No, a Texas man was not indicted for filling out 1,700 mail-in ballots, despite what Attorney General William Barr said
The case at issue stems from a 2017 investigation into suspected mail-in voter fraud in Dallas County. Full Story
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![U.S. Attorney General William Barr testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Congressional Auditorium at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in Washington in July.]()
Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Pool via REUTERS -
Assistant Texas attorney general loses job after report surfaces racist tweets
Nick Moutos threatened Black Lives Matter protesters and has regularly referred to the organizers as “terrorists.” He called Islam a “virus” and trans people an “abomination.” Full Story
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![Nick Moutos.]()
Credit: Social media -
Gov. Greg Abbott considering legislation to put Austin police under state control after budget cut
If passed, the legislative proposal could consolidate Austin's police department under the Texas Department of Public Safety. 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 -
Report: Harris County’s bail reforms let more people out of jail before trial without raising risk of reoffending
Texas' most populous county changed its bail practices for misdemeanor defendants last year after a lengthy lawsuit challenging cash bail. Full Story
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![The Harris County Jail in Houston on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Susan Rice condemns recent violence at protests, says she does not support defunding police
Speaking at The Texas Tribune Festival, Rice said she supported "reimagining the role of police" and reallocating funds to social and economic development in some cities. Full Story
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![Susan Rice at the The Texas Tribune Festival in 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus wants an investigation into Fort Hood. At least nine soldiers stationed there have been found dead this year.
The Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus reupped its request on Friday for a congressional investigation into Fort Hood, the Killeen military base. Full Story
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![A sign in support of an investigation of the spate of deaths stemming from Fort Hood.]()
Credit: Jennifer Babich for USA Today Network via REUTERS -
In an investigation tied to private border wall, federal prosecutors have Steve Bannon's murky nonprofit in their sights
Tucked at the bottom of the long indictment against Bannon, prosecutors say they want to seize the assets of his nonprofit Citizens of the American Republic, shedding more light on the secretive political group’s finances. Full Story
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![From left, We Build the Wall Founder Brian Kolfage and David Clarke Jr., a board member of the group, prepare for a news conference in Sunland Park, New Mexico in 2019.]()
Credit: Mark Lambie/El Paso Times via REUTERS -
Judge won't be removed from criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
Paxton's team had asked that the judge, Jason Luong, be recused from the case because the Texas attorney general's office is representing him — along with about 20 other Houston-area judges — in an unrelated lawsuit. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state capitol. Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas put hundreds of hours into finding and arresting police brutality protesters. Lawyers call it a “witch hunt."
Two days of unruly protests at the Texas Capitol in May left graffiti on the historic building and cuts and bruises on state police officers. Since then, the Texas Department of Public Safety has spent the summer naming and arresting suspects, the majority of whom are accused of misdemeanors. Full Story
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![A crowd of protestors gather at the south gate of the capitol on May 31, 2020]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Texas and the DNC, the fight over police funding, and election mailing woes
On this week's Tribcast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Alex and Ross about Texans' role at the Democratic National Convention, a new front in the local control fight and what election mail concerns could mean for Texas. Full Story
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![Protesters march in downtown Austin on July 27, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott, other Texas leaders want to freeze property tax revenues for cities that cut police budgets
The state's three top elected leaders also fiercely criticized the Austin officials who plan to cut up to one-third of their police department's budget, largely through reorganizing divisions out from under law enforcement. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, hold the first meeting of the Texas Safety Commission at the Texas Capitol August 22, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Rangers' lore spurred cultural fawning and sports namesakes that have long masked a history of violence and racism
This year's prevalent and ongoing protests against police brutality have sparked calls for the Rangers' name to be stricken from the modern-day Texas Department of Public Safety investigative agency, North Texas’ Major League Baseball team and college mascots. Full Story
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![Arlinda Valencia, 68, holds a photograph taken in 1918 of her great-grandfather Longino Flores, left, great-grandmother Juana Bonilla Flores, center, and aunt Rosa Flores Mesa, right, while she poses for a portrait at her home in Horizon City, Texas, on Thursday, August, 6, 2020. Longino Flores was among the 15 men and boys killed in the 1918 Porvenir massacre. Juana Bonilla Flores would later take her own life two years after the massacre following a battle with post-traumatic stress disorder according to Arlinda Valencia. Photo credit: Joel Angel Juarez for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Joel Angel Juarez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ largest cities spend more on police than anything else. Activists want more of those funds spent on the social safety net instead.
Austin officials slashed their police department's budget this week as other Texas cities are rethinking how general fund dollars are spent — and whether spending so much to combat crime addresses the poverty that can cause it. Full Story
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![Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo responds to demonstrators about police accountability at a rally for George Floyd at Houston City Hall.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislative Black Caucus unveils the George Floyd Act to ban chokeholds and limit police use of force
In a press conference featuring Floyd's brother, the lawmakers said they hope their bill wins the support of Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
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![Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus at a press conference supporting the CROWN Act in Houston on Feb. 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Austin City Council cuts police department budget by one-third, mainly through reorganizing some duties out from law enforcement oversight
Gov. Greg Abbott said Austin officials' vote “puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk" — and vowed that the Texas Department of Public Safety will "stand in the gap." Full Story
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![Police look on as demonstrators gathered outside Austin Police headquarters for another night of protest against police violence on June 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats see a winning formula in Kamala Harris. Will she bring suburban women and Black voters to the polls?
State Democrats see her as someone who can excite key voting groups but who won’t alienate more moderate voters. Full Story
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![Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Texas Southern University in Houston on March 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants judge recused from his criminal case, promising further delays in years-old prosecution
Paxton was indicted for felony securities fraud in July 2015 but has yet to go to trial as attorneys duke out side battles over venue and prosecutor pay. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to delegates at the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio on June 15, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The only Texas prison reporting zero coronavirus cases is where inmates make soap. But that’s not what’s credited with protecting it.
Of more than 100 Texas prison units, the Roach Unit's apparent ability to avoid the virus has been attributed to a remote location and a warden who strictly enforces precautionary measures. Full Story
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![Inmates at the Central Unit used to make thousands of pounds of soap at this factory. Amid budget cuts, the unit closed in 2011.]()
Credit: Justin Dehn/The Texas Tribune -
Inside the Trump campaign’s effort — and struggle — to win over Black voters in Texas
The Trump campaign has held events across the country to chip away at his broad unpopularity with Black voters and flip the narrative that he is hostile to people of color. Full Story
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![Frederick Douglass Republicans Engagement Strategy creator KCarl Smith speaks at a Black Voices for Trump event, a nationwide initiative to sway voters, at the McLennan County Republican Headquarters in Waco on Feb. 26, 2020.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas Legislature can meet for up to 140 days. The pandemic raises a question: Should it?
The Legislature starts its next regular session in January and can meet for up to 140 days. That gives lawmakers time to consider more than 6,000 bills. During a pandemic, they might want to do a lot less. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol on Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune