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Texas executes Brazoria County man for stomping death of infant son
Read full article: Texas executes Brazoria County man for stomping death of infant sonTravis James Mullis was sentenced to death in 2011 for killing his 3-month-old son in Galveston. He was the fourth person executed in Texas this year.
Texas prisons and jails are recruiting more teenagers to shore up guard shortage
Read full article: Texas prisons and jails are recruiting more teenagers to shore up guard shortageTwo counties house training programs in local high schools as officials pitch corrections jobs as gateways to criminal justice careers.
Bipartisan Texas House majority urges clemency for man facing execution in shaken baby case
Read full article: Bipartisan Texas House majority urges clemency for man facing execution in shaken baby caseLawmakers cite new scientific evidence that they say proves Robert Roberson, who is set for execution on Oct. 17, did not kill his daughter.
Texas’ prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics say
Read full article: Texas’ prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics sayAbout 25% of Texas’ correctional officer positions are unfilled. Inmates say the shortages make it harder for them to get respite during hot summer months.
Dallas juvenile detention center isolated kids and falsified documents, state investigation says
Read full article: Dallas juvenile detention center isolated kids and falsified documents, state investigation saysA Texas Juvenile Justice Department report says Dallas County officers kept kids in their sleeping quarters for days at a time and faked school attendance logs.
Former schools police chief says he was not at fault in Uvalde shooting, asks judge to toss charges
Read full article: Former schools police chief says he was not at fault in Uvalde shooting, asks judge to toss chargesPete Arredondo’s lawyers tell the court that the shooter, not the police, was to blame for the school violence.
Uvalde police failed to turn over some video from Robb Elementary shooting, department says
Read full article: Uvalde police failed to turn over some video from Robb Elementary shooting, department saysChief Homer Delgado said the department has turned over the footage to the district attorney’s office and ordered an investigation into how the error occurred.
When Texas jail standards push inmates to lockups in other states, oversight doesn’t follow
Read full article: When Texas jail standards push inmates to lockups in other states, oversight doesn’t followJaleen Anderson’s mom is on a quest for details about her son’s death in a Louisiana prison that houses hundreds of Harris County inmates awaiting trial.
Texas’ overcrowded and understaffed jails send people awaiting trial to other counties and states
Read full article: Texas’ overcrowded and understaffed jails send people awaiting trial to other counties and statesLimits on who can be released without paying bail and difficulties hiring guards worsen the situation.
After Uvalde city officials end battle over shooting records, victims’ families say other agencies need to follow suit
Read full article: After Uvalde city officials end battle over shooting records, victims’ families say other agencies need to follow suitThe city’s release ends a legal battle with news outlets, but other government agencies are withholding materials.
DPS reinstates Texas Ranger fired for Uvalde shooting response
Read full article: DPS reinstates Texas Ranger fired for Uvalde shooting responseDepartment of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said he made the decision after the Uvalde district attorney found no criminal wrongdoing and asked that Ranger Chris Kindell be allowed to return to his job.
Justice Department finds Texas juvenile detention centers violated youth offenders’ rights
Read full article: Justice Department finds Texas juvenile detention centers violated youth offenders’ rightsThe DOJ found that officers overused pepper spray, kept youths in prolonged isolation and failed to protect them from sexual abuse.
This company promised to improve health care in jails. Dozens of its patients have died.
Read full article: This company promised to improve health care in jails. Dozens of its patients have died.Health care contractor Turn Key serves nearly 70 counties across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas and Montana.
The Rio Grande Valley’s pet population is out of control. Will a proposed limit in one city help?
Read full article: The Rio Grande Valley’s pet population is out of control. Will a proposed limit in one city help?Local leaders began debating a household limit on the number of pets after two residents were arrested for having 93 dogs and a cat in their home.
Marijuana decriminalization measures in San Marcos, Austin get early court wins
Read full article: Marijuana decriminalization measures in San Marcos, Austin get early court winsThree other cities have passed similar measures but the Texas AG and others question whether they can be enforced because of conflicts with state law.
When the science crumbles, Texas law says a conviction could, too. That rarely happens.
Read full article: When the science crumbles, Texas law says a conviction could, too. That rarely happens.Texas’ 2013 law that allows for new trials in cases with flawed scientific evidence was pioneering. But the state’s highest criminal court has rejected most of those challenges.
El Paso County officials say it’s time the state pays for Operation Lone Star arrests
Read full article: El Paso County officials say it’s time the state pays for Operation Lone Star arrestsCounty officials issued a disaster declaration Tuesday, saying the state’s mass arrests at the border have cost the county millions of dollars and overwhelmed its criminal justice system.
Texas attorney general can’t question Catholic Charities director over migrant services, court says
Read full article: Texas attorney general can’t question Catholic Charities director over migrant services, court saysWednesday’s ruling is the second time a Texas judge has ruled against the attorney general for investigating shelters helping migrants.
Supreme Court to review death penalty appeal challenging Texas’s DNA testing law
Read full article: Supreme Court to review death penalty appeal challenging Texas’s DNA testing lawRuben Gutierrez was sentenced to death for the 1998 Brownsville murder of an elderly woman. His execution was stayed in July.
Texas’ highest criminal court declines to stop execution of man accused in shaken baby case
Read full article: Texas’ highest criminal court declines to stop execution of man accused in shaken baby caseLawyers for Robert Roberson say the science used to sentence him to death is questionable and that prior health issues could explain the death of his 2-year-old daughter in 2002.
Former police chief, officer, charged with child endangerment in Uvalde shooting response
Read full article: Former police chief, officer, charged with child endangerment in Uvalde shooting responseFormer schools police chief Pete Arredondo faces 10 criminal charges, while former school district officer Adrian Gonzales faces 29 counts.
Former Uvalde schools police chief indicted for role in Robb Elementary shooting response
Read full article: Former Uvalde schools police chief indicted for role in Robb Elementary shooting responsePete Arredondo, the former chief, and former officer Adrian Gonzales face felony charges of abandoning or endangering a child.
Court ruling suggests recent activity in federal investigation of Ken Paxton
Read full article: Court ruling suggests recent activity in federal investigation of Ken PaxtonRecords don’t name the attorney general’s office, but their details line up with the accusations former top deputies made against Paxton.
Travis County Attorney drops charges against 79 more UT-Austin protesters
Read full article: Travis County Attorney drops charges against 79 more UT-Austin protestersThe arrests were the result of the second police crackdown on pro-Palestine demonstrations at UT-Austin. The first protest, on April 24, resulted in 57 arrests, which were also dismissed.
U.S. Supreme Court allows gun restrictions for domestic violence suspects
Read full article: U.S. Supreme Court allows gun restrictions for domestic violence suspectsJustices ruled that the federal government did not violate a Texas man’s Second Amendment rights when barring him from possessing firearms.
Dallas voters could get the chance to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana
Read full article: Dallas voters could get the chance to decriminalize small amounts of marijuanaOther cities have passed similar measures, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to block them from going into effect.
National Republicans target Henry Cuellar’s South Texas seat after indictment
Read full article: National Republicans target Henry Cuellar’s South Texas seat after indictmentThe move is a shift in strategy for Republicans who previously focused on other South Texas races even after federal authorities filed criminal charges against the Democrat.
Families of Uvalde shooting victims sue Texas DPS officers for waiting to confront gunman
Read full article: Families of Uvalde shooting victims sue Texas DPS officers for waiting to confront gunmanIn a separate settlement, the city of Uvalde will pay $2 million to the families, create a permanent memorial to the victims and provide enhanced training for police officers.
New $305 million Austin State Hospital unveiled as Texas revamps psychiatric system
Read full article: New $305 million Austin State Hospital unveiled as Texas revamps psychiatric systemThe facility has 240 single-person rooms, a basketball gym and outdoor courtyards. It’s part of a $2.5 billion overhaul of the state’s mental health hospital system.
After U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s indictment, why aren’t Republicans trying to flip his district?
Read full article: After U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s indictment, why aren’t Republicans trying to flip his district?Instead, Republicans are trying to tie Cuellar’s allegations of bribery and corruption to Democrats in other competitive races in South Texas.
Houston woman is third guilty plea in Henry Cuellar bribery case
Read full article: Houston woman is third guilty plea in Henry Cuellar bribery caseIrada Akhoundova pleaded guilty to facilitating a $60,000 payment to Imelda Cuellar, the congressman’s wife, that she believed would benefit Azerbaijan and its state-run oil company.
UT-Austin lecturer arrested and fired after confrontation with police at pro-Palestinian demonstration
Read full article: UT-Austin lecturer arrested and fired after confrontation with police at pro-Palestinian demonstrationThe lecturer’s lawyer disputes the charges, and the university’s decision to fire him has raised concerns from faculty over free speech protections.
Texans in Congress stay silent on Cuellar indictment, unlike with Santos and Menendez before him
Read full article: Texans in Congress stay silent on Cuellar indictment, unlike with Santos and Menendez before himSome Texans called on Sen. Bob Menendez and former Rep. George Santos to resign amid their own scandals, but have been silent about the Laredo Democrat.
Feds accuse Texas prison agency of discriminating against employee for wearing a headscarf
Read full article: Feds accuse Texas prison agency of discriminating against employee for wearing a headscarfA federal lawsuit asserts that the Texas agency terminated a state prison clerk who refused to remove a head covering in line with her Ifa faith.
Misdemeanor charges filed against photojournalist arrested at UT-Austin protest
Read full article: Misdemeanor charges filed against photojournalist arrested at UT-Austin protestThe FOX 7 employee is accused of hitting a trooper with his camera, but the arrested man told reporters he was pushed and didn’t hit any officer.
Harris County prosecutor hands criminal case into Lina Hidalgo’s staffers over to state attorney general
Read full article: Harris County prosecutor hands criminal case into Lina Hidalgo’s staffers over to state attorney generalHidalgo’s staffers were indicted on felony charges related to how they allegedly helped award an $11 million contract to a political consulting firm headed by a Democratic strategist.
Travis County rejects all criminal trespass charges against 57 people arrested at UT-Austin protest
Read full article: Travis County rejects all criminal trespass charges against 57 people arrested at UT-Austin protestUniversity officials banned all students arrested from campus, except for “academic reasons.”
Texas inmates are being ‘cooked to death’ in extreme heat, complaint alleges
Read full article: Texas inmates are being ‘cooked to death’ in extreme heat, complaint allegesWith the threat of another hot summer ahead, advocates asked a federal judge to declare 100-degree-plus conditions in uncooled Texas facilities unconstitutional.
Texas criminal appeals court removes Tomas Gallo from death row because of his intellectual disability
Read full article: Texas criminal appeals court removes Tomas Gallo from death row because of his intellectual disabilityThe court re-sentenced Gallo to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter.
State district judge recommends overturning Melissa Lucio’s death sentence
Read full article: State district judge recommends overturning Melissa Lucio’s death sentenceIn a rare joint statement, the district attorney and the defense agreed that prosecutors withheld evidence that could point to a Rio Grande Valley woman’s innocence in the death of her toddler.
Man crashes stolen 18-wheeler into DPS office, killing one and injuring several others
Read full article: Man crashes stolen 18-wheeler into DPS office, killing one and injuring several othersAuthorities arrested the driver, whom a local official said was denied a commercial driver’s license from the Brenham DPS station.
Two Denton school district principals indicted on charges of illegal electioneering
Read full article: Two Denton school district principals indicted on charges of illegal electioneeringA grand jury indicted the principals for allegedly using their school emails to encourage staff to vote for certain candidates in the March primary.
Texas National Guard member charged with human smuggling after high-speed chase near the border
Read full article: Texas National Guard member charged with human smuggling after high-speed chase near the borderAuthorities said the 26-year-old turned around at a Border Patrol checkpoint and fled from police in Kinney County.
How Texas’ cash bail system and under-resourced jails can wreak havoc on women who are poor
Read full article: How Texas’ cash bail system and under-resourced jails can wreak havoc on women who are poorIn Texas, money can make a difference in how much time people who are legally presumed innocent sit behind bars awaiting the outcome of criminal cases.
Nearly two years after the Uvalde massacre, here’s who has been reprimanded and where investigations stand
Read full article: Nearly two years after the Uvalde massacre, here’s who has been reprimanded and where investigations standAs a grand jury considers whether any law enforcement officers are criminally charged for their inaction during the Robb Elementary shooting, some families say they feel they’ve been let down and betrayed by elected officials.
Texas appeals court overturns Crystal Mason’s conviction, 5-year sentence for illegal voting
Read full article: Texas appeals court overturns Crystal Mason’s conviction, 5-year sentence for illegal votingMason gained national attention after she was convicted for voting while under supervised release for felony tax fraud. She said she didn’t know she was ineligible to vote.
Texas criminal appeals court takes man off death row over intellectual disability
Read full article: Texas criminal appeals court takes man off death row over intellectual disabilitySince Randall Mays was sentenced to death in 2008 for the murder of two sheriff’s deputies, his lawyers have argued his intellectual disability exempts him from execution.
Legal experts say it’s rare to pursue jail time in securities fraud cases like Paxton’s
Read full article: Legal experts say it’s rare to pursue jail time in securities fraud cases like Paxton’sIn 2015, Attorney General Ken Paxton was indicted on three securities fraud felony charges. Experts in securities fraud say those charges are rarely pursued.
Ken Paxton agrees to community service to avoid trial, conviction in securities fraud case
Read full article: Ken Paxton agrees to community service to avoid trial, conviction in securities fraud casePaxton, who will not have to enter a plea under the terms of the agreement, faced the prospect of decades in prison if he had been convicted of fraud.
Feds arrest five men accused of smuggling illegally purchased guns to cartels in Mexico
Read full article: Feds arrest five men accused of smuggling illegally purchased guns to cartels in MexicoThe men were charged with two criminal offenses, including straw purchasing of firearms, created by the 2022 bipartisan gun safety bill authored by Sen. John Cornyn.
Uvalde police chief resigns after controversial report cleared officers who responded to school shooting
Read full article: Uvalde police chief resigns after controversial report cleared officers who responded to school shootingDaniel Rodriguez was out of town during the 2022 massacre. He told the local newspaper he was “not forced, asked or pressured” to resign.
“The families deserve more”: Uvalde city report clears local officers of wrongdoing
Read full article: “The families deserve more”: Uvalde city report clears local officers of wrongdoingFamilies were infuriated by praise for local law enforcement in a report on the Robb Elementary School shooting released Thursday by a private investigator.
Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw testifies before grand jury investigating Uvalde school shooting
Read full article: Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw testifies before grand jury investigating Uvalde school shootingMcCraw, the state police chief, traveled to Uvalde to appear before a grand jury considering criminal charges against officers for their botched response to the 2022 school shooting.
Texas executes Ivan Cantu for Dallas murders despite doubts of his guilt
Read full article: Texas executes Ivan Cantu for Dallas murders despite doubts of his guiltFaith leaders and jurors from the original trial launched a public campaign to reconsider recanted testimony in Cantu’s case. Texas courts declined.
Paxton’s push to oust incumbents puts spotlight on Court of Criminal Appeals primaries
Read full article: Paxton’s push to oust incumbents puts spotlight on Court of Criminal Appeals primariesThe attorney general has tried to supplant eight Republican judges on the court after they rejected his efforts to unilaterally prosecute voter fraud. The judges are now pushing back.
Judge rejects attempts to toss indictments against Texas AG Ken Paxton, keeps April trial on course
Read full article: Judge rejects attempts to toss indictments against Texas AG Ken Paxton, keeps April trial on coursePaxton’s securities fraud trial will kick off on April 15. He has been under indictment for nearly nine years. He has pleaded not guilty.
Texas and Biden administration lawyers face off in court over new law making illegal border crossing a state crime
Read full article: Texas and Biden administration lawyers face off in court over new law making illegal border crossing a state crimeAn Austin judge will decide whether Senate Bill 4 will go into effect on March 5. The new law allows police to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the border.
Texas conservatives test how far they can extend abortion and gender-transition restrictions beyond state lines
Read full article: Texas conservatives test how far they can extend abortion and gender-transition restrictions beyond state linesRecent state and local legal maneuvers signal that Texas’ conservative movement could be wading into a complicated Constitutional morass the country hasn’t dealt with since before the Civil War.
Despite mounting doubts about his guilt, Ivan Cantu running out of time to avoid Texas’ death chamber
Read full article: Despite mounting doubts about his guilt, Ivan Cantu running out of time to avoid Texas’ death chamberConvicted of killing his cousin and his cousin’s fiancée, the death row inmate hopes recanted testimony and other new details spur a review of his case.
FBI foils 2022 plot by militiamen to “start a war” at the Texas-Mexico border
Read full article: FBI foils 2022 plot by militiamen to “start a war” at the Texas-Mexico borderA Tennessee man arrested Monday hoped to travel to the southern border with a militia group that allegedly plotted to go “to war with the border patrol,” believing that the country was being invaded by migrants.
Federal investigators asked to reopen fraud case against Texas House candidate Jared Woodfill
Read full article: Federal investigators asked to reopen fraud case against Texas House candidate Jared WoodfillWoodfill’s former client fears that politics played a role in the case, which she said was mishandled and abruptly closed by the Harris County DA’s office.
Despite grand jury investigation, officers may not face charges in Uvalde shooting response
Read full article: Despite grand jury investigation, officers may not face charges in Uvalde shooting responseLocal prosecutor Christina Mitchell last month convened a grand jury to investigate police officers’ delay in confronting the gunman at Robb Elementary School.
Three years after BLM protests gripped nation, a police shooting in Lufkin draws little attention
Read full article: Three years after BLM protests gripped nation, a police shooting in Lufkin draws little attentionTexas police killed 141 people last year, according to a database. At least 22, including Aaliyah Anders, were Black.
Bills to fight Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s whistleblower case top $700,000, records show
Read full article: Bills to fight Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s whistleblower case top $700,000, records showThe lead attorney helping defend Paxton against former top aides is charging $540 an hour.
Texas man arrested after threatening House Speaker Dade Phelan
Read full article: Texas man arrested after threatening House Speaker Dade PhelanTexas Department of Public Safety arrested Daniel Troy Leblanc earlier this month after the Orange County resident made “terroristic threats” on social media.
Grand jury called to investigate flawed police response to Uvalde shooting
Read full article: Grand jury called to investigate flawed police response to Uvalde shootingTwelve jurors selected Friday will review law enforcement’s delayed response during Texas’ deadliest school shooting and recommend possible criminal charges.
Uvalde victims’ families get an official acknowledgement of botched shooting response — but some want criminal charges
Read full article: Uvalde victims’ families get an official acknowledgement of botched shooting response — but some want criminal chargesSome relatives of the 21 people killed in Texas’ deadliest school shooting are demanding criminal charges after federal officials say delayed police response cost lives.
Twenty months after deadly Uvalde school shooting, multiple investigations have yet to be released
Read full article: Twenty months after deadly Uvalde school shooting, multiple investigations have yet to be releasedThe U.S. Department of Justice just released its investigation into law enforcement’s response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School. But at least three other investigations have not yet been released to the public.
‘Cascading failures’: Justice Department blasts law enforcement’s botched response to Uvalde school shooting
Read full article: ‘Cascading failures’: Justice Department blasts law enforcement’s botched response to Uvalde school shootingU.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said that had responding officers followed general procedures, some victims would have survived.
San Antonio plans to tackle violence with a public health approach. Here’s what that looks like.
Read full article: San Antonio plans to tackle violence with a public health approach. Here’s what that looks like.Houston and Austin already use similar methods. San Antonio will aim to reduce gun-related violence, sexual assaults and other crimes against people.
Legal challenge to Dallas County’s cash bail system ends after U.S. Supreme Court declines to step in
Read full article: Legal challenge to Dallas County’s cash bail system ends after U.S. Supreme Court declines to step inThe 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously held that federal courts can’t weigh in on the constitutionality of the county’s pre-trial processes.
Vouchers, border security, abortion: The issues you heard about in 2023 will continue to be hotly debated in 2024
Read full article: Vouchers, border security, abortion: The issues you heard about in 2023 will continue to be hotly debated in 2024After nearly a year’s worth of legislative sessions, several issues are poised to dominate Texas politics this year. Here’s a look at how things ended on several fronts last year — and where they’re headed next.
Diversity offices on college campuses will soon be illegal in Texas, as 30 new laws go into effect
Read full article: Diversity offices on college campuses will soon be illegal in Texas, as 30 new laws go into effectOther new laws make changes to the tax code, criminal justice and health care systems.
Looking back at some of the best Texas Tribune reads of 2023
Read full article: Looking back at some of the best Texas Tribune reads of 2023Our journalists brought life to the experiences of everyday Texans, held powerful institutions accountable and surfaced stories that went beyond the daily news cycles.
Feds sue Colony Ridge developer, accusing it of preying on Latino homebuyers
Read full article: Feds sue Colony Ridge developer, accusing it of preying on Latino homebuyersFederal authorities accused the Houston-area developer of targeting Latino home buyers with predatory loans and false promises. The housing development drew the attention of state lawmakers after right-wing publications claimed it is a magnet for undocumented immigrants.
Year after year, most Texas police departments report zero hate crimes. Here’s why.
Read full article: Year after year, most Texas police departments report zero hate crimes. Here’s why.A Texas Tribune analysis of hate crime data found that 82% of Texas law enforcement agencies that report to the FBI tracked no hate crimes last year. However, one suburban North Texas police agency is creating a new model of collecting hate crime data.
Three court of criminal appeal judges up for reelection targeted by Ken Paxton’s political revenge machine
Read full article: Three court of criminal appeal judges up for reelection targeted by Ken Paxton’s political revenge machinePaxton promised to go after the Republican judges over their 2021 ruling that struck down the attorney general’s ability to unilaterally prosecute voter fraud.