Austin Catholic Diocese Steps Up Efforts to Retain Hispanics

bySamantha Ketterer

Austin’s Catholic churches, facing the loss of Hispanic parishioners, are stepping up efforts to retain and attract members of an ethnic group that makes up 40 percent of the Texas population and is growing year by year.

Czech Star Makes Waves in the Ice Rink

byJacob Martella

Matej Stransky’s exceptional goal-scoring skills have made him a success in CHL and AHL. The 22-year-old from Ostrava, Czech Republic is now eyeing a spot in the NHL.

Austin Blades Gives Disabled Children Full-Contact Hockey Experience

byMegan Mikaelian

The team is something of a rarity, helping disabled children play full-contact hockey.

Chocolate Factory in Texas Is Syrian Family’s Escape Route from War

byCate Malek

The Ghraowis are hoping for a sweet life in the town of Portland as they rebuild their family business.

Men in Black Help Longhorn Basketball Women Sharpen Their Game

byCaden Kinard

Every practice this past season, five to 10 men scrimmage against the Longhorn women’s basketball team. “If you can stop a guy, then playing against girls seems a little easier,” one Longhorn said.

UT-Austin Gamers Vie for Legitimacy in Collegiate Esports

byAaron Schnautz

Competitive gaming has quickly gained momentum on college campuses, but only a handful of universities actively sponsor their players.

After Car Crash, Lake Travis Standout Works to Return to Football

byCody McCrary

Sammy Ochoa, a 17-year-old defensive tackle, injured his face, ribs, an arm, a leg and shoulder in the car crash. He is now working patiently to recover for the senior season.

The First All-Female Rasslin’ League in Texas Is Getting Ready to Perform

byEmily Gibson

“We are getting as weird as we want and not worrying about what is acceptable,” a co-founder says.

Immigrant Families on the Border Struggle with ‘Criminal’ Tag

byAnna Casey

Deportation and detention of undocumented family members is a pervasive fear for millions of U.S. citizens. According to the Human Rights Watch, illegal entry and re-entry are the country’s most prosecuted crimes.

The Zika Beat: Observations of a Mosquito Man

byArelisa Daniels

Mosquitoes common to Central Texas are spreading Zika. At Texas A&M, Jeff Tomberlin is working on ways to prevent the bites that could make people sick.

Meet the Candidates for Texas Legislature’s House District 49

byEstefania Espinosa

Democratic candidates talk about issues in advance of the March 1 primary for District 49, which includes the University of Texas-Austin campus and the West Campus neighborhood. The winner will succeed Elliott Naishtat next legislative session.

Siri Gets Lost in Translation; Bats Invade the E.R.

Don’t bother trying to talk Texan to Siri; Kilgore hospital confronts some very unwanted admissions.

In El Paso’s Segundo Barrio, Pope’s Message Has Special Relevance

byTravis Putnam Hill

Francis’ message resonated in a neigborhood that has both poverty and resilience. “I hope for the better, for our sister city Juárez and us,” one resident said.

Pope Francis Beams Into the Sun Bowl

byAnna Casey

In his homily, the pope addressed issues of immigration, calling the situation at the border – and across the globe – a “crisis.”

Pilgrims Journey from Afar to See the Pontiff

byJacqueline Sanchez

Nearly 200,000 people are expected to visit El Paso-Juárez this week to witness the pope, many of them drawn by his message of inclusion for minority communities and compassion for the poor.

Pope Francis Will Finish His Mexico Trip at the Edge of the Rio Grande

byTravis Putnam Hill

Papal visit has meaning for people on both sides of the border. “It’s a message of love and respect and dignity,” one woman said.

In the Path of a Political Pope

byDestinee Harrison and Cate Malek

On his journey through Mexico, Pope Francis chose to include cities that have been most affected by long-running crises such as migration and drug violence.

How Not to Get Hired; A Big-Cross Battle

A 30-year-old man applied for a job at a Taco Bueno in Kilgore. Then he allegedly stole a car in the parking lot after he left the restaurant, Fox News reported Feb. 4.

Eyes on Texas: Bat Fights and Brisket Lines in Austin

The Great Gray Lady has finally sunk her teeth into Franklin Barbecue. It took six years to break the story.

UT Basketball Star’s Success Turns Her Nigerian Parents Into Fans

byMelissa Menashe

Nneka Enemkpali showed her immigrants parents that sports could be a path to success, not a distraction from education.