Jef Rouner
Jef Rouner is an award-winning freelance journalist, the author of The Rook Circle, and a member of The Black Math Experiment. He lives in Houston where he spends most of his time investigating corruption and strange happenings. Jef has written for Houston Press, Free Press Houston, and Houston Chronicle.
Dutton On Calls To Axe STAAR Test: “We Don’t Need To Listen To Them”
Hopes that the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test would be abolished or reformed in the coming legislative session were quashed...
Mealer Files Election Challenge Against Hidalgo On Jan. 6 Anniversary
Lina Hidalgo defeated Alexandra del Moral Mealer to retain her seat as Harris County Judge, but now Mealer has filed an election challenge. Tellingly,...
Texas Republicans Denying McCarthy Speakership
For the first time in a century, the new U.S. Congress is operating without a speaker chosen on a first vote. Three Texas Republicans...
Houston ISD Literacy Rate Drops, Exposing Major Social Problems
The COVID-19 pandemic had a major negative impact on literacy, but even after things have returned to mostly normal, Houston ISD kids are struggling...
Texas Republicans Plan Tax Cuts for Massive Surplus, Some Education Spending
Texas ended up with a $30 billion budget surplus this year. How that extra money will be spent will be a big topic when...
The STAAR Test: More Harm Than Good?
As the Spring Semester begins, so does preparation for Texas’s standardized test. Every year it’s a nightmare for students, families, and teachers, and there...
Texas Republicans Spend Holiday Season Sniping At Each Other
The November election once again delivered Texas Republicans full control of the state, but as the next state legislative session looms they seem to...
Senate Report Ignores Expert Advice On Vaccine Mandates
A Texas Senate report on COVID response released last week ignored expert testimony and supported a ban on vaccine mandates. Three members of the...
Uvalde Committee Recommends Penalty For Straw Purchases
The Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans released their report about the Robb Elementary School massacre this week. It included a recommendation to...
Texas Water Infrastructure Needs Big Fixes
Houston was under a boil notice for two days this year, but that could be just a sign of things to come if the...
