The State of Texas: December 18, 2015
State's troubled foster care system violates constitutional rights of children, Texans seem to be buying less guns this year, and Sandra Bland's family lawsuit gets scheduled for trial.
Jeff Winkler's work has appeared in the New Republic, Vice magazine, Playboy, The Daily Caller, The Awl, the Oxford American, and elsewhere. He has covered gun-toting carpetbaggers, attempted an alcohol enema, and ridden in the country's largest chuckwagon race. He is a college dropout living in Austin.
State's troubled foster care system violates constitutional rights of children, Texans seem to be buying less guns this year, and Sandra Bland's family lawsuit gets scheduled for trial.
By Jeff Winkler
Sid Miller’s people are doing quite well this year, and Spurs fans shared maybe the most awkward kiss cam experience ever.
By Jeff Winkler
Houston's coach gets grilled, the immigration fight gets tough, and the affluenza kid and his mother are missing.
By Jeff Winkler
Officials respond to frightening dam story, John Jay coach guilty in referee targeting, and officials aren't prepared for another surge of unaccompanied minors.
By Jeff Winkler
Paxton gets rejected, all the weekend gun stories, and the Lewisville Dam might be headed for an historic disaster.
By Jeff Winkler
Panel forced to recommend campus guns, the costly T2 embarrassment, and an ultimate drinking warrior.
By Jeff Winkler
Eva Longoria holds the key to Corpus Christi (and to our hearts), SCOTUS arguments get super awkward, and the campus gun performance art controversy.
By Jeff Winkler
Sid Miller gets deep fried at a Senate Committee on Agriculture hearing, and Abbott goes to Washington to plead his anti-refugee case.
By Jeff Winkler
SCOTUS hears Texas voting district case today, legislators drill into the student-teacher problem, and cops are really having fun with the new 'Star Wars' movie.
By Jeff Winkler
Texas backs down from blocking Syrian refugees, the DPS has some issues with stopping Hispanic drivers, and state teachers can’t keep their hands to themselves.
By Jeff Winkler
The Lege gears up another battle over sanctuary cities, Patrick fends off the Internet’s snark, and a love of tacos is mistaken for graffiti.
By Jeff Winkler
Texas sues to for more control over refugees, and a confusing look at how Irving has become the protest capital of Texas.
By Jeff Winkler
A team of Bigfoot believers, a legion of “Haters,” more than one Walmart parking lot, and the showman at the center of it all.
By Jeff Winkler
George P. joins the Red River property fight, fireworks during Paxton’s day in court, and Abbott's Cuba adventure.
By Jeff Winkler
Special prosecutors wrapping up Sandra Bland investigation, the Paxton brawl begins, and refugee relief group thumbs its nose at state.
By Jeff Winkler
State threatens refugee groups with lawsuits, and jail suicide attempts have skyrocketed.
By Jeff Winkler
Clock Boy’s chances in court look slim, Houston Zoo fights back against gun law, and a 'Friday Night Lights' surprise.
By Jeff Winkler
Clock Boy’s family demands $15 million, and no one is sure where guns are allowed.
By Jeff Winkler
Citizens on both sides of debate continue to protest Syrian refugees, and Texas prepares high schoolers for oil careers.
By Jeff Winkler
Syrian refugees are the talk of Texas, kids are graduating despite failing tests, and the Church of Wells promises a biblical battle against pastor Joel Osteen.
By Jeff Winkler
Perry's legal woes hang in the balance, another increase in migrant children, and the return of Bluebell’s Texas plant.
By Jeff Winkler
New details about self-induced abortions in Texas, Abbott doubles down on Syrian refugees, and the investigation into last year's bus crash that killed four concludes.
By Jeff Winkler
Abbott promises to reject Syrian refugees, another Texas school opts out of campus carry, and a horror story comes to life.
By Jeff Winkler
HERO vote skewered on 'SNL,' Texas abortion fight makes it to the Supreme Court, and the AG is asked to weigh in on fantasy football.
By Jeff Winkler
Romeo Rose has returned with a documentary (sorta), and anti-HERO activists are really upset over an old law.
By Jeff Winkler
Mass indictments issued in Waco shootout case, and Port Neches-Groves ISD fights off ”leftist extremists.”
By Jeff Winkler
The power and the glory of Texas’s energy market, and a biracial girl is cut from cheer team because of her curly hair.
By Jeff Winkler
Closing arguments set for the SXSW killer's trial, Texas to overhaul process for screening law enforcement applicants, and a terminally ill 'Star Wars' fan gets a final wish.
By Jeff Winkler
Sights from Texas A&M's first game at the newly renovated Kyle Field.
By Jeff Winkler
Twenty years after her death, who gets to love Selena (and how)?
By Jeff Winkler
Here’s all that you need to know about Rooster McConaughey and his new show, 'West Texas Investors Club.'
By Jeff Winkler
Paxton receives lukewarm support, and Houston starts up another HERO fight.
By Jeff Winkler
Our state’s busiest airport just keeps experiencing one unfortunate incident after another.
By Jeff Winkler
Ken Paxton turns himself in today, and a man hurts himself trying to shoot an armadillo.
By Jeff Winkler
DPS director grilled about Sandra Bland arrest and barbecue faces another challenge in Austin.
By Jeff Winkler
Senate holds hearing on Planned Parenthood and a look at Texas jail suicides.
By Jeff Winkler
Under pressure, officials release more footage in the Sandra Bland case, and another cobra sighting, but this time in Houston.
By Jeff Winkler
The Boy Scouts will allow gay leaders, protests and vigils continue after Sandra Bland’s burial, and Texas’s growing meth problem.
By Jeff Winkler
Donald Trump visits the border and Sandra Bland’s preliminary autopsy points to suicide.
By Jeff Winkler
Some crazy stuff went down in the past thirty days. Here are a handful of headlines you may have missed.
By Jeff Winkler
A high-speed rail might actually be possible, and Patrick picks sides in the budget fight.
By Jeff Winkler
Dashcam released in Sandra Bland case, and Trump is comin’ to Texas.
By Jeff Winkler
Video released in Bland case, and experts predict a disappointing shrimp season.
By Jeff Winkler
Hundreds march following the death of Sandra Bland, and no one is really monitoring listeria.
By Jeff Winkler
Houston is handing out housing permits like hot cakes, and Jade Helm 15 begins with little fanfare.
By Jeff Winkler
Blue Bell has a savior, and Jade Helm begins.
By Jeff Winkler
The Boys Scouts are one step closer to allowing gay leaders and TABC might allow boozy coupons.
By Jeff Winkler
The DRT hands over Alamo reins amid UN takeover fears, and the state kicks off its gay wedding season.
By Jeff Winkler
As Blue Bell announces the return of its ice cream, perhaps we should take a look at our product loyalties.
By Jeff Winkler
TABC reports customers are beeing bam-booze-d, and Texas braces itself for the Jade Helm takeover.
By Jeff Winkler