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.
William Melhado
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.
Posted in
Health care
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.”
Posted in
Environment
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.
Posted in
Politics
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.
Posted in
Courts
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.
Posted in
Uvalde school shooting
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.
Posted in
Uvalde school shooting
Uvalde principal placed on leave pushes back against investigation’s findings about school security
In a letter to the Texas House committee investigating the state’s deadliest school shooting, Robb Elementary principal Mandy Gutierrez says school leaders weren’t complacent about security.
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Uvalde school shooting
Texas House publishes report of Uvalde school shooting investigation in Spanish
The House committee investigating the Uvalde school shooting said it intended to publish the report in both languages but was unable to get it translated before a meeting last Sunday when the English version was released.
Posted in
Uvalde school shooting
Uvalde superintendent recommends firing police Chief Pete Arredondo
The school board plans to meet Saturday to vote on the proposal, days after a Texas House committee report highlighted widespread failures in the police response to the Robb Elementary shooting.
Posted in
Texas Abortion Restrictions
Texas Democrats to Biden: Protect out-of-state providers who prescribe abortion-inducing medication
The request for a public health emergency declaration was part of a set of recommendations to allow abortion access to Texans who might not be able to travel out of state.
