Analysts: Trump Immigration Policies Could Spell Trouble for the Texas Economy

byMolly Smith and Lynda Gonzalez

A policy of mass deportation would have a significant effect on Texas’ economy, which depends on immigrant laborers to fill jobs in its construction, agriculture and hospitality industries, according to economists and industry insiders.

Central Texans with Mideast Roots Help Refugees Build New Lives in Austin

bySwathi Narayanan

Several groups are helping the newcomers find welcome and help in an unfamiliar city.

Cap Metro’s 2025 Plan Leaves Some Austin Bus Riders Behind

byAnna Casey

The plan would increase ridership and revenue. But it also means many people would have to find new routes to work, school or services.

Black Texas State Students Adopt Hashtag Activism

byJackson Prewitt

Black students in Texas have responded over the years to a long history of discrimination with sit-ins, marches and impassioned speeches. While those methods still persist, a newer medium is allowing students to fight what they perceive as injustices: social media. One of the main ways in which black students are raising their political voice […]

Pharmacists Are Uneasy About Their Role in State Plan to Fight Opioid Abuse

byHojun Choi

Pharmacists prefer to rely on training and judgment, rather than a balky database, to identify potential abusers.

Backup Quarterbacks Sometimes Are Thrown into the Bright Lights

byTyler Horka

They don’t often get to play. But when the coach puts them in the game, it’s their chance to shine or stumble.

Two Syrian Families Trace Their Long Routes from War to Refuge in Austin

bySwathi Narayanan

They escaped the bombs and repression of a five-year civil war. Now they are trying to rebuild their lives in a new country.

Pastors for Texas Children Become a Rising Voice Against School Vouchers

byJohn Savage

The group vows to challenge Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s effort to pass school vouchers in the 2017 Legislature. Johnson said he has told Patrick to his face, “This will not pass.”

Coaches: Pitch Limits in High School Baseball Are Both Fair and Foul

byLeah Vann

The governing body of high school sports in Texas has set a limit of 110 pitches per game, effective the 2017 season, to protect young arms from damage and reduce long-term injuries. But some baseball coaches wonder if the rule is too restrictive.

Legislature May Address HOA Foreclosure Issues in Upcoming Session

byHojun Choi

A House committee is studying ways to address complaints that homeowners could face foreclosures because of high attorney fees assessed by HOAs.

Grocer’s Son, Then Doctor, Now Major Donor to UT’s New Medical School

byQiling Wang

Mitchel Wong has prospered as an eye doctor, rancher and real estate investor. His $20 million donation will create a new institute at Dell Medical.

Lake Travis Player, Stuck in Mexico, Leaves a Deep But Incomplete Legacy

byLeah Vann

Every summer since moving to Texas, Lake Travis football player Santiago Villegas had traveled to Mexico to visit family and friends, returning to the U.S. with no trouble. This past summer, though, was different.

In Asian Basketball League, Players Find Fellowship and Community

byBradley Maddox

More than 100 players on 10 teams gather every Saturday from August to October.

Blind Triathlete Hopes to Bend Stereotypes on Her Way to Paralympic Medal

byMadeline Goss

Patricia Walsh thought Rio would be her last race. But a disappointing finish has fired up her determination to try again — and do better.

Increase in Guatemalan Migrants Spurs Need for Mayan Speakers

byMolly Smith

The nuances of Mayan dialects make communication even more difficult for refugees seeking asylum in the United States.

Video Takes Esports Fans Out to the Game Through Live Streaming

byJulien Lawrence

Cheers flooded Room 101 of Waggener Hall on a recent Thursday. Dozens of students screamed at the projector screen at the front of the room at the University of Texas at Austin. Armed with a massive golden hammer, a warrior charged at another wielding a futuristic laser gun. She slammed her hammer into the ground, […]

High School Counselors Help Students Find a Path to College or Careers

byLynda Gonzalez

High schools are under pressure to get more graduates into college. College and career centers at each campus help students navigate the process.

Blanket Criminal History Policies Create a Rental Hurdle for Thousands

byTravis Putnam Hill

Some landlords’ policies reject tenants for long-ago or minor crimes, even for arrests that never led to convictions. Landlords are beginning to consider changes.

More Than a Trainer, Bowie High Football’s Jacob Wempe Is a Friend

byAlbert Valdez

For 13 years, Wempe has been an important part of the Bowie football family. ‘He brings a positive attitude toward everything,’ one player said.

Learning to Play from a Wheelchair, One Shot at a Time

byAlbert Valdez

A former Austin high school athlete takes on the challenge of wheelchair athletics.