital transports during a recent party are forcing administrators to rethink their approach.
Politics & Policy
November 30, 2023
The Texas House Chamber Is the Latest Victim of the War on Christmas
Traditionally, the capitol building has housed a gigantic tree. This year's is much more meager.
Politics & Policy
November 22, 2023
Why Are So Many of Our Reps Quitting Congress?
Some seem tired of working in a place where so little gets done.
News
November 21, 2023
Sixty Years After JFK’s Assassination, Two Authors Claim “Incontrovertible Proof” of a “Conspiracy”
In their new book ‘Chokeholds,’ researchers argue Lee Harvey Oswald was just one piece of a sprawling conspiracy—one that other investigators claim never existed at all.
Politics & Policy
November 17, 2023
J. W. Lown Governed San Angelo With a Smile—and Constituents Like Me Won’t Forget It
He lived out his last years in Mexico as a real estate agent, dreaming of returning home to Texas with his husband.
Style & Design
November 17, 2023
Why Rich Guys Love Dressing Like Cartoon Cowboys
Money can buy anything, but it can’t make you look like any less of a dork.
Sports
October 25, 2023
A Jury Found Baylor Liable for Failing to Prevent Violence Against a Student
The woman who reported being physically abused in 2014 was awarded $270,000 in damages.
Sports
October 20, 2023
The Most Puzzling Moments From Art Briles’s Testimony in the Baylor Title IX Lawsuit
The former head football coach was called to testify on Thursday—and made some surprising assertions.