Texans no longer need to conserve energy, power grid operator says
We’re tracking the fallout from the massive winter storm in Texas, which has brought widespread power outages and transportation problems. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6f80380bb7480859c40ef44db063a4fc/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20Feb%2018%20MG%20TT%2011.jpg)
-
![Residents of an apartment building in South Austin ate their meals in the parking lot after losing power. Their unit lost po…]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas jails and prisons see brutal cold and overfilled toilets in winter storm
Power and water outages have also hit many Texas lockups. Inmates have feared for their safety and officers were kept at their job for days. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2ccedcdfee23654eabacd03b63eadd7e/Dawson%20State%20Jail%2003.jpg)
![A jail officer stands guard inside her pit in a female detention area of the Dawson State Jail in Dallas on July 31, 2013.
…]()
Credit: Brandon Thibodeaux for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defending his reputation on two fronts
Paxton's legal troubles are increasing in volume, at just about the time an officeholder in his position would be thinking about the next round of elections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d721777e33aa7b2f6b716646b1bf2155/Ken%20Paxton%20TTF%202013%20CR%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Then-state Sen. Ken Paxton, who is now attorney general, during The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley retiring months after council members called for his removal
Manley worked for the department for 30 years. Last summer, he faced harsh criticism after police killed an unarmed man and then seriously injured nonviolent protesters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/48cad8e534a210e28b8b08a26568aae1/Brian%20Manley%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Austin Police Chief Brian Manley speaks during a news conference near the scene where a woman was injured in a package bomb …]()
Credit: REUTERS/Sergio Flores -
Former top aides say Attorney General Ken Paxton received assistance with home remodel, job for alleged girlfriend in return for helping political donor
A court filing documents what Paxton’s whistleblowers believe led to an alleged “bizarre, obsessive use of power.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e4bad68d1ddc458ba5a2f015da78fb77/Ken%20Paxton%20Red%20State%202014%20CN%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Attorney General Ken Paxton during the 2014 Red State Gathering in Fort Worth.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott prioritized changing how bail is set. He isn’t addressing people stuck behind bars because they can’t afford to pay.
Multiple federal courts have found Texas' cash bail practices discriminatory against poor people. The governor has said his priority bill will instead focus on keeping "dangerous criminals" in jail before they're convicted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4897f5dfaa1c671d69fe3dd902eb2778/Bail%20Bond%20Signs%20EL%20TT%2005.jpg)
![An Austin Bail Bonds II sign near Interstate 35 on Feb. 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Bending toward justice
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Nicole Collier, chairwoman of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, about the George Floyd Act, bail reform, marijuana, public safety funding and other items on the agenda in the 2021 session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee3b23c67609fb74b29eb60f2b7d02d0/TT-PointofOrder-podcast-launch-art.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas lawmakers reformed key sexual assault laws in 2019. Advocates hope the progress continues this session despite the pandemic.
Lawmakers and advocates are pushing for statutory changes and budget allocations to combat sexual assault in Texas. These include expanding the definition of sexual assault and processing a backlog of rape kits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f33f037e2eb1c56a2049fba5ab091f77/Capitol%20File%20AI%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The State Capitol on Nov. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Texas prisons have doled out thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses — but none have gone to prisoners, who get the virus at high rates
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has been allocated nearly 9,000 doses. The agency vaccinated prison health care workers, then correctional staff in infected areas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b42c11f7bb14acad8e2c469d036cd8c/Beeville%20Prison%20JW%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republican asks state to rename several of the state's prisons honoring slave owners
There are 99 state prisons and jails in the state, and several of which are named after people with racist and sometimes violent histories, according to The Marshall Project. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/19/PrisonAir.jpg)
![Prison staff and inmates move through the Darrington Unit's main hallway on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough/The Texas Tribune -
With a stalled court system, some Texas jails are dangerously overcrowded in the pandemic
The Harris County sheriff has pleaded for help from a federal judge to make room at the “bursting” jail in Houston, where six inmates and two employees have died from COVID-19. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d5167de8622d257bd49f6c3d6e7ceb28/Harris%20County%20Jail%20CR%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Inmates at the Harris County Jail.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Tell us how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting you
While doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have begun to arrive, the pandemic is far from over. Share your story with us. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4a13a426a3eaebead4f41c5e9a53913/Los%20Fresnos%20Vaccinations%20EG%20TT%2020.jpg)
![Cameron County residents wait to recieve the COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-in distribution site in Los Fresnos on Jan. 22, 202…]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott maintains hard line against cuts to city police budgets, remains silent on reform proposals
Touting his public safety priorities for the legislative session, the governor continued to assail Austin for redirecting part of its police budget. He backed changes in police training, but said little else about reforming policing or accountability. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f40f7a7f1c38ceab2b8daa265eb5a49/ATX%20Floyd%20Protest%20May%2031%20MG%20TT%2016.jpg)
![Austin police officers gathered on Interstate 35 to remove protesters from the highway. May 31, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
With a Democrat back in the White House, Texas Republicans prepare to go on offense
For the past four years, Texas Republicans have had an ally in the White House. Now they’re readying for the familiar role of conservative counterweight. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bb100b6ddeadf0ef761532d898f59bbe/Biden%20San%20Antonio%20EG%20TT%2022.jpg)
![Then-Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Joe Biden at a campaign event in San Antonio on Dec. 13, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Federal officials charge former Houston police officer for participating in U.S. Capitol riot
A federal affidavit filed by a special agent Tuesday identified the Houston Police officer who participated in the pro-Trump riot at the Capitol as 18-year veteran Tam Dinh Pham. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ef1288ab6e96d6cdf62d3caefb09b759/Officer%20Tam%20Pham%20TT.jpg)
![Houston police officer Tam Pham.]()
-
Texas Capitol to close Saturday, before planned armed protests of Joe Biden’s inauguration
The FBI reportedly warned law enforcement agencies in all 50 states of possibly armed protests after the U.S. Capitol was besieged by pro-Trump rioters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4fc80570bc7392f1731c53cffc8d303/Texas%20State%20Capitol%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol is locked on Jan. 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas laws protecting whistleblowers don't apply to Attorney General Ken Paxton, his agency argues in bid to quash lawsuit
In a lawsuit, four former Paxton aides claim they were wrongfully terminated for reporting alleged criminal behavior on his part. Paxton’s agency wants a judge to quash subpoenas and depositions, saying that as an elected official Paxton is exempt from state whistleblower protection laws. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8c1f74a5f213405d5689a998006b7100/Senate%20Lege%202021%20Opening%20Day%20JJ%20TT%2026.jpg)
![State Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, and her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, look toward the Senate gallery at …]()
Credit: Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman -
Houston police officer under investigation after participating in U.S. Capitol riot
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announced Thursday that the 18-year veteran of the department had resigned. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a549b58722dfb1c1cd5c218465deb644/Houston%20PD%20Badge%20MS%20TT.jpg)
![Houston police officers and SWAT team members on the scene in a west Houston neighborhood where a gunman with an assault rif…]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton is only state attorney general in the U.S. who didn’t sign letters condemning Capitol insurrection
Paxton has individually condemned the violence on television and social media while falsely claiming the pro-Trump mob that invaded the U.S. Capitol was infiltrated by liberal antifa activists. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/19d422ede453cc52a8bc79f9ea565b82/Ken%20Paxton%20LB%20TT.jpg)
![Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke at the Texas Federation of Republican Women Convention in Dallas on Oct. 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas' highest criminal court agrees to review murder conviction of white police officer who killed unarmed Black teen
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals took the rare step Wednesday in the landmark case of Roy Oliver, who was convicted of murder in the death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bbe71ba10f29b1bc51d8ff678f5c028b/Texas%20Court%20of%20Criminal%20Appeals%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune