Texas News Now: Crime, Infrastructure, and Legal Battles Across the State

Crime and Legal Updates

• 🚨 A 17-year-old, Braden Smith, faces murder charges in a deadly Metro bus shooting, with prosecutors presenting surveillance video as evidence. No bond has been set for Smith.
• ⚖️ The defense attorney for Braden Smith argues for review of all surveillance angles, noting a second suspect also held a gun.
• 🛍️ Repeat retail theft is a significant problem, leading to increased locked cases in stores and a push for tougher penalties in Texas, with some states like California and Florida already enacting stricter laws.
• 🚓 In Dallas, violent crime, including murder and aggravated assault, is down in 2025 compared to 2024, attributed partly to successful police recruiting efforts.
• 💰 A North Texas grandmother was scammed out of $15,000, but after a lengthy fight, Wells Fargo reversed its decision and returned her savings.
• 👮 A former Austin police officer, Christopher Taylor, convicted of deadly conduct, had his verdict reversed by an Amarillo appeals court, a decision Travis County prosecutors are challenging.
• 🚗 In Austin, a 34-year-old man faces a manslaughter charge in a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed a spiritual leader.
• ⚖️ Clay County Judge Rudy Madrid is facing public scrutiny after a DWI arrest, but states he will remain on the job.
• 🏘️ Legal battles continue in Corpus Christi over affordable housing, with apartment complex owners filing a restraining order against the housing authority to prevent voiding agreements.
• 💥 In San Antonio, one person died and another was injured in a shooting outside an Amazon warehouse.
• 🏥 Defense Secretary Pete Hegsth and Senators John Cornin and Ted Cruz visited injured troops recovering at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
• 🚨 A Coppers Cove police officer, Elijah Garrettson, was killed in the line of duty during an officer-involved shooting.
• 🏢 In Troy, the city council is considering extending a contract with a law firm to help improve police department operations following three officer resignations.
• 🚗 A fatal crash in Jasper County resulted in the death of a 43-year-old man after a Chevrolet pickup attempted to pass in a no-passing zone.
• 🔫 A 22-year-old woman was killed in a weekend shooting at a party in Newton after an argument escalated.
• 🔪 In Port Arthur, a woman is jailed after allegedly shooting her ex-girlfriend and then kidnapping her, leading to a standoff.
• 🚂 A Union Pacific train derailment in West Orange saw 17 out of 39 cars leave the tracks or overturn, but no hazardous materials leaked.
• 🚐 A woman was arrested in Angelina County for allegedly stealing a church van and its contents.

Infrastructure and Community Projects

• 🛣️ A major overhaul of Chimney Rock Road in Houston is underway, including rebuilding the drainage system and roadway, with nearly $30 million in funding.
• 🏞️ Nearby Anderson Park in Houston will also see enhancements, including storm water collection areas, as part of the Chimney Rock project.
• 🚁 Texas Children's Hospital has launched its first pediatric helicopter, the Kangaroo Crew, in Austin to provide emergency transport for critically ill children and newborns across Central Texas.
• 🌊 In Corpus Christi, city crews are restriping decorative crosswalks following a directive from the governor.
• 🏞️ The San Antonio Riverwalk is undergoing repairs and cleaning, with crews removing debris and invasive species from the waterway.

Public Safety and Preparedness

• 🏫 Frisco ISD schools were placed on secure status due to threatening emails, though police deemed the threats not credible.
• 🔥 Fire officials are urging families to take extra precautions at home to stay warm, emphasizing safe use of fireplaces, space heaters, and the importance of working smoke alarms and escape plans.
• 🧯 Fire Marshal Delaney stresses the importance of having a working fire extinguisher and knowing how to use it properly (PASS method).
• 🤝 The Salvation Army in East Texas is providing resources and a warm place to stay for those facing cold weather.

Economic and Community Initiatives

• 💰 A Long View business donated $100,000 to agriculture students, including $500 to every participant and 35 scholarships.
• 🎶 A weekly country music singing contest is coming to Orange County, offering a platform for local talent.
• 🏛️ Austin's Mayor Kirk Watson is proposing an independent audit of city spending to find efficiencies, following voter rejection of a tax increase.
• 🤝 Catholic Charities of San Antonio has named Adah Signs as its new president and CEO, overseeing various social service programs.