Criminal justice

Texas carries out nation's first execution of 2020 for domestic violence slaying in Collin County

by Jolie McCullough

John Gardner, 64, was put to death for the 2005 murder of his estranged wife. His lawyers had argued the crime wasn't eligible for the death penalty. Full Story 

Trump administration sets into motion return of online 3D gun blueprints

by Stacy Fernández

An Austin man posted blueprints for the world's first fully 3D-printed gun online in 2013. They've been blocked from the internet twice. Full Story 

Austin to consider stopping arrests, tickets in low-level marijuana cases after hemp law

by Alex Samuels and Jolie McCullough

Four progressive members of the City Council are pushing the proposal, which needs two more votes to pass. Full Story 

He spent a month in Texas jail accused of hauling 3,350 pounds of marijuana. But lab results say it was legal hemp.

by Jolie McCullough

The man had told a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper that his truck contained hemp, not weed. He was released from detention after a federal crime lab tested the cargo. Full Story 

Marijuana prosecutions in Texas have dropped by more than half since lawmakers legalized hemp

by Jolie McCullough

After Texas legalized hemp and threw marijuana prosecution into chaos last year, prosecutors filed far fewer criminal charges, police departments paid for private testing and public crime labs were struggling to catch up. Full Story 

Cesar Fierro spent 40 years on Texas death row. A court tossed his sentence Wednesday for faulty jury instructions.

by Jolie McCullough

Fierro was sentenced to death in El Paso in 1980 for the murder of a taxi driver. Full Story 

Students face felony charges, expulsions as Texas schools ramp up fight against vaping

by Aliyya Swaby and Jolie McCullough

Caught off guard by the increase in teen vaping, schools are grasping every tool at hand, including expulsions and suspensions. In some districts, students can face harsh discipline and jail time for having a vape pen in their backpack. Full Story 

What is the "boyfriend loophole?" Houston's police chief wants lawmakers to prevent abusive dating partners from buying guns.

by Stacy Fernández

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo made the remarks after one of his sergeants was killed while responding to a domestic violence incident. Full Story 

Texas prison officials violated a judge's order to provide inmates with air conditioning. Now prisoners' lawyers get to investigate.

by Jolie McCullough

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison said the lawyers can further probe the Texas prison agency's violations of a court order to provide air conditioning for some inmates — and agency officials’ false claims that they were in compliance. Full Story 

Texas executed Travis Runnels for a prison murder. His lawyers said false testimony put him on death row.

by Jolie McCullough

A Texas court has twice overturned death sentences because of one man’s false testimony on restrictions placed on prisoners. Runnels argued the same man’s testimony should have stopped his death, too. Full Story 

Prison health care costs are higher than ever in Texas. Many point to an aging prison population.

by Davis Rich

Although there are fewer people in prison than there were a decade ago, costs have surged along with the share of inmates who are older — and sicker. Full Story 

Rodney Reed's execution was set for Wednesday. A Texas court stopped it last week.

by Jolie McCullough, Justin Dehn and Todd Wiseman

The Texas Tribune takes a look at Reed's case as it is sent back to the local court, which will review claims that he is innocent of the murder that put him on death row. Full Story 

Texas court stops Rodney Reed’s execution to further review claims of innocence

by Jolie McCullough

The ruling came hours after the Texas parole board recommended that Gov. Greg Abbott delay Reed’s death for 120 days. Full Story 

State Rep. Poncho Nevárez turns himself in to authorities after dropping envelope with cocaine

by Cassandra Pollock and Patrick Svitek

The Eagle Pass Democrat was caught on video surveillance dropping an envelope of cocaine on the ground at the Austin airport. Full Story 

Pressure is mounting to stop Rodney Reed's execution. Where does his case stand?

by Jolie McCullough

Dozens of lawmakers — both Republicans and Democrats — have asked Gov. Greg Abbott and the parole board to stop Reed's execution. There are also multiple appeals in the courts. Full Story 

As Walmart reopens, El Pasoans are still grappling with mass shooting's aftermath

by Julián Aguilar

The store where a gunman killed nearly two dozen people and shot dozens more in August opened its doors Thursday, setting off a wave of mixed emotions in a community still grieving. Full Story 

TribCast: Sid Miller's Facebook rhetoric, Rodney Reed finds bipartisan allies

by Emily Ramshaw and Bobby Blanchard

On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Jolie about Ag Commissioner Sid Miller’s latest Facebook rhetoric, the escalating pressure on the governor in the Rodney Reed death penalty case and a court of criminal appeals race that has everything going for it but an actual election. Full Story 

In Texas case, Supreme Court wrestles with the legal boundaries of cross-border shootings

by Piper Hudspeth Blackburn and Brian Johnson, Medill News Service

A U.S. Border Patrol Agent in El Paso fired across the border and killed a Mexican teen in 2010. The justices will decide whether the teen's family can sue the U.S. government. Full Story 

Texas had 7 mass shootings over 10 years. Meanwhile, gun control has loosened statewide.

by Mandi Cai and Stacy Fernández

Texas has a history of deadly mass shootings. Many have sparked public debate about what legislation should be passed to prevent another one. Full Story 

Ted Cruz calls efforts to halt Rodney Reed's execution "remarkable bipartisan coalition"

by Jolie McCullough and Chase Karacostas

"If there is credible evidence there’s a real chance a defendant is innocent, that evidence should be weighed carefully," Cruz tweeted Friday night. Full Story