Texas creating task forces to target Permian Basin oil field thefts
Texas lawmakers passed a suite of bills that officials said are crucial to combat losses in the state’s largest oil field. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5c4963f8427ac15bba6faf48f25edf97/0625%20Truckers%20Protest%20EH%20TT%2011.jpg)
-
![A semi-truck waits to turn onto Texas State Highway 158 after disposing of its load at a salt-water disposal site Tuesday, June 25, 2024, south of Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Bill to create a Texas Homeland Security Division passes state Senate
Senate Bill 36, a priority bill for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, would create an office within the Department of Public Safety focused on immigration enforcement, organized crime and threats to state infrastructure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a8925016c54122f877b2ad58fbb1f030/0606%20Eagle%20Pass%20River%20Bank%20EG%20TT%2005.jpg)
![DPS airboats on the bank of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, seen from Piedras Negras, on June 6, 2024.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
More than 40 people arrested at Texas home amid Tren de Aragua investigation
Authorities did not say how the individuals arrested in Hays County may be tied to the Venezuelan gang. It was also unclear what criminal charges people may face, though drugs were seized. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c42358f69d18530c073563776a3c7e0b/0401%20ICE%20Raid%20Minor%20EG%2037.jpg)
![A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent’s badge in front of the J.J. Pickle Federal Building in downtown Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Feds target “criminals and illegal immigrants” in Houston-area development, Abbott says
The Colony Ridge development has long been under scrutiny from conservative lawmakers, think tanks and influencers who cast it as a hotbed for undocumented immigrants and cartel crime. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2320c978fa7762a8c81d6bc7d7569b22/1009%20Colony%20Ridge%20MF%20TT%2002.jpg)
![An overhead view of the Colony Ridge development in New Caney on Oct. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott directs DPS to bolster anti-terrorism efforts after New Orleans attack
The governor is calling for an expansion of in-state anti-terrorism programs and an increase in federal partnerships. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/60d2e54924e72fb5835fb748e42eb868/Houston%20NOLA%20FBI%20REUTERS.JPG)
![Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Harris County law enforcement officials surround a residence in an armored vehicle in north Houston, on Jan. 1, 2025.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Adrees Latif -
Texas driver license offices reopen after systemwide outage
The outage appeared only to affect the Texas public safety department. Driver license offices reopened after the New Year’s Day holiday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/85cd3ee681c34ce40cbdef341c862d9f/01_DPS_Office_EW_TT.jpg)
![The Nortwest Austin DPS office on Jan. 24, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Freeman Martin selected to lead the Texas Department of Public Safety
Martin, a senior official, takes the helm of the agency on Dec. 1, replacing retiring director Steve McCraw. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b5de57aee767de7d72ee9d647ccc63e7/Freeman%20F%20Martin%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Freeman F. Martin.]()
Credit: Department of Public Safety website -
Search the newly updated Texas state employees salaries database
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of October 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e482060af5d495ae1ef490c81731a70/TT-GSE-pointer-art.png)
![Government Salaries Explorer]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
Judge tosses Ken Paxton’s lawsuit targeting Bexar County’s voter registration effort
The county told a state district court judge that the applications were already mailed out and any ruling would be moot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee0767cefe018223eb6e938ee02a5f9b/SATX%20Ballot%20Drop%20Off%20RJ%2001.jpg)
![People wait outside the Bexar County Elections Department in San Antonio to drop off their mail-in ballots, their voter registration applications or to be trained as poll workers on Oct. 5, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
State health department blocks transgender Texans from changing sex on birth certificates
The agency quietly rolled out the policy change on its website last week, days after DPS blocked changes to the sex listed on a Texas driver’s license. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dc30ab9815527467e0ae309adcbe32d8/0810%20pride%20OA%202300.jpg)
![Scenes from Austin Pride 2024 on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at on Congress Ave in Austin. The day-long celebration featured drag performances, booths and floats of Austin’s businesses and many Texans clad in rainbow.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw retiring after 15 years as state’s top law enforcement officer
The longtime head of the Department of Public Safety will step down at the end of the year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/098ac37694c34949764f006ff276a124/0608%20Abbott%20Border%20Bill%20JT%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Steven C. McCraw, the Director and Colonel of the Texas Department of Public Safety, speaks at a border security bill signing session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 8, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Transgender Texans blocked from changing their sex on their driver’s license
The Texas Department of Public Safety rule change surfaced in an internal email that also asks driver license staff to compile the names of people seeking a gender marker change. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3dbbacdadbf69f232df78b61cc0d2fb8/0808%20DPS%20Southeast%20Austin%20JT%20TT%2041.jpg)
![DPS troopers make a traffic stop in southeast Austin on Aug. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
After Uvalde city officials end battle over shooting records, victims’ families say other agencies need to follow suit
The city’s release ends a legal battle with news outlets, but other government agencies are withholding materials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6a385d30bffa38cf7b20c1880216648f/Ulvade%20Active%20Shooter%20Scenes%20PL%20TT%2010.JPG)
![Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-News -
DPS reinstates Texas Ranger fired for Uvalde shooting response
Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said he made the decision after the Uvalde district attorney found no criminal wrongdoing and asked that Ranger Chris Kindell be allowed to return to his job. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4cc49f55fb15ebbcac5baa3f2042c3b5/Christopher%20Ryan%20Kindell%20TPWD%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Texas Ranger Christopher Ryan Kindell outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24, 2022, when 21 people — 19 children and two adults — were killed by a gunman. Kindell was fired by DPS Thursday and said he plans to appeal.]()
Credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife bodycam -
Search the newly updated Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of July 1. Full Story
![Government Salaries Explorer]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
Families of Uvalde shooting victims sue Texas DPS officers for waiting to confront gunman
In a separate settlement, the city of Uvalde will pay $2 million to the families, create a permanent memorial to the victims and provide enhanced training for police officers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0d6162bd2f27f57749e9feb7b36f7d2c/Ulvade%20Active%20Shooter%20Scenes%20PL%20TT%2009.JPG)
![Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-News -
Search the newly updated Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of April 1. Full Story
![Government Salaries Explorer]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
Misdemeanor charges filed against photojournalist arrested at UT-Austin protest
The FOX 7 employee is accused of hitting a trooper with his camera, but the arrested man told reporters he was pushed and didn’t hit any officer. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/faa13276c7544414026ae0cb93b98e90/0424%20UT%20Austin%20Protest%20JS%20TT%20117.jpg)
![Carlos, a FOX 7 Austin photojournalist, on the ground as he is arrested while covering a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
Faculty petition to hold no-confidence vote in UT-Austin president after protest response
President Jay Hartzell defended the response but faculty criticized the presence of armed state troopers. Fifty-seven people were arrested. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ab6313ec272b2d9a35ddc2da13ca2fa1/0424%20UT%20Austin%20Protest%20JS%20TT%20051.jpg)
![Protesters link arms on the campus of UT-Austin on April 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
What you need to know about Texas’ school safety policies
Texas lawmakers have mandated armed guards at every public school, panic buttons in classrooms and more staff training. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e519e45b772ef73cd6c4f28f1e00083b/0913%20Odessa%20School%20Tours%20EH%2027.jpg)
![Nimitz Middle School students line up to enter their next class Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune