https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/joshua-fechter/The latest news by Joshua Fechter.enTue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://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 Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/16/austin-lot-size-housing-affordability/City leaders and advocates hope reducing the size of lots used to build homes will increase housing supply.By Joshua FechterFri, 17 May 2024 14:08:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/16/austin-lot-size-housing-affordability/An attendee listens and takes notes during an Austin City Council meeting on Thursday. People testified for and against zoning reforms meant to address the city's housing affordability crisis. Council members approved the reform package Friday.An attendee listens and takes notes as people testify during an Austin city council meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Austin. Attendees spent hours at Austin City Hall as the council went through numerous testimonies.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/08/dade-phelan-texas-house-interim-charges/The Beaumont Republican issued his interim charges even as it remains unclear whether he’ll be reelected.By Joshua Fechter and Robert DownenWed, 08 May 2024 14:54:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/08/dade-phelan-texas-house-interim-charges/House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks with other representatives during a special legislative session at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 17, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks with other represenatives during a special legislative session at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 17, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/03/texas-property-appraisal-district-board-elections/In the state’s larger counties, voters can now elect people to the agencies that appraise property values.By Joshua Fechter, Jess Huff and Yuriko SchumacherFri, 03 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/03/texas-property-appraisal-district-board-elections/Texans in more populous counties are electing appraisal district board members for the first time. Appraisal districts determine property values, a figure that helps determine tax bills.Some Texans will soon have a say in who sits on their tax appraisal boards.Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-property-tax-cuts-analysis/Texas has spent billions of dollars to drive down property taxes. Many homeowners saw a significant tax cut last year, per a Texas Tribune analysis.By Joshua Fechter and Andrew ParkFri, 26 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-property-tax-cuts-analysis/An aerial view of homes near Interstate 45 in Houston, on Sept. 16, 2019.An aerial view of homes near Interstate 45 in Houston, on Sept. 16, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/kim-ogg-harris-county-lina-hidalgo-attorney-general/Hidalgo’s staffers were indicted on felony charges related to how they allegedly helped award an $11 million contract to a political consulting firm headed by a Democratic strategist.By Joshua FechterThu, 25 Apr 2024 14:36:15 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/kim-ogg-harris-county-lina-hidalgo-attorney-general/Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg speaks during a press conference regarding alleged corruption in Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s staff, at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston on Thursday, April 25, 2024.Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg speaks during a press conference regarding corruption in Lina Hidalgo’s staff at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/23/texas-supreme-court-guaranteed-income/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging the program, saying it violates the Texas Constitution.By Joshua FechterTue, 23 Apr 2024 12:56:15 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/23/texas-supreme-court-guaranteed-income/The Texas Supreme Court granted on Tuesday Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's request to temporarily halt payments under Harris County's guaranteed income pilot program.State Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on October 26, 2021.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/11/dan-patrick-legislature-texas-priorities-housing-antisemitism/Examining charitable bail organizations and banning Delta 9 were also among Patrick’s priorities in the next legislative session.By Zach Despart and Joshua FechterThu, 11 Apr 2024 13:03:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/11/dan-patrick-legislature-texas-priorities-housing-antisemitism/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over on the Senate floor during the first day of the second special session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 28, 2023.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over on the Senate floor during the first day of the second special session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 28, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/texas-harris-county-guaranteed-income/The program would give roughly 1,900 households payments of $500 for 18 months with no strings attached. Paxton called it “plainly unconstitutional.”By Joshua FechterTue, 09 Apr 2024 13:23:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/texas-harris-county-guaranteed-income/The Houston skyline in November 2017.The Houston skyline in November, 2017.Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/27/texas-republicans-housing-affordability-zoning-land-use/Republican lawmakers may try to force Texas cities to allow greater housing density as the state faces a housing crunch.By Joshua FechterWed, 27 Mar 2024 19:33:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/27/texas-republicans-housing-affordability-zoning-land-use/Some Texas Republicans are warming up to the idea of reforming land-use rules in the state, which housing advocates believe get in the way of building more homes and contribute to the housing affordability crisis.An Aerial image of a suburban neighborhood in San Marcos on October 18, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/18/texas-cities-parking-rules-housing-climate/Most cities require homes and businesses to have parking. Critics say they drive up housing costs, foster car dependency and raise carbon emissions.By Joshua FechterMon, 18 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/18/texas-cities-parking-rules-housing-climate/An apartment parking lot in East Austin on Saturday, March 16, 2024.An apartment parking lot in East Austin on Saturday, March 16, 2024.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/15/texas-greg-abbott-institutional-homebuyers/So-called institutional homebuyers noticeably ramped up home purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. But housing experts point out investors have retreated amid high interest rates.By Joshua FechterFri, 15 Mar 2024 20:34:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/15/texas-greg-abbott-institutional-homebuyers/A construction worker, who declined to give their name, rolls up hosing as they work on building a home at a new housing development in Odessa on March 12, 2022.A construction worker, who declined to give their name, rolls up hosing as they work on building a home at a new housing development Saturday, March 12, 2022 in Odessa, Texas.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/panhandle-texas-farmers-ranchers-recovery/Ranchers have likely lost thousands of cattle in the wildfires, according to some preliminary estimates.By Joshua Fechter and Neelam BohraTue, 05 Mar 2024 21:05:40 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/panhandle-texas-farmers-ranchers-recovery/Christy Oats, left, talks at a U.S. Department of Agriculture informational meeting for farmers and ranchers affected by the Panhandle wildfires at the Hemphill County Exhibition Center in Canadian on March 5.Christy Oats, left, talks to the farmers and ranchers attending a USDA informational meeting at the Hemphill County Exhibition center in Canadian on March 5, 2024.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-wildfires-homes-burned-recovery-insurance/Rural Texans are more than twice as likely to go without homeowners insurance than their urban peers.By Joshua FechterMon, 04 Mar 2024 19:54:31 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-wildfires-homes-burned-recovery-insurance/A burned truck sits on lot in Fritch where a wildfire burned through. Areas behind the truck appear to be untouched.A burned truck sits on lot in Fritch where the fire went through while areas behind appear to be untouched Friday, March. 1, 2024.Justin Rex for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/dallas-city-manager-tc-broadnax-resigns/City Manager T.C. Broadnax resigned amid tensions with city leaders, including Mayor Eric Johnson. Three of Texas’ major cities — Dallas, Austin and El Paso — now have vacancies at the top of their local governments.By Joshua FechterWed, 21 Feb 2024 17:55:10 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/dallas-city-manager-tc-broadnax-resigns/Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax, right, during a City Council meeting on Aug. 9, 2017.Dallas City Manager, T.C. Broadnax, right, during a city council meeting on Aug. 9, 2017.Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune