https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alejandro-serrano/The latest news by Alejandro Serrano.enMon, 19 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/19/llano-county-books-legal/Libraries have been at the receiving end of book challenges, threats and new laws. Now, some worry a federal appeals court could chip away at long-standing protections.Alejandro SerranoMon, 19 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/19/llano-county-books-legal/Protesters outside the Llano County Sheriff's office in April. County officials are embroiled in a lawsuit over materials pulled from county libraries.Protestors outside the Llano County Sheriffs office on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The county ruled that the library will remain open after a vote on whether or not to close it due to disagreements over book banning.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/perryton-tornado-storms/More than 100 people were injured in the tornado that hit the Panhandle town. Gov. Greg Abbott sent emergency crews to assist with recovery efforts.Alejandro SerranoFri, 16 Jun 2023 09:57:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/perryton-tornado-storms/Three people were killed and scores were injured in a tornado that hit Perryton, a Panhandle town of about 8,100 people.A tornado left buildings significantly damaged and homes leveled in Perryton, Texas Thursday evening, June 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead and dozens others injured.Alex Driggars/USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Connecthttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/07/llano-county-books-appeal/A 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in New Orleans heard oral arguments Wednesday for an appeal to overturn a judge’s order that Llano County officials return to shelves books they had removed. It was not clear how or when the appellate panel would rule.Alejandro SerranoWed, 07 Jun 2023 21:22:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/07/llano-county-books-appeal/Cars pass by the the Llano County Courthouse in Llano on Dec. 14, 2021. The Commissioners Court for Llano County voted to close the public library to "inventory and catalog" their books after community pushback related to books that some deemed offensive. The pushback also led to a decision to immediately shut down an online library of thousands of books out of fears that children could access material not appropriate for children. Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneCars pass by the the Llano County Courthouse in Llano on Monday, Dec. 14, 2021. The Commissioners Court for Llano County voted to close the public library to "inventory and catalog" their books after community pushback related to books that some deemed offensive. The pushback also led to a decision to immediately shut down an online library of thousands of books out of fears that children could access material not appropriate for children. Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneSergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/06/texas-guns-legislation-2023/Legislators passed a bill that requires courts to report certain involuntary mental health hospitalizations to the federal gun background check system. Many other measures that could restrict firearm access got little traction.Alejandro SerranoTue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/06/texas-guns-legislation-2023/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-house-managers/Led by Andrew Murr, a West Texas rancher and lawyer, and Ann Johnson, a former prosecutor, the team of 12 includes 11 with law degrees.Robert Downen and Alejandro SerranoThu, 01 Jun 2023 19:00:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-house-managers/House impeachment managers, led by Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, answer questions at a news conference on Monday. From left: State Reps. Erin Gámez, D-Brownsville; Ann Johnson, D-Houston; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; Murr; David Spiller, R-Jacksboro; Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park; Cody Vasut, R-Angleton; and Morgan Meyer, R-University Park.House General Investigating Committee impeachment managers, led by Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, answer questions at a press conference on May 29, 2023. From left: State Reps. Erin Gámez, D-Brownsville; Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston; Murr; David Spiller, R-Jacksboro; Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park; Cody Vasut, R-Angleton; and Morgan Meyer, R-University Park.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/tea-houston-isd-takeover-superintendent/The former Dallas ISD superintendent and a state-appointed board of managers will replace Houston’s elected school board in response to years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus in the district.Alejandro Serrano and Brian LopezThu, 01 Jun 2023 09:18:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/tea-houston-isd-takeover-superintendent/Mike Miles speaks on the “Superintendent Confidential” panel at The Texas Tribune Festival in 2014. Miles was announced as the state-appointed superintendent of Houston ISD.Texas Monthly editor and chief Brian Sweany moderates the “Superintendent Confidential" panel featuring Paul Cruz, Wanda Bamberg, Juan Cabrera, Mike Miles, and Brian Woods at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.Stephen Spillman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/29/abbott-special-legislative-session/Abbott noted many bills that were passed during the regular session, which ended around 6 p.m. Monday, but he added that “many critical items remain” and will require multiple special sessions.Alejandro SerranoMon, 29 May 2023 21:31:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/29/abbott-special-legislative-session/Gov. Greg Abbot gives remarks during a United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Corpus Christi on April 3.Gov. Greg Abbot gives remarks during a United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Corpus Christi on April 3, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/29/texas-crown-act-law/Gov. Greg Abbott over the weekend signed into law a bill prohibiting race-based hair discrimination in Texas workplaces, schools and housing policies. It goes into effect in September.Alejandro SerranoMon, 29 May 2023 13:22:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/29/texas-crown-act-law/Dakari Davis, an transit police officer in Dallas, speaks about the racial discrimination he faced in the workplace due to his hairstyle during a press conference advocating for the passage of the CROWN Act on April 13.Dakari Davis, an officer in the DART Police Department in Dallas, speaks about the racial discrimination he faced in the workplace due to his hair style during a press conference advocating for the passage of the CROWN Act, in the state Capitol on Apr. 13, 2023. “In 2019 I was recommended for termination,” Davis said. “Not because I violated the oath I took to protect Texans. Not because I violated the trust of the community, but solely due to this ethnic hairstyle that I wear all before all of you today.”Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/uvalde-robb-elementary-shooting-anniversary/Numerous vigils and memorials in Uvalde marked one year since the massacre at Robb Elementary School. In what became the deadliest school shooting in Texas, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers and injured 17 others.Alejandro SerranoWed, 24 May 2023 17:15:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/uvalde-robb-elementary-shooting-anniversary/Destiny Esquivel, a cousin of Maite Rodriguez, embraces another family member beside the memorial cross for Lexi Rubio in the city plaza on the one-year mark of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde on Wednesday.Destiny Esquivel, a cousin of Maite Rodriguez, embraces another family member beside the memorial cross for Lexi Rubio in the city plaza on the one year mark of the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde on May 24, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/guns-crime-texas-mandatory-sentences/The idea appeared to die in the Texas House over the weekend, but senators kept it alive by grafting the proposal on to another piece of legislation.Jolie McCullough and Alejandro SerranoTue, 23 May 2023 18:19:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/guns-crime-texas-mandatory-sentences/Gold-plated hand guns for sale at a gun show in San Marcos, TX, on Sunday, Jan 29, 2023. (Gold-plated hand guns for sale at a gun show in San Marcos, TX, on Sunday, Jan 29, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/texas-gun-bills-uvalde/Emotions often ran high over a proposal to limit young adults’ access to some firearms. Lawmakers have largely prioritized school safety measures, but there was still progress for some gun-related legislation.Alejandro SerranoTue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/texas-gun-bills-uvalde/Siblings of Xavier Lopez play quietly while the families of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting gather to attend a press conference held by state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 24.Siblings of Xavier Lopez play quietly while the families of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting gather to attend a press conference held by state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, where he introduced four new bills that will address qualified immunity for police officers, allow victims to sue the State of Texas, repeal the protection of the Lawful Commerce in Arms act, and create a permanent compensation fund for victims of school gun violence, at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 24, 2023.Evan L’Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-house-crown-act-hair-discrimination/The CROWN Act would ensure protection for Texans who wear their hair in natural styles such as braids, locs, twists or knots.Alejandro SerranoFri, 12 May 2023 15:47:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-house-crown-act-hair-discrimination/State Rep. Ron Reynolds urges the passage of the CROWN Act during a press conference held by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus in the state Capitol on April 13.State Rep. Ron Reynolds urges the passage of the CROWN act during a press conference held by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus in the state capitol on April 13, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-house-raise-the-age-vote/A Texas lawmaker introduced an amendment that would have revived a proposal to raise the minimum age to buy certain semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21 before it was ultimately withdrawn.Alejandro SerranoThu, 11 May 2023 17:32:49 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-house-raise-the-age-vote/Dozens of people hold signs and chant at a May 8 rally in the rotunda of the state Capitol to call for a vote on House Bill 2744, which seeks to raise the age requirement to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.Dozens of people hold signs and chant at a rally in the rotunda of the state Capitol to call for a vote on HB 2744, which seeks to raise the age requirement to purchase semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21, in Austin on May 8, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/09/texas-ar-15-raise-the-age/Days after another mass shooting in Texas, the measure to raise the minimum age from 18 to 21 to purchase semi-automatic rifles appears to have failed.Alejandro SerranoTue, 09 May 2023 18:10:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/09/texas-ar-15-raise-the-age/A vendor table at the SAXET Gun Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Feb. 26, 2023.A vendor table at the SAXET Gun Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Feb. 26, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/08/texas-gun-bill-uvalde-allen-mall-shooting/The legislation would raise the minimum age for purchasing certain firearms but likely wouldn’t have been a hindrance to the Allen gunman obtaining a weapon. The bill still faces an uphill climb in the Legislature.Alejandro Serrano, Eleanor Klibanoff and Sneha DeyMon, 08 May 2023 12:30:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/08/texas-gun-bill-uvalde-allen-mall-shooting/Family members of victims of the Uvalde shooting cry and hug one another at the Capitol on Monday after a Texas House committee voted in favor of House Bill 2744, which would raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.Family members of the victims of the Uvalde shooting cry and hug each other after the House Safety Committee voted in favor of HB 2744, to raise the age requirement to purchase semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21, at the state Capitol in Austin on May 8, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/texas-house-bill-social-media/The House gave initial approval to the bill Tuesday. The legislation is a priority for Speaker Dade Phelan.Alejandro SerranoTue, 25 Apr 2023 16:28:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/texas-house-bill-social-media/Texas kids would need parental consent before creating a social media account under the SCOPE Act that advanced in the House on Tuesday.Sophomore Alexis Phan does her Algebra 2 homework remotely from her home in Pflugerville on Nov. 16, 2020.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/19/texas-house-gun-bills-2023/The families of Uvalde shooting victims waited hours to testify at a House committee hearing in support of House Bill 2744, which would raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic guns from 18 to 21.Alejandro SerranoWed, 19 Apr 2023 01:10:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/19/texas-house-gun-bills-2023/Friends and families of the victims of the Uvalde shooting wait for the House Select Committee on Community Safety to reconvene at the state Capitol in Austin on Tuesday. House Bill 2744 seeks to raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.Friends and families of the victims of the Uvalde shooting wait in a members lounge as they wait for the Community Safety Committee to reconvene, at the state Capitol in Austin on April 18, 2023. The committee will hear numerous bills relating to gun reform, most notably HB2744 which seeks to raise the age required to purchase semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/18/texas-gun-bills-2023/Many bills that would limit access to firearms or ammunition likely won’t become law anytime soon. But people who advocate at the Texas Capitol see emerging signs that there’s appetite for finding some middle ground.Alejandro SerranoTue, 18 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/18/texas-gun-bills-2023/Families of the victims of the Uvalde and Santa Fe school shootings gathered with state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, to show their support for legislation on gun safety laws at the Texas Capitol in February.Families of the victims of the Uvalde and Santa Fe school shootings gathered with state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, to show their support for legislation on gun safety laws at the state Capitol in Austin on Feb. 14, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/18/texas-house-semiautomatic-firearms/The House Select Committee on Community Safety is scheduled to hear testimony on bills that would change how people buy firearms and how authorities report those purchases. One of these bills would raise the minimum age to 21 years old to purchase certain semi-automatic rifles.Alejandro SerranoTue, 18 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/18/texas-house-semiautomatic-firearms/Patrons of the SAXET Gun Show look at handguns at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown in February.Patrons of the SAXET Gun Show look at handguns at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Feb. 26, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/texas-school-libraries-harmful-senate/Proponents of the bill say it will keep inappropriate material away from kids. Some librarians are concerned about the logistical challenges it could bring.Alejandro SerranoThu, 13 Apr 2023 14:27:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/texas-school-libraries-harmful-senate/The library at Blanco Vista Elementary in San Marcos in 2021. A Texas Senate bill would place new requirements on how school libraries purchase materials and would let parents get notifications for every book their kids check out.The library at Blanco Vista Elementary in San Marcos on Nov. 4, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune