Hoping to avoid an undercount of thousands of Hispanic and black Texans, Dallas, Harris and Hidalgo counties believe getting children engaged can bring families to participate in the 2020 census.
Troy Closson
Troy Closson was a 2019 reporting fellow at The Texas Tribune. He graduated from Northwestern University, where he studied journalism and African American Studies. The Baltimore native previously served as editor in chief of The Daily Northwestern and worked for the Chicago Sun-Times, Block Club Chicago and the Medill Justice Project.
Posted in
New Texas Laws 2019
Lines to get driver’s licenses are long. Texans are skeptical more money will help.
In hopes to provide quicker service, over 90 of DPS’ 229 offices — including every mega center and “severely crowded” office — will become fully staffed, while another 100 will receive smaller personnel boosts.
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New Texas Laws 2019
Texas’ Driver Responsibility Program ends next month. Here’s what that means for you.
More than 600,000 Texans will immediately be eligible to have their driver’s licenses reinstated after the program’s Sept. 1 repeal. The system was widely criticized for adding additional annual fees on top of the price of tickets, but all pending surcharges will soon be waived.
Posted inState Government
23 Texas cities were targeted in a “coordinated ransomware attack”
The majority of attacks were against small local governments, according to the state’s Department of Information Resources.
Posted inState Government
San Antonio City Council asks Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to address gun violence
The council joins more than 15 Democratic state representatives who have requested a special session after the shooting in an El Paso Walmart that left 22 shoppers dead earlier this month.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Dallas’ sudden spike in homicides has officials perplexed. And not everyone agrees that state troopers are helping.
After May’s 40 homicides, Gov. Greg Abbott deployed state troopers to Dallas. Despite some drops in violent crimes, city officials say they’ve done more harm than good. Meanwhile, there’s still no consensus on what’s driving the increase as victims’ families are left to grapple with grief.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Gov. Greg Abbott launches domestic terrorism task force in wake of El Paso massacre
The task force will analyze current and emerging state threats and form stronger prevention strategies. Abbott took similar action — which led to sweeping legislation — after last year’s school shooting in Santa Fe.
Posted in
New Texas Laws 2019
A new Texas law criminalizes sending unwanted nudes. Lawyers say it might be difficult to enforce.
The law will make the electronic transmission of unwanted sexually explicit material a class C misdemeanor. But legal experts worry it could be written too broadly under the First Amendment to be effective.
Posted in
El Paso shooting
Beto O’Rourke says President Trump shouldn’t visit El Paso in wake of mass shooting
Many officials, including O’Rourke, have cited President Donald Trump’s racist and divisive rhetoric for inspiring Saturday’s shooting that left 22 dead and more wounded. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, also said Trump should stay out of El Paso.
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Criminal Justice
Texas DPS intelligence and counterterrorism chief fired after arrest on sexual assault charge
John Jones was arrested Tuesday in Travis County. He is accused of raping a woman at a party July 20.