Features

‘Die fighting on my feet.’ How Democrats executed a mass walkout that killed the Texas elections bill

This in-depth narrative details the hour-by-hour decisionmaking behind Texas Democrats’ historic decision to flee the state in May.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has paid his first voter fraud bounty. It went to an unexpected recipient

This exclusive story revealed that the second most powerful Republican in Texas paid the scion of a Democratic operative $25,000 for uncovering voter fraud in Pennsylvania. The story was went viral, getting nearly 400K pageviews, and was featured on multiple national news outlets.

Prison staff death toll spikes after state relaxes coronavirus precautions behind bars

This exclusive story revealed for the first time that the death toll among correctional officers in Texas spiked just after many of its prisons dropped their mask mandates.

‘Are you afraid of dying?’ Transgender woman attacked in Dallas tells her story for the first time

Using my deep sources in the transgender community, I was the first reporter to speak with Daniela Calderon after she was shot six times on the streets of Dallas. The interview took part in Spanish and Calderon’s story was published in both English and Spanish.

“‘No one has talked more and done less:’ Texas tea party Rep. Jonathan Stickland becomes caucus of one”

Exclusive close coverage of an outsider Republican who bucked both parties to become one of the most hated — and also talked about — men in the Texas Legislature.

‘We do not need fixing.’ Texas debates ban on gay conversion therapy for kids

This feature on the controversial practice of anti-LGBTQ reparative therapy was published the same day lawmakers debated banning it for children for the first time. It features stories from three Texans who underwent the practice and an interview with the foremost conversion therapist in Texas.

‘Homosexual conduct’ was illegal 15 years ago. How far have LGBTQ rights in Texas come since?

This multimedia series marked the anniversary of the historic Lawrence v. Texas ruling. It included a print story, a video series featured intergenerational LGBTQ Texans and a panel discussion with lawyers who argued the case hosted by the Southern Methodist University School of Law. The series won the Association of LGBTQ Journalists (NLGJA) Excellence in Legal Coverage Award in 2019.

How Dallas became the headquarters for the black transgender community

This deep dive examines how the city of Dallas became the host for the annual Black Trans Advocacy Conference, or BTAC, and what that means for black trans Americans from coast to coast.

‘Fearfully and wonderfully made.’ The journey of a transgender man

This three-part series tracked the experience of Trenton Johnson, a black transgender man who became involved in politics for the first time to fight the Texas bathroom bill.

High steaks: How Texas scientists are building better beef one cloned cow at a time

Any reporter who’s covered higher education is familiar with the endless press releases colleges send promoting their research. Here’s the story of one project at a remote Texas university that was pushing the boundaries of cloning and food production.

‘Unlikely gay marriage pioneers tied knot in Houston’

This story chronicled the never-before told story of the first same-sex partners to receive a marriage license in the state of Texas. Employing a combination of extensive archival research and good, old-fashioned shoe leather reporting, the story puts Billie Ert and Antonio Molina’s ill-fated love story into the modern context over the fight for LGBTQ rights in the Lone Star State.

Sutherland Springs coverage

I returned to Sutherland Springs multiple times since the shooting in November 2017 to chronicle the legal, monetary and emotional aftermath on the community. More coverage can be found under breaking news.

One year after Sutherland Springs church shooting, a grieving daughter turns the page

Father who lost wife, kids in Sutherland Springs shooting ‘trying to’ start over with surviving son

Battling grief through God, Sutherland Springs tries to move on from tragedy

Sutherland Springs family marks 17th birthday of girl killed in church shooting

Victims and families raise questions over Sutherland Springs’ church spending of donations

‘They have blood on their hands.’ Sutherland Springs families target Air Force ‘negligence’ after church shooting

‘This is my brave child.’ Sutherland Springs celebrates life of pastor’s slain daughter