Marijuana decriminalization measures in San Marcos, Austin get early court wins
Three other cities have passed similar measures but the Texas AG and others question whether they can be enforced because of conflicts with state law. Full Story
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![A sign asking for the decriminalization of marijuana is posted outside of an event hosted by Ground Game in Harker Heights on Dec. 3, 2022.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune -
The Rio Grande Valley’s pet population is out of control. Will a proposed limit in one city help?
Local leaders began debating a household limit on the number of pets after two residents were arrested for having 93 dogs and a cat in their home. Full Story
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![A dog rests in an area that has air conditioning and an access to the outside at Yaqui Animal Rescue, also known as Yaqui Ranch, in Sullivan City, Texas on July 26, 2024. This area is designated for the older dogs and for those who are sick.
Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
When the science crumbles, Texas law says a conviction could, too. That rarely happens.
Texas’ 2013 law that allows for new trials in cases with flawed scientific evidence was pioneering. But the state’s highest criminal court has rejected most of those challenges. Full Story
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Former Uvalde officer pleads not guilty to criminal charges over delayed mass shooting response
Adrian Gonzalez appeared in court Thursday after being indicted over law enforcement’s delay in confronting a gunman. Pete Arredondo previously pleaded not guilty. Full Story
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![The Uvalde County Courthouse on June 2, 2022.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
El Paso County officials say it’s time the state pays for Operation Lone Star arrests
County officials issued a disaster declaration Tuesday, saying the state’s mass arrests at the border have cost the county millions of dollars and overwhelmed its criminal justice system. Full Story
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![An undocumented Mexican migrant waits to board the vehicle where he will be transported after being arrested for trespassing private property by State Troopers as part of Operation Lone Star in Kinney County, on Nov. 9, 2021.]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for ProPublica/The Texas Tribune -
Texas attorney general can’t question Catholic Charities director over migrant services, court says
Wednesday’s ruling is the second time a Texas judge has ruled against the attorney general for investigating shelters helping migrants. Full Story
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![A table displayed with religious objects for sermons inside the Catholic Charities RGV Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen on April 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Big price cut ordered for inmate phone and video calls across Texas
A new FCC rule means a cap of 5 cents a minute for most inmate phone and video calls in the state of Texas. Full Story
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![Guard towers are located around the Polunsky Unit on Jan. 31, 2024.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Texas-based housing provider for migrant children engaged in sexual abuse and harassment, DOJ says
The Justice Department says Southwest Key employees, including supervisors, have assaulted children since at least 2015. Full Story
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![Southwest Key National Headquarters located in Austin, Tx, as seen on Oct. 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Abbott’s RNC remarks amplify his attack on Biden’s border policies
The Texas governor used his time on the Republican convention stage to praise Trump on border security and to challenge the Democratic president. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Republican National Convention, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 17, 2024.]()
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Supreme Court delays execution of Ruben Gutierrez for 1998 Brownsville murder
For more than a decade, Gutierrez has fought unsuccessfully for DNA testing of evidence that he says would prove he did not kill Escolastica Harrison. Full Story
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![The view of Texas' execution chamber from a witness viewing room.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Texas judge orders sheriff, school district to release Uvalde school shooting records
A group of news organizations including The Texas Tribune had sued for access to the records. Full Story
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![Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on July 11, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Texas death row inmate’s petition
Reed, on death row for more than 25 years, says he is innocent of the 1996 killing of Stacey Stites in Bastrop County. Full Story
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![In the center, from left: RJ Reed, 5, Rodrick Reed, and Sandra Reed, join hands as they pray during a rally at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11, 2022. The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments of Rodney Reed vs. Bryan Goertz, examining the statute of limitations for a claim seeking DNA testing of crime-scene evidence after Reed was sentenced to death for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites in Bastrop.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune -
Judge denies Texas’ attempt to shut down El Paso migrant shelter
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has accused Annunciation House, which operates a network of migrant shelters, of human smuggling. Full Story
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![A crowd of people gathers in support of Annunciation House during the press conference. Earlier this week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, announced a lawsuit against the migrant shelter Annunciation House for allegedly operating a stash house and human trafficking. Annunciation House has been providing aid and shelter to migrants in El Paso, Texas for more than 40 years. February 23, 2024]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ highest criminal court declines to stop execution of man accused in shaken baby case
Lawyers for Robert Roberson say the science used to sentence him to death is questionable and that prior health issues could explain the death of his 2-year-old daughter in 2002. Full Story
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![Robert Roberson in court for the review of his 2003 conviction in the death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, in Palestine on August 14, 2018. His attorneys are asking for a new trial based on new scientific evidence.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Former police chief, officer, charged with child endangerment in Uvalde shooting response
Former schools police chief Pete Arredondo faces 10 criminal charges, while former school district officer Adrian Gonzales faces 29 counts. Full Story
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![Hundreds of flowers, toys, and candles surround the crosses in memorial of the 21 victims of the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on June 9, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Former Uvalde schools police chief indicted for role in Robb Elementary shooting response
Pete Arredondo, the former chief, and former officer Adrian Gonzales face felony charges of abandoning or endangering a child. Full Story
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![Uvalde school police Chief Pete Arredondo stands on a dirt road on the outskirts of town on June 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Court ruling suggests recent activity in federal investigation of Ken Paxton
Records don’t name the attorney general’s office, but their details line up with the accusations former top deputies made against Paxton. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Travis County Attorney drops charges against 79 more UT-Austin protesters
The arrests were the result of the second police crackdown on pro-Palestine demonstrations at UT-Austin. The first protest, on April 24, resulted in 57 arrests, which were also dismissed. Full Story
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![A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper stands between a pro-Palestinian encampment and other ralliers on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Monday, April 29, 2024]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
Criminal charges dropped against Austin officer who shot Michael Ramos
Officer Chris Taylor was tried for murder last year, but jurors couldn’t reach a verdict. A grand jury this week declined to indict him on any criminal charges. Full Story
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![Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, middle, talks to his attorney Doug O’Connell, left, during a break in his murder trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on October 23, 2023. Taylor is charged with killing Michael Ramos in 2020.]()
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Texas executes Ramiro Gonzales for 2001 murder
Gonzales, who was on death row for the rape and murder of Bridget Townsend in Medina County, is the second person to be executed in Texas this year. Full Story
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![Interior of Death Chamber in Texas.]()
Credit: Jenevieve Robbins/Texas Department of Criminal Justice
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