The Company in Charge of CPS Cases in Dallas Has Been Ousted. Now What?
Empower, which has been under scrutiny after two infants died, will no longer manage child welfare cases in the Dallas area.

Welcome to The Lab Report
Our journalism is actionable and drives real-world impact. Explore our investigations, explainers, and data to see how.
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OUR REPORTING
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One Year of The Lab Report Dallas
Reflecting on 12 months of helping the city understand itself.
A Mother’s Heartache, and Perseverance, After the Flood
Pat Ramsey was no stranger to grief when her son went missing in the Texas Hill Country floodwaters last July.
David Woody Walks Back Across The Bridge
The outgoing CEO of the city’s largest homeless shelter on increased demand, FIFA, and the importance of being downtown.
The Librarian Who Retired and Only Got Busier
A hero to toddlers and seniors, Logan Ragsdale can’t help himself from helping others.
The Kids Are All Right at Prosperity Park
How a rubble-ridden lot in Oak Cliff became a safe place for children who do far more than play.
What We're Reading
In the Tenth Street Historic District, a Home Repair Program’s Promises Remain Broken
Dallas used pandemic relief funds to fix houses and upgrade infrastructure in neighborhoods within Oak Cliff and elsewhere. Years later, some residents ask what went wrong.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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Dallas’ Juvenile Justice System Was Broken. Have County Leaders Fixed It?
Kids were spending months incarcerated when their cases shouldn’t have reached a judge in the first place. A new analysis points toward progress.
NEIGHBORHOODS
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How a Humble Tax Tool Protects Neighborhoods
Inside the grassroots push to educate homeowners about a simple tool—the homestead exemption—that can help them afford to stay in their homes amid rising taxes.
