KXAN Investigates

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...

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...

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 playin...

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 de...

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 pr...

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...

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 experienc...

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 opportunit...