Blood and Sugar
Can one very determined man get a booming Houston suburb to confront its troubled past?
The Redneck Tenor
The acclaimed opera singer Jay Hunter Morris has traveled the globe, performing Wagner, Puccini, and Bizet. And yet he still feels like a hick from Paris, Texas.
The Texas Wine Industry Is Just Getting Started. Grape Farmers Say the End Is Near.
A toxic herbicide used in cotton fields is devastating vineyards on the High Plains, endangering the state’s $13 billion wine business. Grape farmers have banded together to fight back.
“I Don’t Believe Anything”: Among the Unvaccinated in One Central Texas Community
Bell County struggles with misinformation and conspiracy theories as the deadly Delta variant spreads like wildfire.
Country Revival
Texas A&M is booming: new construction, world-renowned academics, and sports teams on the rise. The man behind all this success is the pickup-driving, straight-talking politician turned system chancellor John Sharp.
170 Articles
Politics & Policy
March 22, 2023
Texas Jails Are Crowded, Understaffed, and Dangerous. The Legislature Is Poised to Send Them More Inmates.
Two bipartisan bills would make it easier for judges to incarcerate defendants before trial. Criminologists say that’s bad for public safety.
Style & Design
March 21, 2023
Eighty Years Later, Houston’s Eldorado Ballroom Swings Back to Life
Built in 1939, the nightclub once hosted Duke Ellington and Ray Charles. After a $9.7 million renovation, it’ll welcome a new generation of music lovers.
Business
March 20, 2023
Can SpaceX Rocket Past Mattress Mack in Our Brand Bracket?
The tech titan and the furniture maven are more alike than you may think.
Politics & Policy
March 15, 2023
Texas Lege Watch: A GOP Bill Would Put Greg Abbott in Charge of Houston Flood Control. What Could Go Wrong?
Senator Paul Bettencourt’s proposal would hand the Harris County Flood Control District over to unelected bureaucrats appointed by the governor.
Politics & Policy
March 9, 2023
How the Texas GOP Became the Party of Big Government
Under Governor Greg Abbott and a Republican-dominated Legislature, Texas has experienced an unprecedented expansion of state power over municipalities.
Politics & Policy
February 21, 2023
A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessa’s Municipal Government. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits.
In the three months since city council elections, at least twenty staffers have resigned, retired, or been fired, including the city manager, city attorney, and fire chief.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
The Astrodome’s Decline From Eighth Wonder to Eighth Blunder of the World
Once a symbol of Houston’s wealth and ambition, the now-empty stadium no longer represents much of anything.
The Stand Up Desk
January 12, 2023
Three Decades Later, It’s Still Unclear What Killed Tommy Earl Haynes
The career criminal was found dead after a two-day manhunt in East Texas. A writer recalls reporting on the circumstances of Haynes’s death.
Politics & Policy
January 12, 2023
The Lege Sets Its Sights on Voting Rights (Again)
Republicans in the Texas House and Senate have filed a blizzard of bills seeking to crack down on alleged voter fraud and increase state control over elections. Here’s an annotated guide.
Politics & Policy
January 3, 2023
Is Ron DeSantis the Most Powerful Republican in Texas?
Forget Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick. Florida’s governor will be calling the shots when the Texas Legislature returns in January.
Art
December 21, 2022
A Journey to Hell: My Visit to the Houston Satanic Temple’s Art Show
The artworks were semi-terrifying, but at least the people were nice.
Politics & Policy
December 1, 2022
Harris County Botched Another Election. The GOP Senses Opportunity.
After an election marred by malfunctioning machines, long lines, and a shortage of paper ballots, Republicans are contemplating big changes in the next Legislature.
Politics & Policy
November 10, 2022
Texas Democrats Are the Charlie Brown of Political Parties
Every two years, the party tries to kick the football—and every two years, it misses. Good grief!
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2022
Why Is Ken Paxton Sending a Task Force to Monitor Harris County’s Elections?
Local officials and civil rights activists worry that the attorney general could be laying the groundwork for challenging another election.
Politics & Policy
October 27, 2022
Can Alexandra del Moral Mealer Save the Harris County GOP?
State Republicans and local business leaders are betting big on the 38-year-old political newcomer, pouring nearly $5 million into her campaign to unseat County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Polls suggest the race is a dead heat.
Politics & Policy
October 17, 2022
Minority Rule: How 3 Percent of Texans Call the Shots for the Rest of Us
Low primary-election turnout and an anemic Democratic party means statewide officials and legislators are far to the right of most Texans.
Politics & Policy
October 10, 2022
Texas Election Chief Speaks Out on Conspiracy “Nuts,” Death Threats, and President Biden’s Legitimacy
In an exclusive interview with Texas Monthly, Secretary of State John Scott urges “stop the steal” activists to accept the 2020 election results.
Sports
October 10, 2022
Meet Jak Crawford, the 17-Year-Old Texan Gunning for a Seat in Formula 1
The teenager grew up in the Houston suburbs, where he started driving go-karts when he was six. He now races with some of the best drivers in the world.
Politics & Policy
October 4, 2022
Texas Election Officials Are Fighting an Endless Battle With “Stop the Steal” Activists
Donald Trump’s baseless claims of fraud have made life more difficult and dangerous for poll workers.
Politics & Policy
September 26, 2022
The Forward Party Wants to Disrupt Traditional Politics. But Can It Win Elections?
Founded by Andrew Yang, Christine Todd Whitman, and David Jolly, the new party claims to encompass the left, right, and center. Its Houston launch, while well attended, prompted doubts about its viability.
Politics & Policy
August 8, 2022
In Dallas, Donald Trump Provided a Violent Blueprint for Seizing Power
In a week marked by militant rhetoric at CPAC—including Ted Cruz’s promise to “fight the barbarians”—the former president vowed to inflict a “crippling defeat” on his enemies.
Politics & Policy
August 5, 2022
In Dallas, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Got a Standing Ovation From the Trump Faithful
“The globalists can all go to hell,” the authoritarian populist said at CPAC. “I have come to Texas.”
Politics & Policy
July 27, 2022
Kim Ogg Wants a Democratic Socialist Judge Thrown Off the Bench
Franklin Bynum has tried to reform the Harris County criminal justice system from within. That's made him a target of the district attorney.
Politics & Policy
July 18, 2022
Texas Democrats Know They Need a New Leader. They Settled for the Old One.
At this weekend’s convention in Dallas, a contentious election for party chair revealed racial and gender-based fault lines.
Politics & Policy
June 28, 2022
Ten Years of Magical Thinking
Gilberto Hinojosa has led the Texas Democratic Party through a decade of failure. Some Democrats think that’s long enough.
Business
June 16, 2022
As Bitcoin Falls, Austin Hosts a Crypto Bacchanalia
Digital currencies are tanking, but that didn’t stop more than 20,000 blockchain enthusiasts from throwing a week-long party.
Politics & Policy
May 27, 2022
Most Texas Republican Politicians Avoided the NRA Convention in Houston. But Democrats Poured In.
John Cornyn and Dan Patrick pulled out after Uvalde. Greg Abbott appeared by video. As Ted Cruz spoke, Beto O’Rourke led a protest.
Politics & Policy
May 25, 2022
The Democratic Party Picks Its Team—For Better or Worse
First-time candidate Rochelle Garza cruised to the attorney general nomination, while Mike Collier and Jay Kleberg eked out narrow runoff victories over all-but-unknown opponents.
Politics & Policy
May 23, 2022
The Harris County GOP Is Assembling “Rapid Response Teams” to Monitor the Runoff
Houston Republicans are going on the offensive in this week's election as a trial run for November.
Politics & Policy
May 17, 2022
Mike Collier’s Excellent Political Adventure
The Houston accountant has lost two statewide elections and knows the challenge of being a Texas Democrat. Why is he running a third time?
Politics & Policy
May 4, 2022
In a Houston Suburb, Book Bans Fuel a Bitter School Board Race
Two right-wing activists in the high-performing, highly diverse Katy Independent School District aim to unseat incumbents in Saturday’s election.
Politics & Policy
April 27, 2022
Republicans Have Their Knives Out for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo
But for now, her two GOP challengers are busy slashing at each other before the May 24 runoff election.
Politics & Policy
April 8, 2022
Meet the King Ranch Scion Who Wants to Be Texas Land Commissioner
Conservationist, businessman, and filmmaker Jay Kleberg offers unusual qualifications for the job.
Politics & Policy
March 21, 2022
Democratic Voters Aren’t Behaving as if They Think Ken Paxton Is Vulnerable
Texas’s attorney general is seen as the most beatable statewide Republican, but Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski are struggling to motivate the Democratic base.
Politics & Policy
March 10, 2022
Why Can’t the Biggest County in Texas Run an Election?
The new voting law passed by the Legislature created headaches for those who cast ballots, but the problems with election administration in Harris County run far deeper.
Business
February 23, 2022
The Texas Wine Industry Is Just Getting Started. Grape Farmers Say the End Is Near.
A toxic herbicide used in cotton fields is devastating vineyards on the High Plains, endangering the state’s $13 billion wine business. Grape farmers have banded together to fight back.
Politics & Policy
February 21, 2022
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, and Mike Lindell Walk Into the Houston ’Burbs
The three Trumpian firebrands came to support U.S. House candidate Christian Collins, whose primary run is dividing prominent Republicans.
Politics & Policy
February 18, 2022
Brazoria County Is Poised to Elect Its First Black Congressman. Not Everyone Is Happy About It.
Brazoria County is diversifying fast, but its top elected officials are all white.
Politics & Policy
February 15, 2022
Louie Gohmert Is Pitching Himself as Ken Paxton Without the Baggage. Will It Work?
The nine-term congressman and right-wing firebrand from Tyler is staking his career on unseating the indicted attorney general.
Politics & Policy
February 9, 2022
Kim Ogg Blames Rising Crime on Houston Judges. 14 of Her Prosecutors Are Vying to Unseat Them.
The lawyers in the district attorney’s office say they decided to run on their own, reflecting internal Democratic divisions over public safety.
News & Politics
February 9, 2022
This Austin Lawyer Calls Himself a Shaman. Former Employees Complain of Woo-Woo Smoke Ceremonies and Sexually Explicit Texts.
Attorney Mark Mueller promised a caring, new age workplace. But former employees tell of drum-and-smoke ceremonies and explicit text messages.
Politics & Policy
January 17, 2022
Sheriff A.J. Louderback Is a Fox News Staple. Now He’s Running for Congress.
The Jackson County lawman is running to represent southeast Texas on a Trump-style “America First” platform. There’s only one problem: Trump endorsed his opponent.
Politics & Policy
December 9, 2021
Texas Election Officials Went Looking for Illegal Voters. They Found Some U.S. Citizens.
Nearly 12,000 registered voters have received letters demanding proof of citizenship as part of Texas’s newest effort at “voter list maintenance.”
Politics & Policy
November 24, 2021
Who’s To Blame for Astroworld? Anybody but Us, Say Houston Officials.
In the wake of the deadly Travis Scott concert, Bayou City and Harris County politicians have formed a circular firing squad.
Music
November 8, 2021
After the Astroworld Disaster, a Reckoning for Music Festivals
International crowd-safety experts say better planning could have prevented the eight deaths and dozens of injuries at last week’s Travis Scott concert.
News & Politics
October 20, 2021
A Brazoria County District Clerk Sorted Jurors by Race. A Black Man Convicted Under Her System Wants a New Trial.
The first defendant to request a new trial because of Rhonda Barchak’s system had a hearing last week.
News & Politics
October 9, 2021
Texas Law Says Jury Panels Must Be Chosen Randomly. A Brazoria County Official Had a Different Idea.
Brazoria County district clerk Rhonda Barchak sorted jurors by race and geography. Her attorney says the method was harmless, but the Texas Rangers are investigating.
Music
September 14, 2021
Houston’s Legendary SugarHill Recording Studios Turns Eighty
The oldest studio in Texas has recorded everyone from Lightnin’ Hopkins and George Jones to Beyoncé and Travis Scott—and it’s still making hits.
Politics & Policy
September 11, 2021
Nearly Everyone in Dimmit County Is Infected or Vaccinated. Now What?
Despite one of the state’s highest vaccination rates, the rural South Texas county is struggling to reach the goal of herd immunity.
Sports
August 12, 2021
Houston and Dallas Are Thirsty to Host 2026 World Cup Matches
Inside the two Texas cities’ bids to host the world’s biggest sporting event.