Lise Olsen
@liseolsen.bsky.social
Investigations editor @TexasObserver.org Author THE SCIENTIST & THE SERIAL KILLER @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social & CODE OF SILENCE—the inside story of the first federal judge to be impeached for sex crimes @BeaconPress.bsky.social www.liseolsen.com
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Lise Olsen
@liseolsen.bsky.social
· Mar 31
My new book The Scientist and the Serial Killer is available tomorrow wherever books are sold. Signed copies available by contacting any of the bookstores hosting events
Reposted by Lise Olsen
In our magazine: From a chronicle of America's Black-owned bookstores, to the untold stories of the MKULTRA project, @liseolsen.bsky.social takes us on a tour of unique titles from the Texas Book Festival ...
Black Bookstore Owners, Government Spies, and Murder
At the 2025 Texas Book Festival, authors bring new insights to complex stories in nonfiction.
www.texasobserver.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
In our magazine: From a chronicle of America's Black-owned bookstores, to the untold stories of the MKULTRA project, @liseolsen.bsky.social takes us on a tour of unique titles from the Texas Book Festival ...
Reposted by Lise Olsen
who raped and murdered tens of boys in Houston until 1973.
Lise Olsen brought to life the lost boys, in the neighborhood where Corll sold candy, where many of the victims lived and disappeared. It was chilling story in her kind, gentle voice, but I appreciated the care she gave the victims and...
Lise Olsen brought to life the lost boys, in the neighborhood where Corll sold candy, where many of the victims lived and disappeared. It was chilling story in her kind, gentle voice, but I appreciated the care she gave the victims and...
October 31, 2025 at 3:20 AM
who raped and murdered tens of boys in Houston until 1973.
Lise Olsen brought to life the lost boys, in the neighborhood where Corll sold candy, where many of the victims lived and disappeared. It was chilling story in her kind, gentle voice, but I appreciated the care she gave the victims and...
Lise Olsen brought to life the lost boys, in the neighborhood where Corll sold candy, where many of the victims lived and disappeared. It was chilling story in her kind, gentle voice, but I appreciated the care she gave the victims and...
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Tonight, journalist @liseolsen.bsky.social discussed her book, The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston's Lost Boys, at the Houston Public Library in the Heights.
She chronicled the work of scientist Sharon Derrick to identify the victims of Houston serial killer Dean Corll,...
She chronicled the work of scientist Sharon Derrick to identify the victims of Houston serial killer Dean Corll,...
October 31, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Tonight, journalist @liseolsen.bsky.social discussed her book, The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston's Lost Boys, at the Houston Public Library in the Heights.
She chronicled the work of scientist Sharon Derrick to identify the victims of Houston serial killer Dean Corll,...
She chronicled the work of scientist Sharon Derrick to identify the victims of Houston serial killer Dean Corll,...
Reposted by Lise Olsen
From @stevanzetti.bsky.social: In February, the Texas Observer confirmed that James “Jim” Joseph Rodden—an ICE assistant chief counsel in Dallas—operates a white supremacist X account. Now, ICE refuses to tell us, or members of Congress, if he's still employed.
ICE Still Won't Answer Questions About Prosecutor with White Supremacist X Account
Congressman Marc Veasey arrived at an ICE facility Monday in his latest attempt to follow up on the Observer's reporting.
www.texasobserver.org
October 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
From @stevanzetti.bsky.social: In February, the Texas Observer confirmed that James “Jim” Joseph Rodden—an ICE assistant chief counsel in Dallas—operates a white supremacist X account. Now, ICE refuses to tell us, or members of Congress, if he's still employed.
Reposted by Lise Olsen
"An AP investigation found that the wave of legislation has cropped up in most states, pushed by people with close ties to HHS Secretary RFK, Jr. The effort would strip away protections that have been built over a century and are integral to American lives and society."
Anti-science bills hit statehouses, stripping away public health protections built over a century
More than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections – vaccines, milk safety and fluoride – have been introduced in statehouses across the U.S. this year.
apnews.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
"An AP investigation found that the wave of legislation has cropped up in most states, pushed by people with close ties to HHS Secretary RFK, Jr. The effort would strip away protections that have been built over a century and are integral to American lives and society."
Reposted by Lise Olsen
This remembrance of Susy Carroll, a great investigative journalist, by Lise Olsen, another great investigative journalist, says so much about the people who do this work.
I miss Susy, and I'm grateful to Lise for finding such a fitting way to honor her work & memory.
@liseolsen.bsky.social @ire.org
I miss Susy, and I'm grateful to Lise for finding such a fitting way to honor her work & memory.
@liseolsen.bsky.social @ire.org
Honoring longtime IRE member and mentor Susan Carroll - Investigative Reporters & Editors
Lise Olsen writes about her friend and late IRE member Susan Carroll — and how a new fellowship program aims to honor her legacy.
www.ire.org
September 25, 2025 at 3:06 AM
This remembrance of Susy Carroll, a great investigative journalist, by Lise Olsen, another great investigative journalist, says so much about the people who do this work.
I miss Susy, and I'm grateful to Lise for finding such a fitting way to honor her work & memory.
@liseolsen.bsky.social @ire.org
I miss Susy, and I'm grateful to Lise for finding such a fitting way to honor her work & memory.
@liseolsen.bsky.social @ire.org
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Last week from @liseolsen.bsky.social: Scars remain from the deadly storm two decades ago, but so do the stories of survival and resilience.
Twenty Years Later, Katrina Still Haunts the Gulf from New Orleans to Houston
A killer storm two decades past still teaches lessons about survival and resilience in a world where weather is getting more extreme.
www.texasobserver.org
September 16, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Last week from @liseolsen.bsky.social: Scars remain from the deadly storm two decades ago, but so do the stories of survival and resilience.
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Last week from @liseolsen.bsky.social: A killer storm two decades past still teaches lessons about survival and resilience in a world where weather is getting more extreme.
Twenty Years Later, Katrina Still Haunts the Gulf from New Orleans to Houston
A killer storm two decades past still teaches lessons about survival and resilience in a world where weather is getting more extreme.
www.texasobserver.org
September 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Last week from @liseolsen.bsky.social: A killer storm two decades past still teaches lessons about survival and resilience in a world where weather is getting more extreme.
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Nearly 1M Houstonians have gone 190 days and counting without voice in Congress www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...
Nearly 1M Houstonians have gone 190 days without a member of Congress
Nearly 1 million people in Houston still don’t have a member of Congress six months after U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner died in office.
www.houstonchronicle.com
September 11, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Nearly 1M Houstonians have gone 190 days and counting without voice in Congress www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Join @motherjones.com, @capitalb.bsky.social and us tomorrow in Houston to share stories and memories from the storm.
20 years after Katrina, the storm still lingers.
Join @motherjones.com, @capitalb.bsky.social & Texas Observer in Houston for an evening of stories, action & resilience.
When: Sept 10 | 7PM
Where: Julia Ideson Building, Houston, TX
Tickets: bit.ly/KatrinaEvent2025#Katrina20 #TheLingeringStorm
Join @motherjones.com, @capitalb.bsky.social & Texas Observer in Houston for an evening of stories, action & resilience.
When: Sept 10 | 7PM
Where: Julia Ideson Building, Houston, TX
Tickets: bit.ly/KatrinaEvent2025#Katrina20 #TheLingeringStorm
September 9, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Join @motherjones.com, @capitalb.bsky.social and us tomorrow in Houston to share stories and memories from the storm.
Reposted by Lise Olsen
“What can we do to ensure that our people aren’t looked upon … [as] victims, but as those who have been resilient and very powerful?”
Editor @liseolsen.bsky.social looks back at the deadly storm on its 20th anniversary, and the lessons it can still teach us for the future of extreme weather.
Editor @liseolsen.bsky.social looks back at the deadly storm on its 20th anniversary, and the lessons it can still teach us for the future of extreme weather.
Twenty Years Later, Katrina Still Haunts the Gulf from New Orleans to Houston
A killer storm two decades past still teaches lessons about survival and resilience in a world where weather is getting more extreme.
www.texasobserver.org
September 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
“What can we do to ensure that our people aren’t looked upon … [as] victims, but as those who have been resilient and very powerful?”
Editor @liseolsen.bsky.social looks back at the deadly storm on its 20th anniversary, and the lessons it can still teach us for the future of extreme weather.
Editor @liseolsen.bsky.social looks back at the deadly storm on its 20th anniversary, and the lessons it can still teach us for the future of extreme weather.
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Join Lise and company next week, there's still time to RSVP!
More than 1,400 dead and a million displaced. Join Mayor Bill White, Rev Yearwood @HipHopCaucus @TexasObserver @reveal and @CapitalBNews in Houston 9/10 to talk about Hurricane Katrina’s lessons & huge impact on our region 20 years later. Details: waterprogramportal.org/event/the-li...
September 5, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Join Lise and company next week, there's still time to RSVP!
More than 1,400 dead and a million displaced. Join Mayor Bill White, Rev Yearwood @HipHopCaucus @TexasObserver @reveal and @CapitalBNews in Houston 9/10 to talk about Hurricane Katrina’s lessons & huge impact on our region 20 years later. Details: waterprogramportal.org/event/the-li...
September 3, 2025 at 9:30 PM
More than 1,400 dead and a million displaced. Join Mayor Bill White, Rev Yearwood @HipHopCaucus @TexasObserver @reveal and @CapitalBNews in Houston 9/10 to talk about Hurricane Katrina’s lessons & huge impact on our region 20 years later. Details: waterprogramportal.org/event/the-li...
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Featured story, from @liseolsen.bsky.social: The doomed man condemned the system that was about to kill him, saying, “I’m dying tonight based on testimony, that all parties, me, the man who gave the testimony, the prosecutor he used knew it was a lie.”
The Innocent and the Executed: James Beathard’s Long-Forgotten Story
James Beathard had an innocence claim-- but it went largely unheard prior to his 1999 execution. Law students are working on a documentary to draw attention to the flaws in his death penalty case.
www.texasobserver.org
August 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Featured story, from @liseolsen.bsky.social: The doomed man condemned the system that was about to kill him, saying, “I’m dying tonight based on testimony, that all parties, me, the man who gave the testimony, the prosecutor he used knew it was a lie.”
Reposted by Lise Olsen
For more from Lise Olsen: @liseolsen.bsky.social
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Find Texas Observer here: @texasobserver.org
Subscribe to their newsletter: www.texasobserver.org/home/subscri...
To donate to Texas Observer: texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/donate/
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Find Texas Observer here: @texasobserver.org
Subscribe to their newsletter: www.texasobserver.org/home/subscri...
To donate to Texas Observer: texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/donate/
August 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
For more from Lise Olsen: @liseolsen.bsky.social
--------------------------------------
Find Texas Observer here: @texasobserver.org
Subscribe to their newsletter: www.texasobserver.org/home/subscri...
To donate to Texas Observer: texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/donate/
--------------------------------------
Find Texas Observer here: @texasobserver.org
Subscribe to their newsletter: www.texasobserver.org/home/subscri...
To donate to Texas Observer: texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/donate/
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Out yesterday from @liseolsen.bsky.social: Beathard was put to death in 1999 for murders that his co-defendant claimed to have committed without him. A new documentary-in-progress seeks to bring his case to light.
The Innocent and the Executed: James Beathard’s Long-Forgotten Story
Beathard was put to death in 1999 for murders that his co-defendant claimed to have committed without him. A new documentary-in-progress seeks to bring his case to light.
www.texasobserver.org
August 20, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Out yesterday from @liseolsen.bsky.social: Beathard was put to death in 1999 for murders that his co-defendant claimed to have committed without him. A new documentary-in-progress seeks to bring his case to light.
Blown away: the Scientist and the Serial killer is among six final nominees for #TrueCrime Book of the year @crimecon.bsky.social’s CLUE awards. Winners announced at #crimecon2025 in Denver. Check out the #book #podcast and #doc nominees via @variety.com variety.com/2025/tv/news...
Ice-T to Host 2025 Clue Awards; True Crime TV, Film, Podcasting, Publishing Nominees Announced (EXCLUSIVE)
The Clue Awards has announced its nominees in true crime TV, film, podcasting and publishing categories; Ice-T will host the ceremony on Sept. 6.
variety.com
August 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Blown away: the Scientist and the Serial killer is among six final nominees for #TrueCrime Book of the year @crimecon.bsky.social’s CLUE awards. Winners announced at #crimecon2025 in Denver. Check out the #book #podcast and #doc nominees via @variety.com variety.com/2025/tv/news...
Reposted by Lise Olsen
From @liseolsen.bsky.social in our magazine: A sharp-eyed retiree uncovered evidence of judicial misconduct by the chief judge of Houston’s busy bankruptcy court. The unusual story highlights how other complaints against judges go ignored.
Rules of the Robe
A sharp-eyed retiree uncovered evidence of judicial misconduct by the chief judge of Houston’s busy bankruptcy court. The unusual story highlights how other complaints against judges go ignored.
www.texasobserver.org
July 28, 2025 at 2:07 PM
From @liseolsen.bsky.social in our magazine: A sharp-eyed retiree uncovered evidence of judicial misconduct by the chief judge of Houston’s busy bankruptcy court. The unusual story highlights how other complaints against judges go ignored.
Tonight I’m talking #investigativereporting, and my books and work on crime and corruption on The Night Hawk Resurrected on KSCO Santa Cruz- www.ksco.com with Kelly Powers. Join us online or call in questions!
KSCO – KSCO 1080 AM News Talk Radio In Santa Cruz
www.ksco.com
August 6, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Tonight I’m talking #investigativereporting, and my books and work on crime and corruption on The Night Hawk Resurrected on KSCO Santa Cruz- www.ksco.com with Kelly Powers. Join us online or call in questions!
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Out today from @liseolsen.bsky.social: “My hope is there’s going to be some more action from the chief [district] judge, the circuit judge, maybe even the judicial council—and guidelines to judges about what their responsibilities are.”
Rules of the Robe
A sharp-eyed retiree uncovered evidence of judicial misconduct by the chief judge of Houston’s busy bankruptcy court. The unusual story highlights how other complaints against judges go ignored.
www.texasobserver.org
July 28, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Out today from @liseolsen.bsky.social: “My hope is there’s going to be some more action from the chief [district] judge, the circuit judge, maybe even the judicial council—and guidelines to judges about what their responsibilities are.”
Reposted by Lise Olsen
Watching The Eleven on about 11 very young girls were murdered over the course of about 7 years in the 1970s. Obviously, DNA was not a capability of science in the 70's, but I keep thinking; they HAD to have kept their clothing the girls' remains were found in. (1) @liseolsen.bsky.social
June 27, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Watching The Eleven on about 11 very young girls were murdered over the course of about 7 years in the 1970s. Obviously, DNA was not a capability of science in the 70's, but I keep thinking; they HAD to have kept their clothing the girls' remains were found in. (1) @liseolsen.bsky.social
Reposted by Lise Olsen
From @liseolsen.bsky.social: One of Entergy’s favored pathways for the project would cut across about a mile of the reservoir. And yet Entergy, records show, didn’t ever bother to inform the City of Houston—which gets about 70 percent of the water produced by the reservoir.
Proposed Transmission Line Threatens Texas’ Largest Reservoir
If approved, opponents warn that a massive new utility project could disrupt toxic sediment, and more, in Lake Livingston—Houston’s “most critical” water source.
www.texasobserver.org
July 19, 2025 at 9:00 PM
From @liseolsen.bsky.social: One of Entergy’s favored pathways for the project would cut across about a mile of the reservoir. And yet Entergy, records show, didn’t ever bother to inform the City of Houston—which gets about 70 percent of the water produced by the reservoir.
Reposted by Lise Olsen
New from @liseolsen.bsky.social: If approved, opponents warn that a massive new utility project could disrupt toxic sediment, and more, in Lake Livingston—Houston’s “most critical” water source.
Proposed Transmission Line Threatens Texas’ Largest Reservoir
If approved, opponents warn that a massive new utility project could disrupt toxic sediment, and more, in Lake Livingston—Houston’s “most critical” water source.
www.texasobserver.org
July 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
New from @liseolsen.bsky.social: If approved, opponents warn that a massive new utility project could disrupt toxic sediment, and more, in Lake Livingston—Houston’s “most critical” water source.
Reposted by Lise Olsen
"I think it’s quite feasible that many people probably would not have known they were in a flood-prone area."
New from @liseolsen.bsky.social: A federally funded project at Rice University is trying to improve flood hazard detection and resilience. We spoke with key researcher Avantika Gori.
New from @liseolsen.bsky.social: A federally funded project at Rice University is trying to improve flood hazard detection and resilience. We spoke with key researcher Avantika Gori.
In the Hill Country and Beyond, Rural Texas Counties Lack Resources for Flood Detection
A federally funded project at Rice University is trying to tackle that problem, but in just two counties so far.
www.texasobserver.org
July 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
"I think it’s quite feasible that many people probably would not have known they were in a flood-prone area."
New from @liseolsen.bsky.social: A federally funded project at Rice University is trying to improve flood hazard detection and resilience. We spoke with key researcher Avantika Gori.
New from @liseolsen.bsky.social: A federally funded project at Rice University is trying to improve flood hazard detection and resilience. We spoke with key researcher Avantika Gori.
Reposted by Lise Olsen
“Petty had played a dual role as prosecutor and judicial clerk in Midland County … often performing both duties on the same cases and even drafting judicial orders in response to motions he’d filed as a prosecutor.” @liseolsen.bsky.social www.texasobserver.org/moonlighting...
Moonlighting Midland Prosecutor Means Freedom for Samuel Sanchez
“He just cried. He was just overwhelmed with emotion.”
www.texasobserver.org
June 30, 2025 at 12:08 AM
“Petty had played a dual role as prosecutor and judicial clerk in Midland County … often performing both duties on the same cases and even drafting judicial orders in response to motions he’d filed as a prosecutor.” @liseolsen.bsky.social www.texasobserver.org/moonlighting...