A North Texas man charged with capital murder after slipping mifepristone into his girlfriend’s food signals another attempt to rein in abortion pills.  A North Texas man charged with capital murder this month after he allegedly slipped his girlfriend abortion-inducing medication and caused a miscarriage marks the first time a murder charge has been brought in an abortion-related case in Texas.  The case tests a new method for reining in abortion pills — by threatening to prosecute individuals who provide them with the most severe criminal charge — while advancing the longstanding legal provision that defines an embryo as a person, legal experts say. The latter could raise serious implications about the legality of fertility treatments and in other legal realms such as criminal and immigration issues.   “It is shocking to people that the law can be used this way… that this is the extent and result of the more than 20 year old fetal personhood laws,” said Blake Rocap, a Texas attorney who works in abortion rights advocacy and studies pregnancy criminalization. Legal experts say the case will not change Texas laws that prevent women who receive abortions from being prosecuted. view article

Texas will not participate in a federal program that provides summer food assistance for low-income children after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed state funding for the initiative on June 22. view article

The new law requires health insurance agencies to pay for any adverse effects from a gender mutilating surgery if they provided coverage for the surgery itself.
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The company announced this week that it would discontinue use of harmful color additives in school lunches by summer 2026, expanding the ban to all of its products by 2027.  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has secured an agreement with food manufacturer General Mills to remove petroleum-based artificial colors from its products.  On Wednesday, General Mills announced plans to remove the artificial dyes from its U.S. cereals and foods served in K-12 schools by summer 2026. It also plans to eliminate the dyes from all U.S. retail products by the end of 2027. view article

Canyon ISD has issued a statement after a student was hit by a car Monday. The statement says, “Monday morning a West Plains High School student was leaving campus on foot and was struck by a vehicle while crossing Loop 335 in the crosswalk.” The statement continues to thank first responders and says, “We are keeping the student and family in our thoughts and prayers as they focus on recovery. Canyon ISD continues to work with TxDOT to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in the area.” view article

The Killeen ISD Board of Trustees said June 17 it will not release any findings from an internal investigation into the fatal stabbing at Roy J. Smith Middle School in March, citing federal privacy laws and a pending criminal case. “We received a briefing from legal counsel today about the internal investigation of the tragic and shocking incident at Roy J. Smith Middle School on March 10, 2025,” the board said. The incident involved an altercation between two students that resulted in the stabbing death of Serenity Baker. view article

The president of a Wharton County school board was arrested Tuesday, accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, according to jail records. Jerry James Svatek, Jr., 59, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. The jail website showed the charge against him was possession of child porn for a child younger than 10 years. view article

The president of the Boling Independent School District board is facing a felony charge. Authorities arrested Jerry James Svatek Jr., 59, Tuesday on a charge of possession of child pornography involving a victim under the age of 10. The investigation was led by the Department of Homeland Security, with assistance from the Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety, and the Wharton County Sheriff’s Office. view article

Killeen ISD’s Board of Trustees received a legal update Tuesday on the internal investigation into the March 10 incident at Roy J. Smith Middle School, calling the event both “tragic and shocking.” While board members said they would like to share more about the findings, they noted in a statement that federal privacy laws and an ongoing criminal case prevent them from releasing details at this time. view article

Gov. Abbott says Texas DPS is on "heightened alert" after a man allegedly threatened Texas lawmakers.  An arrest was made in La Grange, according to Texas DPS.  No charges have been filed at this time. view article

For a long time, the only attacks you were likely to face as an American politician would come at the hands of the press or political rivals.But with a rising tide of political violence across the country, lawmakers now have to confront the increasing likelihood they could be targeted by a gunman or have their homes burned down. By comparison, a stinging opinion column does not look so bad.   Attacks on politicians have become a regular occurrence – much like school shootings, which in other countries would have prompted a national reckoning, but in the US now struggle to make the news.  Experts say the US is becoming an increasingly fractious, polarised country where violence has become part of the political discourse.  Not so long ago, deadly attacks might at least have meant “thoughts and prayers” before the news cycle moved on. But now, politicians themselves are being accused of fanning the flames of the violence. view article

The agency said there was no additional active threat, as Austin demonstrators took aim at the Trump administration. view article

The Trump administration is proposing limits to the recreational facilities — including beaches — that are eligible for federal assistance. view article

A former elementary school teacher in the Judson Independent School District was sentenced Thursday to 60 years in prison for the continuous sexual abuse of a child. Ryan Patrick England, 39, was convicted by a Bexar County jury in April. view article

In our last local election, Robinson residents voted against a 95-million-dollar bond for Robinson ISD, but now the district is getting smarter in finding new solutions for their students. Robinson ISD started testing a new software on their cameras last month that tracks weapons and suspicious activity on their middle and high school campuses. view article

A mother is speaking out after she claims her daughter just left her elementary school with nobody watching her. "There's no way two second graders should've (gone) through the gate and managed to make it one mile away from school," the mother, Ronisha Butler, said. It was almost a mother's worst nightmare for Butler when she said she got a phone call from her child's school that her 8-year-old wasn't on campus. view article

BY URIEL J. GARCÍA, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, PATRICK LOHMANN, SOURCE NEW MEXICO, AND YURIKO SCHUMACHER, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, PHOTOS BY JUSTIN HAMEL2 HOURS AGO  Since El Paso joined Operation Lone Star in 2022, migrant remains discovered in the desert west of the city have increased every year, even as they have declined in every other border sector. FULL STORY  view article

Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed thousands of Texas National Guard troops and Department of Public Safety troopers across the state ahead of a wave of immigration protests expected this weekend.  The move follows large-scale immigration raids in Los Angeles last week that triggered growing unrest nationwide. In Texas, more than 60 demonstrations are planned in major cities statewide this weekend, including Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. view article

Border security was one of the Republican Party of Texas’ legislative priorities this session, and lawmakers took some steps to address the issue. However, additional measures that would have disincentivized illegal immigration failed to pass.  Republicans successfully passed two key pieces of border security legislation during the 89th session.  State Sen. Charles Schwertner’s (R–Georgetown) Senate Bill 8 requires sheriffs in every Texas county that operates a jail (or contracts with a private vendor to operate one) to formally request and, if accepted, enter into a written agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. view article

Several families are suing Millsap ISD in Parker County over alleged abuse of special needs students, including a nonverbal autistic boy. Three former Millsap ISD staff members, including the superintendent, were arrested in connection with the investigation and no longer work for the district. The lawsuit claims district officials attempted to cover up the abuse, and more families have come forward with similar allegations. + view article

Longview ISD is complying with a State of Texas mandate to make school campuses more secure. The new fence is replacing a chain link fence at the high school which LISD says wasn’t secure enough. The new wrought iron fence is 6 feet high with rock columns and iron gates. Construction started in mid-April. They plan on eventually putting up similar fencing at all LISD campuses, but started with LHS since the property is so large. view article

Local News Frisco ISD releases video of fatal track meet stabbing involving Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf texas By Kelsy Mittauer Updated on: June 11, 2025 / 9:22 PM CDT / CBS Texas Frisco Independent School District has released surveillance footage of a deadly stabbing that occurred during a track meet in April, but only under strict conditions. Under Texas open records laws, requesters may view such video in some cases, but are not permitted to record it. view article

The DeSoto ISD is adding wellness spaces to each of its 10 campuses to provide students and staff with a quiet, safe space for stillness and reflection. The school district describes the "Zen Dens" as "immersive, purpose-driven environments" that are curated with "warm hues and earthy tones to evoke comfort, safety and a sense of belonging." Zen Dens offer more than just a quiet setting; the lighting is warm and dim, unlike the typical fluorescent lighting found in classrooms. Photos provided by the district show a variety of seating options, ranging from swings to lounge chairs. view article

The North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force announce the conclusion of Operation Soteria Shield, a month-long collaborative enforcement effort conducted in April 2025 aimed at rescuing children from online sexual exploitation and bringing perpetrators to justice. This operation was run in conjunction with the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and was jointly managed by the FBI Dallas Division, Dallas Police Department, Plano Police Department, Wylie Police Department, and Garland Police Department.  More than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies joined forces throughout the month of April to combat the exploitation of children in the digital space. These agencies leveraged the expertise of highly skilled computer crimes investigators that worked around the clock to identify victims and apprehend offenders engaged in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material. view article

Planned protests against ICE are expected Saturday in cities across the country.   As riots erupt in cities like Los Angeles and protests targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are planned for this weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott is deploying the Texas National Guard across the state to deter potential violence and maintain order.  “Texas National Guard will be deployed to locations across the state to ensure peace & order,” Abbott posted on social media. “Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest. [Texas National Guard] will use every tool & strategy to help law enforcement maintain order.” view article

Frisco ISD has granted restricted access to surveillance footage of the April 2 incident at Kuykendall Stadium that resulted in the death of Memorial High School student Austin Metcalf and the arrest of student Karmelo Anthony. The district did not provide a copy of the video but allowed reporters to view it, citing student privacy and school security. WFAA was not allowed to take pictures or video of the footage. view article

Wood County investigators say that a former teacher and coach of Winnsboro ISD has been arrested for having an improper relationship with a student. Nicholas Gabriele was employed as an assistant football coach and economics teacher at Winnsboro High School during the 2024-25 school year. Sometime during the school year, he began a relationship with a high school student. Investigators got information and evidence that Gabriele had been having sex with the student, including information and concerns from members of the community. view article

The program would give low income families an extra $120 per child for summer lunches, but federal debate about food benefits could endanger the program. view article

For the second legislative session, lawmakers have withdrawn funding for a company selling kits that promise to help find missing kids after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reported there’s no evidence to support that claim. view article

Texas saw more active shooter incidents than any other state in 2024, according to a new report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The annual FBI report found that four active shooter incidents occurred in Texas last year — more than any other state. The shootings left 11 people either dead or wounded. California and North Carolina followed with two incidents each.  Overall, the FBI recorded 24 active shooter incidents nationwide in 2024.  One of the most high-profile cases in Texas happened in February of last year, when a woman opened fire during a Sunday service at Houston’s Lakewood Church. She brought along her 7-year-old son, who was among the two people wounded before she was ultimately shot and killed by off-duty law officers. Another shooting happened in May, when an 18-year-old fatally shot a worker outside Refresco Beverages in Fort Worth. He was arrested the next day. view article

An Austin eighth grade student died Thursday morning after complications related to an incident at a school-related celebration, according to the Austin school district.  Vadir Gonzalez-Arias, who was a student at Covington Middle School, died after an undisclosed incident during an eighth-grade celebration held at Dick Nichols Park in Southwest Austin, according to the district. The park is less than three miles from Covington. view article

Six measures aimed at expanding medical freedom in Texas are on their way to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk to be signed.  The two most notable vaccine freedom-related pieces of legislation passed by lawmakers and highlighted by Texans for Vaccine Choice are House Bill 1586 and House Bill 4076.  HB 1586 requires vaccine exemption forms for school enrollment to be available to print at home, simplifying the process for parents.  HB 4076 prohibits organ transplant discriminat view article

As federal health officials vow to overhaul the U.S. food supply, they’re taking a new look at infant formula. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed the Food and Drug Administration to review the nutrients and other ingredients in infant formula, which fills the bottles of millions of American babies. The effort, dubbed “Operation Stork Speed,” is the first deep look at the ingredients since 1998. view article

TEXARKANA, Texas (KSLA) - The Texarkana Texas Police Department has arrested one of its own officers for alleged sexual assault of a child.  Zackary Gilley, 32, has been a police officer with the department since 2018, officials say. He was put on administrative leave just before his arrest Monday night (June 2). view article

Christopher Uresti met his alleged victim while working for Southwest ISD.  A former San Antonio substitute teacher and special education aide was jailed on charges that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old student multiple times.  Christopher Patrick Uresti, 23, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony.  Uresti reportedly met the girl when she was a fifth grade student at Kriewald Road School of the Arts, an elementary school in Southwest Independent School District, where he was a substitute teacher. The girl told authorities Uresti would buy her snacks. view article