Texas Blockchain Council adviser promotes value of bitcoin

By Juliette Fairley | Feb 17, 2023

When Jon West discovered bitcoin in 2010 due to the 2008 global financial crisis, he determined it would never work; however, after five years of monitoring the cryptocurrency and researching it, he changed his mind.

Life on the border: 'I have to walk around with a handgun' to protect home from illegal immigrants

By Juliette Fairley | Jun 16, 2021

When Teresa Chapoy looks out her window these days, she’s not surprised to see illegal aliens walk across her lawn into the United States over the Mexican border in Val Verde County.

Texas House approves 2-year extension for 'mainly unnecessary' Chapter 313 property tax abatements

By Juliette Fairley | May 13, 2021

The Texas House of Representatives approved House Bill (HB) 4242 last week in an effort to kick the can down the road regarding Chapter 313 property tax abatements, according to a think tank analyst.

Texas House GOP chair: 'We are actually coming together' to advance criminal justice reform

By Juliette Fairley | Mar 31, 2021

The death of George Floyd resulting from an applied chokehold by a Minneapolis police officer has prompted Texans to take action to protect their citizens from police brutality as protestors rallied at the Texas Capitol last week to advocate for the passing of the Texas George Floyd Act.

Austin Justice Coalition seeks to end arrests, jail for fine-only offenses

By Juliette Fairley | Mar 31, 2021

Advocates from the Austin Justice Coalition have been working on non-jailable reform since 2017 and expect to see progress this year.

University of Texas study offers 'glimpse into the scope and impact of human trafficking in Texas'

By Juliette Fairley | Mar 23, 2021

How service providers and policymakers are interpreting sex trafficking is creating gaps that cause them to miss opportunities to better help victims, according to a University of Texas study on child trafficking.

Former federal prosecutor Whitaker: Class C misdemeanor arrests should be 'rare'

By Juliette Fairley | Mar 18, 2021

As a former state and federal prosecutor, Matthew Whitaker has prosecuted thousands of criminal cases. In his role as chairman of the American Freedom Initiative, he’s in the business of righting wrongs.

Urban Reform Institute president: 'Long past time' to end practice of arrests over fine-only offenses

By Juliette Fairley | Mar 16, 2021

The practice of arresting individuals involved in fine-only offenses should be outright banned, according to an urban policy analyst.

Critics question Texas PUC's authority to set rates during winter storm

By Juliette Fairley | Mar 15, 2021

During the surprise winter storm last month, the Public Utility Commission of Texas allegedly decided that the market was not acting as it believed it should and hiked prices to the maximum of $9,000 per megawatt-hour.

Winter weather highlights role wind and solar energy plays in Texas power outages

By Juliette Fairley | Feb 16, 2021

Energy Alliance Policy Director Bill Peacock isn’t surprised that grid operators are blaming frozen wind turbines in West Texas for power that has been offline due to unusually cold weather.

State agencies must appear before House committee for budget requests per new rules presented by Schaefer

By Juliette Fairley | Jan 28, 2021

Texas House of Representatives leaders adopted two new budget rules presented by Rep. Matthew Schaefer (R-Tyler), who thanked House Speaker Dade Phelan in a tweet last week.

University of Texas study: Sex and labor trafficking victims share common challenges

By Juliette Fairley | Dec 18, 2020

There are more than 300,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas of whom nearly 79,000 are minors and youth victims of sex trafficking, according to a 2016 University of Texas at Austin Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) study.

Pardo parents finally removed from child abuse registry after enlisting help of legislators, THSC

By Juliette Fairley | Dec 18, 2020

After a harrowing experience with Child Protective Services, Ashley and Daniel Pardo finally have been removed from the state’s registry of child abusers.

Macias Strategies CEO: 'Taxpayers don't believe that lobbying is a proper use of their tax dollars'

By Juliette Fairley | Dec 9, 2020

Taxpayer-funded lobbying among cities and counties is a conflict of interest, creating significant barriers to enacting conservative fiscal policy, which has led to a recent push to ban the practice, according to the owner of a political consulting firm.

Abbott's child sex trafficking team eyes data to prevent exploitation, serve survivors

By Juliette Fairley | Oct 16, 2020

Gov. Greg Abbott’s office has determined that many girls who are in human trafficking treatment programs coordinated by the state of Texas have been exploited and trafficked by their mothers at a young age.

Rally at Abbott's mansion attracted people from 'every corner of the state'

By Juliette Fairley | Oct 16, 2020

When Mark Meckler helped organize the Oct. 11 protest in front of Gov. Greg Abbott’s mansion last weekend, he didn’t expect to meet people from all over the state who felt strongly about re-opening the economy.

Allies Against Slavery building statewide human trafficking database with governor's office

By Juliette Fairley | Oct 14, 2020

When his sister survived sexual assault, John Nehme wanted to support her, which put him on a path to eventually led to Allies Against Slavery, a nonprofit that advocates against human trafficking.