Gary Grief, former executive director of the now-dissolved Texas Lottery Commission, is alleged to have used his position to defraud the state during a 2023 Lotto Texas drawing.
Ayden Runnels
Ayden Runnels is the afternoon/evening reporter. Previously, they were a breaking news reporter for the Las Vegas Sun. A graduate of the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas, Ayden was a Dallas Press Club Foundation reporting fellow at the Tribune in 2023. They were born in the Houston suburb of Clear Lake and speak English and Arabic. They served as editor-in-chief of the North Texas Daily, UNT's student-run newspaper, and have worked on freelance projects for Newsweek.
Posted in
Courts
Former Texas lottery director was indicted by grand jury before case got dismissed
The indictment accused Gary Grief of misusing his position to defraud the state in a highly scrutinized $95 million 2023 Lotto Texas drawing.
Posted in
Environment
Big Bend border wall plans canceled for national park after backlash, Border Patrol commissioner says
Texans across the political spectrum opposed wall construction in the national park. Now the agency’s plans include roadways and digital surveillance to monitor the rugged region.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Federal appeals court temporarily halts execution of Texas death row inmate Edward Busby
Thursday’s execution was blocked by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “pending further order” from the court.
Posted in
Health care
Rule that lets Texans obtain out-of-state abortion pills can continue for now, Supreme Court says
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that mifepristone must be obtained in person, a decision the country’s highest court has temporarily blocked.
Posted in
Environment
South Texas residents suing SpaceX over alleged home damage
The lawsuit filed by 80 plaintiffs Thursday accuse Elon Musk’s company of gross negligence and trespassing for loud blasts from 11 rocket tests.
Posted in
Politics
Dan Patrick eyes closing “gambling loophole” for prediction markets. The feds stand in Texas’ way.
A Trump administration agency has sued other states that sought to regulate Kalshi, Polymarket and other prediction operations under their gambling laws.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas executes James Broadnax after Supreme Court rejects final appeal tied to cousin’s confession
Broadnax, who was convicted of killing two music producers in Garland in a 2008 robbery, is the third inmate executed by the state this year.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas inmate James Broadnax faces Thursday execution amid final appeal arguing he wasn’t the shooter
The death row inmate has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his execution, pointing to a codefendant’s confession in the shooting death of two people.
Posted in
State Government
Austin, Dallas revise police policy allowing more ICE cooperation after Abbott funding cut threat
Austin, which on Friday became the third city to revise similar policies, had $2.5 million in public safety grants at risk before receiving a deadline extension to make the changes.
