Texas’ highest criminal court tosses death sentence of Raymond Riles, state’s longest-serving death row inmate
Riles has been deemed mentally incompetent for execution repeatedly in his decades on death row. 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 -
Former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst arrested on domestic violence charge
Dewhurst ran against Ted Cruz for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate and was ousted from his No. 2 spot in Texas government by Dan Patrick. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/27/DewhurstSpecial1.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst ends the 83rd regular session an announces a special session to begin at 6:00PM on May 27, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Voters would have to approve police budget cuts under bill approved by Texas Senate
Despite loud opposition from Democrats who said the legislation overstepped local governments, Senate Bill 23 passed with broad bipartisan support. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4a32657f7daef3cf7714adbb0eb917ef/Austin%20Protest%20June%204%20EG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Police look on as demonstrators gathered outside Austin Police headquarters for another night of protest against police viol…]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Marvin Scott III died in Texas police custody. His family will protest until the officers involved are arrested.
Though seven of the sheriff’s officers have been fired after initially being put on administrative leave and another resigned while under investigation, the family and protesters say they don’t plan to stop until the officers have been charged with a crime. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a4822bcddef071157556d8f2366a146e/Marvin%20Scott%20III%20Rally%20ST%20TT%2017.jpg)
![LaChay Batts leads a chant saying Marvin Scott IIIís name at a demonstration outside of the Collin County Jail to demand jus…]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
At least 1 dead after multiple people shot in Bryan, Texas
The shootings began at Kent Moore Cabinets, and one Texas Department of Public Safety trooper who was later shot is in serious, but stable condition. The shooting occurred the same day that President Joe Biden released a list of executive orders to address gun violence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81d704bfdf6d40d34e52b3ab2afb5a5e/Bryan%20Shooting%20KBTX%20TT.jpg)
![Multiple injuries were reported after a shooting at Kent Moore Cabinets in Bryan.]()
Credit: Courtesy of KBTX -
Texas lawmakers advancing bail bills that opponents say do little for people stuck in jail because they're poor
Texas courts have long been criticized for keeping people in jail pending trial who can't afford to post bond. Two priority bills this session would change the bail system, but they're primarily aimed at keeping potentially dangerous defendants behind bars. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8703658ffc968d74d56cbe205d761390/03%20Bail%20Bonds%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![Around the Clock Bail Bonds on 10th St. and Nueces in Austin on May 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
He died in jail hours after a minor pot arrest. Now 7 corrections officers have been fired.
Seven Collin County detention officers have been fired for their role in allegedly restraining Marvin Scott III, blasting him with pepper spray and placing a hood over his head as he suffered through what his family has described as a mental health emergency. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2456d196c10dea6d36b6e980dbe5e8b7/Marvin%20Scott%20III%20Rally%20ST%20TT%2028.jpg)
![Alejandra Bernal attaches a sign to the fence surrounding the Collin County Jail nearly two weeks after Marvin Scott III die…]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will review Crystal Mason’s controversial illegal-voting conviction
The Tarrant County woman faces a five-year prison sentence for casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 election while on supervised release for a federal conviction. Her vote was never counted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/642ab6ae80513ba91aa94803dd0e15ca/05%20Crystal%20Mason%20LBS%20TT.jpg)
![Crystal Mason spoke about being accused of voter fraud and her upcoming court case on Sept. 9 2019 in Fort Worth.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Outgoing Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo talks moving to Miami, George Floyd and police funding
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Houston’s top cop, Art Acevedo, about why he’s leaving for Miami, police funding, constitutional carry, qualified immunity and what he really thinks of Greg Abbott and Sylvester Turner. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee3b23c67609fb74b29eb60f2b7d02d0/TT-PointofOrder-podcast-launch-art.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas prisons stopped in-person visits and limited mail. Drugs got in anyway.
Agency data shows officers are finding just as many drugs — and writing up even more prisoners for having them — despite the restrictions. Contraband is most often brought in by staff, according to prisoners and employees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8acfbded6bf2cf5379f4a9629a100148/Marshall%20Texas%20Contraband%20TT.jpg)
![According to prisoners and employees, contraband is most often brought into prisons by staff.]()
Credit: Illustration by Molly Magnell for The Marshall Project and The Texas Tribune -
Texas' George Floyd Act seeks to reform violent police behavior. But a sticking point centers on protecting officers from lawsuits.
A provision that would remove police officers' legal shield against civil lawsuits has been pegged by multiple lawmakers as a sticking point in the Republican-led Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/288cd065ea6cb703b609a2514f35ba13/George%20Floyd%20ACT%20Captiol%20CH%20TT%2014.jpg)
![Activist and author Cluren Williams leads a chant at a rally to support the Texas George Floyd Act outside the Texas Capitol…]()
Credit: Charlie L. Harper III for The Texas Tribune -
Hundreds of Texas prisoners are getting vaccinated — months after many became eligible
Almost 2,000 vaccine doses have gone to qualifying prisoners as of Thursday, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c238e8eb1bd841564a98c177eede36af/Texas_Prison_TT.jpg)
![Telford prison in New Boston.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Not all emergencies are priorities in the Texas Capitol
Texas has seen more mass shootings in the last two years than proven incidents of voter fraud, but legislators are more focused on election law than on gun violence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f0586a59c858d9b899360816df30791/02%20WalMart%20scene%20IPA%20TT.jpg)
![A police unit at the back entrance to a Walmart where a gunman opened fire on back-to-school shoppers on Aug. 3, 2019, in El…]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
The rioter next door: How the Dallas suburbs spawned domestic extremists
North Texas remains a focus of the investigation into the Capitol insurrection after 19 local residents have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, according to federal authorities. That's one of the largest numbers in any place in the country. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fa9aaa37b6bf570fdc07fd39085750ac/Capitol%20Armed%20Protesters%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Armed protesters gathere at the Capitol on Jan. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Houston police Chief Art Acevedo to leave Texas for Miami
Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Thursday that Troy Finner, the HPD executive assistant chief, will succeed Acevedo as police chief. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/25/APrice-LawEnforcementPresser-2.jpg)
![Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo speaks out against bathroom bills at a press conference on the steps of the state capitol o…]()
Credit: Austin Price/The Texas Tribune -
Austin officer charged with murder in Michael Ramos' death as lawmakers file bills making it harder to withhold body camera footage
Almost a year after Michael Ramos, a Black and Hispanic man, was killed in Austin, Christopher Taylor, the officer who shot him, has been charged with murder. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/689f08837f0837c043706b112c840d17/ATX%20George%20Floyd%20Protest%20MG%20TT%2014.jpg)
![A protester holds a sign at a rally for George Floyd and Michael Ramos at Austin Police headquarters on May 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas lifts yearlong ban on prison visitation beginning March 15
State prisons shut down visitation last March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/69df9e6ac06f7fbf1128db43e7238bb5/Huntsville%20SF%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The exterior of Huntsville Unit, a prison in Huntsville, on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Twitter sues Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, asks court to halt his investigation of the social media company
Beleaguered Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who attended the pro-Donald Trump rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol siege, issued civil investigative demands to Twitter after the company banned the former president from its platform. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f4904fd9be4486cf87db4f5ca2752f5/01%20Ken%20Paxton%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Bill Clark -
Texas courts cleared for in-person trials, and local officials will decide whether to require face masks
The Texas Supreme Court’s new order follows Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that he will lift a statewide mask mandate and many other coronavirus restrictions next week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/68bf3c2d3f121d9fd226edf1377ba9f9/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2003.jpg)
![The Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: How Gov. Greg Abbott's attack on "defunding the police" has divided Texas Democrats
The governor's pivot from a focus on racism and policing after protests last summer to an emphasis on police funding and public safety, creates cross-pressures for Texans of color — particularly those who are Democrats, our pollsters write. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0de38278b04e0c2742af7a3e2c01ef4a/Abbott%20Back%20the%20Blue%20Presser%20REUTERS.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Speaker Dennis Bonnen before …]()
Credit: Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via USA TODAY NETWORK