https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/joshua-fechter/The latest news by Joshua Fechter.enThu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/16/fort-worth-austin-population-growth/The growth is fueling higher rents and home prices in the North Texas city that was once seen as a more affordable option to Dallas and other major cities.By Joshua FechterThu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/16/fort-worth-austin-population-growth/Fort Worth was the fastest growing city in Texas, according to the state demographer. That growth has brought challenges, including higher rent and housing costs.Downtown Fort Worth on September 5, 2018.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/08/texas-immigration-mass-deportations-economy/“We wouldn’t survive” without undocumented workers, one South Texas produce business owner said. By one estimate, 8% of Texas’ workforce lacks legal status.By Alejandra Martinez, Alejandro Serrano, Berenice Garcia, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Joshua FechterWed, 08 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/08/texas-immigration-mass-deportations-economy/Construction workers building homes in San Antonio on Dec. 10, 2024.Construction workers building homes in far west San Antonio on Dec. 10, 2024.Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/texas-legislature-housing-affordability-crisis/A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.By Joshua FechterMon, 06 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/texas-legislature-housing-affordability-crisis/Texas lawmakers are expected to debate how to curb rising home costs this year as the state continues to grow. Celina in North Texas is one of the fastest growing in the United States.The Celina water tower among newer housing developments in Celina on November 13, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/21/donald-trump-tilman-fertitta-ambassador/Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and Landry’s restaurant group, hosted a fundraiser for Trump earlier this year.By Jasper Scherer and Joshua FechterSat, 21 Dec 2024 18:11:49 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/21/donald-trump-tilman-fertitta-ambassador/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/texas-population-31-million/Texas added nearly 563,000 residents within the last year, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates show.By Joshua FechterThu, 19 Dec 2024 15:59:01 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/texas-population-31-million/Texas' population surpassed 31 million people this year, largely due to international migration.The Austin skyline begins to light up as the solar eclipse reaches peak totality on Monday, April 8, 2024.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/10/texas-high-speed-rail-trump-legislature/A yearslong effort to bring high-speed rail to Texas has recently shown signs of life, but state lawmakers have consistently put up roadblocks to keep it from happening.By Joshua FechterTue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/10/texas-high-speed-rail-trump-legislature/Railroad tracks near a proposed bullet train terminus on the outskirts of downtown Dallas in 2022.Railroad tracks near a proposed bullet train terminus on the outskirts of downtown Dallas, on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. The entities in charge of a bullet train connection between Houston and DFW have faded despite Texas courts approving eminent domain to accomplish the massive project.Ben Torres for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-border-lawsuit-razor-wire-fence/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had sued the Biden administration after Border Patrol agents had cut the razor wire.By Alejandro Serrano and Joshua FechterWed, 27 Nov 2024 17:53:38 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-border-lawsuit-razor-wire-fence/The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has instructed the federal government to stop "damaging, destroying or interfering" with Texas’ concertina wire fence in the Eagle Pass area.A row of shipping containers and razor wire placed on the banks of the Rio Grande River by Gov. Greg Abbott to form a makeshift border wall in Eagle Pass on Nov. 19, 2021.Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribunehttps://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 Tribune