Female inmates are offered fewer educational opportunities than men in Texas prisons, according to a recently released report. Those women who do have access to technical education say they are finding their passions.
May 2018
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Analysis: Another mass shooting and a fresh chance to act
Maybe the mass shooting at Santa Fe High will be the one that spurs Texas leaders to replace thoughts and prayers with thoughts, prayers and action. In a state with a list of seemingly intractable problems, that would be a useful precedent.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Identity politics, changing demographics take center stage in Sheryl Cole and Chito Vela’s race in Austin
The Democratic runoff to replace outgoing state Rep. Dawnna Dukes is a battle over an East Austin district that’s been held by an African-American for 43 years but is now largely Hispanic.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Santa Fe High School had a shooting plan, armed officers and practice. Ten people still died.
The southeast Texas school that was the site of Friday’s mass shooting had won a statewide award for its safety plan and recently had to activate it during a false alarm about an active shooter. Its plan to arm teachers hadn’t been implemented yet.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said fewer doors could mean fewer school shootings. Here’s what experts think.
Three security experts talk with The Washington Post about whether Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s theory has any merit.
Posted in
Health care
After Santa Fe shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott sees a West Texas mental health program as a statewide model
A four-year-old project run by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in a group of West Texas high schools has prevented violent incidents through screenings, according to one Tech official. Could it work in all Texas schools?
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Students describe terror inside Santa Fe High School during deadly shooting
As students huddled inside an art room supply closet, they frantically called police and their parents as the alleged shooter — a 17-year-old classmate — stalked the school. “He said, ‘Surprise’ and then he started shooting,” said one survivor. Police say the student admitted responsibility for the shooting.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Texas runoff between Laura Moser and Lizzie Pannill Fletcher a pivotal moment for national Democrats
How West Houston’s Democratic voters decide in the 7th Congressional District runoff on Tuesday will have outsized implications for national Democrats’ optimism and tactics in the fall.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
A familiar tragedy sparks a familiar debate as Texas politicians react to school shooting
After a deadly school shooting in Santa Fe, Democrats called for swift action on guns. Gov. Greg Abbott said he’d convene roundtable discussions. And Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said schools have “too many entrances and too many exits.”
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Will Democrats pick a Sam Johnson to vie to replace U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson?
The Democratic runoff between Lorie Burch and her runoff opponent, Sam Johnson, has turned heads, but not because Democrats have high hopes that they can represent Texas’ 3rd Congressional District.
