Past Contributions

• Pediatric hospitals short on beds as respiratory illnesses surge among children

  By William Melhado Oct. 28, 2022

  After two years of mild flu seasons, Texas hospitals are seeing high rates of respiratory illnesses among children. A shortage of pediatric beds has forced some families to seek treatment out of state. Full Story 

• Dallas-Houston bullet train developer vows project is on track, but state officials lack confidence

  By William Melhado Updated: Oct. 27, 2022

  With lingering skepticism about Texas Central’s ability to build a high-speed rail line, landowners along the route want the company to be more forthcoming about the project’s status. Full Story 

• Border Patrol reports 2.4 million migrant arrests at southwest border this year, the most ever

  By William Melhado Oct. 22, 2022

  The historic pace of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has fueled Republicans’ focus on the crisis, but despite the efforts of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, encounters in Texas have increased. Full Story 

• Texas state trooper who responded to Uvalde shooting fired amid investigations into police response

  By Zach Despart and William Melhado, The Texas Tribune, and Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Updated: Oct. 21, 2022

  Department of Public Safety Sgt. Juan Maldonado is the first state police officer fired in the aftermath of a botched police response to the shooting. He was the highest-ranking state trooper to initially respond to Robb Elementary School. Full Story 

• Two Texas Family and Protective Services leaders exiting beleaguered agency

  By William Melhado Updated: Oct. 21, 2022

  The department is terminating the contract of Executive Deputy Commissioner Anne Heiligenstein, who was supposed to work until next June, amid a staffing crisis. The chief of staff for the agency’s top leader has also left. Full Story 

• Texas struggles to get guns away from domestic violence suspects, leaving victims in danger

  By William Melhado Oct. 20, 2022

  Although there are laws on the books preventing certain people from possessing guns, there are few places in the state where the criminal justice system has programs to hand over firearms to law enforcement — leaving survivors at a heightened risk for gun violence. Full Story 

• U.S. will begin turning many Venezuelan migrants back to Mexico

  By William Melhado Oct. 12, 2022

  The Biden administration is also creating a pathway to allow “qualified” Venezuelans into the country. Venezuelans have been fleeing their home country in record numbers, and the number crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has surged. Full Story 

• Vice President Kamala Harris calls on Texans to protect reproductive and voting rights during Austin visit

  By William Melhado and Trent Brown Updated: Oct. 8, 2022

  In a visit to Texas’ capital, Harris rallied the state’s voters around protecting reproductive and voting rights at the ballot box next month by keeping Democrats in power in Congress. The topic of immigration was absent from Harris’ speeches Saturday. Full Story 

• Biden is calling for marijuana possession pardons. But that doesn’t mean it’ll happen in Texas.

  By William Melhado Updated: Oct. 6, 2022

  Biden’s federal pardons will help at least 6,500 people, though most possession crimes are charged at the state level. Gov. Greg Abbott hasn’t yet said whether he’ll follow suit. Gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke was quick to support the measure. Full Story 

• Texas executes John Ramirez for the 2004 murder of a Corpus Christi man

  By William Melhado Updated: Oct. 5, 2022

  Earlier this year, Ramirez won a legal fight to have his pastor beside him at his execution. Full Story