Independent investigative journalism, municipal compliance consulting, and governance advisory services for Texas local government. Free for cities. 100% reader-funded.
Transparency. Accountability. Stability.
41 articles published across 9 Texas communities.
One year after bonding out of jail on the Fourth of July, I look back at the Texans I have met who were arrested for showing up, and ask a hard... (read more)
A Gun Barrel City clip has more than 244,000 views and a comment section at war. The next morning, I called the mayor in it. He talked for 55 minutes. (read more)
An update on Chief Charles Gregory and the Trinidad Police Department storyline after process service today, the side of the story most people are... (read more)
A veteran's sign outside Carthage City Hall in September 2024 ended with him being trespassed from all city property. The city manager apologized,... (read more)
Winston Wesley Noles filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday over his May 12 arrest at Trinidad City Hall, alleging First Amendment retaliation,... (read more)
A connected timeline of recent Trinidad events: two arrests, on-record water-quality remarks from the city's contracted operator alongside a... (read more)
Jennifer Combs of Kerens was arrested on a state jail felony charge over a Facebook post about Trinidad's water system, with Trinidad PD's §42.06... (read more)
Italy city council candidate Shelby Browning submitted written answers to the nine-question 2026 Candidate Questionnaire. She calls for stronger... (read more)
Italy city council candidate Quentin Dean Little submitted written answers to the nine-question 2026 Candidate Questionnaire. He calls for rescinding... (read more)
Every service below is offered to Texas local governments free of charge. Watchtower is 100% reader-funded and takes no money from the cities, counties, or public bodies we review. We handle public matters only, and refer private matters to licensed attorneys, private investigators, or the city attorney.
Independent review of governance concerns, procurement irregularities, and administrative misconduct, grounded in primary-source public records.
Compliance audits and policy development covering Chapter 171, the Texas Open Meetings Act, and the Public Information Act. Offered to Texas local governments free of charge.
Stabilizing communities after administrative disruption, corruption allegations, or public trust breakdown. No-cost engagement for cities willing to engage in good faith.
Independent verification and reporting on disclosures from public employees. Documentation analysis, evidence verification, and primary-source accountability journalism.
A coordinated coalition of attorneys, auditors, journalists, law enforcement, and civic professionals working on local government accountability across Texas.
Reader-funded across nine Texas communities. Contributions underwrite public records requests, consulting visits, document analysis, travel, legal and business expenses, and on-the-ground reporting.
Watchtower covers nine Texas communities that receive limited attention from commercial media: Italy, Goodlow, Hubbard, Seven Points, Trinidad, Kerens, Tool, Carthage, and Gun Barrel City. Cities pay nothing for our services, so every investigation, public records request, consulting visit, hour of document analysis, mile of travel, and legal and business expense is paid for by readers.
