The only pro-choice Republican in the Texas Legislature has earned the confidence of many voters on the other side of the aisle

William Nash, a cook from Georgia, was only 16 when he died working at a brutal convict work camp in Sugar Land. Nash had been convicted in 1892 of property theft and sentenced to four years in prison. He died from brain congestion, which could’ve stemmed from a traumatic brain injury. Esau Powell, a farm laborer, was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison after his conviction for stealing a gelding horse valued at $60. He never completed his sentence, dying of chronic diarrhea at age 32. Nash and Powell are believed to be among the 95 African Americans whose remains were discovered in 2018 at a Fort Bend ISD construction site. As the community has debated the site’s future and how to honor those who perished, little has been known about those buried there except that they were likely part of Texas’ notorious convict-leasing system — until now. This month, Fort Bend ISD released a 500-page report providing more information about the discovery and tentatively identifying 72 of those believed to be buried there. “It is heartbreaking that the Sugar Land 95 were previously forgotten, left in an abandoned cemetery that lay hidden for decades,” Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre said in a news release. “Educating our community and bringing awareness to their plight will ensure that they — and the injustices they suffered — are never again forgotten.” The University of Connecticut is currently overseeing DNA analysis of the remains in order to make positive identifications. Researchers hope their analysis and intensive genealogical investigation will allow them to find descendants. The university has launched a permanent fund to support the costs. “The records used to create this list...

William Nash, a cook from Georgia, was only 16 when he died working at a brutal convict work camp in Sugar Land. Nash had been convicted in 1892 of property theft and sentenced to four years in prison. He died from brain congestion, which could’ve stemmed from a traumatic brain injury. Esau Powell, a farm laborer, was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison after his conviction for stealing a gelding horse valued at $60. He never completed his sentence, dying of chronic diarrhea at age 32. Nash and Powell are believed to be among the 95 African Americans whose remains were discovered in 2018 at a Fort Bend ISD construction site. As the community has debated the site’s future and how to honor those who perished, little has been known about those buried there except that they were likely part of Texas’ notorious convict-leasing system — until now. This month, Fort Bend ISD released a 500-page report providing more information about the discovery and tentatively identifying 72 of those believed to be buried there. “It is heartbreaking that the Sugar Land 95 were previously forgotten, left in an abandoned cemetery that lay hidden for decades,” Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre said in a news release. “Educating our community and bringing awareness to their plight will ensure that they — and the injustices they suffered — are never again forgotten.” The University of Connecticut is currently overseeing DNA analysis of the remains in order to make positive identifications. Researchers hope their analysis and intensive genealogical investigation will allow them to find descendants. The university has launched a permanent fund to support the costs. “The records used to create this list...

A federal court judge on Tuesday ruled that Texas officials must notify voters that their mail ballot has been rejected because of a signature issue — a decision hailed by advocacy groups as a “huge victory.” Texas voters are required to sign their mail ballot envelope, and that signature is used to verify their identity against a database of voter signatures. However, issues can arise when the voters’ name changes or their signature differs from the one in the database, according to a news release from the League of Women Voters. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia found that the process violates voters’ constitutional rights because it does not provide a method to remedy the signature issue. The ruling on Tuesday requires that election officials give voters an opportunity to confirm their identity and save their ballot from rejection. The case stems from a lawsuit filed last year by the League of Women Voters of Texas, Austin Justice Coalition, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, MOVE Texas Civic Fund, and individual plaintiffs Dr. George Richardson and Rosalie Weisfeld. “Today’s decision is a huge victory for Texas voters, especially those with disabilities and the elderly, who will rely on voting by mail this year because of their higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19,” according to statement from Grace Chimene, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas. “Now, all Texas voters will be given the opportunity to ensure their ballots will count. A notice and cure process is essential for voters to have confidence when casting their ballots by mail, and we are thrilled this assurance will be in place for the general election.” With the ruling, voters now must be notified via mail within one day of the...

A federal court judge on Tuesday ruled that Texas officials must notify voters that their mail ballot has been rejected because of a signature issue — a decision hailed by advocacy groups as a “huge victory.” Texas voters are required to sign their mail ballot envelope, and that signature is used to verify their identity against a database of voter signatures. However, issues can arise when the voters’ name changes or their signature differs from the one in the database, according to a news release from the League of Women Voters. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia found that the process violates voters’ constitutional rights because it does not provide a method to remedy the signature issue. The ruling on Tuesday requires that election officials give voters an opportunity to confirm their identity and save their ballot from rejection. The case stems from a lawsuit filed last year by the League of Women Voters of Texas, Austin Justice Coalition, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, MOVE Texas Civic Fund, and individual plaintiffs Dr. George Richardson and Rosalie Weisfeld. “Today’s decision is a huge victory for Texas voters, especially those with disabilities and the elderly, who will rely on voting by mail this year because of their higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19,” according to statement from Grace Chimene, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas. “Now, all Texas voters will be given the opportunity to ensure their ballots will count. A notice and cure process is essential for voters to have confidence when casting their ballots by mail, and we are thrilled this assurance will be in place for the general election.” With the ruling, voters now must be notified via mail within one day of the...

Beautyberries are a native wild Texas plant that blooms in late summer.

Beautyberries are a native wild Texas plant that blooms in late summer.

A few marches in the streets will not be an adequate response.

A few marches in the streets will not be an adequate response.

The situation remains dire for the hardest-hit workers.