ABOUT THE JOURNALISTS:

Robert Downen covers City Hall for the Houston Chronicle's metro desk. Prior to that, he worked as a business reporter in Albany, New York, and as the managing editor of a group of six newspapers in Illinois. He is a 2014 graduate of Eastern Illinois University. Follow him on Twitter @RobDownenChron and reach him by email at robert.downen@chron.com.

Lise Olsen is deputy investigations editor and senior investigative reporter at the Houston Chronicle. Olsen has more than 20 years' experience specializing primarily in crime, corruption, worker safety and human rights. Follow her on Twitter @chrondigger and reach her by email at lise.olsen@chron.com.

John Tedesco, a longtime investigative reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, has exposed shady telemarketers at the Texas Highway Patrol Museum, bribery scandals at San Antonio City Hall and the deaths of oil-and-gas workers on the Eagle Ford Shale. He joined the Chronicle projects team in January. Follow him on Twitter @John_Tedesco and reach him by email at john.tedesco@chron.com.

Sarah Smith is a reporter on the metro desk covering housing and nonprofits. Before joining the Chronicle, she worked at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram where she also investigated sexual abuse and coverups in the independent fundamental Baptist movement. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Follow her on Twitter @sarahesmith23 and reach her by email at sarah.smith@chron.com.

Jon Shapley is a staff photo and video journalist for the Houston Chronicle. A native Houstonian, he joined the Chronicle in 2015. He previously worked at the NPR affiliate in Austin, as well as monthly magazines in Austin and San Antonio. He can be reached at jon.shapley@chron.com.

Marie D. De Jesús is a staff photojournalist for the Houston Chronicle where she has concentrated on developing relationships with Houston's diverse immigrant and marginalized communities. Prior to the Chronicle, De Jesús worked for the Democrat and Chronicle located in Rochester, New York and the Victoria Advocate in Texas. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter, or reach her by email at marie.dejesus@chron.com.