https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/terri-langford/The latest news by Terri Langford.enTue, 11 Feb 2025 17:35:44 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/texas-foster-care-deaths-treatment-center-greenville/The death of an 11-year-old at a Greenville residential treatment center is among 16 deaths reported in the Texas foster care system in the last 15 months.By Terri LangfordTue, 11 Feb 2025 17:35:44 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/texas-foster-care-deaths-treatment-center-greenville/The Thompson’s Residential Treatment Center in Greenville on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.The Thompson’s Residential Treatment Center in Greenville on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/07/texas-foster-care-death-residential-treatment-center/The Greenville-based treatment center has closed after the death of an 11-year-old boy the day before Thanksgiving.By Terri LangfordFri, 07 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/07/texas-foster-care-death-residential-treatment-center/Thompson’s Residential Treatment Center in Greenville, pictured here on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, has closed after the death of an 11-year-old foster care boy who was living there.The Thompson’s Residential Treatment Center in Greenville, Texas on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/03/texas-senate-finance-health-data-breach/So far, nine HHSC employees have been fired for accessing without a “business” purpose the private information of Texans seeking public assistance that includes Medicaid and food stamps.By Terri LangfordMon, 03 Feb 2025 18:53:27 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/03/texas-senate-finance-health-data-breach/Health and Human Services Commission Commissioner Cecile Young made her first public comments about the data breach affecting more than 61,000 Texans during the Senate Committee of Finance hearing Monday.The Brown Heatly Health and Human Services building in Austin on Nov. 29, 2017.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/03/texas-seniors-assisted-living-nursing-homes-generators/After failed attempts in 2021 and 2023, southeast Texas lawmakers have filed bills to require generators in nursing homes and assisted living centers.By Terri LangfordMon, 03 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/03/texas-seniors-assisted-living-nursing-homes-generators/Nettie Carlisle, a cook at Ella Springs Senior Living Community, an assisted living center in Houston, holds open the empty freezer on July 12, 2024. All the food had to be thrown out after the widespread power outage caused by Hurricane Beryl.Nettie Carlisle, a cook at Ella Springs Senior Living Community in Houston, holds open the empty freezer at the assisted living center on July 12, 2024. All the food had to be thrown out after the widespread power outage caused by Hurricane Beryl.Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/texas-trump-federal-spending-freeze/Texas cities, counties, higher education institutions and nonprofits clambered Tuesday to gauge the potential fallout from the suspension, later blocked temporarily by a federal judge.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Jessica Priest, Joshua Fechter, Matthew Choi and Terri LangfordTue, 28 Jan 2025 20:35:02 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/texas-trump-federal-spending-freeze/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/27/texas-legislature-vaccine-mandate-bills/Emboldened by Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s nomination and disdain for pandemic-era mandates, skeptics are pushing for bills to make it easier to opt out of vaccines.By Terri Langford and Dan KeemahillMon, 27 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/27/texas-legislature-vaccine-mandate-bills/A man carries a sign protesting Houston Methodist Hospital's COVID-19 vaccine mandate outside Houston Methodist Hospital in Baytown on June 7, 2021.A man carries a sign protesting Houston Methodist Hospital's COVID-19 vaccine mandate outside Houston Methodist Hospital in Baytown on June 7, 2021. Employees who chose not to inoculate themselves by the hospital's Monday deadline faced suspension without pay and job termination, a policy criticized by the protesters as unfair and unauthorized.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-hhsc-food-stamp-fraud-data-breach/Seven human services employees were fired after a string of fraud and theft — and the largest data breach in agency history.By Terri LangfordFri, 17 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-hhsc-food-stamp-fraud-data-breach/The fresh produce section of a Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Buffalo, Texas, on June 29, 2023.The fresh produce section of a Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Buffalo, Texas, on June 29, 2023.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/09/texas-summer-school-lunch-food-stamp/After the state missed the Jan. 1 deadline, lawmakers still have time to approve administrative costs before applying for $400 million in federal summer meal assistance.By Terri Langford and Dan KeemahillThu, 09 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/09/texas-summer-school-lunch-food-stamp/Ector County school district employees serve lunch to Bonham Middle School students on Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.Ector County Independent School District employees serve lunch to Bonham Middle School students Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/11/texas-medicaid-food-stamps-application-legislature/The request, which includes hiring more staff and updating the online application system, comes as applicants must wait for months to receive approval for benefits.By Terri LangfordWed, 11 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/11/texas-medicaid-food-stamps-application-legislature/Texas Health and Human Services Commission is asking the state Legislature for $300 million next legislative session to improve the Medicaid enrollment process.A Texas Health and Human Services client application on April 24, 2018.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/30/texas-robert-roberson-judge-recuses/Senior District Judge Deborah Oakes Evans recused herself after a challenge to her impartiality over longtime relationships with case prosecutors and judges.By Terri LangfordSat, 30 Nov 2024 13:14:23 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/30/texas-robert-roberson-judge-recuses/Senior state District Judge Deborah Oakes Evans presides over a hearing in Palestine on Aug. 14, 2018, as Robert Roberson's attorneys seek a new trial. Roberson was convicted and sentenced to death in 2003 for the murder of his 2-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis. Evans, who initially set an execution date of Oct. 17, 2024, has since agreed to recuse herself.Judge Deborah Oakes Evans presides over a hearing in Palestine on Aug. 14, 2018 as Robert Roberson's attorneys seek a new trial. Roberson was convicted and sentenced to death in 2003 for the murder of the murder of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis.Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/25/robert-roberson-joe-moody-jeff-leach-texas-death-penalty/The Criminal Jurisprudence Committee plans to issue a new subpoena to the death row inmate for a Dec. 20 hearing if Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office does not cooperate.By Kayla Guo and Terri LangfordTue, 26 Nov 2024 10:14:54 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/25/robert-roberson-joe-moody-jeff-leach-texas-death-penalty/From left: Texas Tribune reporter Kayla Guo moderates a conversation with State Reps. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, and Joe Moody, D-El Paso, in Austin on Dec. 6, 2024. Moody, who is chairman, serves with Leach on the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/hospitales-texas-preguntas-immigracion/El gobernador Greg Abbott quiere saber cuánto gastan los hospitales en el cuidado de inmigrantes indocumentados. Los hospitales no deben negar atención en ningún caso.By Terri LangfordThu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/hospitales-texas-preguntas-immigracion/La entrada a la sala de emergencias del Centro Medico St. David en Austin el 30 de marzo de 2020.The emergency drop-off at an Austin hospital on March 30, 2020.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/texas-alzheimers-dementia-research-dan-patrick/Modeled after the state’s $6 billion cancer research fund, the dementia fund — a legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — could pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Texas researchers.By Terri LangfordThu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/texas-alzheimers-dementia-research-dan-patrick/The facilities of El Faro Health and Therapeutics clinical research facility has an infusion room, pictured here on Nov. 13, 2021, to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease in Rio Grande City.The facilities of El Faro Health and Therapeutics clinical research facility count with an infusion room to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease in Rio Grande City on November 13, 2021.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune.https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/texas-hospitals-immigration-questions/Gov. Greg Abbott wants to know how much hospitals spend caring for undocumented immigrants. Hospitals should not deny care based on how patients respond.By Terri LangfordThu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/texas-hospitals-immigration-questions/The emergency drop-off at an Austin hospital on March 30, 2020.The emergency drop-off at an Austin hospital on March 30, 2020.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/12/texas-robert-roberson-separation-of-powers-subpoena/The state’s highest civil court ruled that legislators can’t use subpoenas to block death row inmates’ executions, but suggested there’s still time for Roberson to testify before a Texas House panel.By Pooja Salhotra and Terri LangfordTue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/12/texas-robert-roberson-separation-of-powers-subpoena/Former detective Brian Wharton testifies during a Texas Houst Criminal Jurisprudence Committee hearing about death row inmate Robert Roberson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. Wharton was an investigator in the case of the death of Nikki Roberson and has expressed his doubts of Roberson's guilt.Former Detective Brian Wharton testifies during a Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on death row inmate Robert Roberson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 in Austin, TX. Wharton was an investigator in the case of the death of Nikki Roberson and has expressed his doubts of Roberson's guilt and agrees with stopping his execution. With his scheduled execution drawing closer, a hearing debating the certainty of Robreson's guilt and there is a bipartisan push to stay his execution. Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneSergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/11/texas-counties-ems-ambulance/Although Texas counties are not required to provide ambulance services, many are digging deep to pay for their own fleet or to contract out services.By Terri LangfordMon, 11 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/11/texas-counties-ems-ambulance/The interior of a CareFlite ambulance in Cleburne on November 8, 2024. Johnson County has contracted five full-time ambulances and another part time to serve its unincorporated areas.The interior of a CareFlite ambulance vehicle outside the Johnson County County Commissioners office in Cleburne on November 8, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Texas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans.By Texas Tribune Staff, James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Matthew Choi, Robert Downen, Alejandro Serrano, Joshua Fechter, Kayla Guo, Pooja Salhotra and Terri LangfordTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day.Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-justice-department-election-monitors/The federal agency agreed their monitors would remain outside polling locations and wouldn’t interfere with voting.By Terri Langford, Joshua Fechter and Kayla GuoFri, 01 Nov 2024 22:44:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-justice-department-election-monitors/The Department of Justice announced Friday it would send election monitors to 27 states, including Texas, to keep an eye out for potential voting rights violations on Tuesday.Voters check in to vote at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston, Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/24/texas-legislature-criminal-justice-robert-roberson/Texas’ junk science statute has remained hamstrung for the last decade. So too have other criminal justice reforms, despite efforts from the Texas House.By Jasper Scherer and Terri LangfordThu, 24 Oct 2024 11:47:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/24/texas-legislature-criminal-justice-robert-roberson/From left, state Reps. David Cook, R-Mansfield, Jeff Leach, R-Plano, and Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence hold a hearing on death row inmate Robert Roberson on Oct. 16.From left: State Reps. David Cook, R-Mansfield, Jeff Leach, R-Plano, and Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, during a House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on death row inmate Robert Roberson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 in Austin.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/19/greg-abbott-robert-roberson-death-penalty/It’s rare for governors to step in to halt executions. In the case of Robert Roberson, it ended up being state lawmakers who took extraordinary steps.By Terri LangfordSat, 19 Oct 2024 15:12:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/19/greg-abbott-robert-roberson-death-penalty/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin on June 2, 2023.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune