Texas Worker Safety Hotline Falters
State authorities are supposed to maintain a bilingual, 24-hour hotline for workers to report safety violations. Officials acknowledged Friday that the hotline has been inoperative after hours. Full Story
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Credit: Ben Harding -
White House Under Fire for Proposed Solution to Immigrant Surge
Both immigrants' rights groups and conservative lawmakers are criticizing the White House's plan, announced Friday, to deal with the influx of migrants illegally crossing Texas’ southern border. Full Story
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![U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling in the Rio Grande Valley.]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar -
DPS Addresses New Border Operation
UPDATED: The Texas DPS said Thursday that as part of its new mission, it will partner with local and federal authorities to “deter and disrupt drug and human trafficking, and other border-related crimes.” Full Story
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![Newly commissioned patrol vessel, part of the Tactical Marine Unit, funded by federal Homeland Security grants, will help with the state's efforts in combating Mexican drug cartels patrolling the Rio Grande River]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
"Bernie" Victim's Family Files Objection to His Release from Prison
The family of the widow whose murder was the focus of the 2011 film "Bernie" objects to the court's decision to free the man who killed her, and wants the court to hear their case. Full Story
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![Bernhardt "Bernie" Tiede exits the Panola County Court building with his attorney Jodi Cole after his hearing on Feb. 5, 2014 in Carthage. A state district judge agreed to release Tiede in May, 17 years into his life sentence.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson -
Patrick Wants Emergency Spending for Border Security
UPDATED: Dan Patrick, the GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, joined some of his conservative colleagues on Tuesday in calling for “immediate action” to address the surge of undocumented immigrants crossing into Texas. Full Story
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![Texas DPS agent Cuevas removes a M2-40 machine gun from newly commissioned patrol vessel. The boat, part of the Tactical Marine Unit, funded by federal Homeland Security grants, will help with the state's efforts in combating Mexican drug cartels patrolling the Rio Grande River]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Abbott Asks Feds for $30 Million for Emergency Border Operation
Saying the U.S. Border Patrol is overwhelmed by an influx of minors crossing the border illegally, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has asked the Obama administration for $30 million for state-based border security operations. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott speaks to press after voting in the primary on March 4th, 2014 at South Austin church. Abbott is running for the Republican nomination for Governor of Texas]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Republicans See Potential Opportunity in House Democrat's Legal Troubles
With state Rep. Ron Reynolds preparing to stand trial in late summer on criminal and civil charges related to an alleged elaborate kickback scheme, Republicans see a chance to take back a district long held by Democrats. Full Story
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![State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, and David Hamilton, his Republican challenger in the House District 27 race.]()
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Cornyn: U.S. Should Help Mexico Seal Its Southern Border
As unaccompanied minors from Central American stream across the border, overwhelming federal resources, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, says U.S. aid is needed to help Mexico secure its southern border. Full Story
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![November 15th, 2013: US Senator John Cornyn is joined by Gov. Rick Perry at his reelection campaign kickoff rally in Austin, Texas]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
ICE Asks Shelters in El Paso to House Undocumented Immigrants
As an influx of undocumented immigrants arrives in El Paso from the Rio Grande Valley, federal officials are looking for help from local shelters and immigrants' rights groups. Full Story
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![Taylor Levy, Robert Garcia and Patrick Timmons speak to the press at a news conference about the transfer of undocumented immigrants to El Paso.]()
Credit: Julián Aguilar -
AG, Lawyers for Hank Skinner Argue Over DNA in Death Penalty Case
Lawyers for the state and for death row inmate Henry Skinner on Friday filed proposed findings to a Pampa judge who is considering whether DNA tests on crime scene evidence should preclude his execution. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Caleb Bryant Miller / Micah Baldwin / Todd Wiseman -
A Home for Former Inmates, Founded by a Former Inmate
A small fraction of the tens of thousands of inmates released in Texas each year find spots in state-contracted halfway houses. For many inmates, the private market is not an easy option either. Full Story
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![At the Hand Up, a halfway house in Houston, former inmates have more freedom to look for jobs than at state-chartered facilities, but few can afford the rent.]()
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TDCJ Policy Reduces Witnesses to Executions
As public scrutiny of the state's execution process is increasing, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is more strictly implementing a media viewing policy that means fewer witnesses to the controversial procedure. Full Story
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![The execution chamber seen from one of two witness viewing rooms at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Huntsville Unit.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
USCIS Announces Instructions for Deferred Action Renewals
UPDATED: Two years after President Obama announced his executive decision on deferred action, benficiaries are nothing the anniversary with gratitude and trepidation. And they now have instructions on renewing their status. Full Story
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![Deferred action recipients can get a two-year reprieve from deportation proceedings and a work permit. Undocumented immigrants who have lived in the country for at least five straight years, are in school or have graduated from high school or have obtained a GED, or are honorably discharged from the military, may apply.]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
After Reforms, Student "Tickets" Decline
New court data show that the number of tickets written by public school police officers for student misbehavior has fallen 71 percent since new laws designed to reduce the procedure went into effect late last year. Full Story
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Federal Task Force to Address Surge in Child Migrants Crossing Border
The increase of unaccompanied children caught crossing the Mexican border into the U.S. has prompted the Obama administration to create a multiagency task force to address the issue. Full Story
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With More Inmates on Dialysis, Officials Deal With Rising Costs
A small but expensive and ever-growing group of Texas inmates requires dialysis. Fewer than 230 inmates who receive dialysis treatment account for about 3 percent of the entire prison system's pharmaceutical budget. Full Story
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![Inmates Roberto Bisco and Robbie Robinson undergo dialysis in the medical center of the Estelle Unit in Huntsville, Texas.]()
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Cornyn Tours Ciudad Juárez in Low-Key Trip to Mexico
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn made his first-ever trip to Ciudad Juárez on Friday and said he felt safe in the border city. He said that was partially due to U.S. help in Mexico, and also said the U.S. bears some responsibility for the violence. Full Story
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![BorderPlex CEO Rolando Pablos,U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser.]()
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AG: Prisons Can Keep Information About Execution Drugs Secret
Reversing his stance in three previous rulings, Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott on Thursday ruled that the state prison system can withhold information about the suppliers of drugs used in lethal injections. Full Story
![Attorney General Greg Abbott speaks to press after voting in the primary on March 4th, 2014 at South Austin church. Abbott is running for the Republican nomination for Governor of Texas]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Changes to Treaty Investor Visas Could Have Impact on Border Cities
Treaty investor visas allow foreign nationals to live and work in the U.S. if they make substantial investments here. Some visa holders are crying foul over new renewal requirements, and some advocates worry the changes could impact some border cities' economies. Full Story
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![A number of Mexican nationals are in the United States on treaty investor visas, which allow them to operate businesses here. Some are taking issue with recent changes to the requirements on renewing those visas.]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Criminal Discovery Act Brings Costs, Questions
The Michael Morton Act is raising awareness about the importance of discovery in criminal cases, lawyers say. But both prosecutors and defense lawyers agree there are still some kinks to iron out. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry ceremonially signs Senate Bill 1611, known as the Michael Morton Act, which requires prosecutors to disclose evidence in criminal cases. Morton served nearly 25 years in prison for his wife's murder before he was exonerated in 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera