KXAN Catalyst
KXAN Investigates
Catalyst is a specialty unit within the KXAN investigative team focused on "digital-first” storytelling that aims to spark positive change in society. The group takes a multi-platform, innovative approach to each project, including this KXAN Catalyst Podcast.
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S7 Bonus: Patchwork of Death Investigations (Analysis)
KXAN’s Josh Hinkle, David Barer, Arezow Doost, Eric Henrikson and Dalton Huey discuss challenges they faced while investigating Texas’ death inquest system.
S7 E3: Wanted an Autopsy on that Child
While Texas’ justice of the peace system has evolved since its start in 1824, counties are slowly replacing the death inquest part of their role with medical examiners.
S7 E2: Murdered Down by Backbone Creek
As Texas’ population grows, so do critics’ concerns over elected officials investigating death. As Daynon Lewis’ case unfolds, state lawmakers look to the future.
S7 E1: Found Hanging by a Jump Rope
A teenager’s mysterious death in 1965 resurfaces in the Texas Hill Country, prompting a new review of her case and the inquest system still used across the state.
S7 Trailer
Hear the death inquests trailer now.
S6 E3: Can’t Hide Who You Are
KXAN newsroom leaders and Francisco Vara-Orta of Investigative Reporters & Editors discuss overcoming blind spots and personal bias when covering controversial topics.
S6 E2: Part of Your Identity
KXAN journalists share the inner challenges they face when reporting on issues intersecting with their identities and the communities to which they belong.
S6 E1: Fearful for Your Safety
Catalyst Host Josh Hinkle shares how the murder of a gay college student shaped his early reporting and how he now approaches LGBTQ+ coverage.
S6 Trailer
KXAN explores proposed laws impacting LGBTQ+ Texans. Our journalists share how they make fair, objective coverage decisions and how their experiences shape the reporting, including the murder of a gay college student. This season is part of our “OutLaw” investigation.
S1 Update: My Dad Didn’t Die in Vain
Families of a Texas missing persons law’s namesake react to the discovery that police might not have complied with potentially thousands of cases.
S1 Update: Close Those Gaps to Help People Comply
One woman’s search for her missing brother leads to the streets of Austin, as a legislator considers strengthening a new state law.
S3 Bonus: Lives Get Shattered (Analysis)
Karen Ranus of NAMI-Central Texas speaks with KXAN’s Josh Hinkle and David Barer on inmate mental health.
S5 Special: Transparency to the Healthcare Marketplace (Analysis)
Jeanne Pinder of ClearHealthCosts speaks with KXAN’s Josh Hinkle and David Barer about medical debt challenges across Texas and the U.S.
S4 Update: Keep the Hope Alive
New police transparency bills are up against the clock, as Texas journalists testify about challenges with late and incomplete custodial death reports.
S4 Update: Keep the Hope Alive
New police transparency bills are up against the clock, as Texas journalists testify about challenges with late and incomplete custodial death reports.
S1 Update: Help Texas Families Have Closure
A father’s two-year search for his missing Marine son leads a state lawmaker to file legislation, requiring police to report to NamUs.
S1 Update: Help Texas Families Have Closure
A father’s two-year search for his missing Marine son leads a state lawmaker to file legislation, requiring police to report to NamUs.
S4 Bonus: Not a Gotcha or Anti-Policing Sentiment (Analysis)
Eva Ruth Moravec of the Texas Justice Initiative speaks with KXAN’s Josh Hinkle and David Barer on custodial deaths.
S4 Bonus: Not a Gotcha or Anti-Policing Sentiment (Analysis)
Eva Ruth Moravec of the Texas Justice Initiative speaks with KXAN’s Josh Hinkle and David Barer on custodial deaths.
S4 E5: Law Needs to Be Reformed
Texas police agencies file hundreds of custodial death reports late or incomplete, including the case of Herman Titus.
S4 E5: Law Needs to Be Reformed
Texas police agencies file hundreds of custodial death reports late or incomplete, including the case of Herman Titus.
S4 E4: Like They Have Something to Hide
Herman Titus’ mother takes her fight for police transparency before Texas lawmakers, as opponents voice their open records concerns.
S4 E4: Like They Have Something to Hide
Herman Titus’ mother takes her fight for police transparency before Texas lawmakers, as opponents voice their open records concerns.
S4 E3: Get This Man to the Hospital
Video surfaces of the moments after Herman Titus collapsed in jail. WARNING: This episode depicts death, and listeners may find it disturbing.
S4 E3: Get This Man to the Hospital
Video surfaces of the moments after Herman Titus collapsed in jail. WARNING: This episode depicts death, and listeners may find it disturbing.
S4 E2: Hurting From the Impact
We uncover recordings and documents detailing Herman Titus’ severe pain and jailers releasing him from lockdown just days before his death.
S4 E2: Hurting From the Impact
We uncover recordings and documents detailing Herman Titus’ severe pain and jailers releasing him from lockdown just days before his death.
S4 E1: Tired of the Roadblocks
Following a car crash, a 21-year-old man dies in a Texas jail, leaving his mother wondering if staff ignored signs of a serious injury.
S4 E1: Tired of the Roadblocks
Following a car crash, a 21-year-old man dies in a Texas jail, leaving his mother wondering if staff ignored signs of a serious injury.
S4 Trailer
Hear the custodial deaths trailer now.
S4 Trailer
Hear the custodial deaths trailer now.
S3 Bonus: Lives Get Shattered (Analysis)
Karen Ranus of NAMI-Central Texas speaks with KXAN’s Josh Hinkle and David Barer on inmate mental health.
S3 E3: The Guy’s In Limbo
A schizophrenic murder suspect waits 20 years for a trial, a case with a legal connection to a jailed Marine.
S3 E3: The Guy’s In Limbo
A schizophrenic murder suspect waits 20 years for a trial, a case with a legal connection to a jailed Marine.
S3 E2: A Dark Groundhog Day
A family tragedy and wartime take their toll on a Texas man, ending in a four-year loop between jail and state hospitals.
S3 E2: A Dark Groundhog Day
A family tragedy and wartime take their toll on a Texas man, ending in a four-year loop between jail and state hospitals.
S3 E1: Shot 23 Bullets Into Our Home
A Texas veteran’s PTSD spiral ends in violence and his mother learning he’d wait for help in jail for months – maybe longer.
S3 E1: Shot 23 Bullets Into Our Home
A Texas veteran’s PTSD spiral ends in violence and his mother learning he’d wait for help in jail for months – maybe longer.
S3 Trailer
Hear the mental competency trailer now.
S3 Trailer
Hear the mental competency trailer now.
S2 E5: Pull Out the Bloody Carpet
A little girl is among the victims of a teacher’s deadly attack, and a Texas mother finds forgiveness for her son’s killer.
S2 E5: Pull Out the Bloody Carpet
A little girl is among the victims of a teacher’s deadly attack, and a Texas mother finds forgiveness for her son’s killer.
S2 E4: Terrible Example of Evil
Following a Texas church shooting, survivors reflect on the heroes of that day and the signs leading to the attack.
S2 E4: Terrible Example of Evil
Following a Texas church shooting, survivors reflect on the heroes of that day and the signs leading to the attack.
S2 E3: Town Became a War Zone
Texas lawmakers hold emotional hearings following mass shootings and explore suspicious behavior in the state.
S2 E3: Town Became a War Zone
Texas lawmakers hold emotional hearings following mass shootings and explore suspicious behavior in the state.
S2 E2: Touched By Mass Violence Twice
A father and son endure separate attacks, as Texas leaders look to train more civilians before future shootings.
S2 E2: Touched By Mass Violence Twice
A father and son endure separate attacks, as Texas leaders look to train more civilians before future shootings.
S2 E1: Your Son Is Dead
We trace Texas’ timeline of mass shootings to a nightclub in El Paso, nearly 40 years before another attack in the same city.
S2 E1: Your Son Is Dead
We trace Texas’ timeline of mass shootings to a nightclub in El Paso, nearly 40 years before another attack in the same city.
S2 Trailer
Hear the mass violence trailer now.
S2 Trailer
Hear the mass violence trailer now.
S1 Update: Something’s About to Open Up
Tips pour in following our investigation, leading our team to track down the remaining “suspect” in Jamie Mayberry’s case.
S1 Update: Something’s About to Open Up
Tips pour in following our investigation, leading our team to track down the remaining “suspect” in Jamie Mayberry’s case.
S1 E6: Sometimes They’re Hiding in Plain Sight
Another man’s kidnapping involves a key "witness" in Jamie Mayberry's case, a woman investigator track down for answers.
S1 E6: Sometimes They’re Hiding in Plain Sight
Another man’s kidnapping involves a key "witness" in Jamie Mayberry's case, a woman investigators track down for answers.
S1 E5: Leaves a Hole in Your Soul
Jamie Mayberry is entered into a national database of missing and unidentified persons, a system severely underutilized by Texas police.
S1 E5: Leaves a Hole in Your Soul
Jamie Mayberry is entered into a national database of missing and unidentified persons, a system severely underutilized by Texas police.
S1 E4: Am I Walking With the Killer?
Rumors lead search teams and police to a cemetery on the edge of town, as “suspects” are revealed in Jamie Mayberry’s case.
S1 E4: Am I Walking With the Killer?
Rumors lead search teams and police to a cemetery on the edge of town, as “suspects” are revealed in Jamie Mayberry’s case.
S1 E3: They Even Brought In the Texas Rangers
State law enforcement helps investigate Jamie Mayberry’s case, as families face challenges in publicizing missing loved ones.
S1 E3: They Even Brought In the Texas Rangers
State law enforcement helps investigate Jamie Mayberry’s case, as families face challenges in publicizing missing loved ones.
S1 E2: You Catch It, You Clean It
As new details emerge in the investigation into Jamie Mayberry’s disappearance, questions linger about initial police response.
S1 E2: You Catch It, You Clean It
As new details emerge in the investigation into Jamie Mayberry’s disappearance, questions linger about initial police response.
S1 E1: Then There Was a Knock at the Door
A stranger’s late-night visit to a young “cross-dresser’s” home in Kenedy, Texas, leaves a family searching for answers 20 years later.
S1 E1: Then There Was a Knock at the Door
A stranger’s late-night visit to a young “cross-dresser’s” home in Kenedy, Texas, leaves a family searching for answers 20 years later.
S1 Trailer
KXAN Catalyst premieres Monday, April 29. Hear the missing persons trailer now.
S1 Trailer
KXAN Catalyst premieres Monday, April 29. Hear the missing persons trailer now.