Latest Contributions

• Sister of Uvalde shooting victim testifies before Texas lawmakers: “I’m terrified to go back” to school

  By James Barragán Updated: June 23, 2022

  Jazmin Cazares, 17, was one of several family members of shooting victims and experts testifying before Texas lawmakers on Thursday. Her sister, Jackie Cazares, 9, was one of the victims of the school shooting in Uvalde. Full Story 

• Here’s how Pete Arredondo and other law enforcement differ on what happened during the Uvalde shooting

  By James Barragán June 21, 2022

  New information released by law enforcement sources and the director of the Department of Public Safety tells a different story about police response to the shooting than Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo. Full Story 

• Texas House speaker pitches spending more than $100 million for mental health, school safety programs

  By James Barragán June 13, 2022

  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had asked House leaders to support his push for arming school police officers with bulletproof shields after the Uvalde shooting. House Speaker Dade Phelan is also asking for more money for mental health and school safety programs. Full Story 

• Five takeaways from Uvalde schools police Chief Pete Arredondo’s interview with The Texas Tribune

  By James Barragán and Zach Despart June 9, 2022

  This week, Uvalde schools police Chief Pete Arredondo and his attorney granted an exclusive interview to The Texas Tribune to detail his version of what happened inside Robb Elementary School on May 24, when a shooter killed 21 people. Full Story 

• Waiting for keys, unable to break down doors: Uvalde schools police chief defends delay in confronting gunman

  By James Barragán and Zach Despart June 9, 2022

  Criticized by law enforcement experts for slowness in taking out the shooter, Pete Arredondo described an agonizing wait for a key that would work. In an interview with The Texas Tribune, he said he hadn’t spoken out sooner because he didn’t want to compound his hometown’s grief or point blame. Full Story 

• Texas politicians search for solutions after another mass shooting. Experts say we’ve already found them.

  By Jolie McCullough and James Barragán June 6, 2022

  In arguing over causes of the latest mass shooting, political debate often overlooks the range of incremental steps that could lessen the chances of mass killing and help address the nation’s persistent gun violence. Full Story 

• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls for spending $50 million to buy bulletproof shields for school police

  By James Barragán June 3, 2022

  Patrick said he wants police in as many Texas schools as possible to have bulletproof shields before the fall. He’s asked other state leaders to move around money in the state budget to make it happen. Full Story 

• TribCast: How effective is “hardening” schools? And where does the investigation into the Uvalde shooting stand?

  By James Barragán and Justin Dehn June 3, 2022

  On this week’s episode, James speaks with Kate and Josh about the effectiveness of increasing school security to prevent mass shootings and where the investigation into the law enforcement response to the Uvalde shooting stands. Full Story 

• House Speaker Dade Phelan announces legislative committee to investigate Uvalde shooting

  By James Barragán Updated: June 3, 2022

  Phelan said it is an “outrage” that officials still do not have a clear picture of what happened during the shooting. The committee’s findings will inform the House’s legislative response. Full Story 

• Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, says it’s a “slap in the face” to be left off committee responding to shooting

  By James Barragán June 2, 2022

  Gutierrez, a Democrat who has been critical of the state’s response to past shootings, said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also snubbed state senators whose districts were affected by shootings in El Paso and Santa Fe. Full Story