It all started when content creator Morgan Thompson posted online about the already-tense Democratic race for U.S. Senate in Texas. In a TikTok video, Thompson alleged that Senate candidate and state House Rep. James Talarico told her in a one-on-one conversation he signed up to run against a “mediocre black man,” not a “formidable, intelligent […]
Author Archives: Juliana Lightsey
Juliana is a senior at Rice University studying political science, social policy analysis, and English. She also works as managing editor of the Rice student newspaper, the Rice Thresher, and previously interned at the Houston Chronicle.
Posted inImmigration
Hundreds of Kids, Including Infants, Are Still at the ICE Facility That Released Liam Ramos. Now There’s a Measles Outbreak.
Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old who was pictured in a blue bunny-eared hat being taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, has been released from a Texas immigration facility. But the conditions at Dilley Immigration Processing Center near San Antonio — and the health of the hundreds of children, including infants, being detained there — […]
Posted inNews
Texas’ 2026 Winter Storm: 5 Children Died, and More Than 100,000 People Lost Power
UPDATE: This story was updated on January, 28, 2026 to reflect new death tolls and school closures across the state. Texas is finally beginning to thaw out after a winter storm swept through the country over the weekend. Although the sun may be out in some cities and temperatures are inching above freezing, the storm […]
Posted inNews
‘Truck Sledding’ Videos Went Viral During the Winter Storm. Then Two 16-Year-Old Best Friends Died.
UPDATE: January 28, 2026 Family confirms 16‑year‑old Grace Brito, died Tuesday night, after being on life support since Sunday following a sledding incident that killed her best friend, Elizabeth Angle according to CBS News affiliate KTVT in Dallas. Brito’s mom said her daughter was an All‑Star cheer competitor at Express Cheer in Frisco and had […]
Posted inNews
Jasmine Crockett Was Asked About Her ‘Electability’ Again. Some Say That’s Just a ‘Pretext’ for Race.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Texas state Rep. James Talarico faced off in a debate on Saturday, giving Texas voters their first true glimpse at the U.S. Senate candidates’ policy proposals — and contrasting political styles — ahead of the March 3 primary election. During Saturday’s debate, moderators Daniel Marin, a KXAN news anchor, and […]
Posted inNews
So We’re Equating Drag to Blackface Now? A Texas Judge and University President Did to Ban College Drag Shows
A federal judge handed down a ruling in a contentious case over drag shows at West Texas A&M University this weekend. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk found that the university can ban drag shows on its campus in a 46-page finding of fact that focused on minors potentially viewing sexual content at such shows. […]
Posted inNews
The Case That Inspired the Amber Alert Was Never Solved. Will There Ever Be Justice for 9-Year-Old Amber Hagerman?
Thirty years ago, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was riding her bike in an Arlington parking lot with her 5-year-old brother Ricky when she was kidnapped by a man in a pickup truck. Four days later, her body was found six miles away in a creek. Today, more than 1,200 missing children have been safely recovered thanks […]
Posted inNews
376 Officers Responded to the Uvalde School Shooting. Why Are Only Two Facing Charges?
Just past 11:30 a.m. on May 24, 2022, four Uvalde school district police officers entered Robb Elementary School. Officers Adrian Gonzales and Donald Page stepped in first, followed by Police Chief Pete Arredondo and Sergeant Daniel Coronado. They heard gunshots coming from two fourth grade classrooms. Over the next 77 minutes, a total of 376 […]
Posted inCulture
Feuding Neighbors, 800 Onlookers, and $25,375 in Crowd Control: Inside Texas’ Wildest Holiday Light Displays
Everything is bigger in Texas, including holiday decorations. Millions of families across the state string up lights and inflatables in their yards for all to see — and can even achieve thousands in cash prizes or TikTok virality for extravagance. While some yard displays are beloved community staples, others can spark the ire of the […]
Posted inCulture
An ‘Over-the-Top’ Megachurch Christmas Show Has Divided Social Media, Again
Over the weekend, thousands gathered to watch approximately 1,200 volunteers in17,000 costumes, a 50-piece orchestra, and 21 animals take the stage at Prestonwood Baptist Church’s Christmas show in Plano, among beaming lights and angels ‘flying’ on harnesses. The holiday show, titled “Gift of Christmas,” has been a tradition of the church for about 40 years, […]