“There’s this veneer of respect for privacy that is painted over all of this data aggregation and consolidation.”
But beneath it all, #privacy experts warn that smartphone-monitoring software "Tangles" is the latest in a law enforcement arsenal, from surveillance #tech to an army of drones, operating with little oversight.
Our latest from Francesca D'Annunzio is presented in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-police-invest-tangles-sheriff-surveillance/
#police #surveillance #law #politics #USpol #news
Exciting News: We're hiring for our David McHam Fellowship for Investigative Reporting! This one-to-two-year full-time fellowship allows experienced journalists to pursue investigative projects and enterprise stories about #Texas politics, policy, and social issues.
See more details and preferred qualifications here: https://www.texasobserver.org/jobs/
Apply by February 6!
#journalism #JournoJobs #politics #USpol #news #GetFediHired #FediHired #nonprofit
Out today from Gus Bova: Highlights of our newest issue include criminal justice reporting from Michelle Pitcher, exploring #Houston culture with @josephinelee@texasobserver.social, the war over homelessness policy with @stevanzetti@mstdn.social, and much more. https://www.texasobserver.org/editors-letter-january-february-2026/
#journalism #media #HumanRights #Texas #politics #USpol #culture #GulfCoast #law
We've been publishing stories all year related to our 70th anniversary, but today marks the actual date that the Texas Observer published its first issue in 1954, with the top story dedicated to a retail workers' #strike in Port Arthur: https://archives.texasobserver.org/issue/1954/12/13#page=1
#journalism #history #media #nonprofit #news #Texas #politics #USpol
Pacifico’s GW Ranch in Pecos County is authorized to release more than 12,000 tons per year of regulated air pollutants, according to permitting documents from the #Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including soot, ammonia, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds.
The complex can also release up to 33 million tons per year of greenhouse gases. https://www.texasobserver.org/developer-gw-ranch-pecos-county-largest-power-project-us/
#pollution #environment #ClimateChange #news #energy #Oil #USpol
Still open! We currently have two openings accepting applications:
⚫
McHam Fellowship for Investigative Reporting
⚫2026 Elections Internship
Find out more and how to apply at https://www.texasobserver.org/jobs/
#jobs #journalism #JournoJobs #GetFediHired #FediHire #news #media
“There’s this veneer of respect for privacy that is painted over all of this data aggregation and consolidation.”
But beneath it all, #privacy experts warn that smartphone-monitoring software "Tangles" is the latest in a law enforcement arsenal, from surveillance #tech to an army of drones, operating with little oversight.
Our latest from Francesca D'Annunzio is presented in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-police-invest-tangles-sheriff-surveillance/
#police #surveillance #law #politics #USpol #news
Exciting News: We're hiring for our David McHam Fellowship for Investigative Reporting! This one-to-two-year full-time fellowship allows experienced journalists to pursue investigative projects and enterprise stories about #Texas politics, policy, and social issues.
See more details and preferred qualifications here: https://www.texasobserver.org/jobs/
Apply by February 6!
#journalism #JournoJobs #politics #USpol #news #GetFediHired #FediHired #nonprofit
Out today from Gus Bova: Highlights of our newest issue include criminal justice reporting from Michelle Pitcher, exploring #Houston culture with @josephinelee@texasobserver.social, the war over homelessness policy with @stevanzetti@mstdn.social, and much more. https://www.texasobserver.org/editors-letter-january-february-2026/
#journalism #media #HumanRights #Texas #politics #USpol #culture #GulfCoast #law
#BestOf2025, from Kit @oconnell@federate.social: “The modern enforcement of marijuana prohibition that exists today, that system began in #Texas in 1915 in El Paso. It was the very first city in the entire country that prohibited marijuana.” https://www.texasobserver.org/dan-patrick-texas-devastating-thc-ban/
#cannabis #drugs #law #politics #USpol #news
New today: “I have a gut feeling God has got something in store for this place. … To me, that plant is causing a lot of trouble, and to me, the Lord’s going to let a big hurricane come and wipe this place out.” https://www.texasobserver.org/the-valley-fossil-fuel-future-freeport-louisiana/
#politics #environment #USpol #news #ClimateChange #SouthTexas #border #energy #OilAndGas
New from Lise Olsen: Former Congressman and felon Steve Stockman, a Friendswood-area conservative who was convicted of 23 federal corruption charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison back in 2018, has declared himself rehabilitated and fit to run again for the U.S. House of Representatives. https://www.texasobserver.org/steve-stockman-rides-again/
#politics #USpol #news #Houston #GulfCoast #corruption #Republicans #elections
“Trans visibility is important, but also trans people deserve to have fun.”
Featured story: Come to the "Trans Takeover" at #Austin's Barton Springs, a moment of joy an resilience that came weeks after a violent attack ... https://www.texasobserver.org/protect-trans-joy-barton-springs/
#LGBTQIA #trans #culture #water #Texas #CentralTexas
Last week: On the day the feds came to shut Willie down, Trigger somehow slipped out of bed, made it to the golf course, travelled by mail to Hawaii, and hid out until Willie got his house and taxes back in order. https://www.texasobserver.org/willie-nelson-golf-course-essay/
#history #music #culture #Indigenous #sports #golf
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