Lack of communication between child welfare and juvenile justice systems hurts foster kids, court monitors say
The court-appointed watchdogs expressed concern after learning that a caretaker accused of exploiting children at a state-licensed facility in Bastrop had been previously fired from a state juvenile justice facility for misconduct.
Texas death row inmate to get Supreme Court review
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear an appeal from Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed, who claims untested crime-scene evidence will help clear him.Reed was sentenced to death[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comJudge loses trust in Texas’ child abuse investigation of foster care facility and calls for federal inquiry
U.S. District Judge Janis Jack said she is seeking a federal criminal investigation into allegations that children were sexually abused and trafficked at The Refuge, a state-licensed foster care shelter for victims of sex trafficking.
Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Quanell X condemns alleged sexual exploitation of children in DFPS care by foster care system employees
The Texas Rainbow PUSH Coalition has organized an “Emergency Call to Action” press conference Tuesday in response to reports of children in the Department of Family and Protective Services’ care allegedly being sexually exploited and trafficked by employees in the foster care system.
State-licensed shelter where sex trafficking victims were reportedly abused ordered to close
The Refuge, which closed Friday, said it fired an employee accused of coercing the victims to sell nude photos as soon as it found out. The Bastrop-based shelter has not addressed the other eight staff members also accused of causing harm to the girls.
Victims of sex trafficking allegedly trafficked again in state-contracted treatment facility – Houston Public Media
Court documents and an emergency federal hearing shed light on an investigation into a Bastrop-based residential treatment program and allegations from at least eight girls of sex trafficking.
houstonpublicmedia.orgVideo shows mouse jump into Texas Whataburger fryer
A Whataburger customer caught a crazy scene on camera in a video posted on YouTube Saturday night: a small rodent that appears to be a mouse scampering around a Whataburger restaurant in Bastrop, Texas. The video begins by showing the animal near the fryer and then running behind some fry box containers. A woman who appears to be a Whataburger employee offers customers a refund for their food with a receipt. An employee is heard saying she doesn't know how to turn off the fryer. Whataburger released a statement about the incident:At Whataburger, cleanliness and food safety are top priorities for us.