KXAN Investigates

 What started as a routine traffic stop for an Austin Independent School District senior ended in his detention just weeks before graduation, sparking questions about the use of encrypted messaging platforms like Signal by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This week on Inside The Investigation, Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley walks through a timeline of the events and explains how this traffic stop turned immigration detention is raising serious questions about transparency and accountability.   

On a “From the Vault” edition of “Inside the Investigation,” KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Investigative Reporter Arezow Doost revisit KXAN's "Medical Debt Lawsuits" investigation into patient billing transparency in Texas.        

The Texas Education Agency on Thursday denied the Austin Independent School District’s request for a two-year pause in accountability ratings for three of its academically struggling middle schools. The decision means that if any of the three campuses earn another F rating, the entire district could be at risk of a state takeover, including a state-appointed superintendent and a board of managers taking over district operations. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley explains why the state denied the district’s application and lays out what could happen next.

An Austin student is back at school after weeks in an immigration detention center -- just in time for his high school graduation. This week on Inside the Investigation – Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley explains the community effort, led by a U.S. Congressman, to secure 18-year-old Luis Fernando Cabrera’s release and what his arrest tells us about how Texas is assisting federal immigration officials.

The solar power industry is rapidly growing in Texas, but a KXAN investigation found records showing there’s also a growing number of Texans who say they were misled into signing long-term contracts with solar companies. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Arezow Doost explains why the state’s attorney general is now threatening legal action against some companies involved with selling and installing the technology.

This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley explains why, despite hundreds of documented issues with autonomous vehicles, local police have cited driverless cars fewer than a dozen times in three years. Plus Waymo, the company operating the most AVs in town, shares its mission to make roads safer and addresses the viral videos raising safety concerns.

On a “From the Vault” edition of “Inside the Investigation,” KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Senior Investigative Producer David Barer revisit KXAN's "Mental Competency Consequences" investigation into treatment backlogs and deaths in Texas jails.

Amid increased immigration enforcement and widespread deportation, Texas is making it harder for foreign workers to obtain temporary legal status. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Matt Grant found Texans tax dollars are likely still supporting the system some state leaders criticize.

20 years after the disappearance of Holly Marie Simmons, prosecutors are dropping the charge against the man who was accused of killing her. This week, on "Inside the Investigation," Senior Investigative Producer David Barer takes us inside the case he has followed for over a decade and explains the challenges investigators have faced trying to find her killer.        

A series of fires believed to be started at homeless camps throughout the city of Austin are leaving neighborhoods in fear. This week on Inside the investigation, Investigator Matt Grant explains the conditions elevating concern for wildfires and solutions city officials are considering following his reporting.

On a “From the Vault” edition of “Inside the Investigation,” KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Senior Investigative Producer David Barer revisit KXAN's "Justice for Some" investigation into public integrity and corruption cases outside Texas' capital.

A family is fighting to hold a foreign ride maker accountable for the death of their 14-year-old son. Four years ago this week, Tyre Sampson fell to his death while riding a drop tower at an amusement park in Orlando.  A KXAN investigation found the same foreign company that manufactured the Orlando ride is producing a new drop tower at COTALAND in Austin — despite the manufacturer being found negligent in the teen’s death. This week, on “Inside the Investigation,” Investigative Reporter Matt Grant explains how COTALAND says its drop tower will be significantly different and safer than the Orlando ride and the complex nature of holding a private foreign company legally accountable.

The largest school district in Central Texas, Austin Independent School District, said it believes increased immigration enforcement is one factor driving a decline in enrollment at several schools serving immigrant and refugee populations.  This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley breaks down the fears rising locally, as immigration enforcement takes center stage nationally under the Trump administration.

Texas officials say there are hundreds of childcare providers operating out of their homes without a license, lacking oversight and potentially putting kids a risk. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Arezow Doost explains why child advocates and licensed providers believe the situation could get worse.

On a “From the Vault” edition of “Inside the Investigation,” KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Senior Investigative Producer David Barer revisit KXAN’s “Dead & Undone” investigation into police reporting custodial deaths to the state, along with updates to the topic still playing out today across Texas.

A KXAN investigation found after the Texas Attorney General's Office agreed to pay an assault victim $5,000 from the state’s crime victims’ compensation fund, the state kept nearly half the money to pay the victim’s unrelated state debts, including unpaid tuition. This week, on “Inside the Investigation,” Investigative Reporter Matt Grant takes you inside the latest update to our “Held Up” series, explaining a new twist to the program – the state can withhold assistance earmarked to help victims of violent crimes – a uniquely harsh stance compared to every other state we reviewed.  After seeing our findings, two state lawmakers said they want to explore changes to the state's laws for clawing back crime victim assistance.

Dozens of Texas educators risk losing their ability to teach over comments they made on social media in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination. This week on Inside the Investigation, KXAN Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley explains how teachers, attorneys, unions – and school districts themselves are calling into question the lawfulness of the state’s investigation.

Rumors of a serial killer still cloud Mitchell Gutierrez's mind years after his little brother, Martin, disappeared from a shoreside entertainment district in downtown Austin. For days, their family joined police searching for the young man, before his body surfaced in Lady Bird Lake. A KXAN analysis of autopsy reports and law enforcement records reveals he was among at least 30 drowning victims – many intoxicated – over the past decade in this urban waterway. As criminal conspiracies spread through social media, we sought answers by comparing Austin’s drowning numbers to other cities with similar features. Our data-driven, multi-platform investigation also examines solutions effectively preventing tragedies elsewhere – tactics local leaders are now exploring after our findings. This week, on a special, on-location edition of our weekly “Inside the Investigation” program, KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Investigative Reporter Arezow Doost discuss updates to their team’s “Beneath the Surface” project and where the investigation could go next.

On a “From the Vault” edition of “Inside the Investigation,” KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Senior Investigative Producer David Barer revisit KXAN's "Locked in Limbo" investigation into jail mental competency delays, along with updates to the topic still playing out today across Texas.        

Two years have passed since 14-year-old Treysuhr Carter was found lying unconscious on a residential street just blocks from her Northeast Austin home. After police determined Carter’s death was an accident, a KXAN Investigation revealed missteps in the investigation – including failing to gather key evidence at the scene, prompting police to re-open the investigation.  This week on Inside the Investigation, Senior Investigative Producer David Barer explains why, after second review, the case is closed and cleared with no charge.

Nearly two years after a car barreled through an Austin emergency room, hitting and injuring a couple and their two young children, and the family is finally getting some closure. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Matt Grant shares a major update for the family: a settlement with the hospital.

On a “From the Vault” edition of “Inside the Investigation,” KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Investigative Reporter Josh Hinkle revisit KXAN's "A History of Mass Violence" investigation into mass shootings from 1980 to 2019, along with updates to the topic still playing out today across Texas.

In Cedar Park, Texas – a million-dollar church expansion is creating tension between homeowners and faith leaders. This week on Inside the Investigation – Investigative Reporter Taylor Alanis breakdowns why the neighborhood fears the church’s growth will hurt their property values.  

After deadly floods killed more than 100 people in the Texas hill country — lawmakers accused of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority of failing to protect people from the dangers of the river. This week on Inside the Investigation — Investigative Reporter Matt Grant looks into who holds controls Texas’ rivers – and new calls to reform the century old system.

In Texas, early state data shows the number of infant deaths has increased more than 7 percent since 2021. This week on Inside the Investigation – Investigative Reporter Arezow Doost explains how a new law is giving Texas families more time to say goodbye.

In Austin – school leaders say since the beginning of the school year bus surveillance cameras have caught Waymo’s driverless vehicles illegally passing school buses 20 times. This week on Inside the Investigation – Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley will break down the safety concerns ahead of Waymo’s anticipated expansion, its voluntary recall and the software updates the Waymo believes fix the issue. You can watch this week's episode on the KXAN+ app or listen anywhere you get podcasts.

On a “From the Vault” edition of "Inside the Investigation," KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Investigative Reporter Arezow Doost revisit KXAN's "Mayberry Texas" investigation revealing problems with the way law enforcement reports missing persons cases to a public database meant to help close cases.

For people impacted by Texas’ multi-billion-dollar human trafficking industry – justice can be elusive. This week on Inside the Investigation, KXAN's Jennifer Sanders explains the challenges prosecutors face in holding alleged traffickers accountable.

A KXAN investigation found that the State of Texas does not track why its youngest learners are leaving public school, and that the state is not tracking how often students' departures from public schools are related to chronic absenteeism and truancy. KXAN's Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley and Senior Investigative Producer David Barer are breaking down their findings in this week's episode of Inside the Investigation.

Less than three months after Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 10 into law, thousands of posters showing the Ten Commandments are hanging in Texas classrooms. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley and Senior Investigative Producer David Barer explain whose behind the surge in donations.

On a “From the Vault” edition of “Inside the Investigation,” KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Executive Director Kelley Shannon revisit KXAN's "DENIED" investigation into a now-closed statute allowing police to withhold evidence from requestors when someone dies in their custody, along with updates to the topic still playing out today across Texas.

The father of 18-year-old camp counselor Chloe Childress who died during the deadly July Fourth flooding in the Texas hill country says outdoor warning sirens could have saved lives. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Matt Grant explains how one community is rushing to prepare for a future disaster.

In an unexpected move, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety and other state agencies to clear out homeless encampments throughout Austin. This week on Inside the Investigation, City Hall reporter Grace Reader explains the confusion between city and state leaders and breaks down what could happen to the unhoused people who were displaced.

After an unexpected discovery, a neighborhood in a rural part of Williamson County is battling with county leaders over rights to their roads. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Taylor Alanis explains why neighbors worry about the future of their community.

Facing a nearly $ 20 million budget shortfall and a potential state takeover, the Austin Independent School District proposed a plan to close 13 schools and redraw boundaries, impacting almost every school in the district. This week on Inside the Investigation, our team discusses the rising anger among parents and staff over the plan and how it could reshape the region.

On a “From the Vault” edition of “Inside the Investigation,” KXAN Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Senior Investigative Producer David Barer revisit their 2017 "Fallen" project on Texas police officers shot and killed in the line of duty, along with updates to the topic still playing out today across Texas.

Less than a month into Senate Bill 10 going into effect -- posters of the Ten Commandments are now posted in thousands of Texas public school classrooms. This week on Inside the Investigation … Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley shows you how school districts are attempting to comply with the new law while parent and religious groups sue to block the posters from ever going up.

As Texas heads into its second rainy season of the year, a KXAN investigation found regional vacancies at the National Weather Service’s Austin and San Antonio office are only increasing two months after deadly flooding killed at least 135 people. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Matt Grant explains why a member of congress and a former federal official believes the delay could be putting lives at risk. 1  

For years, theories of a serial killer in Downtown Austin have been shared widely on social media, despite investigators continually denying the existence of one. This week on Inside the Investigation, Senior Investigator David Barer breaks down how and why a new study found "no evidence" of the Lady Bird Lake serial killer. 

For nearly three years, KXAN has uncovered turnover, backlogs and months-long delays for victims of violent crimes trying to get help from the state of Texas. This week on Inside the Investigation, Senior Investigative Producer David Barer breaks down the long-awaited improvements that could bring critical financial assistance to victims quickly.

Starting September 1, a new Texas law will take effect, aimed at helping families who are collectively owed billions of dollars in back child support. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Arezow Doost explains why some parents waiting on child support are not hopeful the new law will help them.

After a Texas school board adopted a plan to replace school leadership and some teachers from its lowest-performing schools… a KXAN investigation found district leaders scrambled to fill vacancies with quote “highly effective” educators… just days before the start of school. This week on Inside the Investigation, we break down why Austin Independent School District leaders believe the plan will prevent the state from intervening in the local control of its schools.

Three people, including a four-year-old girl, are dead after a gunman opened fire in the parking lot of the Northwest Austin Target. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley and City Hall Reporter Grace Reader breakdown the alleged shooter's long history of violence.

The Texas Historical Commission is ordering a small Texas town to stop working on a multimillion-dollar flood mitigation project after learning it could impact a historic cemetery where people who were enslaved are buried. This week on Inside the Investigation, Senior Investigative Reporter David Barer and Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley explain why a city of less than 1,300 people may have to pay back more than $1 million in grant funds they’ve already used.

The City of Pflugerville spent more than $250,000 on a brand-new dispatch and record management system for its police department. But records show just one year later, the city is ditching the new system and cutting ties with the developer. This week on Inside the Investigation, Senior Investigative Producer David Barer explains the issues city officials say they faced during their brief experience with the software.

In what was supposed to be a special legislative session focused on consumable THC and congressional districts, Texas lawmakers are now focused on how they could have prevented the deadly floods that killed more than 100 people in Central Texas weeks earlier. This week on Inside the Investigation, KXAN’s Director of Investigations and Innovation, Josh Hinkle, explains the state’s missed opportunities to save lives.

A bill prompted by a KXAN investigation that would have modernized Texas’s antiquated system for investigating deaths in the state did not become law during the 89th legislative session. This week on Inside the Investigation … KXAN’s Director of Investigations and Innovation, Josh Hinkle, explains how lawmakers who pushed for changes -- plan to keep the topic alive.

On what was supposed to be the long holiday weekend, quickly rising flood waters devastated many parts of Central Texas, killing more than a hundred men, women, and children and leaving even more missing. This week on Inside the Investigation, the KXAN team breaks down the desperate search for missing campers and loved ones and explains the concerns surrounding preparedness and response from officials at all levels.

Following years of widespread fraud and abuse that touched every state, Texas is eliminating most temporary paper license plates and replacing them with new color-coded metal ones. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Matt Grant explains the new challenges that may arise with a new system.

For years, as Williamson County has grown, Justices of the Peace have been asking for help with the increasing number of death cases. This week on Inside the Investigation, Arezow Doost explains why a new solution to help the judges is already facing challenges.