Wade Goodwyn
Wade Goodwyn is an NPR National Desk Correspondent covering Texas and the surrounding states.
Reporting since 1991, Goodwyn has covered a wide range of issues, from mass shootings and hurricanes to Republican politics. Whatever it might be, Goodwyn covers the national news emanating from the Lone Star State.
Though a journalist, Goodwyn really considers himself a storyteller. He grew up in a Southern storytelling family and tradition, he considers radio an ideal medium for narrative journalism. While working for a decade as a political organizer in New York City, he began listening regularly to WNYC, which eventually led him to his career as an NPR reporter.
In a recent profile, Goodwyn's voice was described as being "like warm butter melting over BBQ'd sweet corn." But he claims, dubiously, that his writing is just as important as his voice.
Goodwyn is a graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in history. He lives in Dallas with his famliy.
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The search for survivors has ended, and investigators are trying to figure out what led to fiery explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, on Wednesday. At least 14 people are confirmed dead, many of them first responders. -
With a large labor force willing to work for low wages, construction may appear to be a lucrative field for contractors in Texas. But prices have been driven so low that many say they can't compete if they play by the rules. Instead, some misclassify their workers or turn a blind eye to undocumented laborers.
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Almost 1 million people are employed in construction in Texas, but many have a hard time making a living safely. The state's construction industry has the highest fatality rate in the nation, while large numbers of undocumented workers have suppressed wages and made it easy for contractors to exploit laborers. -
A new study of the Barnett Shale formation in Texas shows that the natural gas reservoir there will last for at least another two decades. "Turns out, what we learned is that there's a lot of good rock left to drill," says geology professor Scott Tinker, the study's author. -
George Prescott Bush, 36, has announced he is running for office in Texas. The grandson of the first President Bush, nephew of the second, and son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has already raised nearly $1.4 million. Now he just has to decide what job he's campaigning for. -
Sen.-elect Ted Cruz is a bright young Hispanic star who will be sworn in this week in Washington. Many in the GOP hope he'll be able to bring more Latino voters into their column. But Cruz takes a Tea Party hard line on immigration. -
As a national conversation about stricter gun control takes shape in the wake of the Newtown shooting, some are arguing instead for arming school personnel. Supporters say having armed school officials would help prevent shootings and enable staff to protect children if one occurs. -
A federal court in Texas on Monday will take up the case of a high school student who refuses to wear her location-tracking school ID. The 15-year-old sophomore believes the ID with the tracker is "the mark of the beast" from the Book of Revelation.
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Republican governors met last week in Las Vegas to talk about the results of the U.S. election and the path ahead for their party. Many of the governors are standing by their positions on major issues, however, saying the main thing they need to change is their tone. -
It hasn't exactly been a barrel of fun flying American Airlines lately. The carrier, which is in bankruptcy, is in a bitter contract dispute with its pilots union. Its on-time performance has plummeted while cancellations are way up. Meanwhile, some of American's best customers are rethinking their loyalty.
