Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee arrested for civil disobedience over voting rights bill
It was unclear what the Houston Democrat did to spur the arrest, though she said, “I engaged in civil disobedience.” Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, speaks as the House Judiciary Committee meets on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 8, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Leah Mills -
Gov. Greg Abbott draws criticism for ordering state troopers to pull over vehicles with migrants, saying it will stem COVID-19 risk
The executive order allows DPS troopers to reroute vehicles back to their origin point or a port of entry. Immigration rights advocates say the governor's action is an invitation for racial profiling. Full Story
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![A group of migrants wait to board a charter bus in front of the Catholic Charities RGV Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen on July 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Converted Texas prison gets first immigrant detainees as Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security effort ramps up
Border-crossing immigrants are being arrested by Texas troopers on state charges like trespassing, and they’re starting to trickle into a prison emptied to house them. Full Story
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![The Dolph Briscoe Unit in Dilley on July 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
T-Squared: What you can expect at this year’s Texas Tribune Festival
Nearly 150 speakers (including 20 more biggies revealed today) across more than 50 sessions. Four days of virtual programs. Two jampacked days of in-person programs. Everything streamed. Everything on demand. Are you as excited as we are? Full Story
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To block voting legislation, Democrats put bail bills, legislative funding and other measures in peril
Conservative priorities to restrict pretrial release from jail and ban critical race theory in schools were up in the air after Democratic lawmakers chartered flights to Washington, D.C. But so was funding for retired teachers and legislative employees. Full Story
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![Speaker of the House Dade Phelan gavels in the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton agrees to stop blocking people on Twitter, ending lawsuit over First Amendment
Attorneys in the lawsuit, which was filed in April, argued that being blocked from viewing Paxton’s tweets limited the rights of people to access statements made by the public official, therefore violating the First Amendment. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the Gun Owners of America assembly in 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House and Senate committees advance GOP bail legislation, as Democrats warn bills could lead to mass detentions
Legislators in the House and Senate filed matching bills to change state bail practices earlier this week, echoing legislation that failed to pass in the regular session. On Saturday, committees in both chambers approved the bills. Full Story
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![The House Constitutional Rights and Remedies Committee hearing at the state Capitol on Saturday, July 10, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Almost 150 guards are staffing an empty Texas prison as state officials work on Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to use it for immigrants
While many Texas prisons are understaffed, some dangerously so, the emptied-out Briscoe Unit in Dilley is in "maintenance mode" as officials scramble to implement the governor's plan to increase the state's role in border enforcement. Full Story
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![The Dolph Briscoe Unit in Dilley on July 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers are back for a special session. Here’s what you should know.
We asked our readers for their questions about the special legislative session that starts Thursday in Texas. These are the answers. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Federal judge finds U.S. government inaction mostly to blame for Sutherland Springs mass shooting
Federal Judge Xavier Rodriguez said the U.S. Air Force's failure to report the shooter's domestic violence conviction to the FBI allowed him to purchase the gun used in Texas' deadliest mass shooting. Full Story
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![Hannah Krueger adds a cross to a memorial near the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs on Nov. 8, 2017, three days after 23 churchgoers were killed in a mass shooting there.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Army sergeant indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges after fatally shooting Austin protester Garrett Foster in 2020
Army Sgt. Daniel Perry shot and killed Foster, who was legally armed, after an altercation during a protest against police brutality last summer, police said. Perry argues it was in self defense. Full Story
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![A vigil is created for Garrett Foster on July 27, 2020, in Austin.]()
Credit: Marshall Tridick for The Texas Tribune -
Texas executes John Hummel for murdering his family in 2009
A civil liberties group had tried to delay Hummel's death after reporters were excluded from the state’s last execution. Full Story
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![Interior of Death Chamber by Texas Department of Criminal Justice.]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Collin County detention officers won't face charges over in-custody death of Marvin Scott III
Since Scott’s death, family members had led regular demonstrations outside the Collin County Jail. Multiple news outlets reported that a grand jury recommended the formation of a group to study Scott’s death, which had been ruled a homicide. Full Story
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![Shannon Borders holds up a sign at a demonstration outside of the Collin County Jail to demand justice for Marvin Scott III, who died while in custody at the jail. March 14, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes criminal justice bills, legislation to protect dogs, teach kids about domestic violence
Abbott vetoed 13 bills authored by Democrats and seven by Republicans. Twelve of the vetoes targeted bills that originated in the House, and eight were from the Senate. Full Story
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![Bloodhounds are held in a pen in Refugio on Aug. 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas empties prison to prepare to detain immigrants arrested during ramped-up border enforcement
The prison — Dolph Briscoe Unit in Dilley — will have capacity for about 1,000 people. Full Story
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![A Honduran migrant holds his daughters’ hand at an immigration checkpoint in Nuevo Laredo. The pair requested asylum in the United States, but were promptly returned to Mexico to await their case. The father was uncertain whether they would remain in Mexico until their court date.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
A year after Vanessa Guillén’s death, lawmakers and advocates call for Congress to pass military sexual assault reform bill
A federal bill was recently reintroduced, proposing sweeping changes to the way the military investigates sexual assault and harassment allegations. Texas lawmakers are urging Congress to make it law. 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 -
Dozens who died in Texas prisons during the pandemic had been granted parole, new report shows
At any given time, thousands of Texas prisoners have been approved for parole but not yet released. At least 42 of those people died in the 12 months after the coronavirus first swept the state. Full Story
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![Female prisoners line up inside a state jail.]()
Credit: Brandon Thibodeaux for The Texas Tribune -
Texans can carry handguns without a license or training starting Sept. 1, after Gov. Greg Abbott signs permitless carry bill into law
Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Republicans who were initially noncommittal about the bill were under immense political pressure this session from conservatives and gun rights advocates, who have long lobbied the Texas Legislature for permitless carry. Full Story
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![A M&P Shield handgun, small enough to be ideal for conceal carry, in Austin on April 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
After Austin shooting, advocates and Texas Democrats renew calls for action on gun violence
State Rep. Joe Moody, a Democrat from El Paso, said a special legislative session already planned for later this year should also address gun violence. Full Story
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![Austin Police patrol the site of a recent mass shooting. At least 13 people were injured in a shooting on East Sixth Street near Trinity Street in Austin in the early hours of Jun 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott has lifted almost all Texas pandemic restrictions. But not the one limiting jail releases.
As he was fighting for the Legislature to change state bail laws, the governor continued his emergency order to restrict no-cost jail releases during the pandemic. At least several Texas courts have deemed the order unconstitutional. Full Story
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![Inmates at the Dawson State Jail in Dallas.]()
Credit: Brandon Thibodeaux for The Texas Tribune