Forrest Wilder
Forrest Wilder, a native of Wimberley, Texas, is associate editor of the Observer. Forrest specializes in environmental reporting and runs the “Forrest for the Trees” blog. Forrest has appeared on Democracy Now!, The Rachel Maddow Show and numerous NPR stations. His work has been mentioned by The New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Time magazine and many other state and national publications. Other than filing voluminous open records requests, Forrest enjoys fishing, kayaking, gardening and beer-league softball. He holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin.
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State of Texas: Oceanfront Property In Lubbock?
The oceans are rising at an accelerating rate primarily because of climate change. Full Story -
State of Texas: Miles and Miles of Texas (Pipelines)
Texas has more miles of pipelines than any other state. Full Story -
The Response
Texas Observer reporter Forrest Wilder provides video stills from The Response, Texas Governor Rick Perry’s, Aug. 6th prayer rally held in Houston. Read more […] Full Story
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Where are the Voters? Texas Voter Turnout Barely Budges from 2010 Levels
Voter turnout in Texas is barely up over 2010 levels so far. That doesn't bode well for Democrats but the Wendy Davis campaign says there's reason for optimism. Full Story -
WTF Friday: What We’re Terrified of This Week (Commies, Ebola, Muslims, Cat GIFs)
I don’t know about you but I’m already terrified of the next crisis. I don’t know what it is but it’s probably going to be really, really scary—like, scarier than the current crisis. The point is: Be scared. Be afraid. See you at the polls. Full Story -
A Dallas Company Finds Profit in Video-Only Jail Visitations
Some Texas jails are eliminating face-to-face visitation and requiring instead the use of a video visitation system sold by Securus Technologies. Critics are calling it an outrageous profiteering scheme that could actually deteriorate security at jails. Full Story -
Feds Set to Open Massive New Family Detention Center in November
Today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it expected to open a for-profit 2,400-bed family detention center in Dilley in early November. Full Story -
Dan Patrick and Ken Paxton are Perfecting the Non-Campaign
Dan Patrick and Ken Paxton are perfecting the art of campaign by not campaigning. And it will probably work. Full Story
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A Year After West Disaster, Legislators Still Talking About Reform
As the one-year anniversary of the West fertilizer plant disaster approaches, we’re getting a clearer idea of what the Texas Legislature might do to strengthen oversight of the state’s ammonium nitrate facilities. Full Story -
How the Payday Loan Industry Works Regulators from the Inside
Texas Finance Commission Chairman William White and his company, Cash America, have been intimately involved in trying to undermine the efforts of Texas' big cities to regulate payday and auto-title loans at the municipal level, documents show. Full Story -
Fast Cash: How Taking Out a Payday Loan Could Land You in Jail
Payday loan companies have a new debt-collection tool: Texas courts and prosecutors. Full Story -
The Money Behind the Fight to Undermine Medicaid
Documents show how TPPF and another conservative group, the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, coordinate their attacks on the public sector with a network of conservative organizations and funders. Full Story -
Prop 6: Slush Fund or Solution to Texas’ Water Woes?
Prop 6 is being pitched as a long-term solution to the growing water supply problems of the state. Is it? Full Story