https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/william-melhado/The latest news by William Melhado.enMon, 19 Jun 2023 21:48:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/19/exas-angela-paxton-ken-paxton/Suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton faces charges of bribery and obstruction of justice in his upcoming impeachment trial before the Texas Senate.William MelhadoMon, 19 Jun 2023 21:48:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/19/exas-angela-paxton-ken-paxton/State Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, on the Senate floor at the Capitol on May 29.State Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, on the Senate floor, at the Capitol, on May 29, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/15/greg-abbott-dan-patrick-veto-property-tax/The governor says other issues aren’t as important as breaking a House-Senate stalemate over the best course on reducing property taxes.William Melhado and Patrick SvitekThu, 15 Jun 2023 21:05:51 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/15/greg-abbott-dan-patrick-veto-property-tax/Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the press before signing eight bills during a public safety bill signing session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 6.Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the press before signing eight bills during a public safety bill signing session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 6, 2023Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/14/texas-attorney-general-biden-title-ix/State law that limits transgender student athletes’ participation in sports runs afoul of the updated federal civil rights law, which was expanded to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ students, potentially putting Texas schools at risk of losing federal funding.William MelhadoWed, 14 Jun 2023 20:41:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/14/texas-attorney-general-biden-title-ix/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/10/texas-fairfield-lake-state-park-eminent-domain/With only three days left on the state’s lease, the agency unanimously voted to condemn almost 5,000 acres in Freestone County in an effort to keep the park open to the public after developers purchased the property to build a gated community.William MelhadoSat, 10 Jun 2023 14:34:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/10/texas-fairfield-lake-state-park-eminent-domain/State Park Police Officer Kyle Ware makes the rounds at Fairfield Lake State Park in Fairfield in February.State Park Police Officer Kyle Ware makes the rounds at Fairfield Lake State Park in Fairfield on Feb. 27, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/08/nate-paul-arrested-ken-paxton-impeachment/It is not immediately clear what Paul was charged with, but Travis County officials confirmed he was being held in the jail at the request of the FBI. Paxton’s deputies accused Paul of bribing the now-suspended attorney general in 2020.James Barragán, William Melhado and Patrick SvitekThu, 08 Jun 2023 19:22:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/08/nate-paul-arrested-ken-paxton-impeachment/Nate Paul, the Austin real estate developer central to allegations of illegal conduct by Ken Paxton, Texas’ now-suspended attorney general, was booked into Travis County Jail on Thursday afternoon.Nate Paul is the CEO of World Class, a real estate holding company.World Class websitehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-gender-affirming-care-ban/Texas joins 17 other states restricting transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapies. Opposing legal groups have vowed to sue to stop the new law from taking effect.Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoFri, 02 Jun 2023 18:37:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-gender-affirming-care-ban/People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during a "Fight for Our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ bills on March 27.People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ+ bills on March 27, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/child-death-border-custody/After discovering that contracted medical staff ignored the mother’s pleas to take the girl to the hospital as her condition declined, the federal agency said it is taking action to ensure an in-custody death “never happens again.”William MelhadoThu, 01 Jun 2023 22:01:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/child-death-border-custody/A border patrol vehicle on the banks of the Rio Grande in Rio Grande City.A border patrol vehicle on the banks of the Rio Grande in Rio Grande City.Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune/ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/ken-paxton-suspension-salary/Following Paxton’s impeachment on Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed former Texas Secretary of State John Scott to serve as the state’s top attorney.William MelhadoThu, 01 Jun 2023 16:52:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/ken-paxton-suspension-salary/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement to the press Friday, a day before the impeachment vote in the Texas House.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement to the press May 26, 2023, a day before the impeachment vote in the Texas House.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/31/texas-transgender-gender-affirming-care/For one Round Rock teen, getting accepted to Harvard was her ticket out of a state that she says is hostile to trans youth. Now Texas will ensure young people like her no longer have access to gender-affirming care.William Melhado and Leila SaidaneWed, 31 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/31/texas-transgender-gender-affirming-care/Topher Malone’s mother helps her get ready for graduation day in her bedroom in Round Rock in May. Malone recently began using the name Safara, which she feels more accurately represents her identity.Topher Malone’s mother helps her put on her graduation attire in their home in Round Rock the morning of the ceremony on May 26, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-legislature-drag-show-bill/Originally pitched as an effort to restrict children from seeing certain drag shows, the House and Senate agreed on a version of the bill that could still ensnare LGBTQ performers.William MelhadoSun, 28 May 2023 19:53:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-legislature-drag-show-bill/The Texas State Capitol on June 8, 2022.The Texas State Capitol on June 8, 2022.Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/ken-paxton-impeachment-history/The suspended attorney general’s supporters thought lawmakers tried to overrule voters. Ken Paxton’s critics felt accountability was a long time coming.William Melhado, The Texas Tribune, and Lucy Tompkins, The Texas Tribune and The New York TimesSat, 27 May 2023 20:01:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/ken-paxton-impeachment-history/Texans sit in the gallery above the Texas House floor as lawmakers debate whether to impeach Ken Paxton. Saturday was the first time in Texas history that the House impeached and suspended an attorney general.Wide view of the Texas House chamber during debate on the articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/20/texas-lgbtq-guns-education-bills-die/Priority bills that died include a 10-year minimum sentencing for gun-related crimes, a ban on “critical race theory” at public universities and LGBTQ-related legislation. While the bills may be dead, lawmakers have a limited time to attach their ideas to legislation that is still alive.William MelhadoSat, 20 May 2023 18:29:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/20/texas-lgbtq-guns-education-bills-die/Texas representatives and their families gather on the House floor on the opening day of this year’s legislative session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023. On Saturday, the House faced a deadline for passing Senate bills out of committee. Any bill that did not clear a panel is effectively dead.State Representatives and their families gather on the House floor on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-drag-performers/The bill no longer targets drag performers, but LGBTQ advocates say the legislation’s vague language could still be used to criminalize such shows.William Melhado and Alex NguyenFri, 19 May 2023 11:46:49 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-drag-performers/A drag queen performs at the Nasher Sculpture Center during the Pride Block Party in Dallas last year.A drag queen performs at the Nasher Sculpture Center during the Pride Block Party in Dallas, TX on June 17, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/child-death-border-custody/The child and her family were in custody at a border station in Harlingen before she was transported to a local hospital. The death comes less than a week after the expiration of Title 42, which had allowed authorities to quickly expel migrants from the U.S. during the pandemic.William MelhadoWed, 17 May 2023 22:24:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/child-death-border-custody/What was left of the makeshift migrant camp less than 19 hours after Title 42 ended at 9:59 p.m. local time the night before May 12 in El Paso. A group is living under the blankets that are being used to cover themselves from the sun. The camp had up to 1,000 people in recent days.What was left of the makeshift migrant camp less than 19 hours after Title 42 ended at 9:59 p.m. local time the night before, Friday, May 12, 2023, in El Paso. A group is living under the blankets that are being used to cover themselves from the sun. The camp had up to 1000 people in recent days.Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/texas-fentanyl-murder-legislature/House Bill 6 has widespread bipartisan support and now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who has named the issue a priority.William MelhadoTue, 16 May 2023 18:26:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/texas-fentanyl-murder-legislature/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/13/dps-austin-abbott-title-42/Despite no major influx in border crossings, state troopers will be relocated to border cities. Austin and the Texas Department of Public Safety faced criticism for the racial disparities in state trooper arrests in the capital.William MelhadoSat, 13 May 2023 13:20:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/13/dps-austin-abbott-title-42/The Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety officers at the entrance to a makeshift migrant camp in El Paso about three hours after Title 42 ended this week.Seen is the Texas National Guard and Texas DPS at the entrance to where hundreds of migrants wait to be processed by U.S. CBP inside a makeshift migrant camp about three hours after Title-42 ended at 9:59 p.m. local time, Friday, May 12, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/The House approved a bill Monday that would ban doctors from providing transition-related care to children. It now heads back to the Senate, which can accept the changes or ask for a committee to iron out the chambers’ differences.Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoFri, 12 May 2023 13:41:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, gives instructions Friday to people gathered outside the House to protest against Senate Bill 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth.Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, gives instructions regarding a press conference to people who have gathered on the stairs across from the House floor to protest against SB 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the House at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-sodomy-ban-repeal-bill/In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas’ law banning sodomy in 2003. It took almost 20 years for Democrats to get a bill to repeal the defunct ban on the House calendar.Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoThu, 11 May 2023 23:59:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-sodomy-ban-repeal-bill/State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, speaks with fellow lawmakers on the Texas House floor on April 6.State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, speaks with fellow lawmakers on the House floor on April 6, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/15/lgbtq-rally-texas-capitol-bills/With six weeks remaining in the legislative session, advocates implored Texans to join the “resistance” against fast-moving efforts to curb health care, drag queens, education, trans athletes and more.William MelhadoSat, 15 Apr 2023 17:52:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/15/lgbtq-rally-texas-capitol-bills/Hundreds join the Queer March on the Capitol in Austin on Saturday.Hundreds joined the Queer March on the Capitol in Austin on April 15, 2023.Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/texas-gender-affirming-care-kids-legislature/Under the legislation, minors currently receiving certain gender-affirming care would have to taper off their treatments. A majority of Texas lawmakers in each chamber has supported previous versions of the legislation.Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoFri, 14 Apr 2023 14:12:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/texas-gender-affirming-care-kids-legislature/Demonstrators march for Trans Day of Visibility in San Antonio last month. A Texas House panel on Friday advanced legislation restricting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans kids.Demonstrators march for Trans Day of Visibility in San Antonio on March 31, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas Tribune