Latest news with #Uvalde
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Texas lawmakers OK former Uvalde mayor's effort to fix police failures in Robb Elementary attack
Texas lawmakers on Monday passed a plan sponsored by Uvalde's former mayor to fix police failures laid bare by the hesitant law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022, sending the bill to the governor days ahead of the third anniversary of the massacre. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed and 18 people were injured in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. Saturday is the anniversary of the attack. The measure given final approval by the state Senate and sent to Gov. Greg Abbott is dubbed the 'The Uvalde Strong Act' and is meant to correct the problems in the slow and often chaotic law enforcement response that day with better training and coordination between agencies and basic equipment requirements. Nearly 400 local, state and federal officers waited more than an hour to force their way into a classroom where the gunman was before killing him. Terrified students inside the classroom called 911 as parents begged officers — some of whom could hear shots being fired while they stood in a hallway — to go in. The bill's author, first-year Republican state Rep. Don McLaughlin, was Uvalde mayor at the time and was critical of the law enforcement response that day. 'The Uvalde Strong Act is aimed at fixing the breakdowns in communication and coordination that were exposed in the Robb Elementary shooting,' McLaughlin said. 'This is about keeping our schools safer. ... We owe it to the families to take action that really matters.' The bill requires school districts and law enforcement to meet annually to develop active shooter response plans, and mandates officers be trained on how to respond to an active shooter at primary and secondary schools. The measure also requires enhanced incident command training and mutual aid agreements among agencies. School districts would be required to have at least one breaching tool and ballistic shield available at each campus. And the bill requires emergency medical service providers to file reports if they are called to an active shooter scene. Multiple investigations into the law enforcement response found cascading problems in training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers. Former Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo and former school police officer Adrian Gonzales have been charged with multiple counts of child endangerment and abandonment. Both have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial in October. The families of the victims have several lawsuits pending in federal and state courts, including a $500 million lawsuit against Texas state police officials and officers.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Texas lawmakers OK former Uvalde mayor's effort to fix police failures in Robb Elementary attack
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas lawmakers on Monday passed a plan sponsored by Uvalde's former mayor to fix police failures laid bare by the hesitant law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022, sending the bill to the governor days ahead of the third anniversary of the massacre.
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Texas lawmakers OK former Uvalde mayor's effort to fix police failures in Robb Elementary attack
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas lawmakers on Monday passed a plan sponsored by Uvalde's former mayor to fix police failures laid bare by the hesitant law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022, sending the bill to the governor days ahead of the third anniversary of the massacre. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed and 18 people were injured in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. Saturday is the anniversary of the attack. The measure given final approval by the state Senate and sent to Gov. Greg Abbott is dubbed the 'The Uvalde Strong Act' and is meant to correct the problems in the slow and often chaotic law enforcement response that day with better training and coordination between agencies and basic equipment requirements. Nearly 400 local, state and federal officers waited more than an hour to force their way into a classroom where the gunman was before killing him. Terrified students inside the classroom called 911 as parents begged officers — some of whom could hear shots being fired while they stood in a hallway — to go in. The bill's author, first-year Republican state Rep. Don McLaughlin, was Uvalde mayor at the time and was critical of the law enforcement response that day. 'The Uvalde Strong Act is aimed at fixing the breakdowns in communication and coordination that were exposed in the Robb Elementary shooting,' McLaughlin said. 'This is about keeping our schools safer. ... We owe it to the families to take action that really matters.' The bill requires school districts and law enforcement to meet annually to develop active shooter response plans, and mandates officers be trained on how to respond to an active shooter at primary and secondary schools. The measure also requires enhanced incident command training and mutual aid agreements among agencies. School districts would be required to have at least one breaching tool and ballistic shield available at each campus. And the bill requires emergency medical service providers to file reports if they are called to an active shooter scene. Multiple investigations into the law enforcement response found cascading problems in training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers. Former Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo and former school police officer Adrian Gonzales have been charged with multiple counts of child endangerment and abandonment. Both have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial in October. The families of the victims have several lawsuits pending in federal and state courts, including a $500 million lawsuit against Texas state police officials and officers.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of Americans. Please, Congress, don't cut it
Any proposed cuts to Medicaid are very personal to me. My brother has nothing but Medicaid keeping him alive. He had to have open heart surgery and two stents put in his heart to have a decent quality of life. Please put yourself in his place — and the place of the other 70 million people in our country who, due to no fault of their own, rely on Medicaid for their health and well-being. I strongly beg members of Congress to say no to any Medicaid cuts. The current budget proposal would leave at least 8.6 million people uninsured. Many will die unnecessarily when they lose access to health care. Please do not let the United States of America become a country that no longer cares about, nor provides for the medical necessities of, those who need it most and can afford it the least. Tammy Porter, Austin Saturday will mark the third anniversary of the Uvalde massacre in which 19 children and two teachers were gunned down at Robb Elementary School. In my fantasy world of decency, kindness, courage and personal accountability, this is the news article I wish would appear the following day: "Gov. Greg Abbott yesterday issued a long-overdue apology to the Uvalde victims, their families and friends for his shortcomings in not protecting them. He pledged to focus on addressing gun violence and mental health, promising to spend at least a scintilla of the time and money used to pursue some of his favorite topics such as school vouchers, transgender issues and rolling back women's health care rights. Abbott regretted his failure to show up in Uvalde on the day of the massacre, admitting it demonstrated a lack of leadership. He asked the victims and their families to forgive him, vowing to pray for them every night." Carol Cox, Lakeway Re: May 10 article, "GOP wants an anti-abortion statue on display at Texas Capitol" I am appalled to read that the Texas Legislature is proposing an anti-abortion statue on the grounds of our state Capitol. This proposal, this statue, is an affront to all women. Whatever your beliefs, in Texas this statue would signify that women do not matter, that their health and healthcare do not matter, that their hard-earned rights do not matter and that their lives do not matter. Time for all to rise up and fight this affront to women. Hug your wives and daughters and speak up now before it is too late. Andy Jones, Austin As the regional economic development organization for the Austin region, Opportunity Austin supports legislation that advances economic opportunity and quality of life, like House Bill 2876 by Rep. Stan Gerdes and SB 1074 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini. These bipartisan bills would facilitate the development of transportation projects enhancing east-west connectivity between Texas 130 and Interstate 35. Texas leads the nation in job growth. While this pace brings jobs and economic momentum, it also strains our transportation system. Continued growth depends on a network that moves people and goods efficiently — without pulling resources from other parts of the state. Texas 130 is already a proven economic asset, especially in Lockhart, where more than $200 million has been invested in recent years. Better mobility means shorter commute times, safer roads and a stronger business climate across the five-county region. We urge lawmakers to support these bills. Ed Latson, chief executive officer of Opportunity Austin Recently I picked up some family members flying into Austin. Traffic was completely clogged from Texas 71 to the arrival terminal, and it took more than 45 minutes once I exited from the highway to arrivals. I realized I should have closed the vents and windows on my car after not moving for some time, but it was already too late. I had a headache and felt nauseated by the time I picked up my guests. With all the increased passenger traffic at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, this will only be getting worse. Austin needs a train transit line from the airport to downtown. Jay Askey, Austin Re: May 10 article, "Chief backs I-35 crash charges" It's really not a good look for our police chief to back the subjective judgment of her officers over the scientific results of the blood tests performed on Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, the truck driver accused of causing the March 13 crash that killed five people. If he caused the crash, then by all means charge him with vehicular homicide or negligence or something else. But don't continue to pursue intoxication manslaughter charges when the blood tests showed no signs of alcohol or drugs. We have enough fake news and false claims being perpetrated by our state and national leaders. Our police chief should be trusted to stick to facts. Rona Distenfeld, Austin As New York Times columnist David Brooks recently suggested, many of us are becoming psychologically and emotionally exhausted living under President Donald Trump's administration. Brooks links Trump's relentless celebration of his power, manliness, conquest, accomplishments and fame to the behavior of ancient Roman emperors. Initially I thought that Brooks, a political conservative, was overstating Trump's actions by calling them 'pagan' and reflective of Roman emperors grabbing power and glorifying themselves. Now Trump has requested a military parade to celebrate his birthday in June with plans for more than 7,000 soldiers, 120 military vehicles and 50 helicopters. On top of this, Trump wants to accept the gift of a $400 million luxury airplane from Qatar for his use, despite the fact that two new presidential airplanes are already under construction. Perhaps Brooks is right about Trump acting more like a Roman emperor seeking to glorify himself while the nation burns. Lou Snead, Georgetown Re: May 11 article: "Trump companies make millions in cryptocurrency profits" The article claims President 'Trump has upended the customs restraining a commander-in-chief's ability to profit from the office.' It is not only custom he has upended; he has outright broken the law. The Constitution's emoluments clause says no person holding office is to accept presents or profits ('emoluments') 'from any King, Prince, or foreign State." Let's assume the crypto moguls and other assorted billionaires are typically not princes, kings, or foreign states, and so can legally make unaccounted-for purchases and transactions in Trump's little crypto and meme scams, which make him millions of dollars. These are merely (quite successful) bribes to buy his favor. But all the crypto and other (golf anyone?) 'deals' he makes with the Saudis, Qataris, the Emirates, et al, are unconstitutional and an impeachable offense. Trump has turned the White House into both a charnel house for democracy and a temple for money changers. Mark Warren, Austin Vice President JD Vance once spoke of the order of love for others, starting with love for his own family and friends, and the future Pope Leo XIV rebuked him, retweeting an article that said, "Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others." In fact, though, both are incorrect. In the Gospels, Jesus clearly spoke of the first being last, and vice versa. He also said that "if you do it to the least of them, you do it to me." Definitely there is a ranking to love, but to the opposite of Vance's thinking. In the same vein, if I proclaim that I'm going to live for John Willis first, even my friends will in time reject me. Likewise, those who believe in "America first" will in time be dismissed and despised on the world stage. We already see this happening. America First — a pathetic and ultimately failing viewpoint and lifestyle. John Willis, Austin This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman Letters to the Editor for May 18, 2025
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Texas prosecutor sues to compel Border Patrol testimony in trial of Uvalde police officer
A Texas prosecutor filed a federal lawsuit seeking to force three U.S. Border Patrol agents who responded to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting to testify in the prosecution of the former school police chief, who is facing criminal charges over the slow law enforcement action at the massacre. The lawsuit from Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell filed on May 9 claims the testimony from the three officers, two of whom were part of the tactical team that eventually broke into a classroom and killed the gunman, is vital to the case against former school district Police Chief Pete Arredondo, who faces multiple counts of child endangerment and abandonment. According to the lawsuit, the agents gave written statements early in the state investigation into the shooting and the response from nearly 400 local, state and federal officers who waited more than an hour to breach the classroom where the gunman was located. Nineteen fourth-grade students and two teachers were killed, and 18 more people were injured, in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. But U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have since then denied multiple requests to make the agents available for testimony about the law enforcement response, their tactical training, equipment and other topics. The information sought 'is extraordinarily significant' because the agents are 'uniquely qualified to clarify how Arredondo's actions, omissions, and orders as incident commander influenced their actions,' the lawsuit said. Customs and Border Protection officials did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday seeking comment. The lawsuit seeks federal court help because a state court cannot compel the agents to testify on matters that relate to their official duties. The testimony could also be valuable to Arredondo if the agents' accounts present mitigating information for his actions that day, the lawsuit said. And it noted that Mitchell has offered to seek a court order granting the agents immunity for their cooperation and testimony. The lawsuit does not name the three agents but identifies one of them as the 'tactical commander who directed and participated in the entry" of the classroom by officers. The lawsuit said Border Patrol officials have claimed prosecutors can find the information they want from other responding law enforcement agencies. Border Patrol has also said the agents' testimony could reveal classified information or confidential sources, disclose law enforcement techniques or 'interfere with the orderly conduct of CBP business.' Arredondo and former Uvalde schools officer Adrian Gonzales are the only two responding law enforcement officers that day to be charged and are scheduled for trial in October. Both men have pleaded not guilty. According to the lawsuit, because Gonzales was indicted over his conduct prior to the arrival of the Border Patrol, the request to compel testimony from the agents is not part of his case. Multiple investigations into the response have laid bare cascading problems in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers. Paul Looney, an attorney for Arredondo, said he also has been frustrated by Border Patrol's refusal to let its agents testify, and questioned why prosecutors aren't demanding to speak to more of them. The lawsuit said prosecutors initially wanted to speak with 18 agents, but narrowed it down to try to get Border Patrol's cooperation. 'We want all of them. We want to know what they saw, what they heard,' Looney said. 'One level of government is completely frustrating our ability to know what happened in there.'
