United States
Sarah is a Northwest Houston reporter at Community Impact. She covers education, local government and other community news in a handful of Houston suburbs. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2025 with a Bachelor of Journalism and a certificate in public policy studies. While living in Austin, Sarah reported stories for the Texas Standard/KUT News, Texas Monthly, the Austin American-Statesman's suburban newspapers and The Daily Texan.
Houston City Council further delayed approval of a "high-risk" apartment inspection program after council members voted Dec. 10 to continue fine-tuning the program in a joint committee meeting.
The city of Houston developed a $314.6 million disaster aid plan in mid-2025 with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support local recovery from the 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl.
The city's new comprehensive plan, adopted by City Council Oct. 20, details a decade of proposed city planning improvements, including potential land use reclassifications.
The decision comes after Commissioner Bevin Gordon moved for a change in board leadership during an Aug. 28 meeting.
The Cy-Fair Fire Department is set to break ground on two of its eight new fire stations by early 2026, part of a long-term strategic plan to fill coverage gaps throughout the rapidly growing community.
The board of commissioners unanimously agreed to file a complaint against Commissioner Rob Paiva during an Oct. 20 special meeting.
The council also ratified a property tax rate increase of 8.7% in a 4-1 vote during its Aug. 18 meeting.
The board updated its operating procedures on Sept. 8 following a 6-1 vote to approve changes proposed by the governance committee.
The revisions come after Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 12, which aims to expand parental authority over the classroom.
All Cy-Fair ISD students will have access to buses for the 2025-26 school year after the board of trustees voted on June 23 to reinstate transportation.
Students are increasingly transferring out of Cy-Fair ISD to pursue other education options, such as charters, private schools and homeschooling.
During a panel at ISOJ, professional fact-checkers discussed platform-enabled mis/disinformation in an era struggling with news avoidance, distrust, and limited access to information.
Two of the state's most powerful university systems, the University of Texas and Texas A&M, have led efforts to censor drag performances on public college campuses.
The 21-year-old from Conroe wants evacuation chairs to be available at all public universities in Texas.
20-year-old Osawese Agbonkonkon has always had an affinity for fiction. The University of Texas sophomore said he would spend hours in elementary school playing pretend with his neighborhood friends, retelling stories they had watched or read and adding their own spin.
An example of my radio production work, including scripting and mixing. *I did not report/write the article listed below the audio clip*
Ben Duong knew he had won the Austin Half Marathon last year before he even crossed the finish line. He wasn’t the first runner to finish the race, but he would officially be the fastest person in the world to run a half while dribbling a ball.
Support comes from both Democrats and Republicans.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency bungled what is likely its last chance to force Texas to reduce emissions that cause dangerous haze before the Trump administration takes control.
Former NCAA and WNBA champion Fran Harris says Central Texas is fertile territory for the growing women's basketball league.
If current events seem particularly stressful-whether you're inundated with election chatter or coordinating family gatherings-take the edge off with a fun libation.
Updated Nov. 14, 9:09 p.m. Nov. 14 9:09 p.m.: Kirk Watson is set to serve a fourth term as Austin Mayor, narrowly avoiding a runoff with 50% of all votes. Nov. 7 10:39 a.m.: President Joe Biden called and congratulated President-elect Donald Trump, Biden said in an address to the nation.
University police arrested a University employee, who is a registered sex offender in Oregon, on Sept. 6 for what officials believe to be failure to register in Texas, a third-degree felony in the state. UTPD detained Nicholas Clisby, who asked to be referred to as Nicholas Clisby-Sabathia, a McCombs School of Business human resources employee....
Listen to this episode from The Drag: Stories on Spotify. In growing cities like Austin, Texas, neighborhood development is a hot topic of conversation - new high-rise apartments and retail options appear in what feels like each week. In the midst of this urban growth, a less concrete addition to neighborhoods is gaining popularity: community gardens.
Nearly 1000 faculty and students gathered in front of the UT Tower today to protest at least 57 arrests made Wednesday, when law enforcement in riot gear attempted to shut down a pro-Palestine protest on campus. The UT Austin Faculty and Staff Justice for Palestine organized alongside students from the Palestine Solidarity Committee, who planned...
Recent changes made by the University in response to Senate Bill 17, like the closure of the Division of Campus and Community Engagement, sparked confusion over the fate of several programs and academic departments on campus. The Daily Texan has clarified which DCCE programs are impacted and the law's effects on curriculum.
Journalists from nonprofit news outlet set the tone for the 25th International Symposium on Online Journalism during this year's pre-ISOJ event on April 11, a screening of the new documentary "Breaking the News" about the newsroom's launch and subsequent success.
Student government is planning another attempt at a non-binding referendum for "The Eyes of Texas" after the Office of the Dean of Students postponed the original vote last spring. While the new referendum has not been confirmed for next semester, Kennedy Bailey, Speaker of the Assembly, said the ideal plan is to have students vote...
Conservationists in Smithville are aiming to make the town a certified Wildlife Habitat one community project at a time.
The UT Disability Cultural Center will launch a new disability-focused library by the start of the spring semester, allowing students to check out books and academic resources specific to disability identity and culture - a topic that's not widely recognized in other libraries. DCC director Emily Shryock said the library will include novels, poems, biographies...
United States diplomat Daniel Stewart reflected on his time in foreign service and encouraged UT students to pursue jobs within the U.S. Department of State at an event hosted by the University's Clements Center for National Security on Nov. 9. Stewart started his position as the Diplomat in Residence for Texas in September after over...
Buzzfest will return to Bee Cave next week for its third year, showcasing electronic musicians and interactive art over a three-day lineup. Organized by the Bee Cave Arts Foundation, the festival blends technological innovation with entertainment in an attempt to push the boundaries of what art can look like.
Financial company Santander Consumer USA Inc. gifted $25,000 to the Longhorn Racing Team last month, establishing a partnership that will help the student organization source parts for the vehicles it will submit for competition next year. LHR celebrated the partnership at the Formula 1 race at the Circuit of the Americas in late October, where...
In the upcoming election, Texans can vote on an amendment to the state's constitution that would allocate $1 billion for the creation and upkeep of new state parks, marking the largest park investment in state history if the amendment passes. Titled Proposition 14 on the ballot, Texas voters must approve the amendment for the fund...
Excelencia in Education recertified the University with the Seal of Excelencia last month, a distinction given to institutions demonstrating commitment to serving Latinx students. Excelencia in Education, a national organization dedicated to increasing Latinx student success, certified the University with the Seal for the first time in 2020.
This month, the city of Austin will apply for $10 million in federal funding to expand city-wide affordable housing policies and construction efforts for low-income residents. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allocate $85 million to applicants across the country that demonstrate need for affordable housing assistance.
The state law banning certain public drag performances is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment, said a federal judge in the Southern District of Texas late last month. U.S. District Judge David Hittner issued a permanent injunction on Sept. 26, preventing any Texas government officials from enforcing Senate Bill 12.
When Lily Deitelzweig approached the large orange words spray-painted on the sidewalk in front of her sorority house late last month, she was shocked. "I think everyone was appalled by it, Jewish or not," said Deitelzweig, a health and society sophomore. "It was horrifying." Deitelzweig said she then picked up the phone and called the...
Higher education institutions must do as much as possible to protect students' sense of identity amidst concerns of inclusion on campuses, a group of panelists said at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival. Kate McGee, a Texas Tribune higher education reporter, moderated the panel "Race and Higher Education" on Saturday.
Climate change is here to stay - and with it, a political rift - a group of panelists said Saturday at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival. Erin Douglas, a Texas Tribune climate reporter, moderated "The Heat is On" panel, which discussed the effects of climate change.
The University announced plans earlier this month to lead a federally-funded research project with the City of Austin to make Texas communities more resilient to extreme climate fluctuations. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett secured $1.5 million this summer in a House appropriations bill to fund the climate collaborative.
The Austin City Council approved a resolution yesterday requiring access to natural light in all newly constructed bedrooms in Austin after UT community members started a campaign this summer against windowless housing in West Campus. The University's Undergraduate Architecture Student Council sent a letter to the City Council on Sept.
For sustainability studies senior Rae Datt, thinking about schoolwork often prompts a different type of stress than the average student experiences. On top of the typical homework and exams, Datt says because of her major, she navigates anxiety about the changing climate and state of the planet.
The University of Texas announced plans to build a new ecological field station in Dripping Springs on Aug. 28 after receiving a $50 million gift from the Winn Family Foundation. Named the Hill Country Field Station, the site will allow students and faculty to conduct hands-on research on the region's ecosystems and monitor the impacts...
The Hole in the Wall, a music venue in West Campus, obtained a new 20-year lease after receiving $1.6 million in assistance from the City of Austin through the Iconic Venue Fund. Hole in the Wall is the first venue to receive an investment from the fund, which was established in late 2020.
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas granted Dr. Kiran Shokar and Dr. Michael Pignone $3 million earlier this month to improve statewide access to colorectal cancer screenings and expand resources for medical providers. The five year grant will help Shokar and Pignone spearhead the Coordinating Center for Colorectal Cancer Screening Across Texas, or...
The Austin City Council will not vote on the proposal to renovate Zilker Park and will indefinitely table the plan because of a divided community response, Mayor Kirk Watson announced in a statement on Aug. 7. "We could all benefit from a little time and perspective," Watson said in the statement.
The UT System and online course provider Coursera launched a micro-credential program earlier this month that's free for all University students, faculty, staff and alumni across its nine academic institutions. Known as the Career Academy, the UT System states it's the most extensive industry-recognized program from an American university system.
A proposed bill would require public universities in Texas to protect academic freedom and ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion for students and faculty. State Rep. John H. Bucy III, D-Austin, who filed H.B. 3471 on March 3, said he wanted to counter bills that currently pose a threat to critical thinking in higher education,...
Period products and infant care supplies may become more affordable for Texas families under a bill that aims to eliminate sales taxes on the items, also known as the "pink tax." Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, filed House Bill 300 in February and has filed similar legislation every session since 2017, originally focusing on addressing "period poverty" by eliminating sales tax on tampons.
In an effort to promote bystander confidence, Longhorn EMS launched a new public health initiative this semester for the campus community, consisting of overdose response presentations and free Narcan distribution. As an agency of Student Government, Longhorn EMS is composed of both certified EMTs and general volunteers.
Austin's famous bat population - the world's largest urban bat colony - faces threats from potential displacement and disease. To protect the critters, the Animal Advisory Commission unanimously voted last month to recommend the City Council to hire a full-time bat biologist, also called a chiropterologist, to help promote conservation and make Austin more habitable...
When Daniel Young voted in favor of Austin's new transit initiative Project Connect, he had no idea the proposed rail lines would run through Dirty Martin's Place where he's worked as the general manager for almost eight years. The third-generation Austinite said he supported improved transportation but felt misled by the original proposal when he...
Conveying the consequences of climate change in an accurate, digestible way continues to challenge environmental reporters. In addressing how to improve coverage of the climate crisis, a group of panelists at the 2023 International Symposium on Online Journalism (ISOJ) shared the importance of making stories more personal for readers, re-imagining storytelling, collaborating in the spread of information and promoting optimism through solutions.
UT announced the launch of a new transportation research center that will analyze travel behavior and commuter psychology in partnership with other schools across the country. Researchers from the Center for Understanding Future Travel Behavior and Demand, which will launch this summer, hope to make transportation more sustainable and equitable with their sociological approach to...
Dangerous conditions from the winter freeze earlier this month, including persistent power outages and icy roads, left many UT employees unable to come to campus. However, many student employees filled the empty shoes, allowing residential dining halls to remain an open resource. To make up for weather-related staffing shortages, resident assistants took on the extra...
Texas lawmakers made another step to keep critical race theory out of public education by proposing a new bill that would ban the curriculum from publicly funded universities in Texas, including UT Austin. Rep. Cody Harris filed House Bill 1607 on Jan. 25 shortly into the new legislative session.
When the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum in summer 2020, two Austin residents decided to explore the conversation locally and asked what it meant to be Black and living in Austin. Almost three years later, they continue to spearhead conversations about the Black experience in Central Texas, uniting the community through storytelling.
A report from the University showed that almost 40% of first-time in college (FTIC) freshmen lived off campus in Fall 2021. The report did not list the specific reasons why students chose to live off campus. According to the University's 2021-22 Common Data Set, 61% of FTIC freshmen - which does not include first-year transfer...
UT pandemic scientist Dr. Lauren Ancel Meyers received a key to the city earlier this month for her lab's contribution to Austin's COVID-19 analysis and pandemic response. Meyers formed the UT-Austin COVID-19 Modeling Consortium in 2020 so community members could access up-to-date COVID-19 statistics for Austin and the state of Texas.
Editor's note: This article first appeared in the June 7, 2022 flipbook. Twenty-one portraits line the Texas Capitol steps, candles and flowers by their side. As community members pass the microphone and share emotional testimonies, the crowd listens with a heavy heart, uniting in grief over the tragedy that occurred in Uvalde, Texas the day...
The bustling Austin streets beam with extra color as local businesses and residents make new additions to the scenery: vibrant rainbow flags. In honor of Pride Month, the LGBTQ+ community in Austin gears up with events to raise awareness and celebrate the queer and transgender experience.
Protesters gather at the Texas Capitol gates, signs raised proudly above their heads. Passing cars honk and wave at the growing crowd, some showing support and others meeting the group with countering remarks. One protester lights an American flag, setting it ablaze and watching it burn to ash on the ground.
Editor's note: This article first appeared in the August 2, 2022 flipbook. When warned about potential power outages across Texas earlier this month due to the extreme heat, local animal shelter Austin Pets Alive! wasted no time asking community members to temporarily foster pets on short notice. Suzie Chase, APA!
Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the August 9, 2022 flip book. Only a week and a half before her high school graduation, music sophomore Paxton Smith decided she would denounce Texas' heartbeat bill and advocate for abortion rights in her valedictorian speech - a choice she said came with great risk.
After pedaling across the finish line as loved ones cheer from the sidelines, cyclists huddle together yelling their team chant one last time. Adrenaline from the final stretch on the road subsides, and reality sinks in for the riders: They just finished biking from Texas to Alaska.
Eight women walk across the stage, sporting outfits reminiscent of a popular childhood toy - American Girl dolls. Many audience members associate the dolls with traditional lessons about womanhood, but for playwright Justine Gelfman, the dolls represent stereotypes and harmful narratives. "This play is about a glitchy, glossy millennial pink hellscape," Gelfman said.
When Matthew Nattier offered to help organize a student drag night for his LGBTQ+ organization, Out in STEM, last semester, he did not expect to end up performing on stage. Dressed up as Velma from Scooby-Doo, Nattier said taking the stage pushed him out of his comfort zone.
April 22-24 marks the University's annual Family Weekend . The Forty Acres will be buzzing with people as families explore campus highlights. Austin is still in for COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, meaning positivity rates and COVID-19-related hospital admissions are lower than 10% .
According to the University's impact statement for 2020-2021, the top five reasons students seek mental health care at the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) are anxiety, stress, depression, academic concerns and isolation. Most college students agree they experience these issues in various forms, but only some pursue therapy.
Walking down Speedway on a chilly Sunday morning, I admired how serene the empty campus felt. It was the perfect time to squeeze in an early workout at Gregory Gym (Greg). I unexpectedly came to realize, though, that the campus was deserted because everyone had the same idea.
Hazing typically goes unseen and unheard due to its secretive nature, but students generally agree on one thing: Hazing exists on campus, and it takes many forms. The University investigated and responded to at least serious hazing violations last semester, uncovering instances of intimidation, servitude and mental health threats.