Texas lifts yearlong ban on prison visitation beginning March 15
State prisons shut down visitation last March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
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![The exterior of Huntsville Unit, a prison in Huntsville, on 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
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016.]()
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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
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![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
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Speaker Dennis Bonnen before signing a Texas Backs the Blue Pledge at the Austin Police Association on Sept. 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via USA TODAY NETWORK -
Harris County got rid of cash bail for many people accused of minor crimes. GOP lawmakers want to walk that back.
Recent reforms that let more people accused of minor offenses be released without posting cash bonds appear to be working, new research shows. But Houston area lawmakers want to roll them back. Full Story
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![An Austin Bail Bonds II sign near Interstate 35 on Feb. 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Most white Texas voters believe the deaths of Black people in police custody aren’t a systemic problem
Texas voters support the police and don't want to cut their budgets. But they disagree on the reasons behind the deaths of Black people in encounters with law enforcement, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![Austin police officers stand guard outside of their headquarters during a protest against the death of George Floyd. June 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Lawyer for Texas attorney general’s office repeatedly tries to block testimony and evidence at whistleblower hearing
A Travis County judge opted to move forward with Monday's hearing without ruling on the motion to dismiss the whistleblower lawsuit. Late Monday night, an appeals court halted the second day of proceedings at the request of the agency's attorney. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Texas Federation of Republican Women Convention in Dallas on Oct. 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Texans no longer need to conserve energy, power grid operator says
We’re tracking the fallout from the massive winter storm in Texas, which has brought widespread power outages and transportation problems. Full Story
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![Residents of an apartment building in South Austin ate their meals in the parking lot after losing power during a severe winter storm. Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas jails and prisons see brutal cold and overfilled toilets in winter storm
Power and water outages have also hit many Texas lockups. Inmates have feared for their safety and officers were kept at their job for days. Full Story
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![A jail officer stands guard inside her pit in a female detention area of the Dawson State Jail in Dallas on July 31, 2013.]()
Credit: Brandon Thibodeaux for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defending his reputation on two fronts
Paxton's legal troubles are increasing in volume, at just about the time an officeholder in his position would be thinking about the next round of elections. Full Story
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![Then-state Sen. Ken Paxton, who is now attorney general, during The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley retiring months after council members called for his removal
Manley worked for the department for 30 years. Last summer, he faced harsh criticism after police killed an unarmed man and then seriously injured nonviolent protesters. Full Story
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![Austin Police Chief Brian Manley speaks during a news conference near the scene where a woman was injured in a package bomb explosion, in Austin on March 12, 2018.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Sergio Flores -
Former top aides say Attorney General Ken Paxton received assistance with home remodel, job for alleged girlfriend in return for helping political donor
A court filing documents what Paxton’s whistleblowers believe led to an alleged “bizarre, obsessive use of power.” Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton during the 2014 Red State Gathering in Fort Worth.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott prioritized changing how bail is set. He isn’t addressing people stuck behind bars because they can’t afford to pay.
Multiple federal courts have found Texas' cash bail practices discriminatory against poor people. The governor has said his priority bill will instead focus on keeping "dangerous criminals" in jail before they're convicted. Full Story
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![An Austin Bail Bonds II sign near Interstate 35 on Feb. 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Bending toward justice
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Nicole Collier, chairwoman of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, about the George Floyd Act, bail reform, marijuana, public safety funding and other items on the agenda in the 2021 session. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers reformed key sexual assault laws in 2019. Advocates hope the progress continues this session despite the pandemic.
Lawmakers and advocates are pushing for statutory changes and budget allocations to combat sexual assault in Texas. These include expanding the definition of sexual assault and processing a backlog of rape kits. Full Story
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![The State Capitol on Nov. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Texas prisons have doled out thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses — but none have gone to prisoners, who get the virus at high rates
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has been allocated nearly 9,000 doses. The agency vaccinated prison health care workers, then correctional staff in infected areas. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republican asks state to rename several of the state's prisons honoring slave owners
There are 99 state prisons and jails in the state, and several of which are named after people with racist and sometimes violent histories, according to The Marshall Project. Full Story
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![Prison staff and inmates move through the Darrington Unit's main hallway on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.]()
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With a stalled court system, some Texas jails are dangerously overcrowded in the pandemic
The Harris County sheriff has pleaded for help from a federal judge to make room at the “bursting” jail in Houston, where six inmates and two employees have died from COVID-19. Full Story
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![Inmates at the Harris County Jail.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Tell us how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting you
While doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have begun to arrive, the pandemic is far from over. Share your story with us. Full Story
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![Cameron County residents wait to recieve the COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-in distribution site in Los Fresnos on Jan. 22, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott maintains hard line against cuts to city police budgets, remains silent on reform proposals
Touting his public safety priorities for the legislative session, the governor continued to assail Austin for redirecting part of its police budget. He backed changes in police training, but said little else about reforming policing or accountability. Full Story
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![Austin police officers gathered on Interstate 35 to remove protesters from the highway. May 31, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune