News Reporting
As the Austin Chronicle’s associate news & Qmmunity editor, my work focused extensively on sexual assault issues at the local and state level as well as Austin’s LGBTQ+ community. I also reported on city, county, and state politics, local elections, housing rights, mental health, and social justice issues. Additionally, I diligently followed Texas’ death row and execution schedule as the paper’s Death Watch columnist for two years. A smattering of my work for the Chronicle is below. For news coverage at other outlets (and some additional Chron reporting) see Freelance Work.
Sexual Assault
“Survival, and Hope in How Austin Handles Sexual Assault,” Oct. 23, 2020
“Four Women File New Sexual Assault Suit in State Court,” Sept. 18, 2020
“Austin’s Sexual Assault Controversies Roil the District Attorney’s Race,” how sexual assault became the key issue in the race for Travis County D.A., Feb. 7, 2020
“Why Aren’t UT Students Getting Rape Kits?” March 30, 2018
“A Tangled Web at Spider House,” a culture of heavy drinking, alleged sexual misconduct, and a lawsuit undermine an Austin institution, Dec. 21, 2018
“Class Action Lawsuit Seeks Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors,” plaintiffs cite longstanding malpractice by Austin, Travis County law enforcement, June 19, 2018
“Sexual Assault Class Action Suit Adds Five New Plaintiffs,” more women come forward alleging systemic mistreatment of rape survivors, Aug. 3, 2018
“Another Lawsuit Filed Against Travis County D.A. and Her First Assistant,” the two are accused of attempting to silence a sexual assault survivor, Sept. 11, 2019
“Austin Firefighters Association Takes On Travis County D.A.” AFA released several videos alleging the D.A. mishandled sexual assault cases, Nov. 15, 2019
“Rape Survivor Sues Local Motel for Failing to Help Her After Assault,” the motel is accused of lacking adequate security, more, Jan. 24, 2020
“Painful Splits Along the Way to Stopping Sexual Assault in and Around Austin,” March 15, 2019
“Federally Sanctioned Sexual Assault?” Legal loophole at heart of court reporter’s case, Oct. 27, 2017
“Rape Kit Backlog Cleared: Now What?” Advocates still uncertain of what's being done with the test results, Nov. 16, 2018
“Who’s Testing APD’s Backlog of Evidence?” Austin Police accumulated more than 4,000 untested DNA cases in under a year, Feb. 24, 2017
“A Safe Place?” Austin is no exception to the country's rape epidemic, Sept. 25, 2015
HIV
“Standing Witness,” on living through the AIDS epidemic, July 22, 2016
“Season of Risk,” Austin's HIV rate is on the rise – can a "miracle drug" reverse the trend? May 22, 2015
“An HIV-Free Generation?” a new clinic to help city eradicate HIV, July 27, 2018
“New Housing Rules Benefit Project Transitions,” city helps AIDS services org triple its housing stock, Nov. 29, 2019
“A Never-Ending Conversation,” an interview with AIDS activist Cleve Jones, Oct. 18, 2013
Texas Death Row
“Death Watch: 11 Face Execution in Coming Months,” a quiet summer gives way to a deadly fall, Aug. 16, 2019
“Rodney Reed Hearing Gets Underway,” judge to consider a retrial, Oct. 11, 2017
“Questions Linger for Anthony Shore, Larry Swearingen,” Shore to be first Texan executed in 2018, Jan, 12, 2018
“2019 Sees Decline in Texas Executions,” but concerns remain, Dec. 20, 2019
“Death Watch,” exculpatory testimony, DNA at issue for Reed, Pruett, Oct. 6, 2017
“State Seeks Death Date for Rodney Reed,” Defense attorneys fire back, July 19, 2019
“King Set to Die for James Byrd Lynching,” last-minute appeal seeks new trial, April 19, 2019
Land Use
“CodeNEXT Wrecks Austin,” or did Austin wreck CodeNEXT? May 25, 2018
“As Long As There's a Plan,” an effort to create affordable housing, Sept. 21, 2018
Mental Health
LGBTQIA & the Texas Lege
“Protecting the LGBTQ Community When the State Attacks,” from the bathroom bill to marriage equality, can Austin fight back? Aug. 25, 2017
“The House's LGBTQ Caucus Makes History,” Queer rights: targeted by many, protected by some at the Capitol, May 31, 2019
“The History of the LGBTQ Movement in Austin,” From Stonewall to today, how Pride has progressed in our city, co-written with Beth Sullivan, Aug. 9, 2019
“Justice for Monica Loera,” found guilty of murder, Loera's killer only faces a 20-year sentence, Nov. 8, 2017
“Marriage Equality Suffers Blow,” Texas Supreme Court rules against spousal benefits for same-sex marriages, July 7, 2017
“The State of Trans Health Care,” gender affirming care in Austin is improving. But by how much? April 14, 2017
"Bathroom Bill Flushed to Senate,” despite 21 hours of testimony, SB 6 goes to chamber floor, March 8, 2017
“#SaveChickFilA Bill Moves Closer to Adoption, in a Blow to LGBTQ Rights,” SB 1978 passes House despite heart-wrenching testimony, May 17, 2019
“Anti-LGBTQ Bills Advancing in the Texas Lege,” A call to queer Austinites: Your voice is needed at the Capitol, April 24, 2019
“Equal Treatment for Victims,” raising awareness about same-sex domestic violence, July 10, 2015
“InfoWars Crashes Drag Storytime in Austin,” alt-right rags want to end LGBTQ-inclusive children's events, June 14, 2019
“Protesters Descend On Leander Family Pride Event,” LGBTQ activists and allies turn out to support attendees, June 15, 2019
“Austin Police Seeking Leads in Hate Crime Investigation,” Jan. 22, 2019