INSIDER
In purple Williamson County, presidential politics casts pall over voters
Read full article: In purple Williamson County, presidential politics casts pall over votersAfter an assassination attempt against Trump and growing divisions among national Democrats, Williamson County voters mull the November election.
Texas officials compromised ballot secrecy as they increased election transparency
Read full article: Texas officials compromised ballot secrecy as they increased election transparencyIn limited instances, the choices some Texas voters make can later be identified using public, legally available data.
Year after year, most Texas police departments report zero hate crimes. Here’s why.
Read full article: Year after year, most Texas police departments report zero hate crimes. Here’s why.A Texas Tribune analysis of hate crime data found that 82% of Texas law enforcement agencies that report to the FBI tracked no hate crimes last year. However, one suburban North Texas police agency is creating a new model of collecting hate crime data.
Printing a place to live: In Central Texas, homes are being built with emerging 3D technology
Read full article: Printing a place to live: In Central Texas, homes are being built with emerging 3D technologyUsing robotic 3D printers that can build the concrete walls of a house, a pair of Texas startups say the technology could help alleviate two crises: the housing shortage and climate change.
Gov. Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration for Texas ice storm
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration for Texas ice stormAbbott declared disaster in seven Texas counties hard hit by this week’s winter storm. Austin has been the epicenter of a power crisis as tens of thousands wait for electricity to be restored.
Despite GOP gains across the state, voters in the Austin-area suburb of Round Rock rejected conservative school board candidates
Read full article: Despite GOP gains across the state, voters in the Austin-area suburb of Round Rock rejected conservative school board candidatesSlates of conservative candidates endorsed by the Republican Party of Texas failed to flip school boards in several suburban races across Texas, including in Round Rock and Wylie.
Austin announces stricter coronavirus protocols for unvaccinated residents as cases increase. But it can’t legally enforce them.
Read full article: Austin announces stricter coronavirus protocols for unvaccinated residents as cases increase. But it can’t legally enforce them.The city’s return to Stage 3 risk-based guidelines marks the first time a major Texas city has reversed direction in the trend toward normalcy. But others are also reporting surges in cases.
One Texas health district received 900 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Then, it closed for Christmas.
Read full article: One Texas health district received 900 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Then, it closed for Christmas.Texas front-line health care workers are the first to receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneThe Williamson County and Cities Health District on Wednesday received 900 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, then closed its offices for Christmas. But the move drew a sharp rebuke from local leaders, who felt that health officials shirked their duties by failing to promptly administer doses of the vaccine. Gravell said he urged the health district to promptly administer the vaccine to those eligible, including front-line health care workers and first responders. Texas health officials reserved the first doses of the vaccine for front-line health care workers and long-term care residents and staff.
Williamson County sheriff charged with felony evidence tampering in Javier Ambler case
Read full article: Williamson County sheriff charged with felony evidence tampering in Javier Ambler caseWilliamson County Sheriff Robert Chody Credit: via TwitterA grand jury has indicted Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody on a felony evidence tampering charge in the case of Javier Ambler, a Black man who died in 2019 after being Tased multiple times by deputies. Jason Nassour, a county attorney was also indicted on the same charge. Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick and Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said in June they’d open a joint investigation into the circumstances leading up to Ambler’s death. Ambler died after a 22-minute police chase that started after he failed to dim his headlights. Michael Ramos, a Black and Latino man, died in April after being shot by an Austin police officer.
Texas sheriff indicted after probe into Black man's death
Read full article: Texas sheriff indicted after probe into Black man's deathAUSTIN, Texas – A Texas sheriff has been indicted on charges of destroying or concealing video in an investigation into the death in custody of a Black man, Javier Ambler, that was filmed by the police reality TV series “Live PD," prosecutors said Monday. Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody was booked Monday into his jail on a $10,000 bond and released a short time later. The traffic stop was filmed for the real-time police show “Live PD," which was canceled by the A&E Network in June. “The Live PD video would be wholly material to the investigation into use of force,” Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said at a news conference. Chody, who said he would not step down while under indictment, said Live PD was never contacted by prosecutors for footage during the initial investigation.
Texas sheriff indicted after probe into Black man's death
Read full article: Texas sheriff indicted after probe into Black man's deathWilliamson County records show Sheriff Robert Chody is facing the third-degree felony charge that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. In June, Williamson County prosecutors announced an investigation “involving possible tampering with evidence" following the 40-year-old Ambler's death in March 2019. Ambler died after Williamson County sheriff’s deputies repeatedly used stun guns on him, despite his pleas that he was sick and couldn’t breathe. Travis County prosecutors are separately investigating the use of force in Ambler's death. His booking photo posted by the jail showed Chody smiling in a suit, standing in front of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office logo.
Texas ex-deputies: Leaders gave gift cards for using force
Read full article: Texas ex-deputies: Leaders gave gift cards for using forceGEORGETOWN, Texas – Two former employees of a Texas sheriff’s office say leaders rewarded officers with steakhouse gift cards when they used force on the job. A former deputy whose use of force is under investigation told investigators about the gift cards in a recorded interview obtained by the Austin American Statesman and KVUE-TV. Deputies who received the gift cards include two involved in the 2019 death of Javier Ambler, according to former deputy Christopher Pisa. Steve Deaton giving Johnson and Camden the gift cards, and the investigator did not ask, according to the Statesman. One incident involved an April 2019 traffic stop Pisa conducted in which he used force on an African American woman.
As Texas morgues fill up, refrigerator trucks are on the way in several counties
Read full article: As Texas morgues fill up, refrigerator trucks are on the way in several countiesA morgue trailer, currently not in use, at the Nueces County Medical Examiner's office in Corpus Christi on Friday. Their deaths come as counties prepare for a surge in fatalities, some by requesting trailers to expand their hospital and county morgue capacities. County medical examiner Dr. Adel Shaker has requested an extra morgue trailer, provided by FEMA to local authorities. A morgue trailer was in place at the beginning of the pandemic, but it was released early, Shaker said. In Houston, a spokeswoman at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences insisted that no extra capacity is needed at the county morgue right now.
Texas Democrats urge Abbott to call special session as details emerge showing Javier Ambler’s death at the hands of sheriff’s deputies
Read full article: Texas Democrats urge Abbott to call special session as details emerge showing Javier Ambler’s death at the hands of sheriff’s deputiesLocal and state leaders are calling for the resignation of Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and for the deputies involved in Javier Ambler’s death to be fired. Last year, Williamson County deputies pursued Ambler in a car chase for 22 minutes, after trying to pull him over for not dimming his headlights. Williamson County sheriff’s department maintains that its deputies did nothing wrong, according to an internal affairs investigation obtained by the Statesman. Moore needs to focus on completing her 16-month-old Ambler investigation. Instead, she is trying to blame her own failures on the Williamson County Sheriff's Department,” Chody tweeted.
Black man heard saying I cant breathe multiple times during fatal arrest in Texas, body camera video shows
Read full article: Black man heard saying I cant breathe multiple times during fatal arrest in Texas, body camera video shows(CNN) Body camera footage of a black man's arrest in Austin, Texas, where he says "I can't breathe" multiple times is under investigation. Multiple times on the video, Ambler is also heard saying he can't breathe and that he's not resisting. "We have determined that we need to take it to a grand jury," Moore said, adding that officials with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office have not been cooperative. Her office is trying to get the case heard in July, but it could possibly be delayed until August. CNN has reached out to the Williamson County Sheriff Office and Texas Attorney Generals Office.