01About me
I’m a reporter at The Dallas Morning News covering public safety and criminal justice. I grew up in Granbury, Texas, and have worked at newspapers across the state.
I report on how public institutions make decisions, whom those decisions affect and whether officials keep their promises. My reporting has prompted change, informed ongoing public debate and examined how major events and policy changes affect the people and communities at their center.
Public records are central to my reporting. My work has earned awards for investigative reporting and freedom of information.
I worked full time at H-E-B while earning my journalism degree at Texas State University in San Marcos. Before becoming a reporter, I studied music and played clarinet.
02Featured stories
03Projects
Roseland: Failure to ProtectA three-part investigation into the collapse of Dallas’ plan to make public housing safer and the consequences for Roseland residents.
Karankawa Repatriation Efforts in the Coastal BendA two-part series on the return of Native American remains and efforts to preserve Karankawa land, history and heritage in the Coastal Bend.
Under the BridgeA two-part series on residents left behind in Hillcrest and the mixed outcomes for those who moved through a voluntary relocation program.
04CV
The Dallas Morning NewsDallas, Texas
Public Safety ReporterCovers Dallas police, Dallas Fire-Rescue and the city’s broader public safety efforts on the local government accountability desk.
Breaking News ReporterWrote daily and enterprise stories about public safety and criminal justice across Dallas–Fort Worth for the breaking news desk.
More work experience
Transportation Reporter, Austin American-Statesman Austin, TexasCovered transportation in Central Texas, focusing on Austin’s planned light-rail system, the Interstate 35 Capital Express expansion and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Also contributed to the newspaper’s public safety coverage.
Enterprise Reporter, Corpus Christi Caller-Times Corpus Christi, TexasCovered local government, industry and environmental issues, including delays and disproportionate impacts on historically Black neighborhoods from a $1 billion bridge replacement project. Reported “Under the Bridge,” a two-part series on neighborhood living conditions and the mixed outcomes of a voluntary relocation program.
Breaking News & Public Safety Reporter, Victoria Advocate Victoria, TexasServed as the paper’s night reporter, covering police, crime and courts across its seven-county coverage area. Contributed to “Report from the Border,” a series examining how increased border crossings could affect the Victoria area.
News Reporter, Reporting Intern, The Hays Free Press Kyle, Texas · Part-timeCovered civic issues in Dripping Springs and Wimberley, including the local impact of and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education
B.S., Journalism and Mass Communication, Texas State University San Marcos, Texas · Magna cum laudeNews Editor and other roles at The University Star, the independent, student-run campus newspaper.
05Awards
- 2026Spirit of FOI Award · Class AAFreedom of Information Foundation of Texas
Roseland investigation, with Sue Ambrose and Jacob Quinn Sanders.
Police reports, internal emails and letters from federal housing regulators showed that housing authorities ignored their own crime-handling rules and fell short of their promises, the contest judge noted.
More awards
Years indicate when awards were presented.
- 2026Diana R. Fuentes Freedom of Information Award · Third place · Class 3ATexas Managing Editors
- 2024Freedom of Information · First place · Class 2ATexas Managing Editors
For work at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
“It was clear the commission intended to keep this publicly funded payment a secret and spent weeks trying to thwart the Caller-Times' efforts to expose it,” a judge wrote. “Ultimately, the news organization's tenacity paid off and the public was able to see how the Port was spending its money. The news organization is to be commended for its thorough watchdogging of an organization deserving of such scrutiny.”
- 2024Investigative · First placeFort Worth SPJ First Amendment Awards
Reporting on the Port of Corpus Christi Authority’s effort to withhold a separation agreement.
- 2023Defending the Disadvantaged · Second placeFort Worth SPJ First Amendment Awards
Coverage of Nueces County’s overpopulated corrections system.
- 2023Star Reporter of the Year · First place · Class 2ATexas Managing Editors
“Chase has a knack for identifying important community issues and digging deep to find the real story,” a judge wrote. “He goes well beyond the specific court case or public policy and tells in colorful detail how residents, families and businesses are affected. The variety of topics Chase covered during 2022 is also a testament to his versatility. He has a bright future in Texas journalism.”
- 2023Specialty Reporting · Second place · Class 2ATexas Managing Editors
- 2023Business Reporting · Second place · Class 2ATexas Managing Editors
- 2023Freedom of Information · Third place · Class 2ATexas Managing Editors
06Contact
