Latest Contributions

• A trio of Texas churches donated to political candidate despite clear IRS prohibition

  By Jessica Priest and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 5, 2023

  A candidate for the Abilene City Council said that three churches made an honest mistake by donating to his campaign and that he is returning the money. The race has been beset by allegations of electioneering by churches. Full Story 

• Closing a critical loophole for gun background checks has gained bipartisan support in Texas

  By Jeremy Schwartz and Kiah Collier, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica March 6, 2023

  After a ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigation found courts failed to report juvenile mental health hospitalizations to the federal firearm background check system, lawmakers from both parties are backing bills to ensure compliance with the law. Full Story 

• A Texas superintendent ordered librarians to remove LGBTQ-themed books. Now the federal government is investigating.

  By Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Dec. 20, 2022

  The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has opened what appears to be the first-of-its-kind investigation into the Granbury Independent School District after it banned school library books dealing with sexuality and gender. Full Story 

• Justice Department tried to hide report warning that private border wall in Texas could collapse

  By Jeremy Schwartz and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Dec. 2, 2022

  The report confirms a ProPublica and Texas Tribune investigation that found the privately built fencing could collapse during major flooding. The federal government resisted making the findings public for more than a year. Full Story 

• These 20 churches supported political candidates. Experts say they violated federal law.

  By Jessica Priest and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Chris Morran, ProPublica Nov. 7, 2022

  Churches aren’t supposed to endorse political candidates, according to IRS rules. Across the country, churches appear to be doing so anyway. Full Story 

• Texas churches violated tax law ahead of Tuesday’s election, experts say

  By Jeremy Schwartz, Jessica Priest and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Nov. 6, 2022

  Churches in Texas invited Beto O’Rourke and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to speak to their congregations before the 2022 midterms, raising questions about the effectiveness of the Johnson Amendment. Full Story 

• Tell us how religious organizations in your area involve themselves in elections

  By Jessica Priest and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Oct. 30, 2022

  Federal law bars churches and other nonprofit groups from endorsing candidates or helping to fundraise, but we know they regularly sidestep — or flat-out ignore — these rules. Help us identify examples. Full Story 

• Churches are breaking the law and endorsing in elections, experts say. The IRS looks the other way.

  By Jeremy Schwartz and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Oct. 30, 2022

  For nearly 70 years, federal law has barred churches from directly involving themselves in political campaigns, but the IRS has largely abdicated its enforcement responsibilities as churches have become more brazen about publicly backing candidates. Full Story 

• Election administrators are under attack in Texas. Here’s what that means for the midterms.

  By Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Oct. 17, 2022

  David Becker of The Center for Election Innovation & Research talks with The Texas Tribune and ProPublica about election official turnover and its impact on voting. Full Story 

• Texas’ law on gun background checks plagued by critical omissions of minors’ mental health records

  By Jeremy Schwartz and Kiah Collier, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica July 13, 2022

  Lawmakers tried in 2009 to require that the state report all court-ordered mental health hospitalizations to a federal gun background check system. Juveniles have been left out. Full Story