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Local Texas News
A Year Later, Rockwall ISD Pre-K Teacher Accused of Sex Abuse Resurfaces
Jamie Palmer is now working at Rockwall ISD’s Rochell Elementary, according to the school’s website.
Commissioner Ramsey Seeks Removal of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo
Following a vote to censure Hidalgo, Ramsey said, “It is time to consider replacing Judge Hidalgo.”
Former Austin Elementary School Teacher Gets 71 Years For 20 Child Sex Crimes
Kevin Abeyta taught art at Austin ISD’s Campbell Elementary.
Harris County Commissioners Block Two Different Property Tax Hike Proposals
After County Judge Hidalgo’s “penny” property tax hike failed, Commissioner Ellis proposed a plan that also failed.
Local Archive
Fort Worth, Tarrant County Receive Federal Grant for DNA Testing Backlog
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced that the Fort Worth area will receive more than $2.1 million to clear DNA test backlogs. Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice, as part of the Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction, awarded $2.1 million in federal grants to...
Houston Mayor Diverts $2.6 Million From Bridge Lighting to New Homelessness Initiative
During city council meetings this week, Houston Mayor John Whitmire unilaterally decided to divert the funding previously designated to cover the cost of lighting on the Montrose bridges towards the homelessness initiative he recently announced. In September 2023,...
Grand Prairie ISD Trustees Fire Suspended Superintendent
Grand Prairie Independent School District is firing suspended Superintendent Jorge Arredondo just five months after hiring him, and residents still don’t know why. During a special school board meeting on Monday night, trustees voted 5-2 to terminate Arredondo’s...
Houston City Council Member Calls for Amendment to Firefighter Labor Contract
Houston City Councilmember Edward Pollard sent a letter to Mayor John Whitmire and the firefighters’ union urging a renegotiation of the recently approved labor agreement in order to amend a controversial rule. The letter focuses on the 180-day rule, a misconduct...
Tarrant County Commissioners Request State Funds for Mental Health Facility
Tarrant County Commissioners Court unanimously passed a resolution requesting that the State of Texas provide funding for a mental health facility for Tarrant County residents. According to the resolution, Tarrant County is the largest county in Texas without a state...
Analysis: Tiny County Sees Massive Tax Swing From 2019 to 2022
Loving County, the least-populated county in the United States, provides a good snapshot of taxing behavior in other counties around Texas. Texas Scorecard has conducted an exhaustive review of average taxable values and rate fluctuations for every county in the state...
Houston Teacher Accused of 6 Child Sex Crimes
A bio-medical science teacher at KIPP Houston High School was charged with multiple felony counts involving inappropriate contact with children. On November 21, Preston Edmond Zimmerman was charged with two counts of sexual performance by a child, four counts of...
Texas DPS Captures Child Smuggler in Del Rio
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper arrested a male who was seen carrying a child across the Rio Grande in what DPS is calling a child smuggling incident. Texas DPS spokesperson Chris Olivarez shared a photo from a border surveillance camera last week that...
Analysis: Refugio County Tax Bills Kept Mostly in Check
Since 2019, almost every taxing entity in Refugio County has enjoyed modestly higher tax receipts from residents. This is the conclusion of an analysis of taxation trends across all taxing entities in the county from 2019 to 2022. Refugio Central Appraisal District...