INSIDER
Texasā uneven population boom is creating ghost towns in many rural counties
Read full article: Texasā uneven population boom is creating ghost towns in many rural countiesLocal leaders and rural revitalization experts say Texasā smallest towns can survive ā despite a shift to urban and suburban counties ā but it will take investments.
How 11 Texas cities made housing unaffordable ā and whatās being done to fix it
Read full article: How 11 Texas cities made housing unaffordable ā and whatās being done to fix itTexas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with the demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.
āMore than our wombsā: Women in conservative Texas cities mobilizing to end GOP dominance
Read full article: āMore than our wombsā: Women in conservative Texas cities mobilizing to end GOP dominanceDemocrats in Lubbock and Amarillo hope Kamala Harrisā candidacy and a backlash to abortion laws will help make their long-held vision of a blue wave a reality.
Texas Tech ties scoring record for a half in a 66-21 win over North Texas
Read full article: Texas Tech ties scoring record for a half in a 66-21 win over North TexasBehren Morton threw four touchdown passes and ran 10 yards for another score as Texas Tech tied a school record with 52 points in the first half of a 66-21 victory over North Texas.
Abilene Christian University football team involved in Texas bus crash, leaves 4 injured
Read full article: Abilene Christian University football team involved in Texas bus crash, leaves 4 injuredMembers of the Abilene Christian University football team were injured after a team bus crashed Saturday night in Lubbock, Texas.
I started reporting on the dearth of reproductive health care. Then I had my own emergency.
Read full article: I started reporting on the dearth of reproductive health care. Then I had my own emergency.Texas Tribune journalist Jayme Lozano Carver has written about health care for years. Most recently, she reported on how little access there is for women and new moms in the Texas Panhandle.
Texas city strips funding for monthly art event over drag show
Read full article: Texas city strips funding for monthly art event over drag showThe arts center that organizes the monthly art walk, which draws 20,000 to downtown Lubbock, said the drag show happened at an off-site location and had no association with it.
Interstate 27 has divided Lubbock for decades. North and east side residents want that to change.
Read full article: Interstate 27 has divided Lubbock for decades. North and east side residents want that to change.After repeated attempts to convince the City Council to make zoning changes, residents asked the federal government to intervene.
Just as the temperature climbs, Texas towns are closing public pools to cut costs
Read full article: Just as the temperature climbs, Texas towns are closing public pools to cut costsAdvocates say public pools are necessary community infrastructure and save lives. Splash pads have become a more affordable option.
Three months after the Texasā largest wildfire, Panhandle residents are preparing for the next one
Read full article: Three months after the Texasā largest wildfire, Panhandle residents are preparing for the next oneShort of an immediate statewide response, Texans who lost homes and livestock are taking matters into their own hands to better prepare their property for a wildfire.
AMBER Alert issued for missing 10-month-old child after her mother was found dead, New Mexico police say
Read full article: AMBER Alert issued for missing 10-month-old child after her mother was found dead, New Mexico police sayAn AMBER Alert was issued Friday for a 10-month-old who was last seen with her mother before she was found dead in a park, New Mexico authorities said.
Lubbock voters reject attempt to end arrests for possessing small amounts of marijuana
Read full article: Lubbock voters reject attempt to end arrests for possessing small amounts of marijuanaA ballot proposition would have instructed police not to arrest people who have four ounces or less of marijuana.
Legalized marijuana supporters hope voters in this Texas city will send a message to state lawmakers
Read full article: Legalized marijuana supporters hope voters in this Texas city will send a message to state lawmakersThere is no process in Texas for a voter-driven statewide referendum. So, supporters are going city by city to build statewide momentum.
About 40% of Texas election administrators leave their job each presidential election cycle, report finds
Read full article: About 40% of Texas election administrators leave their job each presidential election cycle, report findsTexasā turnover rate has held steady at 40% since 2014. Thatās slightly above the new national average.
Cows at two Texas dairy farms have bird flu, another blow to Cattle Country following wildfires
Read full article: Cows at two Texas dairy farms have bird flu, another blow to Cattle Country following wildfiresFederal officials said the nationās milk supply should be not at risk after a bird flu outbreak hits dairies in Texas, New Mexico and Kansas.
Two West Texas infants in the same neighborhood diagnosed with rare botulism
Read full article: Two West Texas infants in the same neighborhood diagnosed with rare botulismA third infant nearby also contracted botulism last August. The Midland health department said there is no public health emergency.
These three ābandidasā are changing the face of Texas barbecue
Read full article: These three ābandidasā are changing the face of Texas barbecueWith menu items like birria brisket ramen, the Bar-B-Que Bandidas in Lubbock are challenging the norm of Texas barbecue and a male dominated industry.
Lubbock residents have long dreamed of cheaper electricity. Will Texasā open market deliver?
Read full article: Lubbock residents have long dreamed of cheaper electricity. Will Texasā open market deliver?Years in the making, the transition from a municipal electric company to an open market has left some residents unsure.
Shuttered for decades, a downtown theater in a rural Texas town is getting new life and new mission
Read full article: Shuttered for decades, a downtown theater in a rural Texas town is getting new life and new missionRural Texas towns like Levelland on the South Plains are increasingly turning to the arts to help revitalize their downtowns and provide more attractions for families.
Police fatally shoot man who officers say charged them with knives in West Texas
Read full article: Police fatally shoot man who officers say charged them with knives in West TexasPolice say officers investigating a domestic disturbance fatally shot a man who they say ran at them with knives in West Texas.
Cal coach says son of Afghan refugee Fardaws Aimaq was called 'a terrorist' by a heckling fan
Read full article: Cal coach says son of Afghan refugee Fardaws Aimaq was called 'a terrorist' by a heckling fanCalifornia basketball coach Mark Madsen says Fardaws Aimaq was called āa terroristā by a heckling fan after a game against UTEP this week in the SoCal Challenge.
Voters in one of West Texasā largest cities will decide whether to decriminalize marijuana in 2024
Read full article: Voters in one of West Texasā largest cities will decide whether to decriminalize marijuana in 2024Voters in several Texas cities have sought to decriminalize marijuana. However, their efforts have been met by reluctant city councils that say they canāt go against state law.
Texans approved billions for water and broadband infrastructure. Now what?
Read full article: Texans approved billions for water and broadband infrastructure. Now what?The legislation behind the historic investment directs state agencies to send money to the stateās smaller, cash-strapped towns that have difficulty paying for upgrades. Federal money is also expected to flow to regions that need broadband.
Do Texans have the āright to farm?ā Voters will decide with Proposition 1.
Read full article: Do Texans have the āright to farm?ā Voters will decide with Proposition 1.Supporters of the amendment say it will protect farmers as the stateās largest cities continue to grow. Opponents suggest the amendment is too broad and ambiguous.
Why a Texas Panhandle city hit pause on an abortion ātravel banā ā for now
Read full article: Why a Texas Panhandle city hit pause on an abortion ātravel banā ā for nowAmarillo's city council said it will continue to study the issue. The city is one of just a few in Texas to reject the policy pushed by anti-abortion activists.
Lubbock County becomes latest to approve āabortion travel banā while Amarillo City Council balks
Read full article: Lubbock County becomes latest to approve āabortion travel banā while Amarillo City Council balksLubbock is now the fourth, and largest, county to pass the ordinance which would punish people through civil lawsuits for aiding pregnant women seeking abortions outside of Texas.
U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, Roger Williams decline House speaker bid
Read full article: U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, Roger Williams decline House speaker bidOnly one Texan, Rep. Pete Sessions, remains in the race for House Speaker. Republicans will hear from the candidates Monday night as they try to fill the job following U.S. Rep. Jim Jordanās failure to win a majority.
As West Texasā population grows, the need for more mental health care does too
Read full article: As West Texasā population grows, the need for more mental health care does tooLike many regions in Texas, the county jails and hospitals have been at capacity with people needing mental health help. Local leaders hope a new 200-bed facility will alleviate pressure.
Residents in one of Texasā most populous cities are working to decriminalize marijuana
Read full article: Residents in one of Texasā most populous cities are working to decriminalize marijuanaHome to more than 260,000 people, the West Texas town of Lubbock is no stranger to passing local laws by petition. In 2021, residents overwhelmingly approved a local ban on abortion.
A Texas county that borders New Mexico is the latest to consider an abortion travel ban
Read full article: A Texas county that borders New Mexico is the latest to consider an abortion travel banCochran County commissioners meet Thursday to discuss the ban. Abortion-rights supporters say the bans are unenforceable and meant to stoke fear.
āAn epidemicā: Syphilis rages through Texas, causing newborn cases to climb amid treatment shortage
Read full article: āAn epidemicā: Syphilis rages through Texas, causing newborn cases to climb amid treatment shortageSyphilis rates in Texas continue to climb, alarming healthcare workers who see the highest increases among pregnant people and newborns. A shortage of treatment is complicating efforts to combat it.
Their water is undrinkable. So these West Texas residents have taken matters into their own hands.
Read full article: Their water is undrinkable. So these West Texas residents have taken matters into their own hands.The water in these four unincorporated communities near Lubbock has been undrinkable for years, residents say. They hope to win $3 million in state grants to improve their systems.
This new law will help health care workers save lives in ambulances that cover wide-open West Texas
Read full article: This new law will help health care workers save lives in ambulances that cover wide-open West TexasThe emerging technology, paid for by a grant established during the 2023 legislative session, will help emergency health care workers talk with doctors in emergency rooms to better care for critical patients.
The national debate over books has come to West Texas. And librarians are stuck in the middle.
Read full article: The national debate over books has come to West Texas. And librarians are stuck in the middle.West Texas residents are organizing over their love ā or concern ā for books. Meanwhile, from Lubbock to Midland and Odessa, librarians are trying to reaffirm librariesā role as community hubs.
High Plains farmers are experimenting with novel techniques to protect Texasā future soil
Read full article: High Plains farmers are experimenting with novel techniques to protect Texasā future soilA minority of farmers in the Texas High Plains region are looking to organic and regenerative techniques to keep their soil healthy year round, despite a dry climate.
Texas man who threatened poll workers and Arizona officials is sentenced to 3 1/2 years
Read full article: Texas man who threatened poll workers and Arizona officials is sentenced to 3 1/2 yearsFederal prosecutors say a Texas man who advocated for a mass shooting of poll workers and threatened two Arizona officials and their children has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison.
Black and Hispanic Lubbock residents want federal intervention in zoning, environmental policies
Read full article: Black and Hispanic Lubbock residents want federal intervention in zoning, environmental policiesA new federal complaint comes as the city updates its zoning laws for the first time since the 1970s.
LGBTQ+ community in Lubbock protests their city councilās failure to pass a Pride proclamation
Read full article: LGBTQ+ community in Lubbock protests their city councilās failure to pass a Pride proclamationIn the conservative High Plains city, LGBTQ leaders and activists say they feel unseen and unsupported by their elected officials.
At least four people killed after tornado hits Matador, a small town outside Lubbock
Read full article: At least four people killed after tornado hits Matador, a small town outside LubbockThe city of about 800 also suffered extensive property damage and power outages. Crews were still assessing the full scope of destruction Thursday, and Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration.
Texas farmers are worried one of the stateās most precious water resources is running dry. You should be, too.
Read full article: Texas farmers are worried one of the stateās most precious water resources is running dry. You should be, too.The Ogallala Aquifer serves farming communities in multiple states. When it runs dry, the agriculture industry in Texas and the nation is in jeopardy.
Texas will spend billions to connect the state with broadband. But is it clear which neighborhoods need help?
Read full article: Texas will spend billions to connect the state with broadband. But is it clear which neighborhoods need help?On the eve of a historic investment in connecting the Lone Star State, advocates worry maps that will help establish which communities get funding have bad information.
Texas cotton farmers leading the charge for more government insurance to cover climate, inflation challenges
Read full article: Texas cotton farmers leading the charge for more government insurance to cover climate, inflation challengesThe federal Farm Bill is must-pass legislation that Congress debates every five years. It includes billions of dollars in farm subsidies and pays for food assistance programs.
Texas towns need money, technical help and compromise to save their water systems
Read full article: Texas towns need money, technical help and compromise to save their water systemsWater agencies have long resisted working together out of fear of losing their local powers. But an example from Florida could help save the Lone Star Stateās water and infrastructure.
Texas man sentenced to 70 years in prison for spitting on police officers, reports say
Read full article: Texas man sentenced to 70 years in prison for spitting on police officers, reports sayA 36-year-old Texas man was sentenced Wednesday to 70 years in prison after he was found guilty on two counts of harassment of a public servant for spitting at police officers.
Why health care is still hard to access in rural towns near Texasā bigger cities
Read full article: Why health care is still hard to access in rural towns near Texasā bigger citiesBigger cities like Lubbock can unintentionally suck health care resources and professionals from smaller towns, creating what one local expert calls the ādoughnut effect.ā
Texas Tech basketball coach Mark Adams suspended over āracially insensitiveā comment
Read full article: Texas Tech basketball coach Mark Adams suspended over āracially insensitiveā commentThe head coach is also being investigated for allegedly spitting on a player during a game earlier in the season.
Here comes the haboob: Texas High Plains getting walloped by dust storms
Read full article: Here comes the haboob: Texas High Plains getting walloped by dust stormsHigh Plains residents are used to wind and dust, but an ongoing drought and recent tropical-storm-level winds have brought some epic dust storms.
California man who traveled to Texas to kill boyfriend by stabbing him 93 times sentenced to life in prison
Read full article: California man who traveled to Texas to kill boyfriend by stabbing him 93 times sentenced to life in prisonA San Diego, California, man who traveled to Texas to kill his boyfriend in 2020 has been sentenced to life in prison.
Watch: Four new Texas House members discuss immigration, property taxes and public school financing
Read full article: Watch: Four new Texas House members discuss immigration, property taxes and public school financingThey talked about their campaigns and journey to the Legislature, what has stood out to them so far about working in the House and what they hope to accomplish this session.
Lubbock-Cooper ISD passed a resolution denouncing racist bullying in schools. Parents say itās a publicity stunt.
Read full article: Lubbock-Cooper ISD passed a resolution denouncing racist bullying in schools. Parents say itās a publicity stunt.Students reported enduring racial slurs, the sounds of whips cracking and monkey noises as they walked down school hallways.
West Texas parents are suing their schools over racism as others demand action over antisemitic bullying
Read full article: West Texas parents are suing their schools over racism as others demand action over antisemitic bullyingSchool leaders have said they donāt tolerate racism and that they regularly train teachers how to deal with bullying. But parents say inaction by officials tells a different story.
Hundreds of Texas Methodist churches vote to split from denomination after years of infighting over gay marriage and abortion
Read full article: Hundreds of Texas Methodist churches vote to split from denomination after years of infighting over gay marriage and abortionThose leaving are frustrated that the church has taken positions they feel are too liberal.
National political leaders stump through Texas ahead of midterm elections
Read full article: National political leaders stump through Texas ahead of midterm electionsFirst lady Jill Biden and U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy were in Texas Sunday to help members of their respective parties energize voters before Election Day.
āIām in no rushā: Voter apathy takes hold of early voting ahead of Texas midterm election
Read full article: āIām in no rushā: Voter apathy takes hold of early voting ahead of Texas midterm electionRepublicans may be waiting to vote on Election Day after former President Donald Trump pushed voting in person on Nov. 8 at a rally in South Texas.
āAn inverse tsunamiā: How inflation and drought are making it harder to feed West Texans in need
Read full article: āAn inverse tsunamiā: How inflation and drought are making it harder to feed West Texans in needFood banks across Texas are now struggling to keep up with growing demand even more than they were during the pandemic.
Texas Tech fined for storming field after OT win against Texas; Longhorns player shoved by fan
Read full article: Texas Tech fined for storming field after OT win against Texas; Longhorns player shoved by fanTexas Tech was fined $50,000 and reprimanded by the Big 12 Conference because fans stormed the field following an overtime victory against rival Texas. A video of the celebration shows one of those fans shoving a Longhorns player.
MONDAY HUDDLE: How good is Texas Tech, where does Texas go from here after Saturdayās classic?
Read full article: MONDAY HUDDLE: How good is Texas Tech, where does Texas go from here after Saturdayās classic?Three key takeaways from the stateās football scene -- and a glimpse at whatās to come next week.
Texasā cotton industry is facing its worst harvest in years ā costing the state more than $2 billion
Read full article: Texasā cotton industry is facing its worst harvest in years ā costing the state more than $2 billionCotton is Texasā largest crop, and industry experts say they expect just half the normal annual yield ā which will drive up costs for consumers.
A West Texas coffee shop owner is giving away Plan B for free as fight over contraception access takes hold
Read full article: A West Texas coffee shop owner is giving away Plan B for free as fight over contraception access takes holdLast May, Lubbock became the biggest city in Texas to ban abortion within city limits. Now, with abortion outlawed throughout the Lone Star State, the fight over reproductive rights is taking a new turn.
Why the Texas grid causes the High Plains to turn off its wind turbines
Read full article: Why the Texas grid causes the High Plains to turn off its wind turbinesWhile wind farms in the region could help power and lower energy costs for at least 9 million homes, significant infrastructure upgrades would be needed to supply electricity from the region to other parts of the state.
Uvalde police lieutenant placed on leave after report faults several agenciesā school shooting response
Read full article: Uvalde police lieutenant placed on leave after report faults several agenciesā school shooting responseLt. Mariano Pargas was the acting city police chief the day of the shooting. Mayor Don McLaughlin said the city is investigating Pargasā role in the delayed confrontation of the shooter.
Broadband, jobs, school vouchers and more: State, local leaders reflect on the topics driving conversations in rural Texas
Read full article: Broadband, jobs, school vouchers and more: State, local leaders reflect on the topics driving conversations in rural TexasLawmakers also discussed their stances on the issues impacting the region the most in a two-day event hosted by The Texas Tribune.
Man convicted after sexually assaulting teen, forcibly removing her braces and strangling her, FBI says
Read full article: Man convicted after sexually assaulting teen, forcibly removing her braces and strangling her, FBI saysA Michigan man has been convicted of multiple crimes after just one hour of jury deliberation.
Texas couple finds Chihuahua as stowaway in suitcase while trying to board Southwest flight
Read full article: Texas couple finds Chihuahua as stowaway in suitcase while trying to board Southwest flightA Texas couple discovered an unexpected travel companion when they tried to check in their bags for a Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas earlier this month.
Businesses near Texas Tech worry Big 12 shakeup will stir financial trouble, even if Lubbockās economy isnāt in danger
Read full article: Businesses near Texas Tech worry Big 12 shakeup will stir financial trouble, even if Lubbockās economy isnāt in dangerLubbock is one of the few sports hubs in West Texas, meaning college football games draw out-of-town crowds that fill local shops, restaurants and hotels. Some business owners and leaders there worry about lost revenue once the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma stop playing there.
University of Texas president defends decision to join SEC as lawmakers criticize timing and impact on other schools
Read full article: University of Texas president defends decision to join SEC as lawmakers criticize timing and impact on other schoolsJay Hartzell said the switch to the Southeastern Conference was the best thing for UT-Austinās student athletes and the university. Texas senators expressed disdain for the move and questioned how it came about.
Authorities: 1 officer wounded in West Texas standoff with barricaded gunman has died; 3 remain hospitalized
Read full article: Authorities: 1 officer wounded in West Texas standoff with barricaded gunman has died; 3 remain hospitalizedAuthorities have captured the suspect in an hourslong police standoff where one officer died and four others were wounded in a small West Texas city.
Lawsuit to block Lubbock's abortion ban is dismissed in court as the ordinance takes effect
Read full article: Lawsuit to block Lubbock's abortion ban is dismissed in court as the ordinance takes effectPlanned Parenthood sued to block the "sanctuary city for the unborn" ordinance, passed by voters in May, but a federal judge said he didn't have jurisdiction to hear the case. The ordinance went into effect June 1.
What itās like to be a doctor in training in the middle of a pandemic
Read full article: What itās like to be a doctor in training in the middle of a pandemicAfter years of studying how to practice medicine, they quickly learned how to treat COVID-19 patients, relay difficult news to loved ones and manage their own mental health during a pandemic.
Lawsuit seeks to block Lubbockās ordinance aimed at outlawing abortions
Read full article: Lawsuit seeks to block Lubbockās ordinance aimed at outlawing abortionsThe American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas are suing over the West Texas city's āsanctuary city for the unbornā ordinance.
Lubbock votes to become the stateās largest āsanctuary city for the unbornā
Read full article: Lubbock votes to become the stateās largest āsanctuary city for the unbornāLubbock voters will decide Saturday if the West Texas city will become the largest āsanctuary city for the unbornā
Read full article: Lubbock voters will decide Saturday if the West Texas city will become the largest āsanctuary city for the unbornāMan accused of holding National Guard members transporting COVID-19 vaccines in Texas at gunpoint
Read full article: Man accused of holding National Guard members transporting COVID-19 vaccines in Texas at gunpointThis undated photo provided by Lubbock County (Texas) Sheriff's Office shows Larry Lee Harris. Idalou, Texas police said Harris, an Arizona man who held 11 National Guard Soldiers transporting COVID-19 vaccines at gunpoint, was arrested Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (Lubbock County Sheriff's Office via AP)LUBBOCK, Texas ā An Arizona man is accused of forcing off the road a National Guard convoy transporting COVID-19 vaccines in the Texas Panhandle and then holding 11 guard members at gunpoint. None of the National Guard members were injured, and Harris was arrested Tuesday morning when police responded to the scene. He then ordered the guard members out of their vehicles at gunpoint, police said.
Tornadoes reported in Texas Panhandle, no injuries reported
Read full article: Tornadoes reported in Texas Panhandle, no injuries reportedAMARILLO, Texas ā Several suspected tornadoes touched down Saturday afternoon in the Texas Panhandle between Lubbock and Amarillo, according to the National Weather Service, but no injuries or fatalities were reported. āThere are no reports of injuries,ā and only minor damage, Merchant said. āWe can't answer that until afterwards when we examine the damage,ā Merchant said. Storm survey teams could be sent to the areas as early as Sunday morning, according to Merchant. ___This story has been corrected to show the name of the Amarillo area emergency management director is Chip Orton, not Chad Orton.
After Texasā power grid failure, some in Lubbock worry about the cityās plans to join ERCOT
Read full article: After Texasā power grid failure, some in Lubbock worry about the cityās plans to join ERCOTLubbock officials initially planned to join ERCOT once its 15-year-long contract with Xcel Energy, a member of the Southwestern Public Service Company, expires. Spencer lives in Lubbock, one of the few areas of the state not connected to Texasā independent power grid. AdThe failures of Texasā independent power grid have led to some counties mulling a way out. Lubbock officials initially planned to join ERCOT once its 15-year-long contract with Xcel Energy, a member of the Southwestern Public Service Company, expires. Lubbock City Councilperson Jeff Griffith he still feels confident Lubbock will move forward with the plans to join ERCOT.
The Latest: Memphis-Houston men's basketball game postponed
Read full article: The Latest: Memphis-Houston men's basketball game postponedNow their first scheduled game with Houston has been added to the postponement list. ___The Big 12 has announced the reschedule dates for nine womenās basketball games postponed this season because of COVID-19 protocols. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Thursday that Louisville's men's basketball game at Virginia Tech scheduled for Saturday has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. Ad___Saturdayās men's basketball game between Texas A&M and Florida has been postponed due to COVID-19. It's the third straight Florida men's game affected by the coronavirus.
Rangers probe fatal shooting of Lubbock man by deputies
Read full article: Rangers probe fatal shooting of Lubbock man by deputiesLUBBOCK, Texas ā The Texas Rangers on Sunday continued investigating the fatal shooting by deputies of a man who had been suspected of killing his father in Lubbock County. The Lubbock County Sheriffās Office said it began looking for 34-year-old Chase Coats after deputies found the body of his father, 56-year-old Russell Coats, at a home at around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Authorities said they tracked down Chase Coats several hours later in Baylor County, located about 160 miles east of Lubbock County. Baylor County deputies attempted to detain Coats but he shot at officers, said Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Deputies returned fire, killing Coats, Buesing said.
Seller of gun used in 2019 Texas mass shooting gets 2 years
Read full article: Seller of gun used in 2019 Texas mass shooting gets 2 yearsLUBBOCK, Texas ā The man who sold an AR-15-style rifle used in a 2019 mass shooting that killed seven people in West Texas was sentenced Thursday to two years in federal prison, prosecutors said. Braziel admitted selling the rifle that Seth Aaron Ator, of Odessa, used when he killed seven people and wounded 25 others in the Midland-Odessa area. According to court documents, Braziel admitted selling Ator an AR-15-style rifle on Oct. 8, 2016 ā nearly three years before the Aug. 31, 2019, shooting rampage. He circumvented that system by buying a gun from Braziel, who did not run background checks on any of his buyers. Although background checks are not required for in-state, private gun sales, Braziel admitted he was āengaged in the business of selling firearmsā and should have been licensed and checking his clientsā backgrounds.
Gov. Greg Abbott allows only limited COVID-19 restrictions for Texasā worst hot spots. Local leaders say itās not enough.
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott allows only limited COVID-19 restrictions for Texasā worst hot spots. Local leaders say itās not enough.The Dallas County health department reported 33 available intensive care beds on Sunday for the countyās 2.6 million residents. Jenkins said most Dallas County businesses are likewise adhering to Abbottās restrictions. But many county officials, including Jenkins, said bars are openly flouting guidelines and the TABC is not enforcing the rules. In most cases, local officials said they focus on educating wrongdoers instead of punishing them. Meanwhile, the city reported 245 people hospitalized with the virus on Sunday, down from a peak of 360 in late November but still enough to concern local health officials.