https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/paul-cobler/The latest news by Paul Cobler.enFri, 27 Jun 2025 11:18:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-porn-websites-age-verification-law-supreme-court/The case involves a 2023 state law requiring adult websites to verify users’ ages, but the ruling is expected to have broader implications for free speech law.By Kayla Guo, Eleanor Klibanoff and Paul CoblerFri, 27 Jun 2025 11:18:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-porn-websites-age-verification-law-supreme-court/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 following arguments in the case “Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al. v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas.”Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 following arguments in the case “Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al. v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas.”Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/20/hurricane-harvey-one-year-later-debt-loss-and-faith-3-texas-families/The deadly storm was indiscriminate during its week of destruction. Texans living in the massive disaster area were thrust into a historic housing recovery effort rife with bureaucratic roadblocks, agonizing financial decisions and still-lingering anxieties.By Paul CoblerMon, 20 Aug 2018 00:01:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/20/hurricane-harvey-one-year-later-debt-loss-and-faith-3-texas-families/The Eichberger family RV housed Kareen, Jon and two of their sons for nearly a year after their house was flooded by the rains of Tropical Storm Harvey. The RV is parked in the driveway of their damaged home, allowing Kareen and Jon to oversee ongoing repairs.The Eichberger family RV housed Kareen, Jon and two of their sons for nearly a year after their house was flooded by the rains of Tropical Storm Harvey. The RV is parked in the driveway of their damaged home, allowing Kareen and Jon to oversee ongoing repairs.Stephanie Kuzydym for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/07/05/houston-sees-first-major-flooding-harvey/Residents watched cautiously as parts of the city received up to 8 inches of rain.By Natalia Alamdari and Paul CoblerThu, 05 Jul 2018 17:59:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/07/05/houston-sees-first-major-flooding-harvey/Streets flood in central Houston during heavy rain on July 4, 2018.Streets flood in central Houston during heavy rain on July 4, 2018.Stephanie Kuzydym for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/25/hurricane-harvey-long-term-recovery-funds-approved-federal-government/The $5 billion housing recovery plan will be administered in two parts: $2.3 billion directly allocated for Houston and Harris County and $2.7 billion for all other disaster areas. By Paul CoblerMon, 25 Jun 2018 15:46:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/25/hurricane-harvey-long-term-recovery-funds-approved-federal-government/Randa Langerud's Wharton home being demolished due to damage sustained from Hurricane Harvey. Langerud's home was the first of 10 to be torn down in her neighborhood.Randa Langerud's Wharton home being demolished due to damage sustained from Hurricane Harvey. Langerud's home was the first of 10 to be torn down in her neighborhood.Randa Langerudhttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/21/southwest-key-has-procedure-place-reunite-immigrant-children-parents/A company official told Texas lawmakers Thursday that parents and children have the opportunity to be in contact. But it's still not clear how that may lead to family reunification.By Paul Cobler and Emma PlatoffThu, 21 Jun 2018 14:18:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/21/southwest-key-has-procedure-place-reunite-immigrant-children-parents/Southwest Key headquarters in Austin on June 19, 2018.Southwest Key headquarters in Austin on June 19, 2018.Rachel Zein for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/20/lawsuit-central-americans-separated-children-texas-border/The lawsuit argues that the constitutional rights of the families were violated by the Trump administration's policy and asks that the parents be reunited with their children, one as young as 2 years old.By Paul Cobler and Jolie McCulloughWed, 20 Jun 2018 15:56:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/20/lawsuit-central-americans-separated-children-texas-border/The South Texas Family Residential Center is an immigrant detention center in Dilley, about 70 miles southwest of San Antonio.The South Texas Family Residential Center is an immigrant detention center in Dilley, about 70 miles southwest of San Antonio.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/12/santa-fe-school-shooting-texas-greg-abbott-counselors/In a state that doesn't require counselors in schools, Abbott is recommending school districts find money to hire more counselors and allow them to focus on student mental health rather than administrative tasks like scheduling and college admissions.By Paul CoblerTue, 12 Jun 2018 00:01:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/12/santa-fe-school-shooting-texas-greg-abbott-counselors/Gov. Greg Abbott announces new school safety measures in response to the Santa Fe High School shooting at the Dallas Independent School District headquarters on May 31, 2018.Gov. Greg Abbott announces new school safety measures in response to the Santa Fe High School shooting at the Dallas Independent School District headquarters on May 31, 2018.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/05/16/port-corpus-christi-seeking-permission-construct-seawater-desalination/The proposed plant would be constructed in the city of Gregory and would be one of the first in Texas to use only seawater.By Paul CoblerWed, 16 May 2018 00:01:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/05/16/port-corpus-christi-seeking-permission-construct-seawater-desalination/Seen is the inside of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant on April 16, 2012. The $87 million facility produces 27.5 million gallons of water per day, making it the largest inland desalination plant in the world. In Corpus Christi, a seawater desalination plant has been proposed, which would be one of the first in the state.The inside of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant in El Paso on April 16, 2012.Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/30/study-argues-need-texas-cities-restrict-watering-days/Three years after one of the worst droughts in Wichita Falls history, life is returning to normal. But as Texas creeps back into a drought, water experts say residents in the city and around the state can do more to conserve water and prepare for the next shortage, which is always on the horizon. By Paul CoblerMon, 30 Apr 2018 00:01:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/30/study-argues-need-texas-cities-restrict-watering-days/A truck is washed at All American Super Car Wash in Wichita Falls. Business owner Larry Ayers almost had to shut down in 2015 due to a devastating drought and tightened water restrictions.A truck is washed at All American Super Car Wash in Wichita Falls. Business owner Larry Ayers almost had to shut down in 2015 due to a devastating drought and tightened water restrictions.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/25/fema-ends-hotel-stays-hundreds-texans-displaced-hurricane-harvey/Housing advocates criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency for ending hotel vouchers for more than 1,300 Texans because renters were more likely to be affected. Homeowners, meanwhile, can have their hotel stays extended through May. By Paul CoblerWed, 25 Apr 2018 16:44:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/25/fema-ends-hotel-stays-hundreds-texans-displaced-hurricane-harvey/Housing advocates say a FEMA decision to end hotel stays for Texas renters displaced for Harvey doesn't account for difficulties in finding affordable units in the neighborhoods they left.Housing advocates say a FEMA decision to end hotel stays for Texas renters displaced for Harvey doesn't account for difficulties in finding affordable units in the neighborhoods they left.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/21/barbara-bushs-houston-funeral-service-commemorates-life-former-first-l/United States presidents, first ladies and Texas governors gathered Saturday in Houston to honor the life of former first lady Barbara Bush, who died Tuesday. A motorcade after the service transported Bush to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, where a private family ceremony was held at her burial site.By Paul CoblerSat, 21 Apr 2018 12:58:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/21/barbara-bushs-houston-funeral-service-commemorates-life-former-first-l/The funeral procession leaves St. Martin's Episcopal Church at the end of service for former First Lady Barbara Bush, in Houston on April 21, 2018.The funeral procession leaves St. Martin's Episcopal Church at the end of service for former First Lady Barbara Bush, in Houston on April 21, 2018.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/02/28/bois-darc-creek-reservoir-become-texas-first-new-major-reservoir-20-ye/The Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir was recently approved for its second $500 million loan as the project nears the beginning of construction in North Texas. The dam and accompanying man-made lake will be Texas' first new major reservoir in almost two decades.By Paul CoblerWed, 28 Feb 2018 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2018/02/28/bois-darc-creek-reservoir-become-texas-first-new-major-reservoir-20-ye/Harold "Thump" Witcher Jr., a Fannin County native, and his wife, Patty, live on 485 acres of farmland that sits in an area slated to be flooded to create the Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir. The reservoir will provide water for parts of North Texas.Harold "Thump" Witcher Jr., a Fannin County native, and his wife, Patty, live on 485 acres of farmland that sits in an area slated to be flooded to create the Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir. The reservoir will provide water for parts of North Texas.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/02/05/wimberley-floods-2015-caused-weather-patterns-intensified-development/Researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio have found that development along the Blanco River intensified the impact of a 40-foot wall of water that gushed down the waterway on Memorial Day weekend 2015. By Paul CoblerMon, 05 Feb 2018 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2018/02/05/wimberley-floods-2015-caused-weather-patterns-intensified-development/An overturned vehicle on the banks of the Blanco River on May 26, 2015. The area saw record-breaking flood levels two days before.An overturned vehicle on the banks of the Blanco River on May 26, 2015. The area saw record-breaking flood levels two days before.Marjorie Kamys Coterahttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/24/texas-drought-ravages-panhandle/Just five months after the monster storm gave Texas its wettest month in history, much of the state is now in a drought — including areas that saw historic flooding. By Paul CoblerWed, 24 Jan 2018 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/24/texas-drought-ravages-panhandle/Graphic by Todd Wisemanhttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/22/texas-drinking-water-contamination-problem-pronounced-rural-areas/Dozens of small and rural utilities in the state have for years provided water that contains illegal levels of radiation, lead and arsenic. Lack of resources is largely to blame — but there's more to it than that. By Paul CoblerMon, 22 Jan 2018 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/22/texas-drinking-water-contamination-problem-pronounced-rural-areas/A sign certifying water quality in Buda.A sign certifying water quality in Buda.Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/11/texas-supreme-court-hears-oral-arguments-plastic-bag-ban-case/Lawyers spent almost an hour in the Texas Supreme Court arguing whether Laredo’s 2015 ban on plastic grocery bags was illegal. The future of bag bans in cities across the state could hinge on the case. By Paul CoblerThu, 11 Jan 2018 11:04:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/11/texas-supreme-court-hears-oral-arguments-plastic-bag-ban-case/Single-use bag ban advocates hold a press conference before the Texas Supreme Court prior to oral arguments on the legality of Laredo’s ban on Jan. 11, 2018. Single-use bag ban advocates hold a press conference before the Texas Supreme Court prior to oral arguments on the legality of Laredo’s ban on Jan. 11, 2018. Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/11/texas-plastic-bag-bans-threatened-supreme-court-challenge-laredo-ordin/The Texas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Thursday in the case, Laredo Merchants Association v. The City of Laredo, in which the merchants’ association is arguing a ban on single-use bags by the city is illegal.By Paul CoblerThu, 11 Jan 2018 00:01:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/11/texas-plastic-bag-bans-threatened-supreme-court-challenge-laredo-ordin/Muliadi Soenaryo