David Barer is the Senior Investigative Producer and Digital Reporter with KXAN’s investigative team. David was born and raised in Houston. He received a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University and a master’s of journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin. David has reported for Reporting Texas, KUT News, Austin American-Statesman, Associated Press, Texas Climate News and Community Impact Newspaper. His work has been syndicated by many more publications. While studying at UT, David was selected from students throughout the country to help cover President Obama’s inauguration as a digital reporter for PBS NewsHour. David was also one of the first Belo Fellows of Journalism at The Dallas Morning News, where he covered state politics and general assignments from the paper’s Austin bureau. In his spare time, David enjoys fishing throughout Central Texas.

Articles

KXAN built its own databases compiled from district clerk records and used them to analyze mental competency details in Texas.
Health Equity & Social Justice
Mental Health & Trauma
Community & Public Health

Wrong races, hidden names among data challenges our team faced with jail mental health project

An examination of shortfalls in Texas' oversight of the state hospital waitlist spotlights unreliable data and records that aren’t kept, like the race and ethnicity of people on the waitlist and how many die each year before getting to the hospital.

Race and Equity
Poverty and Class
Mental Health
Housing and Homeslessness