Judge Stays Execution for Further DNA Testing
Two hours before his scheduled execution, Robert Lynn Pruett received a stay so more DNA tests can be conducted on evidence from the 1999 murder of a Texas prison guard. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/18/TxTrib-Pruett-013.JPG)
Terri Langford
Health and Human Services Reporter
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/terri-langford.jpg)
Terri Langford is the Tribune's health and human services reporter based in Austin. Langford is a veteran journalist, having worked at the Florida Times Union, The Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, WNYC, Honolulu Civil Beat and Texas Standard/KUT. Langford has a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin. She has covered various city and state agencies, criminal justice and health and human services for the Houston Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, The Associated Press, WNYC and Texas Standard at KUT.
Latest Contributions
-
![Robert Pruett was sentenced to death in 2002 for the murder of prison guard Daniel Nagle. Pruett says he was framed by corrupt guards and inmates while the prison employee union says chronic understaffing led to Nagle's murder.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
Inmate Set for Execution Seeks Supreme Court Stay
Lawyers for a Texas inmate convicted of capital murder in the 1999 stabbing death of a prison guard have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his Tuesday execution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/27/Robert_Pruett_Death_Row.jpg)
![Robert Lynn Pruett, scheduled to be executed Tuesday night in Huntsville for the 1999 murder of a Bee County prison guard.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Guardianship Reform Could Offer New Freedoms
Dawn Carlton is intellectually disabled, but she says she manages fine on her own. The 38-year-old woman is pushing for a series of bills this legislative session to change the way court-appointed guardians are used in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/24/DawnCarlton.jpg)
![Dawn Carlton is pushing for a series of bills this legislative session to change the way court-appointed guardians are used in Texas.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
State Health Tests Prodded Blue Bell Recall
Shortly after lab tests on two Blue Bell ice cream flavors came back “presumptive positive” for Listeria, an assistant commissioner at the state health agency reached for the phone to call Brenham. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/23/bluebell-listeria-outbreak-infographicTT.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -
2 Attorneys Appointed to Replace Collin County DA in Paxton Probe
Two Houston attorneys have been appointed to replace Collin District Attorney Greg Willis as the Texas Rangers look into his friend and business partner Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/21/UP9A8560.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the grand opening of the Texas Public Policy Foundation's new Austin building on April 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Failed Hospital Deal Reveals Ties to Janek
Three years ago, a company called Geo Care Inc. gave HHSC chief Kyle Janek a blueprint for privatizing state hospitals. The only contract awarded — privatizing Terrell State Hospital — ended up going to that same company. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/16/Terrel_State_Hospital_ContractHigh_xx2pKSf.jpg)
![Terrell State Hospital is one of 10 state psychiatric hospitals.]()
Credit: Texas Department of State Health Services -
DPS Chief: Resume Inquiry Into Border Security Contracts
Looking to clear the Texas Department of Public Safety's name, the agency’s top official is asking the head of the state's anti-corruption unit to renew a halted investigation into $20 million no-bid border security contracts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/07/24/UP9A4422.jpg)
![Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steve McCraw gives testimony during the joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking in La Joya, Texas July 24th, 2014]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lawmaker Says Death Penalty Could End if Drug Suppliers Revealed
If the names of the compounding pharmacies providing execution drugs to Texas officials are made public, it could end the death penalty, state Rep. John Smithee told a house committee on Wednesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/04/TCJD-Execution.jpg)
![The view of Texas' execution chamber from a witness viewing room.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Don't Fear the Reefer: House Mulls Lower Pot Penalties
Three bills up for House committee hearings Wednesday would lower the penalties for possessing small amounts of pot in Texas. A fourth would decriminalize pot entirely. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/07/Marijuana-Capitol-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Report: State Lawmaker Threatened Paxton's DPS Detail
State Rep. Borris Miles threatened to "beat up" a plainclothes DPS trooper while the lawman was guarding Attorney General Ken Paxton during a meeting at an Austin steakhouse, according to a report obtained by the Tribune. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0650caf2de328890febf13ba958e67a1/BD%20INC%20Miles%201784%202011)