Texas inmate killed by cellmate during a statewide prison lockdown
The killing of inmate Billy Chemirmir in the Coffield Unit occurred during a statewide lockdown of prisons, promoted by a rise in inmate homicides. A day before the lockdown, another incident at the same prison resulted in the firings of seven correctional officers and the resignations of another six.
An East Texas principal was arrested after paddling a student, renewing debate over corporal punishment
Texas is one of 17 states that still permits hitting, spanking and paddling in schools. Republican lawmakers stood by the practice earlier this year in part because they say it was permitted in the Bible.
How a state effort to fund Texas schools equitably is shortchanging dozens of rural districts
For decades, the Texas comptrollerโs office has double-checked property valuations across the state, which help determine how much school districts can levy in property taxes. But when state and county appraisers disagree, districts can end up with big holes in their budgets.
Rural Texas may lose out on billions in broadband infrastructure funding due to federal regulations
Grant applicants are required to have a line of credit from a major bank and put up 25% of the project cost ahead of time. That will likely disqualify many small internet service providers in rural areas.
EPA will decide if the state is doing enough to reduce pollution in two East Texas counties
The federal agency has settled a lawsuit the Sierra Club brought over pollution from a coal-burning power plant. The agreement requires the EPA to weigh in on the stateโs plan to improve air quality in Rusk and Panola counties.
Watch: 25 years after James Byrd Jr. was killed for being Black, his loved ones question how much has changed in Texas
The quiet East Texas town of Jasper came together immediately after the racist murder of James Byrd Jr. Now, Texas is leading the nation in incidents of white supremacist propaganda.
In East Texas, skepticism over private school tuition assistance persists despite push from conservative leaders
Gov. Greg Abbott and other conservatives say families need options to escape โwokeโ education in public schools. East Texas parents and school leaders say the national talking points are off base.
Man convicted in ambush killing of estranged wife, her niece at Harris County home in 2012 dies in east Texas prison
Ricardo Jose Prado Jr., 41, died at around 11:45 p.m. on April 1 at a state penitentiary located in Tennessee Colony, TX. He was serving a sentence of life without parole for the crime.
With billions of dollars on the line, East Texans say a crucial state map incorrectly shows they already have broadband
East Texans worry they could miss out on federal dollars because a state map that will help determine where the money goes shows they already have access to broadband. Residents say their broadband is chronically unreliable.
In East Texas, a town fights to keep an oilfield waste dump from opening near wetlands and water wells
The Texas Railroad Commission has rejected the proposal twice over water contamination concerns, but locals are dismayed that the commissioners keep giving the developer more chances to alter its application.
Texas universities propose two-year tuition freeze in exchange for nearly $1 billion in additional state funding
The leaders of the stateโs six biggest university systems are seeking the money to fund instruction, university operations and employee health insurance and to cover a free tuition program for veterans and their children.
Texans are dying on state highways every day โ especially in rural โdead zonesโ
Fatal crashes in rural areas accounted for 51% of Texasโ 4,489 traffic fatalities in 2021, even though only about 10% of the stateโs population lives in a rural area, according to data from the stateโs department of transportation.
โRemain weather awareโ: Gov. Abbott activates state emergency response resources ahead of severe weather threats
Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources in anticipation of severe weather and potential flooding expected in the state beginning Tuesday through the evening.
Conspiracy theorists and 16-hour days: Inside the stress elections officials face ahead of the midterms
Running elections in Texas has never been easy. But since 2020, the scrutiny elections administrators face has grown โ even in small Republican-controlled counties that former President Donald Trump carried.
As inflation skyrockets, local Texas governments ponder tax rate increases as they balance budgets
Local governments in Texas have spent the summer preparing their budgets for next year, wrestling with inflation and a law that prohibits them from raising property tax revenues beyond 3.5% without voter approval.
2 constables, 4 police chiefs and over 3,000 other Texans were members of the Oath Keepers, report says
A recent analysis of Oath Keepersโ membership rolls leaked last year found that Texas had more members of the far-right extremist group than any other state โ and the most who worked as elected officials, law enforcement officers or members of the military.
โItโs a living hellโ: Scorching heat in Texas prisons revives air-conditioning debate
Texas heat has killed prisoners and cost the state millions in wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits. Prison rights advocates hope a budget surplus next year will finally push lawmakers to invest in air conditioning.
โScoundrelโ who targeted elderly victims in fictitious social security scheme sentenced to federal prison, US Atty says
A Washington man who was targeting innocent, unsuspecting seniors across East Texas was sentenced Tuesday to serve time in federal prison for fraud violations, U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston announced.
The Odessa water outage underscores a growing problem: Aging pipes in Texas cities are getting more fragile
Texas had 3,866 water boil notices in 2021, the most in the last decade. Aging water systems threaten water supply and quality โ and for many small towns across the state, they wonโt be cheap to repair.
Driver in San Antonio tractor-trailer tragedy pretended to be a victim: Mexican immigration official
A Mexican immigration official says that in the chaotic minutes after dozens of migrants were found dead inside a tractor-trailer sweltering in the Texas heat, the driver tried to slip away by pretending to be one of the survivors.
Trump and Cruz propose โhardenedโ one-door schoolhouses. Experts say thatโs not a credible solution.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republicans argue that gunmen can be stopped by locking all but one door and posting guards at schools. School officials and safety experts say thatโs not realistic.
Stephen F. Austin State University president Scott Gordon steps down months after a salary bump angered the campus community
The Board of Regents backed. Gordon last year despite a vote of no confidence from faculty. Six months later, the board reversed course. It Sunday that it was in everyoneโs โbest interestโ to part ways and appointed an interim president.
Texas time machine: Step back in time with these vintage photos of Big Bend National Park
Located along a distinctive bend of the Rio Grande on the U.S.-Mexico border, the 801,832-acre wonderland of gorges, mountain peaks, canyons and mesas known as Big Bend National Park is often referred to as Texasโ Gift to the Nation.
George P. Bush, Ken Paxton prepare for a bitter primary runoff battle for Texas attorney general
Bush is the underdog in the race. He had fewer votes than Paxton in the primary, and Paxton carries the coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump. But the incumbent is still battling his felony indictment and a newer FBI investigation.
A year after feds allocate funds, Texas launches program to help homeowners avoid foreclosure because of COVID-19
Twenty-five states, including California and New York, preceded Texas in getting federally backed programs up and running to help homeowners suffering financial hardship because of COVID-19.
Debate between Texas GOP attorney general candidates got heated, even though incumbent Ken Paxton wasnโt there
Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman repeatedly criticized each other. U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert focused on the incumbent, who didnโt participate.
Watch: Local public health leaders across Texas reflect on the uneven challenges of coordinating the fight against COVID-19
Public health officials have played a crucial role in vaccination efforts and tracking the spread of the virus. But different needs from their communities and insufficient aid have complicated the work.