Texas Cities Dominate List of U.S. 'Boomtowns'
Magnify Money, a consumer finance website, released a new study this week that found Texas dominated the list of U.S. "boomtowns" and Austin scored the top spot.
MixedTimes - Merrill Hope
Texas Pimp Gets Life in Prison for Running Underage Girls
A convicted Texas pimp who operated out of the Fort Worth area will spend the rest of his life in federal prison for the sex trafficking of underage girls.
Hate Hoax: Texas Waitress Frames Sheriff's Dept. Employee for Racial Slur
A waitress at a Texas restaurant claimed that an area law enforcement employee scribbled a racial slur against Hispanics on a meal receipt. However, a county sheriff's immediate investigation revealed the whole thing was a hate hoax.
Two Guards Tried to Smuggle Meth into Texas Jail, Say Feds
Two former detention guards were indicted for their alleged roles in an attempted scheme to smuggle methamphetamine to inmates at a Texas jail, according to federal officials.
Texas School District Considers Facial Recognition for Campus Security
A Texas school district hopes to incorporate facial recognition technology and tracking software into its current security suite. This decision comes in response to the deadly high school shootings that happened in Parkland, Florida, and Santa Fe, Texas, earlier this year.
Texas Band Teacher Gets 5 Years for Distributing Child Porn
A South Texas high school band teacher, who recently pleaded guilty to sharing child pornography online, will spend five years in federal prison.
West Texas WWII Soldier's Remains Return After 74 Years
The remains of a World War II soldier from West Texas were laid to rest on Monday 74 years after he went missing in action from a German battlefield.
Texas Mural Honoring Veterans Painted Over Before Independence Day
A patriotic mural in Dallas honoring U.S. military veterans was painted over in black only days before Independence Day.
Texas Democrat Runoff Election Results Invalidated for 'Voter Fraud'
A Texas judge threw out the results of a recent Democrat runoff race for a justice of the peace seat in Kleberg County, ruling seven votes cast were invalid.
Noncitizen Arrested for Alleged Illegal 'Voter Assistance' Scheme in Texas Border City
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday that authorities arrested a noncitizen for her alleged role in a voter assistance scheme during a 2016 border city runoff election.
Salvadoran Illegal Immigrant Indicted for Alleged Voter Fraud in Texas
A Salvadoran national, who Texas prosecutors say has been living illegally in the state since the 1980s, was indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged voter fraud and other immigration violations.
North Texas Man Indicted in Voter Fraud Probe Pleads Guilty
The North Texas man indicted in an ongoing Dallas County voter fraud investigation pleaded guilty to a lesser charge this week. He was sentenced to serve six months in jail, according to the Office of the Dallas County District Attorney.
Texas Democrat Sues Congressional Primary Runoff Winner for 'Voter Fraud'
A North Texas Democrat is challenging her recent runoff election loss against the party's winner, claiming voter fraud marred their race for U.S. House of Representatives.
60 Arrested in Texas Online Child Sex Crime Sting
Multiple law enforcement agencies came together for a three-month investigation called Operation Broken Heart, which resulted in 60 arrests and 152 charges across eight southeast Texas counties for numerous Internet crimes against children.
Texas Ed Board Nears 'Mexican American' Studies Approval
The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) preliminarily approved to rename the course “Ethnic Studies: An Overview of Americans of Mexican Descent” to “Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies.
Texas Mom Catches Son Naked With School Counselor, Say Police
A North Texas school counselor turned herself into authorities Thursday after allegations surfaced that she had a sexual relationship with a ninth-grade student for roughly a year.
'Stunning' West Texas Oil Production to Double by 2023, Says Report
The Permian Basin, already considered a major force among the world's oil producers, will double its output to reach 5.4 million barrels per day (mbd) by 2023, according to a report released Wednesday.
Texas School District Approves Concealed Carry for Teachers
A North Texas school district approved a safety measure that will allow teachers to carry a concealed handgun in their classrooms.
Texas Democrat Pins Primary Loss on 'Voter Fraud'
A South Texas Democrat candidate, who lost by six votes in a recent primary runoff, is contesting the race results against the Democrat winner, claiming "irregularities, misconduct, and fraud" impacted the outcome of the election.
Texas Mother Turns In Son After Spotting Him in Crime Stoppers Pic, Say Police
One Texas mother turned her teenage son into authorities after spotting him in surveillance photos released by Crime Stoppers, say police.
More Clear Backpacks, Campus Hardening Measures Coming to Texas Schools
Texas schools continue to adopt stricter safety measures they hope will better harden campuses and prevent future active shooter situations in light of the recent deadly, mass shootings in Parkland, Florida, and closer to home at Santa Fe High.
Police Step Up Presence at Texas Mall Following Thwarted Terror Plot
Police officers in Frisco, Texas, are stepping up their presence at a popular shopping mall that was recently the alleged target of a thwarted terror plot.
Texas Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sex, Smoking Marijuana with Student
A Texas high school teacher, who previously admitted to having sex and smoking marijuana with a former underage male student, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of improper conduct as part of a plea agreement.
Texas Couple Enslaved African Girl for 16 Years, Say Feds
Federal authorities charged a North Texas couple with the forced labor of a West African girl, alleging they enslaved her in their home for more than 16 years.
Texas Senator Pushes Removal of ‘Noncitizens’ from Voter Rolls
One Texas lawmaker asked election officials to clean up their voter rolls from "illegal voting by noncitizens" in a county that has been plagued with a host of voter fraud allegations and investigations.
Texas Dad Calls Police on Son’s ‘Burglary Spree’
A Texas dad made a tough decision when his teenage son bragged about a "burglary spree" that included breaking into hundreds of cars, even stealing a police officer's weapon from a parked vehicle -- he called 911.
Dallas City Council Resolution Calls for ‘Demolition’ of Confederate War Memorial
The Dallas City Council will introduce a resolution next week that may well seal the fates of its Confederate monuments. It calls for the "demolition and removal" of a 122-year-old historical Confederate War Memorial.
‘Not Being Viewed as an Enemy’ Propels California Company’s Move to Texas, says CEO
The top executive of a Southern California privatecharter airline says the Golden State's hostile business environment propelled his company's decision to relocate to Texas.
Indictment: Texas Teens Secretly Filmed, Posted Classmate’s Genitalia on Snapchat
Two Texas high school students face criminal charges for allegations involving secretly filming a classmate in a campus bathroom stall. Then, they reportedly posted the footage of the boy, which exposed his penis, on Snapchat.
Texas Mom Shocked After Son Accidentally Wears X-rated Shirt to School
One embarrassed Texas mother's Facebook post went viral after she shared the news that her elementary school-aged son unknowingly wore an X-rated novelty t-shirt to class. The shirt parodied McDonald's "golden arches" and "I'm lovin' it" slogan.
Texas High School Swaps Confederate Mascot for ‘Service Dog’
The push to remove all Confederate iconography continues at one Texas high school where eligible students voted to replace its Old South logo with a politically correct "service dog" mascot.
Lawsuit: Largest Texas County Withholding Noncitizen Voting Records
The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) filed a lawsuit Thursday against Harris County, Texas, for allegedly failing to disclose noncitizen registered voter records as required under federal law.
Texas Urges Two More Public School Districts to Stop Promoting Political Candidates
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent new cease and desist letters to two more public school districts Friday. The letters included examples of advocacy campaigns from the recent statewide March primary election that allegedly violated the state's education code.
Time’s Up for ‘Clock Boy’ in New Court Ruling
Time is up for "Clock Boy" Ahmed Mohamed, according to a new court ruling. The Texas teen was made famous for bringing a homemade digital clock-in-a-box to school where it was mistaken for a "hoax bomb.
Texas Teachers, Parents Flock to Firearms Training
Texas teachers and parents continue to flock to firearms training courses and active shooter preparedness workshops in response to the recent wave of school threats and the February shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that left 14 defenseless students and three faculty members dead.
EXCLUSIVE — Texas Public School District Emails Encouraged Staff to Switch Parties to Influence GOP Primary
Amid accusations of “political advocacy” leveled against several Texas public school districts by Attorney General Ken Paxton, emails obtained from one jurisdiction under review highlight commentary advocating for political party switching in primary elections and the promotion of a single slate of candidates--all on an official communication network.
Texan Gets 90 Years for Enticing Children into His Porn Productions
A North Texas man will have plenty of time to reflect upon his actions now that a federal judge sentenced him to spend the next 90 years in prison for enticing local children to perform sexual acts in pornographic videos he produced.
Texas School Janitor Accused of Soliciting, Grooming, Sexual Assault of 12-Year-Old Girl
A West Texas middle school janitor stands accused of soliciting, “grooming,” and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl and attempting to entice another. Authorities said he lured them in by writing his Snapchat ID on the metal toilet paper dispenser in the girls’ bathroom.
Another Texas School District Arms Employees to ‘Protect Our Children’
A rural school district joined nearly 200 other Texas school districts in arming their employees to protect students under a "Guardian" program.
Texas School District Bans Gun Control Protests During Class
Amid events by various political action groups calling for students to walk out of classes and protest for stricter gun control following the Parkland, Florida, shooting, one Texas school district said students will not be permitted to participate on their campuses and if they do, they will be suspended for three days.
Mexican National Previously Indicted in Two Capital Murders Now Charged in Third Homicide
A Texas grand jury previously indicted a Mexican national for the double capital murder of a couple found in shallow graves last year. The man is now charged in the death of a third person found buried beneath a Fort Worth home.
WATCH: Texas Parent Questions School’s ‘Draw Yourself as a Slave’ Assignment
The mother of seventh-grade student in Austin, Texas, says she plans to meet with school officials over a homework assignment that tasked students to draw pictures of themselves as slaves.
Two Texas Principals Accused of Failing to Report Sexual Assaults on Students
Two Texas principals in the same school district stand accused of failing to report alleged sexual assaults of very young male students on their respective campuses. Purportedly, the boys performed lewd acts on each other.
Texas Teacher Accused of Filming Performance of Oral Sex on Sleeping Student
A Texas teacher faces felony charges for allegedly performing oral sex on a sleeping student and filming the encounter on a cell phone after providing beer to the purported teenage victim, say Harris County officials.
Tax Reform Leads JP Morgan Chase to Unveil $20B Investment Plan amid Texas Expansion
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. plans to make a $20 billion, five-year investment in its U.S. businesses, boosting wages and expanding into new markets, largely in response to the recent sweeping corporate tax code changes made by the Trump Administration.
Flu Outbreak Shutters Texas School District
A flu outbreak is forcing a North Texas school district to shut down for a week because the number of students, teachers, and staff exhibiting influenza-like symptoms continues to soar.
U-Haul Names Texas Leader for U.S. Growth
U-Haul named Texas the nation’s number one growth state for 2017, marking the second consecutive year the Lone Star State nabbed the top spot in the truck rental company’s annual migration trends report which analyzes domestic relocation patterns.
Texas 2018 Economy ‘Firing on All Cylinders,’ Dallas Fed Predicts
A senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas says the Texas economy is “firing on all cylinders” for 2018. He forecasts strong job growth, low unemployment, and other potential gains that may come in response to the Trump administration’s recently passed federal tax overhaul plan.
Texas Christian College Frowns on Students Working at Hooters
A new Hooters restaurant is coming to a West Texas city, but one local Christian university frowns on its female students working at the chain known for scantily clad waitresses, chicken wings, and the slogan “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined.
Texas Scientists Develop Drug to Curb Obesity Without Dieting
Research scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston say they developed a promising new drug that curbs obesity without dieting and, based upon preliminary study findings, they may be on their way to unleashing a breakthrough for the millions who struggle with their weight.
Texas County ‘Concealing’ Noncitizen Voter Records, Says Group
A public interest watchdog put one Texas County on notice for failing to disclose noncitizen registered voter records, the group says.
Texas Manufacturing Hits 11-Year High in December, Says Dallas Fed
A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas revealed that the Texas manufacturing industry experienced large gains in December, ending the year by reaching its highest point in more than 11 years.
Texas Tech University Moves Closer to Building Veterinary School
Plans for the long-awaited Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine reached an important milestone, moving one step closer to becoming a reality.
Dallas Re-Brands Elementary Schools Named for Confederate Generals
The Dallas Independent School District board of trustees voted unanimously Thursday night on replacement names for three of the four elementary schools that currently have Confederate army generals as their namesakes.
Texas Teacher Accused of Sex with Student She Met at Church
A 31-year-old Texas teacher stands accused of having multiple sexual encounters with a 16-year-old high school boy in her capacity as a youth ministry volunteer.
Texas Man Admits to Providing Material Support to ISIS
A Texas man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday for plotting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Suspended UT Student Cleared of Sex Assault Charges Now Reinstated
The University of Texas at Austin reached a settlement with "John Doe," the male student who sued campus President Greg Fenves for overturning an arbitrator’s decision that cleared Doe of sexual assault charges stemming from a 2016 case.
Texas Teacher Adopts Former Student in Time for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving came early to a Texas teenager who has been in the state's foster care system since he was nine. His former high school teacher decided to adopt and became his forever mom last weekend.
Texas Drug Dealer Gets 19 Years for Armed Assault of Undercover Feds
A North Texas drug dealer will spend the next 19 years in prison for his role in a 2015 armed assault where he opened fire on undercover federal agents in southwest Dallas.
Texas Jobless Rate Hits 40-Year Record Low of 3.9 Percent
The Texas jobless rate hit a 40-year record low in October with unemployment dropping to 3.9 percent, outpacing the monthly national average and signaling the state rebounded since Hurricane Harvey.
Texas High School’s Re-Brand from Lee to L.E.E. Will Cost $300K
The Texas school district that recently voted to re-imagine a campus named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee with a more welcoming 21st Century nomenclature, unveiled that the projected costs to re-brand hovers around $300,000.
Texas School District Will Rename Five Confederate-Named Campuses Even if Taxpayers Protest
Five Texas public school campuses with names linked to Confederate figures will get new monikers by summer under an aggressive plan proposed by the district superintendent.
WATCH: University of Houston Pro-Palestinian Activists Disrupt David Horowitz
Around 100 protesters supporting the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) staged a walkout intended to disrupt David Horowitz from speaking during his recent University of Houston (UH) appearance.
High School Sex Hazing Scandal Leads to Texas Superintendent’s Resignation
The superintendent of a Texas school district plagued by sexual assaults in a hazing scandal resigned following a special meeting held by the board of trustees.
One Family Loses Eight Members in Texas Church Shooting
One Texas family lost eight of its members, four of whom were children and one a pregnant woman, in Sunday's tragic church shooting rampage that claimed 26 lives.
Texas Father Arrested after Police Find Remains of Three-Year-Old Daughter
Police arrested the father of a missing three-year-old North Texas girl after her lifeless body was found in a culvert one half mile from the family's home this weekend.
WATCH: Atheist Group Demands Texas School Remove Christian Flag
The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist rights group, called for the immediate removal of a Christian flag from an East Texas high school campus or it will risk legal action.
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Shutters Texas Hotel
A Central Texas hotel temporarily closed its doors last week once public health officials disclosed an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, a severe and sometimes deadly form of pneumonia.
Protesters Demand Removal of ‘Oppressor’ Christopher Columbus Statue in Texas
A small group of protesters came out Sunday demanding that San Antonio city officials remove a longstanding statue of Christopher Columbus. They held signs and chanted, asserting that Monday's federal holiday, which honors the explorer, represents oppression for Native Americans.
Austin City Council Resolution Condemns ‘Harmful’ Confederate Monuments
The Austin City Council voted Thursday on a resolution that condemns displays of Confederate statues, artifacts, and memorabilia. In a three-page document, council members call Austin a “welcoming city to people of all backgrounds” where Confederate iconography is “harmful to the peace and tranquility of the city.
Texas Capital Dumps Columbus Day for ‘Indigenous Peoples Day’
The Austin City Council voted Thursday to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, a holiday that honors Native Americans, and no longer recognize Columbus Day.
Texas Park Named for Confederate President May Become ‘Parque Unidad’
The Fort Worth Park and Recreation Advisory Board met Wednesday and unanimously agreed to re-brand a local park named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the short-lived Confederate States of America, to "Parque Unidad, Unity Park.
Texas Teacher Accused of Sex Misconduct Taught on Revoked License
A Texas teacher, accused of sexual misconduct with a minor, taught for roughly two years at a public charter school on a revoked state educator’s license.
Texas High School Hired Convicted Sex Offender for Band Director
The parents at one Texas high school received some unsettling news on Monday -- their former principal hired a band director with a criminal record of lewd conduct, indecency, and the sexual assault of a child.
Texan Gets 30 Years for Prostituting Underage Girls
A Texas man promised two underage girls lives filled with luxury and riches--but actually groomed them for prostitution and confiscated their earnings--got 30 years in federal prison.
Dallas Removes Statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Park
Dallas officials brought in crews late Thursday afternoon to remove the historical statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from a public park.
36 Percent Uptick in Texas Teacher-Student Sex Cases over Last Year, Data Show
For the ninth consecutive year, the number of Texas teachers accused of sexual misconduct with students skyrocketed, this time to an all-time high of 302. This reflects a 36 percent increase for the 2016-17 school year.
Texas Sprays Mosquitoes in 1.4 M Harvey-Ravaged Acres to Thwart West Nile and Zika Viruses
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported they sprayed mosquitoes in more than 1.4 million acres ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. Officials plan to thwart the winged insects from breeding across multiple waterlogged counties, preventing a surge in their population and the diseases they carry, notably West Nile and Zika viruses.
Texas Teacher Indicted for Allegedly Kissing, Sexting, Soliciting Sex from Boy
A North Texas special education teacher at an all-boys middle school was indicted by a Dallas grand jury on Wednesday following allegations she inappropriately hooked up with an eighth grade male student, exchanged sexually explicit text messages, solicited sex, and kissed the boy.
Texas Supreme Court Tosses Confederate Statue Lawsuit Against UT
The Texas Supreme Court dismissed a 2015 lawsuit filed against the University of Texas and President Greg Fenves over the removal of the historical bronze statue of Confederate States President Jefferson Davis.
Teenage Girl Killed with Hammer in Drug Deal Gone Bad, Say Police
Police say that it is likely that drug dealers killed a 14-year-0ld Texas girl with a hammer in a drug deal gone bad. The girl vanished over the summer and turned up dead in a landfill.
Teenage Girl Killed with Hammer in Drug Deal Gone Bad, Say Police
Police say that it is likely that drug dealers killed a 14-year-0ld Texas girl with a hammer in a drug deal gone bad. The girl vanished over the summer and turned up dead in a landfill.
Public Officials Warn Texans of Health Threats in Harvey’s Wake
As floodwaters caused by Hurricane Harvey recede along the hard hit Texas Gulf Coast and Houston areas, public officials and medical experts warn residents of significant health threats they may face in the aftermath of the cataclysmic storm.
North Texas Temporarily Runs Low on Gas in Hurricane Harvey’s Aftermath
Anyone who got behind the wheel in Dallas on Thursday morning saw unusually long lines at gas stations, higher prices, and "out of service" bags placed on pumps that ran out of gasoline altogether--but experts say there is no gas shortage in Dallas or Texas.
Texas School Sheds ‘Robert E. Lee’ for ‘Student Safety’
A Texas high school cited "student safety" concerns as the reason for shedding its nearly 60-year-old Confederate namesake, General Robert E. Lee. This marks the second time in a week that public education officials in the Lone Star State used the rationale to strip a slice of history from a campus.
Confederate Monuments ‘Down Before Christmas,’ Says Dallas Official
The Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Dallas, Dwaine Caraway, said that the 121-year-old historical Confederate War Memorial will be gone by the end of the year.
Black Former Dallas School Leader Defends Confederate Monuments
A former Dallas school leader, who is black, spoke out this week to defend the city's historical Confederate monuments and statues amid a national push to remove all reminders after violence erupted at a Charlottesville, Virginia, rally on Saturday.
Mexican National Accused of Sex with Fence Skips Bail in Sanctuary County
A Texas judge issued an arrest warrant for a man accused of having sex with a chain link fence after the suspect failed to appear in court last week and face the consequences of his allegedly lewd public conduct.
Dallas Man Pushes to Re-brand Freeways Named for Democrat Klansman
A North Texas man wants to rename sections of two local freeways that bear the name of a past Democrat Dallas mayor who was a prominent member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Dallas Mayor Puts Fate of Confederate Statues in Task Force’s Hands
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings announced Tuesday that an appointed task force and independent advisors will arbitrate the fate of Confederate monuments on the city's public land, a dilemma sparked by the violence in Charlottesville on Saturday.
‘Underground Culture’ Blamed in Texas High School Sex Hazing Scandal
The superintendent of a Texas school district blamed an “underground culture” for the high school hazing scandal that ripped apart the fabric of a suburban San Antonio community during the 2016-17 academic year.
Southern Methodist U. Reinstates 9/11 Memorial after ‘Triggering’ Flap
Southern Methodist University (SMU) announced late Wednesday it reinstated the 9/11 flag memorial to its prominent place on campus, reversing a decision to relocate lawn displays.
Typhus on Rise in Texas, Say Disease Experts
Typhus, a flea-borne infectious disease thought to be all but eradicated in the United States, appears to be on the rise in Texas, say tropical disease experts.
U. Texas Student Cleared of Sexual Assault Claim Now Suspended, Says Lawsuit
A University of Texas male student filed a lawsuit Monday with the U.S. District Court in Austin alleging he was unfairly suspended by President Greg Fenves who overturned an arbitrator's determination which exonerated the student in a 2016 sexual assault case.
Tuberculosis Fears Loom over Texas School as Mass Testing Begins
Fears of tuberculosis loom over one Texas school district where hundreds of students must be tested this week before returning to classrooms in late August.
Miracle Dog That Survived Texas Tornadoes Comes Home from Rehab
Rex, a yellow Labrador, is quite the lucky dog. After sustaining life threatening injuries in the torrent of tornadoes that struck east Texas in April and spending months in rehab paid for through the generosity of strangers, he came home to his family this week.
Texas Boy Abandoned in Mexico Returns to U.S.A.
A four-year old Texas boy found wandering across the border in Mexico this winter finally returned to the United States. Authorities believe his mother traveled from El Paso to Juarez to purposely abandon the child.