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Karen Brooks Harper

Contributor

Harper is the editor-in-chief of the online quarterly, Redback Report. A career writer and journalist, an amateur singer-songwriter, an aspiring cook, a world traveler, and a proud Southerner from the Mississippi Delta. She began her career in newspapers in 1994 and has specialized in Latin American issues and Texas politics, having covered 7 regular sessions of the Texas Legislature and countless special sessions. Harper went to the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism before falling in love with Austin and settling here. After nearly two decades in newspaper journalism and a stint at the local NBC station KXAN, Brooks recently quit the day job and became a full-time freelance writer. Among her projects are the Redback Report and the Texas Beverage Industry Journal. She is currently working on growing her business, Credentials Media, a content, consulting, writing and photography service. She lives in Austin with her husband and their three pets - including their rescued Chihuahua mix, the inimitable Salacious Crumb.

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From The Capitol

The Legislative Cocktail Hour: Of casinos and cool people

By Karen Brooks Harper

The business of the rich, the plight of the poor, big-money casinos and food trucks with humble beginnings. The economic spectrum made their way into the Capitol conversation this week ...


SXSW Recovery

Electric bike store offers free rentals to Austin's service workers this week

By Karen Brooks Harper

Anyone who worked during the frenetic SXSW over the last 10 days deserves a break, some recovery from the countless hours of making Austin a great place to visit for ...


Reggae Reincarnation

Snoop Lion is Reincarnated: Rapper hits SXSW for his premiere at The Paramount

By Karen Brooks Harper

The documentary follows rapper Snoop Dogg on his spiritual journey in Jamaica and documents his transformation into Rastafarian reggae artist Snoop Lion. 


On the Red Carpet

Dave Grohl brings the rock to SXSW premiere of documentary Sound City

By Karen Brooks Harper

 The premiere of Sound City, directed by Grohl, at the Paramount drew members of modern day rock legends Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Masters of Reality, Nirvana and ...


The 5 coolest things at the SXSW Interactive trade show

By Karen Brooks Harper

It's pretty easy to get your mind blown at the SXSW Interactive trade show, where innovators and developers and big-time visionaries from across the globe descend on the Austin ...


SXSW Red Carpets

Willie Nelson, Harry Connick Jr. and more hit the red carpet for the SXSW premiere of When Angels Sing

By Karen Brooks Harper

The premiere of When Angels Sing brought some true Texas legends and a host of local artists the Paramount Theater on Sunday, March 10, 2013.


SXSW Red Carpets

Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and Olivia Wilde hit the red carpet for The Incredible Burt Wonderstone premiere

By Karen Brooks Harper

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone premiered on Friday, March 7 at the Paramount Theater, the first night of the annual SXSW Film fFstival. The film stars Olivia Wilde, Jim Carrey and ...


Animal advocacy

Pet advocates push for voluntary spay/neuter legislation

By Karen Brooks Harper

Animal rights groups and their furry friends hit the Capitol steps last week to try and pressure a lawmaker, any lawmaker, to take on legislation that would establish a voluntary ...


Member perks

Explore Austin museums for free with Bank of America's Museums on Us program

By Karen Brooks Harper

A popular museum promotion by Bank of America has come to Austin, giving BofA cardholders free admission to some of the city’s favorite museums on the first weekend of ...


Political Engagement

Opening day of the 83rd Texas Legislature marks beginning of contentious session

By Karen Brooks Harper

The opening gavel has fallen for the 83rd Texas Legislature, marking the start of its biennial 140-day session — complete with a raft of great ideas, terrible bills, fights and strange ...


effects on society

A different approach to Sandy Hook: Is the media, for once, loath to reward violence with infamy?

By Karen Brooks Harper

Just like you, I was glued to the TV on Friday night, watching the horrific aftermath of Sandy Hook shootings, trying to shake the sadness and the numbness at once ...


Eating local

Nation's first Farm-to-Table legislative caucus kicks off in Texas with dinner, fundraiser

By Karen Brooks Harper

AUSTIN — The bright purple kohlrabi was pulled from the ground on Tuesday at a farm about 25 miles northwest of Austin. Angel Valley Organic Farm employee Dana Newlove sold it ...


man's best friend

Pitties and pups: Take your four-legged family member's pic with Santa

By Karen Brooks Harper

You take pride in your furry children, and nothing says that more than posing with your pup for a holiday family portrait — except maybe the knowledge that doing so will ...


Election Night 2012

Obama wins re-election while Texas candidates continue battles in Senate, Congress

By Karen Brooks Harper

Some new Texas blood, from both sides of the aisle, heads to a mostly status quo Congress - and the Texas statehouse inches to the left after voters across the Lone ...


cover your eyes

Behind the bloody scenes of Austin's haunted House of Torment

By Karen Brooks Harper

After keeping Austin scary at the Highland Mall for 10 solid years, the ghastly House of Torment is celebrating a milestone and hosting its last haunt at its current location ...


election 2012

Why the second presidential debate offered fisticuffs fun but no real news

By Karen Brooks Harper

Last night’s Town Hall-style presidential debate is being called one of the best in decades, an aggressive fisticuffs with an interactive audience and a feisty moderator. And honestly, it ...


the future of austin

Pick your plan: The top 5 design elements from each Waller Creek proposal

By Caitlin M. Ryan, Karen Brooks Harper

Each of the four finalists for the redesign of Waller Creek presented their plans to the public on October 2. The winner will be selected on October 18. Inside we ...


At the conventions

DNC closes, Texas Democrats shine on stage with help of Eva Longoria and Julian Castro

By Karen Brooks Harper

Texas Democrats have a colorful history with the Democratic National Conventions, starting with the 1928 DNC in Houston, in which the Texas delegation railed against its own party’s presidential ...


Political conventions

San Antonio Mayor Castro takes on the GOP in 'watershed' speech at Democratic Convention

By Karen Brooks Harper

A dazzling flash of smile and an inspiring life story were America’s introduction to Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio and the first Hispanic to make the keynote ...


Political conventions

Impact of GOP convention lukewarm for Romney, but positive for Perry and Cruz

By Karen Brooks Harper

While Dems get set to take the stage for their convention in Charlotte this week — and the national GOP begins to weigh the impact of its own recently ended meeting ...


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