Two counties house training programs in local high schools as officials pitch corrections jobs as gateways to criminal justice careers.
Pooja Salhotra
Pooja Salhotra joined the Tribune in 2022 as its first-ever East Texas reporter based in Lufkin, where she covered a vast region that borders three states and stretches north to Texarkana and south to Beaumont. In late 2023, she relocated to Austin as a general assignment reporter to cover issues ranging from breaking news to developments in state agencies. Pooja was born and raised in the Houston area and graduated from Yale University. She also holds a master’s in fine arts from NYU’s journalism school.
Posted in
Guides
What you need to know about the Venezuelan gang that Texas is targeting
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared the Venezuelan gang a foreign terrorist organization and asked the Department of Public Safety to create a strike team targeting them.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Gov. Greg Abbott announces crackdown on Venezuelan gang
Abbott signed a proclamation declaring Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization and directed Texas DPS to create strike teams targeting the gang.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas’ prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics say
About 25% of Texas’ correctional officer positions are unfilled. Inmates say the shortages make it harder for them to get respite during hot summer months.
Posted in
Energy
Abbott says potential power outages from Tropical Storm Francine will be restored within hours
Texas isn’t expected to take a direct hit when the storm makes landfall as a hurricane. But storm surge and dangerous winds are possible.
Posted in
State Government
Texas parents gain new tools to control their teen’s social media use
A new law gives parents more power over a child’s actions on social media, but only if the parent knows about the account.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Former schools police chief says he was not at fault in Uvalde shooting, asks judge to toss charges
Pete Arredondo’s lawyers tell the court that the shooter, not the police, was to blame for the school violence.
Posted in
State Government
Judge allows parental controls for Texas kids’ social media accounts, but blocks content moderation requirement
The rest of the law goes into effect Sept. 1. It’s been challenged by tech industry groups and a free speech advocacy organization.
Posted in
Economy
In regulating AI, Texas lawmakers face balancing act between its benefits and harms
A Senate committee discussed the potential pitfalls of artificial intelligence — and overregulating it.
Posted in
Health care
Transgender Texans blocked from changing their sex on their driver’s license
The Texas Department of Public Safety rule change surfaced in an internal email that also asks driver license staff to compile the names of people seeking a gender marker change.