Bid to Ease Cuba's Sanctions Turns to Texas
A Washington-based interest group is setting up shop in Texas to try and persuade lawmakers — and the people who usher them into office — to change their tone on U.S.-Cuba relations. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Domenic Scaturchio -
God & Governing: Guns
Tune in to "God & Guns" — part 2 of our "God & Governing" documentary-style series — to see how lawmakers' religious beliefs played into the gun rights debate during the 2015 Texas Legislature. Full Story
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Video: The Future of Criminal Justice Policy
On 10/6, I talked about the future of criminal justice policy in Texas with Derek Cohen of the Center for Effective Justice; state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso; Douglas Smith of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition; and State Rep. James White, R-Woodville. Full Story
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Court of Criminal Appeals: Flag Desecration Ban Violates Constitution
The state's highest criminal court ruled Wednesday that a Texas law banning defacement of the U.S.and state flags is unconstitutional. Full Story
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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Agrees to Review Perry Indictment
Texas' highest criminal court has agreed to review the abuse-of-power case against former Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry speaks to reporters on Aug. 16, 2014, the day after a grand jury indicted him on two felony counts related to his veto of public integrity unit funding.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
God & Governing: How Legislators' Faith Guides Their Lawmaking
In the 2015 Texas legislative session, state lawmakers weren't shy about using their religious beliefs to defend their policymaking. Check out "God & Governing," our documentary series on the role lawmakers' personal faith played in their legislating. Full Story
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Livestream: The Future of Criminal Justice Policy
We're livestreaming our conversation on the future of criminal justice in Texas at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Full Story
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Lawmakers Jump into Tussle Over God's Trust
A furor involving a small-town Texas police department and national secular organization has reached the state attorney general's office, and may well wind up in court after that. At issue: Does slapping "In God We Trust" stickers on police patrol cars violate the U.S. constitution? Full Story
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![The Childress Police Department recently began displaying "In God We Trust" on its patrol vehicles.]()
Credit: Childress Police Department -
Paxton Asks High Court to Reject Abortion Case
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a request from a coalition of abortion providers to take up their legal challenge to the state’s strict abortion restrictions. Full Story
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Abbott Doles Out $133M for Law Enforcement, Victim Assistance
Gov. Greg Abbott's criminal justice division is doling out $133 million in grants to local law enforcement agencies and victims' assistance programs across seven Texas regions, he announced Friday. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott talks to reporters at the Texas Capitol on Nov. 5, 2014, the day after he was elected governor.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Judge Presses State on Birth Certificate Denials
The first arguments were held Friday in a federal lawsuit challenging Texas policies that effectively deny birth certificates to some U.S.-citizen children of undocumented immigrants. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman questioned the state's reasoning. Full Story
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Lawmaker Mulls Hearing on Juvenile Justice
State Sen. John Whitmire might call a hearing and seek leadership changes at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department after multiple reports of youths fighting, climbing onto rooftops and running away from staff in large numbers at youth correctional facilities. Full Story
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McCaul, Vela Praise Extradition of Alleged Criminals
A pair of Texas congressmen who lambasted the Mexican government after the embarrassing July escape of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán lauded Mexico on Thursday for extraditing 13 alleged criminals to the United States. Full Story
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![A picture of Sinaloa drug cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera is released by Mexican law enforcement officials in February 2014 after Guzmán was captured.]()
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DPS Chief Calls Harassment Claims "Garbage"
The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety on Thursday said it was absurd that some border residents claim state troopers are harassing residents during the ongoing border surge in the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story
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![Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw speaks to State Rep. Garnet Coleman, chair of the House Committee on County Affairs during a hearing on July 30, 2015]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Travis County Prosecutor-For-Hire Deal Postponed
A controversial agreement between the Travis County District Attorney's Office and Texas Mutual Insurance in which the company pays prosecutors to pursue its fraud cases will be suspended — at least for now, officials said Wednesday. Full Story
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Abbott Again Presses Federal Government on Border Security
Amid reports of a spike in illegal border crossings, Gov. Greg Abbott is again pushing the federal government to fortify the Texas-Mexico border, demanding "immediate and bold action" from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott at the Texas State Prayer Breakfast in Austin on May 4, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cane Eradication Funds Lost in Political Thicket
Carrizo cane sprouts along the banks of the Rio Grande, providing easy cover for smugglers and drug mules. A new state law says it should be eradicated, but lawmakers neglected to set aside any money for razing cane. Full Story
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Offenders Return to State School With Thanks
A group of youth offenders once considered the worst of the worst for crimes including murder, capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated robbery returned to Giddings State School recently not as inmates but as thankful adults. Full Story
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![Karwin Archie attended the "Raised by the State" reunion for reformed youth offenders once housed at Giddings State School to show appreciation to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.]()
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Texas Prisons Deny Making Execution Drugs
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice on Friday shot down allegations that it is manufacturing its own hard-to-find execution drugs after federal defense attorneys in an Oklahoma death row case accused the Texas prison system of doing exactly that. Full Story
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![The view of Texas' execution chamber from a witness viewing room.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Former Lawmaker Sentenced to Six Days in Jail for Drunken Driving
A Travis County judge on Friday sentenced former state representative Jack Stick to six days in jail and a 90-day driver's license suspension for driving while intoxicated, according to prosecutors. Full Story
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![Jack Stick, former chief counsel of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, sits inside a Travis County courtroom during his 2015 trial for a 2012 DWI arrest.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera