https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/hayden-betts/The latest news by Hayden Betts.enFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-police-records-g-file-senate-bill-15/Senate Bill 15’s supporters say police shouldn’t be publicly maligned for unproven allegations. Critics say the bill disincentivizes agencies from properly investigating complaints.By Alex Nguyen, Hayden Betts and Stephen SimpsonFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-police-records-g-file-senate-bill-15/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-quorum-breaks-history/While the Democrats could technically derail the GOP’s redistricting map, such efforts have been largely symbolic and had limited success blocking past legislation, experts say.By Hayden BettsSun, 03 Aug 2025 17:35:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-quorum-breaks-history/The last time Texas House Democrats broke quorum was in July 2021, when they headed to Washington D.C. The delegation did so in an effort to block the passage of a bill they said would have restricted voting access.At least 50 House Democrats that Texas left the state held a press conference in Washington D.C. The democrats broke quorum and stopped Republicans from taking up GOP priority bills on July 13, 2021.Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-hill-country-flood-survivors-hearing/Residents told state lawmakers about what they’ve lost and the hardships they’re experiencing almost a month after the July 4 disaster devastated the region.By Hayden Betts and Ayden RunnelsThu, 31 Jul 2025 20:19:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-hill-country-flood-survivors-hearing/Alicia Jeffrey Baker, who lost her 11-year-old daughter Emmy and her parents Emlyn and Penelope Jeffrey in the flooding, receives a hug after testifying during a joint committee hearing.Alicia Jeffrey Baker receives a hug after testifying during a joint committee hearing at Hill Country Youth Event Center on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Baker lost her parents Emlyn and Penelope Jeffrey and her daughter Madelyn “Emmy” Jeffrey in the flooding.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/23/texas-hill-country-floods-legislative-committee-hearing/Lawmakers serving on special committees investigating deadly floods blasted a river authority for failing to build a flood warning system on the Guadalupe River.By Emily Foxhall, Hayden Betts, Paul Cobler and Ayden RunnelsWed, 23 Jul 2025 17:05:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/23/texas-hill-country-floods-legislative-committee-hearing/Members of the Texas Senate and House hold a joint Disaster Preparedness and Flooding committee meeting on July 23 at the state Capiol in Austin. The joint committee was formed in the aftermath of recent devastating flooding in the Hill Country.Members of the Texas Senate and House hold a joint Disaster Preparedness and Flooding committee meeting Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Austin. The joint committee was formed in the aftermath of recent devastating flooding in the Hill Country.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/texas-prison-ac-progress-slow-most-lack-cooling/Despite receiving substantial state funding to air-condition prisons in the last few years, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has stayed mum on when it will install cooling across the system.By Hayden BettsThu, 17 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/texas-prison-ac-progress-slow-most-lack-cooling/Inmates from left, Richard Hernandez, Arnulfo Ayala, and William Baucum in the Bartlett Innovation Unit in Bartlett, Texas on Nov. 21, 2024.Inmates from left, Richard Hernandez, Arnulfo Ayala, and William Baucum in the Bartlett Innovation Unit in Bartlett, TX, on Nov. 21, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/13/texas-hill-country-flash-floods-search-suspended/Although a new round of floods elsewhere prompted emergency rescues Sunday, no injuries or deaths were reported.By Hayden Betts and Ayden RunnelsSun, 13 Jul 2025 11:52:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/13/texas-hill-country-flash-floods-search-suspended/Crosses honoring the victims of the Hill Country floods, seen on July 11, 2025, were erected by artist Roberto Marquez next to the Guadalupe River in Guadalupe Park. Search efforts were suspended Sunday amid new warnings of potential flash flooding in the region. Storms on Sunday brought more floods across Central and North Texas, leading to rescues and evacuations in several counties.Crosses honoring the victims of the flood were erected by artist Roberto Marquez next to the Guadalupe River in Guadalupe Park, seen on Friday July 11, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/kerr-county-flood-warning-system-sirens/While sirens can help in areas with shaky cell service, experts say officials also need to consider alert fatigue and provide education on what to do in an emergency.By Emily Foxhall, Colleen DeGuzman and Hayden BettsFri, 11 Jul 2025 10:44:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/kerr-county-flood-warning-system-sirens/Floodwaters stained the walls of an apartment in Ingram on July 5, 2025. As lawmakers ponder how to respond the the deadly Hill Country floods, experts say warning sirens are just one tool that should be deployed.Water from the flood stained the walls in a residential apartment in Ingram on July 5, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-floods-guadalupe-kerr-county-survivors-victims-rebuild/Religion and the river are constant Kerr County touchstones. As residents lean on their faith, they grapple with their relationship to the water.By Sneha Dey, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Hayden BettsFri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-floods-guadalupe-kerr-county-survivors-victims-rebuild/A family photo of James Wright and his grandchildren sits outside of his home Wednesday in Hunt. The photo was among the items salvaged from the residence, which suffered flood damage.A family photo of James Wright and his grandchildren sits outside of his home Wednesday, July 9, 2025 in Hunt, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-kerr-county-commissioners-flooding-warning/In the last nine years, federal funding for a system has been denied to the county as it contends with a tax base hostile to government overspending.By Terri Langford, Dan Keemahill and Hayden BettsThu, 10 Jul 2025 17:52:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-kerr-county-commissioners-flooding-warning/Trees are bent around the pier of a bridge in Louise Hays Park in Kerrville on July 5, 2025, the day after cataclysmic floodwaters swept through Kerr County.Trees are bent around the pier of a bridge on Louise Hays Park in Kerrville on July 5, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-floods-kerr-county-search-recovery-debris-removal/Crews are using construction equipment to clear vehicles, trees and homes in a race to locate more than 170 people still missing since Friday’s devastating flood.By Paul Cobler, Ayden Runnels, Colleen DeGuzman and Hayden BettsThu, 10 Jul 2025 13:46:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-floods-kerr-county-search-recovery-debris-removal/Search and recovery teams along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville on July 7, 2025, three days after the flood that has claimed more than 100 lives.Search and recovery teams in Kerrville, Texas on Monday, July 7, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/30/texas-abortion-pill-capital-murder-charge-fetal-personhood/A North Texas man charged with capital murder after slipping mifepristone into his girlfriend’s food signals another attempt to rein in abortion pills.By Jessica Shuran Yu and Hayden BettsMon, 30 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/30/texas-abortion-pill-capital-murder-charge-fetal-personhood/A pharmacist poses with pills of Misoprostol, made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, at a pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on June 19, 2019.A pharmacist poses with pills of Misoprostol, made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, at a pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on June 19, 2019.REUTERS/George Freyhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-thc-hemp-ban-dangers-benefits/Although Patrick and hemp industry leaders have quarreled over the risks and benefits of THC, cannabis researchers say it can be addictive but doesn’t usually cause widespread psychosis or brain damage.By Hayden Betts and Atirikta KumarFri, 27 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-thc-hemp-ban-dangers-benefits/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during a press conference at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Monday.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during a press conference at the Texas Captiol in Austin, Texas on Monday 23, June 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/22/texas-governor-greg-abbott-special-session-veto-bills-thc-ban/Abbott will call lawmakers back to Austin to tackle Senate Bill 3, a proposed ban on THC products that he vetoed, as well as five others from his veto list.By Hayden BettsMon, 23 Jun 2025 01:18:25 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/22/texas-governor-greg-abbott-special-session-veto-bills-thc-ban/Gov. Greg Abbott at a bill signing ceremony at the Capitol on June 11, 2025. Abbott called a special legislative session early Monday after he vetoed 25 bills on Sunday.Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 2308, the Ibogaine Treatment Research law, at the Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-thc-hemp-medical-marijuana-ban-veterans-pain/Texas hemp users stockpile products and consider moving out of state as ban looms, saying the medical marijuana program is currently an untenable alternative.By Hayden Betts and Stephen SimpsonTue, 17 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-thc-hemp-medical-marijuana-ban-veterans-pain/Wesley Barnes, 55, at his home in Onalaska, Texas on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Barnes, a Gulf War veteran who has long struggled with pain, tried legal opiates and illegal THC over the years before finding affordable and effective relief in legal hemp flower beginning in 2018.Wesley Barnes, 55, stands for a portrait at his home in Onalaska, Texas on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Barnes, a Gulf War veteran who has long struggled with pain, tried legal opiates and illegal THC over the years before finding affordable and effective relief in legal hemp flower beginning in 2018.Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribune