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The Texas Reproductive Justice Organization Centering Black Women

The Texas Reproductive Justice Organization Centering Black Women

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
Abbott’s Voucher Allies Land New State Education Roles

Abbott’s Voucher Allies Land New State Education Roles

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Abortion Pill Case

Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Abortion Pill Case

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
A Houston Filmmaker’s Distressing Look At Near Misses Of Childhood

A Houston Filmmaker’s Distressing Look At Near Misses Of Childhood

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

By Jef Rouner
Birth Control Is Now Easier To Get: Here’s The Facts

Birth Control Is Now Easier To Get: Here’s The Facts

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
New Report Shows Increase In Medication Abortions

New Report Shows Increase In Medication Abortions

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
Houston Comic Artist Takes Orson Welles On Interstellar Adventure

Houston Comic Artist Takes Orson Welles On Interstellar Adventure

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

By Jef Rouner
The Black-owned Bookstores Changing The Houston Landscape

The Black-owned Bookstores Changing The Houston Landscape

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

By Meredith Nudo
New Documentary Shows Power In Fighting For Change

New Documentary Shows Power In Fighting For Change

“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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
An Election Recap

An Election Recap

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
A Progressive D.A. Up Against Big Bucks

A Progressive D.A. Up Against Big Bucks

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.

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
The Texans Facing Uncertainty Amidst IVF Ruling

The Texans Facing Uncertainty Amidst IVF Ruling

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.

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
Primary Election Preview

Primary Election Preview

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
Ben Fountain On His Newest (And Prescient) Novel About Haiti

Ben Fountain On His Newest (And Prescient) Novel About Haiti

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
A Note From The Editor

A Note From The Editor

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

By Jessica Montoya Coggins