Investigative Reporter @propublica & @texastribune | Contact me at [email protected] or Signal 816-898-5462
Austin, TX
Joined May 2014
- Tweets2.1K
- Following2.2K
- Followers4.1K
- Likes15.2K
Pinned Tweet
1/ Lifelong Republican Mary Howard-Elley never thought her party's unfounded claims about noncitizen voting referred to people like her.
So the retired federal employee with the "whitest name you could have" was shocked when her citizenship and right to vote was questioned.
Lexi Churchill retweeted
Is your college or school district under investigation by Trump’s Education Department?
@propublica exclusively has all the cases from Trump’s first 18 months. All complaints received, investigations started and claims tossed out.
propublica.org/article/civil…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
"Since Abbott first declared an emergency at the border during the Biden administration in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times — 21 of those during Trump’s tenure." @Perla_Trevizo @LChurchilll
Since Greg Abbott first declared an emergency at the border during the Biden administration in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times — 21 of those during Trump’s tenure.
Experts say it’s a way for him to consolidate power.
propublica.org/article/greg-…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
New this week: FEMA has denied a request for federal aid to individuals needing help after the July 2026 floods in Texas.
The decision comes as the Trump administration has shifted expectations to states to play a bigger role in disaster recovery.
texastribune.org/2026/10/21/…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
NEW: Texas Comptroller @DonHuffines touts open government.
But when it comes to the $1 billion student voucher program he oversees, it's a secret.
His office said it was to prevent me and others from "doxxing ... Texas students."
/1
houstonchronicle.com/politic…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
#Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has used executive orders and disaster declarations to shift funds, suspend regulations and award no-bid contracts without going through the state Legislature.
He declared a #border emergency for the 69th time in September. propublica.org/article/greg-…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
New: Since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott first declared an emergency at the border in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times. The proclamation has greatly expanded his powers without going through the state Legislature. propub.li/4B4su1r
Lexi Churchill retweeted
NEW: Trump Says the Border Is Secure. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Keeps Declaring an Emergency. propublica.org/article/greg-… @Perla_Trevizo @LChurchilll w/ @TexasTribune
Lexi Churchill retweeted
New Mexico and El Paso Spent Millions on Climate Plans. Three New Data Centers Could Undo Them. propublica.org/article/data-…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
A state line may divide data centers under construction in El Paso, TX & southern New Mexico. But whose responsibility was it to consider their combined climate change effects? Read more from @elpasomatters in collab w/@propublica & @TexasTribune
elpasomatters.org/2026/10/14…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
As @AustinISD faces a potential takeover, join @texastribune in downtown Austin on Oct. 21 for an event all about state takeovers.
I’ll be moderating my first-ever Tribune panel on “State Takeovers: Lessons From Other Districts” starting at 5 p.m.
Lexi Churchill retweeted
Emails between state officials and people in Alpha School’s orbit detail the Texas Education Agency’s efforts to help pilot Alpha’s AI tool in public school districts — after Texas' education board rejected Alpha's charter application.
propublica.org/article/alpha…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
Last year, just 21% of students from an Austin charter school using an AI learning platform passed state-mandated tests.
Texas education leaders helped get the technology in front of public school leaders.
propublica.org/article/alpha…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
Our reporting found that in Arkansas, one private school continued to operate even though the founder served jail time for permitting child abuse.
Join us Oct. 6 for a discussion about the changing private school landscape: events.propublica.org/wild-w…
ALT Virtual Event: The Wild West of School Vouchers. Join us to discuss how a surge in public funding is changing the private school landscape and what it means for families. Tuesday, Oct. 6. 4 p.m. EST. Illustration: A giant orange pencil points up and to the right. In the background is a pattern made up of gray school chairs.
Lexi Churchill retweeted
We found at least two charter schools that used Alpha’s AI program where students performed significantly worse on state-mandated tests than what Alpha leaders projected.
Now at least three Texas public school districts are using Alpha's AI tool.
propublica.org/article/alpha…
NEW: Over the last year, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath and his agency helped get Alpha School's AI tool in public schools.
Their efforts are detailed in emails I obtained through records requests.
In one, Morath offers to personally introduce an Alpha leader to the head of HISD.
Read more about the Texas Education Agency's recent efforts and why they matter in my latest story.
propublica.org/article/alpha…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
Just three months after the Texas State Board of Education raised concerns about Alpha School’s AI learning platform, Education Commissioner Mike Morath was in talks about using the tool in public schools.
propublica.org/article/alpha…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
I've been a reporter for a long time and this might be the strangest thing I've ever done.
We've been reporting on privatization of schools this year and found that just about anyone can open a private school in most states. Could reporters do it?
propublica.org/article/propu…
Lexi Churchill retweeted
Excited to moderate this event with my amazing colleagues! Come join us.
About 30 states have adopted programs that allow families to spend public money on private school tuition. But our investigation found that many states have little interest in overseeing private schools.
Join us Oct. 6 for a virtual discussion. RSVP: events.propublica.org/wild-w…
ALT Virtual Event: The Wild West of School Vouchers. Tuesday, Oct. 6. 4 p.m. Eastern time. Illustration: A giant orange pencil points up and to the right. In the background is a pattern made up of gray school chairs.
Lexi Churchill retweeted
"One email revealed that Morath offered to personally introduce an Alpha leader to the superintendent he appointed to lead the yearslong state takeover of Houston Independent School District, the largest in the state." by @LChurchilll
New: Just three months after the Texas State Board of Education raised concerns about Alpha School's AI learning platform, Education Commissioner Mike Morath was in talks about using the tool in public schools. propub.li/46V6tEo