How underage girls are sold for sex online
You don't have to dredge the backwaters of the Internet to find underage girls sold for sex online. Take a tour of the commercial sex trade's most recent marketplace, hidden in plain view. Full Story
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Ask us anything about our investigation into sex trafficking in Texas
Texas Tribune reporters Neena Satija, Morgan Smith and Edgar Walters hosted a live discussion about sex trafficking with Chuck Paul, a former child welfare investigator. Full Story
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![Join Texas Tribune reporters and a former child welfare investigator Feb. 21 for a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" chat.]()
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How hollow rhetoric and a broken child welfare system feed Texas' sex-trafficking underworld
Texas leaders have publicly battled sex trafficking for more than a decade, but they’ve devoted hardly any resources to helping victims. Full Story
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![Pimps send their victims to "walk the track" on a stretch of Bissonnet Street in Houston. Anti-trafficking efforts in Texas have focused more on putting pimps in prison than rehabilitating their prey.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Help us report on sex trafficking in Texas
Over the past five months, The Texas Tribune has investigated the hidden world of sex trafficking. Now, we want to hear about your experiences. Full Story
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![Women "walk the track" on a stretch of Bissonnet Street in Houston. Pimps gather nearby in fast food and strip mall parking lots as potential johns circle and standard traffic passes through.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
In their own words: How Texas pimps recruit and sell girls for sex
Texas Tribune reporters talked to three convicted traffickers to try to understand the power they wield over victims and the attraction of what they call "the lifestyle." Here they are in their own words. Full Story
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![The shoes of a convicted pimp who is serving out his sentence in a Texas prison. Pimps say they use fear and shame to control their victims.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Guns on campus: Texas students weigh in (video)
Fifty years after a gunman opened fire from the tower at UT-Austin – the first recorded mass shooting in U.S. history – students can carry loaded handguns on campus. Hear from proponents and opponents of the law. Full Story
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Reports of immigration raids whip across Texas, but details are sparse
Immigrant communities in Texas and nationwide are swirling with reports of large-scale immigration enforcement by federal agents, but so far details are scant and ICE says its activities are routine. Full Story
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![Austin City Council member Greg Casar comments on recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Austin outside the Little Walnut Creek Branch Library on Friday, February 10, 2017. Casar and Council member Delia Garza joined community organizations to speak out against the ICE actions.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Religious leaders turn to debate over Texas "bathroom bill"
While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick huddled with pastors at an Austin church Thursday to discuss the proposed "bathroom bill," other religious leaders organized at another church nearby to decry it as discriminatory. Full Story
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![Rev. S. David Wynn of Fort Worth, who identifies as a transgender male, speaks at a press conference of the Texas Believes coalition on Feb. 9, 2017. Wynn and other falth leaders from around the state gathered in Austin to help combat anti-LGBT discrimination bills proposed in the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Paxton prosecutors want change of venue in fraud case
The prosecutors in Attorney General Ken Paxton's securities fraud case are asking for a change of venue, arguing they cannot get a fair trial in Collin County. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a press conference to recognize January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month on January 12, 2017.]()
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Texas Senate approves anti-"sanctuary" legislation, sending bill to House
The Republican-controlled Texas Senate gave its final stamp of approval on Wednesday to a controversial bill that would gut funding from local and state entities that don’t enforce immigration laws. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, answers questions regarding Senate Bill 4, better known as the anti-"sanctuary cities" bill, on Feb. 7, 2017 in the state Capitol in Austin.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
At homeland security hearing, McCaul calls Trump's travel ban rollout "problematic"
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, the top House Republican on homeland security issues, strongly criticized the Trump administration Monday for the chaotic rollout last month of a travel ban of mostly Muslim countries. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul at TTEvents discusses presidential candidate Donald Trump on Oct. 25, 2016.]()
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Hours before Senate vote, Texas Attorney General calls controversial immigration bill legal
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attempted to ease concerns over whether a measure that would punish "sanctuary cities" and campuses could be successfully challenged in court. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke at a May 25, 2016, news conference announcing a lawsuit filed against the federal government over rules for transgender bathrooms in public schools.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Senate debates "sanctuary city" bill and ethics reform (live video)
The Texas Senate took up its first two bills of the session on Tuesday: a wide-ranging ethics reform measure and a bill to punish local cities, counties and college campuses that act as sanctuary jurisdictions. Full Story
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![Parliamentarian Karina Davis watches as new Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Texas Senate on Jan. 21, 2015.]()
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Execution halted days before Fort Worth man was set to die
Tilon Carter, 37, received a stay Friday afternoon from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. His execution was set for Tuesday. Full Story
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![Tilon Lashon Carter, sentenced to death for the 2004 murder of James Eldon Tomlin.]()
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In party-line vote, Senate committee advances sanctuary cities bill
After hearing more than 16 hours of testimony, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee voted 7-2 along party lines early Friday morning to advance a bill that would punish local government entities and college campuses that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials or enforce immigration laws. Full Story
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![Critics of Senate Bill 4, a bill banning sanctuary cities, protest at the Texas Capitol as the bill is scheduled to be debated before the Senate State Affairs committee on Feb. 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee report lays foundation for 'Sandra Bland Act'
The Sandra Bland Act would address race, poverty, mental health and accountability in law enforcement and corrections, its author says. Full Story
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![Sandra Bland, who was found dead at the Waller County Jail in 2015.]()
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Ahead of Thursday hearing, Texas Senate adds muscle to anti-sanctuary city bill
Senate Republicans have updated their bill banning sanctuary cities in Texas to cover college campuses and expand potential punishments for local entities that choose to not enforce immigration laws. Full Story
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![Sen.Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, continues debate with Sen. Kirk Watson on HB3994 an abortion reform measure on May 25, 2015.]()
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Legislature should prioritize judicial security, Texas Supreme Court chief justice says
In his State of the Judiciary address Wednesday, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht discussed bail reform, the cost of legal expenses, mental health issues and a host of other topics. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht delivered his State of the Judiciary Address in the state House chamber on Feb. 1, 2017.]()
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In "sanctuary" fight, Abbott cuts off funding to Travis County
Gov. Greg Abbott has followed through on his threat to cut off state funding for Travis County over its new "sanctuary" policy. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.]()
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Texas lawmakers aim to eliminate death penalty for convicts who didn't kill
At least two Texas Democrats and one Republican are pushing to reform the death penalty under the law of parties, which holds those involved in a murder equally responsible, even if they weren't directly involved in the actual killing. Full Story
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![Mitzie and Danny Wood, parents of Jeff Wood, at a rally in July 2016 at the Governor's mansion. Their son, Jeff, was sent to death row under the controversial law of parties statute.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond