https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/joshua-fechter/The latest news by Joshua Fechter.enTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Texas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans.By Texas Tribune Staff, James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Matthew Choi, Robert Downen, Alejandro Serrano, Joshua Fechter, Kayla Guo, Pooja Salhotra and Terri LangfordTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day.Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-justice-department-election-monitors/The federal agency agreed their monitors would remain outside polling locations and wouldn’t interfere with voting.By Terri Langford, Joshua Fechter and Kayla GuoFri, 01 Nov 2024 22:44:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-justice-department-election-monitors/The Department of Justice announced Friday it would send election monitors to 27 states, including Texas, to keep an eye out for potential voting rights violations on Tuesday.Voters check in to vote at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston, Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-shortage-report/Texas builds more homes than other states but hundreds of thousands more are still needed, the report said, contributing to higher housing costs.By Joshua FechterWed, 30 Oct 2024 17:08:16 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-shortage-report/Home builders work in north Longview's Hidden Hills subdivision on Dec. 17, 2021.New home construction in north Longview's Hidden Hills subdivision on December 17, 2021.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-affordability-takeaways/The Texas Tribune examined the state’s housing affordability crisis and why the state has struggled to build enough homes to meet demand.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloWed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-housing-affordability-takeaways/San Antonio neighborhoods on May 25, 2024.San Antonio neighborhoods on May 25, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-housing-affordability-zoning/Texas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with the demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloTue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-housing-affordability-zoning/Share art for the zoning regulations story for the affordable housing series.Carla Astudillohttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-housing-affordability-fight/A new breed of activists wants Texas to tame costs by building more housing. But longstanding opposition to such policies remains strong.By Joshua Fechter and Carla AstudilloMon, 28 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-housing-affordability-fight/The Austin City Council meets on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Austin.Council members and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson are present in person during the Austin city council meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Austin. Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, Paige Ellis, Mackenzie Kelly, Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool and José "Chito" Vela were in person with Mayor Kirk WatsonMaria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/15/texas-gulf-coast-insurance-increase/Texas Windstorm Insurance Association officials argued they needed a 10% rate increase to help insure a growing number of policyholders.By Joshua FechterTue, 15 Oct 2024 14:41:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/15/texas-gulf-coast-insurance-increase/Damage to homes caused by a tornado that moved through Round Rock on March 21, 2022. The state's insurance commissioner on Monday denied a request by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the state's insurer of last resort for coastal residents and businesses, for a 10% rate increase.Damage to homes caused by a tornado that moved through Round Rock on March 21, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/11/texas-housing-crisis-impact/The Texas Tribune is writing about the state’s housing affordability crisis. Help us tell the story.By Joshua Fechter and María MéndezWed, 11 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/11/texas-housing-crisis-impact/A residential neighborhood seen on Aug. 10 in Midland.A residential neighborhood seen Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Midland.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/04/texas-eliminate-property-tax-cost/Texas Republicans have been trying to reduce the state’s high property taxes for years, but some acknowledge eliminating them would be too expensive.By Joshua FechterWed, 04 Sep 2024 16:52:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/04/texas-eliminate-property-tax-cost/Completely eliminating Texas' high property taxes would have cost the state $81.5 billion last year — or more than half the state's current two-year budget — state budget officials told Texas senators Wednesday.An Aerial image of a suburban neighborhood in San Marcos on October 18, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/27/texas-comptroller-housing-shortage-affordability/Texas needs hundreds of thousands more homes than it has, per one estimate. That shortage has driven up home prices and rents.By Joshua FechterTue, 27 Aug 2024 12:12:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/27/texas-comptroller-housing-shortage-affordability/A San Antonio neighborhood on May 25, 2024.A San Antonio neighborhood on Saturday, May 25, 2024.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/13/harris-county-2022-election-investigation/One county employee was charged in the probe, however, after investigators said he failed to make sure polling locations had enough ballots.By Joshua FechterTue, 13 Aug 2024 16:30:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/13/harris-county-2022-election-investigation/Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg addresses the media at the Criminal Justice Center in Houston on Tuesday. Investigators with the Texas Rangers and Ogg's office said they found no evidence of efforts to sway the November 2022 elections in Harris County.Harris Co. District Attorney Kim Ogg addresses the media at the Criminal Justice Center in Houston on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/08/texas-housing-affordability-poll/Some Texas lawmakers have signaled an appetite to tackle the state’s housing affordability crisis when they convene next year.By Joshua FechterThu, 08 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/08/texas-housing-affordability-poll/A view of downtown San Antonio. A University of Houston and Texas Southern University poll released Thursday found 90% of Texans think housing affordability is a problem where they live.Downtown San Antonio on May 25, 2025.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/29/coastal-texas-windstorm-insurance-rate-increase-beryl/Homeowners typically pay $2,300 a year for a Texas Windstorm Insurance Association policy. The rate increase would bump premiums by 10%.By Joshua FechterMon, 29 Jul 2024 16:43:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/29/coastal-texas-windstorm-insurance-rate-increase-beryl/Fallen tree branches obscure a house on July 12 in Houston's Fifth Ward. Hurricane Beryl caused multi-day long outages in the area.Fallen tree branches obscure a house on Friday, July 12, 2024 in Houston's Fifth Ward. Power had only just returned to the area that day, after Hurricane Beryl caused multi-day long outages.Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/texas-power-grid-puc-centerpoint-hurricane-beryl/The company’s power outages in July have drawn the ire of state leaders. Here’s what you need to know.By Alejandra Martinez, Emily Foxhall, Joshua Fechter and Kayla GuoThu, 25 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/texas-power-grid-puc-centerpoint-hurricane-beryl/Trucks line up to provide support with major power outages after Hurricane Beryl in Houston, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.Electric trucks line up to provide support with major power outages after Hurricane Beryl in Houston, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-passenger-rail/The state’s booming population, congestion problems and billions of federal dollars on the table have officials eyeing ways to boost passenger rail.By Joshua FechterTue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-passenger-rail/Houston residents participate in a public meeting on the Dallas to Houston high-speed rail project hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration on Oct. 29, 2014.A public scoping meeting on the Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail hosted by TXDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration in Houston on Oct. 29, 2014.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/28/supreme-court-texas-homelessness-camping-bans/The ruling comes amid a nationwide surge in homelessness as high rents put pressure on low-income households and pandemic-era protections expire.By Joshua FechterFri, 28 Jun 2024 09:47:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/28/supreme-court-texas-homelessness-camping-bans/Downtown Dallas Security Sgt. Shannon Delony wakes up a homeless man outside of the Dallas Public Library on July 21, 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday allowed a small town in Oregon to keep fining people for sleeping outside. Advocates for people experiencing homelessness say the ruling is an effective endorsement on other camping bans across the country.Downtown Dallas Security Sgt. Shannon Delony wakes up a homeless man outside of the Dallas Public Library on Thursday, July 21, 2022.Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/27/kinky-friedman-dies-texas-governor-race-musician/Friedman launched a boisterous campaign for governor in 2006, decades after forming the band Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys.By Emily Foxhall and Joshua FechterThu, 27 Jun 2024 10:37:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/27/kinky-friedman-dies-texas-governor-race-musician/Kinky Friedman is shown at his ranch in Medina on Dec. 12, 2013.Kinky Friedman is shown at his Medina ranch on Dec. 12, 2013.Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/26/harris-county-lina-hidalgo-fine-ethics-district-attorney/The $500 fine from the Texas Ethics Commission comes after the agency found the Harris County judge broke state campaign laws barring use of government resources for political purposes.By Joshua FechterWed, 26 Jun 2024 12:37:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/26/harris-county-lina-hidalgo-fine-ethics-district-attorney/Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo speaks to attendees during a Get Out the Vote Rally hosted by the Asian American Democrats of Texas in Asiatown on Oct. 15, 2022.Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo speaks to attendees during a Get Out the Vote Rally hosted by the Asian American Democrats of Texas in Asiatown on Oct. 15, 2022.Briana Vargas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/24/texas-housing-costs-homeownership-rents-harvard/A new housing report from Harvard University found that would-be homebuyers need to make more money than ever if they want to buy a home in Texas’ urban areas.By Joshua Fechter, Graphics by Carla AstudilloMon, 24 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/24/texas-housing-costs-homeownership-rents-harvard/Construction workers build houses in the new Teravista neighborhood in Georgetown on May 18, 2016.Construction workers build houses in the new Teravista neighborhood in Georgetown, TX on May 18, 2016.Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/11/texas-democrats-platform-housing-affordability-crisis/The Democrats’ recently approved platform includes calls to loosen zoning rules, which housing experts believe contribute to high housing costs.By Joshua FechterTue, 11 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/11/texas-democrats-platform-housing-affordability-crisis/An apartment complex in downtown Waco on Feb. 26, 2019.An apartment complex in downtown Waco on Feb. 26, 2019.Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune