Neena Satija
@neenareports
investigative reporter @houstonchron based in Austin. former @washingtonpost/@texastribune/@reveal/@newhavenindy/@ctmirror/@wnpr. past @IRE_NICAR board member.
NEW: How overwhelmed is Houston region's criminal justice system? This man waited 18 years in the Harris County Jail without a trial. Read about how it happened: houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga… And how much it cost: houstonchronicle.com/projects/2025/…
A few months ago I noticed something unusual: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is increasingly outsourcing big cases to private lawyers — even though his office has 700+ attorneys in-house, with several specialized divisions. So we dug in...
Lawmakers are asking the Upper Guadalupe River Authority very pointed questions, all based on our story, right now. Livestream here: house.texas.gov/videos/22380 #txlege
NEW: Despite having $3.4 million in reserves, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority in Kerr County chose to cut taxes and turn down a 0% interest loan from the state rather than fund a $1 million flood warning system upgrade. W/@keribla houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…
NEW: Despite having $3.4 million in reserves, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority in Kerr County chose to cut taxes and turn down a 0% interest loan from the state rather than fund a $1 million flood warning system upgrade. W/@keribla houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…
Soooo much good original reporting comes out of @kut and the Texas Newsroom, a collaboration of NPR and local stations.
🧵NEW: For years, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he did not need to disclose more about his real estate interests to state ethics regulators. Of the 10 properties he or his blind trust own — most purchased in the last five years — he'd only ever listed four. #txlege
The front pages of the @HoustonChron, @ExpressNews + @Statesman are all dedicated to the same story today: Remembering the lives lost to the catastrophic Kerr County floods.
11 people have died in the Harris County Jail this year, surpassing the number of 2024 jail deaths. Harold Alexander Jr., 62, died just before 10 p.m. Friday at the jail after detention officers discovered him unconscious in his cell. houstonchronicle.com/projects/2025/…
NEW: Here's what Kerr County officials proposed doing back in 2017 in order to implement a new flood warning system. Would it have made a difference? houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga… w/@carolineghisolf @keribla @Dexinvestigates
Thanks for having me @NewsHour. Wish it was not under such tragic circumstances.
The search for bodies continued in central Texas, almost a week after torrential rains triggered deadly flash floods. Officials are now facing scrutiny about whether they gave sufficient notice about the rising waters. The National Weather Service issued several watches and…
NEW INFO: We just got Angela Paxton's divorce petition. She accuses her husband Ken Paxton of adultery and noted the couple ceased living together in June 2024. More: kut.org/politics/2025-… #txlege
NEW: For eight years, Kerr County sought help from Texas officials to pay for a $1 million early flood warning system. Twice, they were rejected. The third time the state agreed to chip in just 5% of the cost. With @keribla houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…
NEW w/@neenareports : After the July 4 flood, a Kerr County official said “nobody saw this coming." But it seems they did - a 2016 study recommended key flood alert system improvements. The county has been trying to get the state to fund it ever since: houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…
NEW: We asked TX leaders if they're really sure @CenterPoint is refunding consumers for those massive generators post-Beryl, when documents indicate otherwise. They pointed us to a spreadsheet that is VERY scant on detail. w/@clairehao_ houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…
Here's a fun thing that a top donor to Andrew Cuomo's super PAC just told me.
A woman who said her ex frequently confronted her in public with guns & knives, threatening to kill her, called @houstonpolice for help. They called ICE on her. via @degroodmatt @sgonzalezkelly houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…
Spicy reaction from @LtGovTX on @GregAbbott_TX's THC ban veto. @benwermund has all the deets:
.@DanPatrick says he is puzzled by @GregAbbott_TX’s THC ban veto and the only takeaway is that “The governor of the state of Texas wants to legalize recreational marijuana in the state of Texas.” #txlege
Texas DPS asked a migrant if he had tattoos. He didn't. They searched his phone and found a pic of him standing next to of a man that did. That was enough to label him Tren de Aragua, getting him shipped to El Salvador, lawyers say. via @serrano_alej texastribune.org/2025/06/18/tex…
NEW: @KenPaxtonTX has taken over the post-conviction prosecution of #RobertRoberson, @benwermund reports, and he's asked for a new execution date. houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas…
Incredible story today from @RASchuetz: Attorneys representing the Houston Housing Authority filed a legal brief with fake quotes. These lawyers are getting paid $280/an hour with YOUR TAX DOLLARS. houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…
NEW: Following our report that a Houston man was jailed for 18 years without a trial, officials say the investigation into the murder he was charged with -- that of Joel Osteen's great-aunt -- is "very much active." Tony Buzbee is now representing the man. houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…
NEW: How overwhelmed is Houston region's criminal justice system? This man waited 18 years in the Harris County Jail without a trial. Read about how it happened: houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga… And how much it cost: houstonchronicle.com/projects/2025/…