Thomas’ attorneys appealed saying that some members of the jury that sentenced him had expressed racist views. In their dissent, the court’s three liberal justices wrote that Thomas’ conviction and death sentence were unconstitutional.
Alejandro Serrano
Alejandro Serrano writes about Texas politics and government, with a focus on immigration and education issues. Since joining the Tribune, he has helped investigate the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, lived for half a year in Eagle Pass during a temporary assignment covering immigration and documented a variety of major occurrences in the state from Houston, where he used to live. He previously covered education for the Houston Chronicle and breaking news for the San Francisco Chronicle. The Long Island, New York, native received his bachelor's degree in journalism from Northeastern University. He is based in Austin and speaks fluent Spanish.
Posted in
Uvalde school shooting
Uvalde school district suspends its entire police department, and superintendent announces retirement plans
All of the department’s activities were suspended for an unspecified period of time, and two employees were placed on administrative leave after it was revealed this week that one of the first state troopers to respond to the deadly school shooting in May was later hired as a district police officer.
Posted in
Immigration
New York City mayor declares state of emergency over busing of migrants from Texas
Mayor Eric Adams said the city needs emergency funding to provide shelter to migrants and other people without housing. He also asked El Paso to stop sending migrants there.
Posted in
Immigration
Latino advocacy group offers $10,000 reward in push to arrest woman who lured migrants to Martha’s Vineyard
No criminal charges have been filed, but after the woman was identified in a news report, the League of United Latin American Citizens is increasing its efforts to see her criminally punished.
Posted in
Operation Lone Star
Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledges New York City mayor’s office reached out about migrant busing efforts
Abbott previously said Eric Adams’ office had not reached out to him about coordinating migrant arrivals in New York City and faced criticism that he was rebuffing efforts from the mayor to communicate.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Suspects in migrant shooting went to a meeting after firing fatal shots, police report says
Michael Sheppard, one of the suspects, was the warden of an immigration detention center that was the subject of several human rights abuse complaints in 2018.
Posted in
Immigration
Warden of West Texas immigration detention center arrested in migrant’s death was previously accused of abusing detainees
The brothers reportedly told law enforcement they were looking for animals to shoot. One man was killed and a woman was injured.
Posted in
Uvalde school shooting
Families of three Uvalde shooting survivors sue school district, gun makers, city officials and others
The lawsuit says each defendant played a part in the shooting’s tragic outcome, from failing to comply with safety protocols to pushing dark marketing that pitches lethal weapons to young minds.
Posted in
Politics
Texas court confirms the attorney general can’t unilaterally prosecute election cases
Texas’ highest criminal court once again said the attorney general needs permission from local prosecutors to pursue election cases. Attorney General Ken Paxton had fought that decision.
