To say that the last few weeks for Christy Stratton have been overwhelming is likely an understatement. When I simply asked the longtime television writer, and Fort Worth native, how she was doing, she sounded almost philosophical as she pondered her answer. That’s not surprising because it’s only
The line between a superhero costume and a fashion statement is razor thin and, at Houston’s Comicpalooza, it will disappear entirely thanks to a joint venture between Houston First and Houston Community College. Comic Couture is a competition between HCC design students for an opportunity to showcase their talents
Last month the Biden Administration announced new gun safety legislation that would require any individual who sells firearms outside of sporting or gun stores to conduct a background check on a potential purchaser. This rule, which amends legislation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Safety, would formally end what
After the Biden Administration announced new guidelines about Title IX, the landmark 1972 legislation that bans discrimination based on sex in education, both the Governor and Attorney General of Texas made it clear they will not comply. Last month, the Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona unveiled new regulations pertaining to
There has been a mini renaissance of paganism in Houston over the last decade, a movement accelerated by the trauma of COVID and political unrest. Walking into the Rosewood Enchantikal Cottage feels like stepping into another world where there are fewer missiles and more fairies. “I want to have a
Last week the Associated Press detailed several shocking examples of pregnant patients being turned away from emergency centers in states with abortion bans. The reporting is a stark reminder about the ramifications of these strict state laws, like the ones currently in place in Texas. The AP obtained the records
There is something unsettlingly medical about Deborah Jack’s exhibition at the Houston Center of Photography. Intertidal Imaginaries: The Resistant Geographies of the Shore(coast) in the Aftermath of Saltwater(storm) surges an exploration of the devastation that hurricanes wreak on the environment and human structures of her native Saint-Maarten.
Earlier today, Bedrock Energy announced the completion of a new geothermal project at Penn Field in Austin. The energy company worked with the developer CIM Group to create a geothermal borefield as well as a heating and cooling system for the campus that houses several technology and media companies. The
As abortion continues to play a major role in Texas and national politics, a law from the nineteenth century keeps getting mentioned: the Comstock Act of 1873. And ever since the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an abortion ban that dates back even earlier to before it was even a territory,
Music legend Prince may be gone, but his legacy lives on through albums, film, iconography, and a college level course taught by Marc Newsome at the University of Houston this semester. “He is the perfect poster kid for any type of study,” says Newsome. “Like Michelangelo, he did all these
This week a proposed deepwater oil-export facility that would be built just off the Gulf Coast near Brazoria County in Texas took major steps forward, against the wishes of several environmental groups. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. originally filed for the permits to start building the Sea Port Oil Terminal
Texas’s premiere gathering of indie comic and tabletop creators, STAPLE!, is returning to Austin after a five-year hiatus brought on by the pandemic. It will be open April 13 and 14 at the Malbee Ballroom of St. Edward’s University. Tickets and more information can be found at their
About a million Texans are preparing for a total solar eclipse. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. Parts of North America will experience a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Unfortunately, the forecast shows some ominous clouds that are threatening to
Throughout the interview, Earl “Chan” Smith dodges calling himself an artist like it’s a rattlesnake in the bluebonnets, sounding almost afraid to name himself that. However, there’s no other word that captures what he does. Smith repurposes dollar store dollhouses and other items to create intricate, gothic mix-media
Even in the world of underground Texas comics, Paul Hanley and Matt Frank stand out. Their creation, Miss Medusa’s Monstrous Menagerie has been a runaway hit on Kickstarter thanks to its inventive and edgy premise, as well Hanley’s incredible art style. Now, it’s finally on sale for
Last October The Afiya Center in Dallas officially celebrated its fifteenth anniversary. It’s a milestone Executive Director Marsha Jones wasn’t sure the center would reach. And not because of a lack of dedication from the health professionals and caregivers that comprise the Afiya Center’s staff, but because
Last week at an event for a rightwing policy organization, Greg Abbott maintained his strong support for vouchers. Under the banner of “school choice,” vouchers allow parents or guardians to send their kids to private schools through taxpayer dollars. Abbott called four special sessions last year to try and pass
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case that could restrict access to mifepristone, which is one of the two drugs used in a medication abortion. The case, formally known as The Alliance For Hippocratic Medicine v. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is the first major abortion-related
The emotion that defines writer and director Sara Gaston’s debut short film, “I Was Gone For Awhile” is dread. In a way, it’s like watching a nature documentary, right down to the bright, summer lighting. Its story resembles seeing an insect crawl across a flytrap, with all the
With the recent news that Opill, the first ever over-the-counter birth control is now available to purchase, the Texas Signal wanted to discuss what Texans should know about this common and safe form of contraception. We spoke with Dr. Bhavik Kumar, a Houston physician who is a member of The
New reporting from a leading research and policy organization shows that abortions have been on the rise in the United States. That finding might seem contradictory given the 2022 ruling from the Supreme Court which overturned Roe v. Wade, but the increase in abortions stems in part from access to
The 1938 radio production of H.G. Wells’s novel The War of the Worlds, directed and narrated by Orson Welles, remains one of the most legendary moments in 20th century storytelling. The reported widespread belief that Welles was describing an actual alien attack is false, though some listeners did
This week, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a federal program that provides contraception to teens must include parental consent. The Fifth Circuit largely upheld an opinion from last year by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who heard the case Deanda v. Becerra and ruled on behalf
When walking into Class, one can be forgiven for initially believing it’s a hot new art gallery or fashion house… at least before setting eyes on the shelves upon shelves of books along the walls. It’s airy and bright, including a single gold Nike (ask about its origin
“An Army of Women” is a documentary premiering in competition at South by Southwest that follows in real-time a groundbreaking class action lawsuit against the Austin District Attorney’s office and the Austin Police Department over their failure to prosecute rape and sexual assault cases. But the documentary, which is
Last night’s Texas primary lacked the drama of years past when there were multiple presidential contenders vying for their party’s nomination. Both Biden and Trump cruised to their respective victories, but up and down the ballot several races highlighted what to expect this November. The Revenge Tour Both
On Tuesday, Texas will officially hold its Primary Election. While there are many intriguing races up and down the ballot (though the presidential contenders appear locked in with Biden and Trump), there is another race that many political observers will be eyeing: the Democratic primary for Travis County District Attorney.
On the heels of an IVF ruling out of Alabama that has sparked fears the procedure could be in danger, many Texans are grappling with the distinct possibility that one of the biggest lifelines against infertility could be gone. Some patients are even opting to move embryos out of state.
Election Day for our Texas primary is officially one week away. And while this Super Tuesday is tracking to have a lower voter turnout than four years ago, there are still several intriguing races in the state up and down the ballot. Here are some that we are following: Who
In his newest novel Devil Makes Three, Ben Fountain creates a gripping tale that takes place in Haiti in the aftermath of the 1991 coup which saw President Jean-Bertrand Aristide deposed by military forces. The story is told from the perspective of three characters trying to navigate their way through
It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the Texas Signal Media Foundation, a nonprofit newsroom devoted to creating honest public interest reporting by and for the new Texas majority. We are the outgrowth of a company that was founded in 2019 to fill a critical gap in our political
For decades, international organizations devoted to reproductive healthcare have operated in some of the harshest autocracies and authoritarian regimes around the world. Now, thanks to new laws that have reshaped where abortion can and cannot be accessed in the United States, places like Texas are receiving attention from those organizations.