The latest criminal justice news from The Texas Tribune.
The governor said the 18-year-old gunman shared each step of his rampage on Facebook, but the social media giant says they were private text messages — not public posts. Full Story
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He brought only one of the rifles with him into the elementary school, according to the briefing. The other was left in a truck he crashed nearby. Full Story
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Families gathered at the city’s civic center to await news about their children following the elementary school shooting. Other residents processed their shock and grief in places of worship. Full Story
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As President Joe Biden vowed to enact stricter gun laws following the Uvalde shooting, top Texas Republicans worked to create distance between the shooting and potential gun restrictions. Full Story
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We know what comes next. Another scar hardens on the state’s collective psyche, but little is done to prevent the next one. Full Story
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Robb Elementary teaches second, third and fourth grade students in Uvalde, which is about 85 miles west of San Antonio. Gov. Greg Abbott said the shooter is believed to have been killed by responding law enforcement. The shooting started around 11:32 a.m. Full Story
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Officials are still trying to piece together how Gonzalo Lopez managed to cut through a metal door and hijack a prison bus Thursday. An extensive manhunt continues in Leon County. Full Story
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Friends, families and attorneys have posted more than $2 million to get migrants out of prison. Defense attorneys say the rural county is erecting barriers that will keep many from recovering the money when they’re entitled to it. Full Story
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Mason said she didn’t know she was ineligible to vote when she cast a provisional ballot in 2016, but she was sentenced to five years in prison. Now, the Court of Criminal Appeals says an appellate court that affirmed her conviction must look again at the evidence of Mason’s intent. Full Story
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The trial included four prosecutors, and so many potential jurors were summoned the town sandwich shop was shorthanded for lunch. But a Kinney County jury Monday convicted a Honduran national in the first jury trial for trespassing under Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. Full Story
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Join us in Austin from Sept. 22-24 for our biggest and best ideas weekend ever. The 30 speakers we’re announcing today are only a hint of what we have planned. Full Story
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The three men are accused of using excessive force during May 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd. Full Story
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A few hours after saying he was being sued by the bar, Paxton’s office announced an investigation into the Texas Bar Foundation for “facilitating mass influx of illegal aliens.” Full Story
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Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage faces more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding donors to the private wall effort. Full Story
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Texas is a great state, but there’s a lot of work to do, and it starts with the public — and what Texans really want. The political class isn’t going to do this on its own. Full Story
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Thousands of men have been arrested on trespassing charges under Gov. Greg Abbott’s border crackdown. A new lawsuit claims the attempt to skirt federal immigration authority is unconstitutional. Full Story
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Texas political leaders usually settle for caution. The big stuff is risky, but it’s also possible — and even inspiring — to see leaders ignoring the small stuff and aiming higher. Full Story
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In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Jolie about the stay of execution in Lucio’s case and with Josh about property taxes in Texas. Full Story
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Reed has long professed his innocence in the 1996 murder for which he faces execution. Key evidence in the case has not been tested for DNA, including the ligature used to strangle 19-year-old Stacey Stites. Full Story
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Lucio learned of her reprieve in a phone call from state Rep. Jeff Leach. Full Story
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