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Belton ISD Teacher Faces Federal Child Porn Charges
Belton High School teacher Pietro Giustino is charged with possessing child sexual abuse material including depictions of minors engaged in sexual intercourse.

Ex La Marque City Manager Arrested in Dallas Area, Facing Felony Charges
Former La Marque City Manager J.B. Pritchett is now facing felony arson charges, just weeks after resigning amid an investigation into falsified credentials and military records.

Harris County Taxpayers Foot $1.1 Million Bill for Illegal Alien Legal Defense
Thus far in fiscal year 2025, Harris County has spent $1,141,056 on legal services for illegal aliens.

Harris County Commissioners Seek Details on Judge Hidalgo’s Proposed Child Care Tax
Hidalgo is advocating to raise local taxes to keep spending on programs that were federally subsidized by COVID-era disaster funds.
Local Archive
Houston Raises First-Year Police Officer Salaries to $81K
Mayor John Whitmire has finalized a contract agreement with the Houston Police Officers’ Union to raise the salary of first-year police officers to $81,000. The agreement, which also includes expanded benefits, will make Houston’s 5,200 police officers the...
Alleged Child Predator Arrested Again While Out on Bond in Galveston
After being arrested for recording minors in dressing rooms, Taylor Roy was released on bond—only to face a second round of charges related to making invasive recordings of minors. Roy, 31, a former security guard at The Woodlands Mall and a tennis coach for children...
2 Waco ISD Teachers Arrested in April for Abusing Special Needs Children
Two Waco Independent School District teachers were arrested in April for abusing special needs students. One now-former teacher faces up to ten years in prison for allegedly using an electronic “dog whistle” on her 6-year-old autistic student. According to case...
Houston City Council Will Vote on Race-Based Contracting Program
Houston City Council members will vote next week on proposed changes to a program that favors some contractors based on race or sex. The Minority and Women Owned Small Business Enterprise program was first introduced in 1984 and is overseen by the city’s Office of...
Former Abilene Preschool Teacher Sentenced to 30 Years for Producing Child Porn
A former preschool teacher in Abilene has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Mark Penfield Eichorn admitted to producing child...
Houston Approves $11.4M to Overhaul Failing Solid Waste Department
The city of Houston approved $11.4 million to replace aging, broken-down garbage trucks and modernize its long-neglected solid waste department. City council members voted Tuesday to allocate $11.4 million to upgrade the department with new vehicles and equipment....
Gov. Greg Abbott Pushes Bail Reform Constitutional Amendment
Gov. Greg Abbott pushed his bail reform proposal at a Houston Crime Stoppers roundtable alongside families of victims murdered by dangerous criminals out on bond. Flanked by local law enforcement, Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious, and the families, Abbott...
Austin-Area Teacher Accused of Using Student Photos To Create Child Porn
Former Eanes Independent School District teacher Zachary Barnett is facing additional charges after previously being arrested for possession of child pornography. Barnett is accused of inducing the sexual performance of a child under the age of 14 after the...
Gov. Abbott Threatens To Cut San Marcos’ Funding if Officials Pass ‘Antisemitic’ Resolution
Gov. Greg Abbott has condemned a proposed resolution by the city of San Marcos as "antisemitic" and is threatening to cut off the city from state grants. The remarks came in a letter sent by Abbott to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson. The symbolic resolution from April...