Latest Contributions

• Texas jails and prisons see brutal cold and overfilled toilets in winter storm

  by Jolie McCullough Feb. 18, 2021

  Power and water outages have also hit many Texas lockups. Inmates have feared for their safety and officers were kept at their job for days. Full Story 

• Texas’ power grid is stabilizing, but more than 300,000 remain without electricity

  by Jolie McCullough, Cassandra Pollock and Neelam Bohra Updated: Feb. 18, 2021

  Many people in the state still do not have power, and millions have had their water service disrupted. Full Story 

• Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state's power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say

  by Erin Douglas, Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough Updated: Feb. 19, 2021

  Texas officials knew winter storms could leave the state’s power grid vulnerable, but they left the choice to prepare for harsh weather up to the power companies — many of which opted against the costly upgrades. That, plus a deregulated energy market largely isolated from the rest of the country’s power grid, left the state alone to deal with the crisis, experts said. Full Story 

• With more dangerous weather approaching, Texans say officials didn’t warn them about going days without power

  by Jolie McCullough and Duncan Agnew Feb. 16, 2021

  Texas' energy grid operators warned of rolling, short-term power outages. Millions of homes have been without power since early Monday morning. Full Story 

• Austin Police Chief Brian Manley retiring months after council members called for his removal

  by Jolie McCullough Updated: Feb. 12, 2021

  Manley worked for the department for 30 years. Last summer, he faced harsh criticism after police killed an unarmed man and then seriously injured nonviolent protesters. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott prioritized changing how bail is set. He isn’t addressing people stuck behind bars because they can’t afford to pay.

  by Jolie McCullough Feb. 11, 2021

  Multiple federal courts have found Texas' cash bail practices discriminatory against poor people. The governor has said his priority bill will instead focus on keeping "dangerous criminals" in jail before they're convicted. Full Story 

• Texas prisons have doled out thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses — but none have gone to prisoners, who get the virus at high rates

  by Jolie McCullough Feb. 3, 2021

  The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has been allocated nearly 9,000 doses. The agency vaccinated prison health care workers, then correctional staff in infected areas. Full Story 

• Texas Republican asks state to rename several of the state's prisons honoring slave owners

  by Jolie McCullough Jan. 29, 2021

  There are 99 state prisons and jails in the state, and several of which are named after people with racist and sometimes violent histories, according to The Marshall Project. Full Story 

• With a stalled court system, some Texas jails are dangerously overcrowded in the pandemic

  by Jolie McCullough Jan. 28, 2021

  The Harris County sheriff has pleaded for help from a federal judge to make room at the “bursting” jail in Houston, where six inmates and two employees have died from COVID-19. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott maintains hard line against cuts to city police budgets, remains silent on reform proposals

  by Jolie McCullough Jan. 21, 2021

  Touting his public safety priorities for the legislative session, the governor continued to assail Austin for redirecting part of its police budget. He backed changes in police training, but said little else about reforming policing or accountability. Full Story 

• Trump administration extends health care safety net for uninsured Texans

  by Jolie McCullough Jan. 15, 2021

  A federal program known as the 1115 waiver helps pay for the costs of providing health care to people who are uninsured. Advocates for Medicaid expansion say it fills gaps in care that are caused by Texas’ refusal to expand coverage. Full Story 

• Texas Capitol to close Saturday, before planned armed protests of Joe Biden’s inauguration

  by Jolie McCullough Jan. 15, 2021

  The FBI reportedly warned law enforcement agencies in all 50 states of possibly armed protests after the U.S. Capitol was besieged by pro-Trump rioters. Full Story 

• Texas' highest criminal court agrees to review murder conviction of white police officer who killed unarmed Black teen

  by Jolie McCullough Jan. 13, 2021

  The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals took the rare step Wednesday in the landmark case of Roy Oliver, who was convicted of murder in the death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards. Full Story 

• “We would have been shot”: Texas activists shaken by law enforcement reaction to Capitol siege

  by Jolie McCullough Jan. 7, 2021

  Texas organizers said the insurrection at the U.S. capitol demonstrates how differently law enforcement is applied based on protesters' race and politics. Full Story 

• A Texas man was sent to trial with the coronavirus. Jurors weren’t told they were exposed until after deliberations ended.

  by Jolie McCullough Jan. 5, 2021

  From March until June, Texas had zero jury trials because of the pandemic, starting a backlog of cases that will take years to overcome. This summer some counties started experimenting with in-person jury trials, which have posed health risks for those involved. Full Story 

• Texas hasn’t said when or how inmates will receive the coronavirus vaccine

  by Jolie McCullough Dec. 23, 2020

  Texas officials have not detailed when jails and prisons — known hot spots of the coronavirus' spread — will receive doses of the vaccine. And many on the inside remain wary of getting the shot in prison. Full Story 

• Feds join political fight over police funding in Austin, even though it doesn’t have Texas’ worst crime increase

  by Jolie McCullough Dec. 18, 2020

  A newly appointed U.S. attorney announced a new joint law enforcement operation in Austin, blaming the city's crime on its police budget cuts. But homicides and aggravated assaults began rising in many major cities before budget discussions in the state's capital. Full Story 

• Texas Supreme Court rules Alfred Dewayne Brown must be compensated for his wrongful imprisonment

  by Jolie McCullough Dec. 18, 2020

  In 2015, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals tossed out Brown’s conviction and death sentence in the 2003 murder of a Houston police officer. Phone records found in the prosecution’s possession, but not shared with the defense at trial, supported Brown’s alibi that he was at his girlfriend’s house during the crime. Full Story 

• In rush of federal executions, Brandon Bernard and Alfred Bourgeois were put to death for Texas murders

  by Jolie McCullough Updated: Dec. 11, 2020

  Bernard and Bourgeois were the ninth and 10th people executed by President Donald Trump’s administration this year. Full Story 

• Texas to shutter three more prisons as units face critical staffing shortages

  by Jolie McCullough Dec. 1, 2020

  Three units across the state will be at least temporarily closed this month, according to the Texas prison system. The agency hopes it will help with dangerously low staffing levels. Full Story