In our magazine: Our Editor Lise Olsen takes us to the #Austin studio of Stephen Harrigan, as he explores his own religious upbringing, a famous prophecy, and the life of a child prophet in his compelling new book.
The Texas Observer
A Texas Writer Tackles a Subject ‘Beckoning in the Shadows His Entire Life’
Stephen Harrigan explores his own Catholic boyhood in Texas—and the prophecy left behind by a Portuguese prophet girl—in a compelling new book.
 #Texas #Mexico #culture #history #religion #books #Bookstodon @npub1ny7q...uv57
Earlier: Approving this bill would do a disservice to the families who value their own children’s curiosity and education, including their kids’ ability to access books needed for assigned reading or for research using nonfiction sources more advanced than those found in the children’s or teen sections of the library.
The Texas Observer
Texas Shouldn't Legislate Censorship
Public libraries are for the public—and that means access for all.
 #censorship #Texas #politics #USpol #news #books #library
“The people have been left out of this thing since day one. There has been no consideration or concern for human beings at all. It’s just wrong.” Top story: Cryptomining in #Texas is devouring our natural resources, polluting the land, and filling the air with unbearable #noise.
The Texas Observer
The Crypto Racket
Bitcoin mining afflicts locals with noise pollution, threatens water supplies, and receives generous public backing.
 #pollution #politics #USpol #news #crypto #bitcoin #energy #OilAndGas #environment #ClimateChange
Top story: While #Bitcoin is designed as a decentralized payment system that bypasses banks and credit cards, its consumption of Texans’ true wealth—the state’s natural resources—is centralized in the hands of a few companies, sucking up massive amounts of #water and energy to keep hardware running 24/7.
The Texas Observer
The Crypto Racket
Bitcoin mining afflicts locals with noise pollution, threatens water supplies, and receives generous public backing.
 #energy #OilAndGas #pollution #ClimateChange #environment #crypto #Texas
Earlier: Everyone I know has a relationship with #guns. They’re ingrained in American culture—our movies, books, and politics. ... Over the last few decades, however, the moral weight and awful responsibility of these weapons has grown heavier.
The Texas Observer
Son of a Gun: What to Do with a Legacy of (Unwanted) Firearms
I love my dad; I don’t love his guns.
 #GunViolence #culture #Texas #ethics
Featured story: “This bill undermines local control, worsens racial profiling, and wastes resources we need to keep our communities safe. It does not make #Texas safer—it makes it more fearful.”
The Texas Observer
Texas Police Are Slowly Joining What Could Be a ‘Giant ICE Army’
New 287(g) task force agreements are trickling in as the Lege considers mandating ICE cooperation and some counties await federal training.
 #politics #USpol #news #Trump #HumanRights #police #immigration #ICE
New today: Approving this bill would do a disservice to the families who value their own children’s curiosity and education, including their kids’ ability to access books needed for assigned reading or for research using nonfiction sources more advanced than those found in the children’s or teen sections of the #library.
The Texas Observer
Texas Shouldn't Legislate Censorship
Public libraries are for the public—and that means access for all.
 #censorship #Texas #politics #USpol #news #books #bookstodon #TXlege
From our magazine: Is our love the horizon? A line where the sky appears to meet the earth’s surface— which means if you are the earth, then I am the sky—
The Texas Observer
Poem: What connects us
is invisible. A natural gas pipeline. Cables above the eyeline, carried from pylon to pylon, past the horizon...
 #culture #poetry #poem @npub1xfww...mava
New from Francesca D'Annunzio: To augment its roughly 6,000 #ICE deportation agents, the #Trump administration has enlisted the help of other federal agencies including the DEA and IRS. But an even more significant expansion may be playing out at county and municipal levels.
The Texas Observer
Texas Police Are Slowly Joining What Could Be a ‘Giant ICE Army’
New 287(g) task force agreements are trickling in as the Lege considers mandating ICE cooperation and some counties await federal training.
 #police #HumanRights #border #immigration #politics #USpol #news #CriminalJustice #law
“All I remember is my eyes started burning. And then after that, I remember the cop kicking me in my face. She had me by my hair. She kneed me.” New: @npub1ayp3...yw0l reveals how the destruction of the Department of #Education is hampering the search for justice in this case of police brutality in school ...
The Texas Observer
A White School Officer Pepper-Sprayed and Kneed a Black Beaumont Student, Complaint Says. Will Feds Act?
Trump's gutting of the Education Department could stymie justice for 17-year-old Ja’Liyah Celestine.
 #police #Texas #politics #USpol #news #Trump #schools #GulfCoast