(Talk1370.com) -- Sheriff's offices in the state's largest counties could be forced to work with federal immigration authorities, if a bill passed by the Texas Senate becomes law. That and more in your Morning Headlines.
Sheriffs & ICE: The Texas Senate has given its approval to a bill that would require sheriff’s deputies in the state’s largest counties to help federal authorities with immigration enforcement. Senate Bill 8 would require counties across the state with populations of one hundred thousand or more to join the 287-G program run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement; that program helps train state and local police in immigration enforcement matters. Based on the 2020 census, 40 counties across the state would be required to join the program if the bill becomes law. 45 counties already participate in the program. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
Austin Sued Over Bad DNA Evidence: A man who was convicted and sentenced to 60 years in prison before having that conviction overturned due to “invalid DNA evidence” is suing the City of Austin. Billy Faircloth was convicted on an aggravated assault charge in 2012, accused of hitting a woman in the head with a rock multiple times in a downtown parking garage. He served 10 years of that sentence before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned his conviction in 2023; Faircloth’s suit highlights systemic issues stemming from the city’s DNA lab, which was shut down in 2016. The city has since restarted its DNA lab which now operates independently from APD.
MoPac Expansion Hits Legal Snag: Plans to expand MoPac Expressway in southwest Austin are facing a legal challenge; the Save Our Springs Alliance has filed a lawsuit against the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, contending CTRMA is withholding information that should be publicly released. The 8-mile project, which is still in the proposal phase, would potentially add express lanes between Cesar Chavez and Slaughter Lane. CTRMA says it’s fully complied with the public information requests filed by SOS, including the request of a preliminary opinion from the Texas Attorney General’s office that allows the mobility authority to withhold some information.
Williams Buzzes Out Of Aggieland: Changes afoot in College Station, where Texas A&M basketball coach Buzz Williams is leaving Aggieland to take the head coaching job at Maryland. Williams leaves College Station after six seasons, including NCAA tournament appearances in each of the last three. He’ll take over the Terapins program previously coached by Kevin Willard, who took a new job at Villanova after Maryland’s loss in the Sweet 16.