Federal judge says Texas can’t ban 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying handguns
U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who cited the Second Amendment in his decision, stayed the ruling pending appeal. Full Story
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William Melhado
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William Melhado was an Austin-based general assignment reporter until 2024. He originally joined the Tribune in 2022 as a Poynter-Koch fellow. Before his time at the Tribune, William worked as a staff writer at the Santa Fe Reporter, an alt-weekly newspaper in New Mexico, and he also worked as an educator for five years at a public high school in the Bronx, New York and at international schools in Tanzania and Nepal. A native of Boulder, Colorado, William graduated from Middlebury College with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and earned a master’s in secondary science education at CUNY Lehman College.
Past Contributions
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![Guns at McBride's Guns in Austin on March 26, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Uvalde school board fires Chief Pete Arredondo over shooting response, after he calls vote a “public lynching”
Uvalde school officials have faced mounting pressure to fire Arredondo, who received much of the blame for the delay in confronting the shooter during the May 24 massacre at Robb Elementary. Full Story
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![Pete Arredondo, chief of the Uvalde school district police, on a dirt road on the outskirts of Uvalde on June 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Uvalde school district and a litany of law enforcement agencies could face $27 billion class-action lawsuit over shooting
A lawyer for shooting victims is seeking compensation for victims and families, citing the Texas House committee’s investigative report that found “systemic failures” in response to the tragedy. Full Story
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![More than two weeks after 21 people died in the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, hundreds of flowers, toys and candles surround crosses standing in memorial for the victims.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott joins other key Republicans in supporting repealing the “tampon tax”
Advocates have previously called for repealing the sales tax on products like tampons, sanitary pads and pantyliners. Menstrual products are already tax-free in 24 states. Full Story
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![Eighteen-year-old Zoe Kass holds a handful of menstrual products in the bathroom at her high school in Houston on Thursday, April 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Vanessa Guillen’s family seeks $35 million in the Army specialist’s 2020 wrongful death at Fort Hood
Armed with a new federal court ruling that allows a former Army colonel to pursue a sexual assault lawsuit, the family of Vanessa Guillén has filed a wrongful death and assault case against the federal government. Full Story
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![Vanessa Guillen's sisters Lupe Guillen, left, and Mayra Guillen speak at a press conference regarding legislation that would designate Sept. 30, Guillen’s Birthday, as ‘Vanessa Guillen Day’ on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas anti-abortion protesters set sights on New Mexico, where the procedure is still protected
As Texans seek abortions in the only neighboring state to allow them, opponents of the procedure follow them across the border, hoping to create more “sanctuary cities for the unborn.” Full Story
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![Micaela Lara Cadena, a Democratic state representative from New Mexico, in Mesilla, New Mexico on Aug. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
EPA launches investigation into Texas environment agency’s permitting process for concrete batch plants
The federal agency launched the inquiry after complaints from the Harris County Attorney and Lone Star Legal Aid about how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issues permits to plants that predominantly impact communities of color. Full Story
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![Easy Mix Concrete Services LLC in southwest Austin.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
At CPAC, conservative Texans show Donald Trump loyalty and support for another presidential run
A straw poll conducted at the conference found that Trump is still the overwhelming favorite among attendees. Sen. Ted Cruz, who spoke at the conference on Friday, came in third with 2% of the straw poll vote, coming up short to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Full Story
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![Attendees with their t-shirts spelling "TRUMP" cheer during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2022.]()
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Alex Jones’ company files for bankruptcy midway through Sandy Hook damages trial
Free Speech Systems submitted the filing during a two-week trial to determine how much the Texas-based conspiracy theorist will award the parents of a victim in the 2012 school shooting, prompting speculation about the company’s effort to avoid bankruptcy oversight as a small business. Full Story
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![Alex Jones talks to the media during a midday break during the trial at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin on July 26, 2022.]()
Credit: Briana Sanchez/Austin American-Statesman via REUTERS -
Uvalde elementary principal reinstated after school shooting investigation, lawyer says
Mandy Gutierrez was put on paid leave Monday and responded Wednesday to a Texas House committee’s investigative report about the massacre. On Thursday, her attorney released a letter from the Uvalde superintendent saying she’s no longer on administrative leave. Full Story
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![U.S. President Joe Biden embraces Mandy Gutierrez, Principal at Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde on May 29, 2022.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst