Investigative Journalist in Houston, Texas
Mayor Julian Castro and San Antonio City Council members are criticizing CPS Energy for failing to disclose the true financial costs of a proposed expansion at the South Texas Project nuclear plant. They’re asking why a city-owned utility can’t be more transparent. All this cloak-and-dagger suspense reminded me of a weird encounter I had with …
Nice scoop by Anton Caputo and Tracy Idell Hamilton: CPS Energy knew a year ago that contractor Toshiba Inc. wanted at least $4 billion more than San Antonio was willing to pay for the nuclear expansion, according to several sources close to the deal. Despite this, utility officials used a much lower figure as they …
Once upon a time, Body Solutions was the talk of San Antonio and no one questioned the company’s weight-loss claims. Then the Express-News published two outstanding watchdog stories revealing how the company was founded by a tabloid journalist named Harry Siskind, and no proof existed that the diet products actually worked. That’s why newspapers are …
The Air Force nurse accused of killing three civilian patients at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio was acquitted Saturday of murder charges. Scott Huddleston writes: In a swift verdict Saturday, a military judge acquitted Capt. Michael Fontana, an Air Force nurse being tried on charges of murdering three patients. “Capt. Fontana, this court …
You can also be your own title company and conduct your own research for any property.
This weekend my cousin and I used Bexar County’s amazing Web site of historical documents to research the history of my stucco house near Woodlawn Lake, which was built in 1924. I blogged yesterday about the racial restrictions that were written in the first deed for my home. The deed prohibited the homeowner from selling …
The old but well-constructed houses in my neighborhood near Woodlawn Lake have always interested me. The homes are all different — my house is stucco, while my neighbor’s house is brick. But they share stylistic touches, like the tiny octangular bathroom tiles, the smooth fireplaces, and the phone nooks built in the walls. There must …
What others are saying about watchdog journalism: Columbia Journalism Review: Stop the grave dancing and figure out how to support full-time journalism. Poynter: Mallary Jean Tenore reviews the offerings of public data and watchdog stories posted by the new Texas Tribune.
Last week the New York Times ran a story about Internet companies selling imaginary things: These so-called virtual goods, like a $1 illustration of a Champagne bottle on Facebook or the $2.50 Halloween costume in the online game Sorority Life, are no more than a collection of pixels on a Web page. But it is …
The Texas Tribune came up with a new way to fact-check and add context to political speeches. Called “Stump Interrupted,” the Trib is adding VH1-style pop-up bubbles in videos of speechifying public officials, such as U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry. There’s factual information mixed in with humor — I laughed at …