POOJA SALHOTRA/The Texas Tribune

The Texas Tribune
Texas Senate approves $500 million infusion for film incentives
Senate Bill 22, filed by Houston Republican Sen.
 
Federal appeals court reverses Texas death row inmate’s conviction
Holberg has been on death row for 27 years. In securing her conviction in 1998, Randall County prosecutors heavily relied on testimony from a jail inmate who was working as a confidential informant for the City of Amarillo police. That informant recanted her testimony in 2011, but neither a Texas Co
 
A shortage of criminal defense attorneys threatens indigent right to counsel in rural Texas
“I thought, ‘something’s gotta give,’” Evans said.
 
Texas is poised to become a film haven — but not without a fight
Film industry insiders, who have for years been fighting for a larger and more consistent funding stream, could hardly believe it when they heard the $498 million figure, a line item in the draft budget the Senate filed last month. According to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the funding would include $48 mil
 
Handshakes, murals and ministry: A reopened Texas prison focuses on rehabilitation
But at Bartlett — the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s newest prison — everything has seemed different. The food is tastier. The dorms are brighter and roomier. The walls are painted with colorful murals. And Ayala’s ideas for innovative programs to help fellow inmates prepare for life outside
 
Texas is a young state with older elected officials. Some young leaders are trying to change that.
These are among the tips Rep.
 
Ken Paxton sues TikTok for violating new Texas social media law
The Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act prohibits social media companies from sharing or selling a minor’s personal information unless a parent or guardian approves. The law, which was passed by the Legislature last year and partially went into effect Sept. 1, also requires com
 
Texas prison system’s staffing crisis and outdated technology endanger guards and inmates
The 189-page report documents severe staffing shortages among both correctional and parole officers that have become extremely costly and diminished public safety. Some prisons are operating with up to 70% of prison guard positions unfilled and the turnover rate among all Texas Department of Crimina
 
Prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme heat, critics say
The officer said no, according to court documents.
 
Texas parents gain new tools to control their teen’s social media use
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, rolled out parental control features in Texas last week to comply with House Bill 18, the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment Act, which went into effect Sept. 1. The Legislature passed it last year to restrict kids from seeing ha
 
Transgender Texans blocked from changing their sex on their driver’s license
Sheri Gipson, the chief of the state’s driver license division, confirmed the policy change to KUT on Wednesday. A day earlier, Gipson sent the internal email, a photo of which was obtained by The Texas Tribune, detailing the change she said would go into effect immediately.
 
Texas’ overcrowded and understaffed jails send people awaiting trial to other counties and states
It’s important to her, though, to see her husband as much as possible.
 
El Paso County officials say it’s time the state of Texas pays for Operation Lone Star arrests
Gov. Greg Abbott launched the program in March 2021, shortly after President Joe Biden took office, arguing that the state needed to step up because the federal government wasn’t doing its job to secure the border. The border security mission has resulted in at least 516,300 migrant apprehensions an