Freeman Martin selected to lead the Texas Department of Public Safety
Martin, a senior official, takes the helm of the agency on Dec. 1, replacing retiring director Steve McCraw. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b5de57aee767de7d72ee9d647ccc63e7/Freeman%20F%20Martin%20TT%2001.jpg)
-
![Freeman F. Martin.]()
Credit: Department of Public Safety website -
Search the newly updated Texas state employees salaries database
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of October 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e482060af5d495ae1ef490c81731a70/TT-GSE-pointer-art.png)
![Government Salaries Explorer]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
Judge tosses Ken Paxton’s lawsuit targeting Bexar County’s voter registration effort
The county told a state district court judge that the applications were already mailed out and any ruling would be moot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee0767cefe018223eb6e938ee02a5f9b/SATX%20Ballot%20Drop%20Off%20RJ%2001.jpg)
![People wait outside the Bexar County Elections Department in San Antonio to drop off their mail-in ballots, their voter registration applications or to be trained as poll workers on Oct. 5, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
State health department blocks transgender Texans from changing sex on birth certificates
The agency quietly rolled out the policy change on its website last week, days after DPS blocked changes to the sex listed on a Texas driver’s license. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dc30ab9815527467e0ae309adcbe32d8/0810%20pride%20OA%202300.jpg)
![Scenes from Austin Pride 2024 on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at on Congress Ave in Austin. The day-long celebration featured drag performances, booths and floats of Austin’s businesses and many Texans clad in rainbow.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw retiring after 15 years as state’s top law enforcement officer
The longtime head of the Department of Public Safety will step down at the end of the year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/098ac37694c34949764f006ff276a124/0608%20Abbott%20Border%20Bill%20JT%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Steven C. McCraw, the Director and Colonel of the Texas Department of Public Safety, speaks at a border security bill signing session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 8, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3dbbacdadbf69f232df78b61cc0d2fb8/0808%20DPS%20Southeast%20Austin%20JT%20TT%2041.jpg)
![DPS troopers make a traffic stop in southeast Austin on Aug. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
After Uvalde city officials end battle over shooting records, victims’ families say other agencies need to follow suit
The city’s release ends a legal battle with news outlets, but other government agencies are withholding materials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6a385d30bffa38cf7b20c1880216648f/Ulvade%20Active%20Shooter%20Scenes%20PL%20TT%2010.JPG)
![Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-News -
DPS reinstates Texas Ranger fired for Uvalde shooting response
Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said he made the decision after the Uvalde district attorney found no criminal wrongdoing and asked that Ranger Chris Kindell be allowed to return to his job. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4cc49f55fb15ebbcac5baa3f2042c3b5/Christopher%20Ryan%20Kindell%20TPWD%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Texas Ranger Christopher Ryan Kindell outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24, 2022, when 21 people — 19 children and two adults — were killed by a gunman. Kindell was fired by DPS Thursday and said he plans to appeal.]()
Credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife bodycam -
Search the newly updated Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of July 1. Full Story
![Government Salaries Explorer]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
Families of Uvalde shooting victims sue Texas DPS officers for waiting to confront gunman
In a separate settlement, the city of Uvalde will pay $2 million to the families, create a permanent memorial to the victims and provide enhanced training for police officers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0d6162bd2f27f57749e9feb7b36f7d2c/Ulvade%20Active%20Shooter%20Scenes%20PL%20TT%2009.JPG)
![Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-News -
Search the newly updated Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of April 1. Full Story
![Government Salaries Explorer]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
Misdemeanor charges filed against photojournalist arrested at UT-Austin protest
The FOX 7 employee is accused of hitting a trooper with his camera, but the arrested man told reporters he was pushed and didn’t hit any officer. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/faa13276c7544414026ae0cb93b98e90/0424%20UT%20Austin%20Protest%20JS%20TT%20117.jpg)
![Carlos, a FOX 7 Austin photojournalist, on the ground as he is arrested while covering a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
Faculty petition to hold no-confidence vote in UT-Austin president after protest response
President Jay Hartzell defended the response but faculty criticized the presence of armed state troopers. Fifty-seven people were arrested. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ab6313ec272b2d9a35ddc2da13ca2fa1/0424%20UT%20Austin%20Protest%20JS%20TT%20051.jpg)
![Protesters link arms on the campus of UT-Austin on April 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
What you need to know about Texas’ school safety policies
Texas lawmakers have mandated armed guards at every public school, panic buttons in classrooms and more staff training. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e519e45b772ef73cd6c4f28f1e00083b/0913%20Odessa%20School%20Tours%20EH%2027.jpg)
![Nimitz Middle School students line up to enter their next class Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Man crashes stolen 18-wheeler into DPS office, killing one and injuring several others
Authorities arrested the driver, whom a local official said was denied a commercial driver’s license from the Brenham DPS station. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fd00248f901ee5091236eb0fa0473743/DPS%20Texas%20Capitol%20MG%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Texas Department of Public Safety vehicles outside of the state Capitol on Aug. 11, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas wildfires: how to help and how to stay safe
As firefighters work to put out the largest wildfire in Texas history, here’s a guide to fire weather watches, safety tips and how to find organizations collecting donations to directly help local residents, including farmers and ranchers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2789595a411d3cbaa5aa23560f84e1c5/0229%20Panhandle%20Fire%20MR%2018.jpg)
![Members of the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department ready their equipment in Fritch, Tx. Residents have been working to recover from the Tuesday grass fires that devastated parts of the panhandle.]()
Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune -
Grand jury called to investigate flawed police response to Uvalde shooting
Twelve jurors selected Friday will review law enforcement’s delayed response during Texas’ deadliest school shooting and recommend possible criminal charges. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08b757f4095730678cf5cfd798957822/Abbott%20Uvalde%20Presser%20EL%20TT%2008.jpg)
![District Attorney for the 38th Judicial District of Texas (Uvalde & Real Counties) Christina Mitchell Busbee at a press conference at the Uvalde High School on May 27, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Twenty months after deadly Uvalde school shooting, multiple investigations have yet to be released
The U.S. Department of Justice just released its investigation into law enforcement’s response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School. But at least three other investigations have not yet been released to the public. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5f16ea80f12592cb89a2e54863ebbd83/Presser%20Town%20Square%20SF%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Police hold a press conference on Thursday, May 26, 2022 in Uvalde, TX. Twenty one people were killed after a gunman after a high school student opened fire inside Robb Elementary School on Tuesday where two teachers and 19 students were killed. (Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Search the newly updated Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of January 1. Full Story
![Government Salaries Explorer]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
Seattle Children’s Hospital sues Texas Attorney General over trans patient records
Suspecting the Washington-based hospital of providing gender-affirming care to Texas children, which is now banned in Texas, AG Ken Paxton issued investigative subpoenas demanding medical information. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6809d622b6e7bf5d0ffa1afc577882b1/UNT%20Kelly%20Neidert%20EL%20TT%2033.jpg)
![A protester waves a transgender pride flag during a protest at the University of North Texas in Denton on March 23, 2022.]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune