Reporters have always been present at executions to observe the state as it wields its greatest power over life. Media reports often provide detail excluded from state records.

But reporters were not let in to witness Quintin Jones' execution Wednesday. bit.ly/3v7F2Tl
TDCJ spokesperson Jeremy Desel said Wednesday night that the media’s non admittance was an error and resulted from a miscommunication between prison officials.
Typically, when an execution is set to proceed, prison officials call the press office across the street, and the spokesperson walks the reporters over. He said that call never came.
Texas executed Quintin Jones on Wednesday evening for the 1999 murder of his great-aunt. His lawyer argued that Jones’ plea for clemency was rejected in part because he was Black. bit.ly/3wibVwL

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More from @TexasTribune

19 May
1/ Texas is set to execute Quintin Jones this evening.

Jones was sentenced to death 20 years ago after he killed his 83-year-old great-aunt.

But two relatives say they’ve forgiven him and want his sentence commuted to life in prison. bit.ly/3f0P96y
2/ In 2001, Quintin Jones was put on death row in Tarrant County after he beat his 83-year-old great-aunt, Berthena Bryant, to death with a baseball bat because she refused to lend him money.

He said he was on drugs. bit.ly/3f0P96y
3/ Bryant’s sister has since forgiven Jones.

She says he is filled with remorse and is now a different person. In a petition asking the state pardons board and governor to change his sentence to life in prison, she and his brother begged the state not to victimize them again.
Read 8 tweets
19 May
Breaking: Texas is banning abortions as early as six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant.

It is one of nation’s strictest abortion measures. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law today. It takes effect in September. bit.ly/3bFqxyh
The bill bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected.

It includes cases where the woman was impregnated as a result of rape or incest. There is an exception for medical emergencies. bit.ly/3bFqxyh
Instead of having the government enforce the law, the new law instead turns the reins over to private citizens — who will be empowered to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps someone get an abortion after a fetal heartbeat has been detected. bit.ly/3bFqxyh
Read 4 tweets
18 May
The Texas Senate quickly revived and passed a bill banning transition-related medical care for children under 18, days after a similar House bill failed to advance in the lower chamber. It now heads to the House for consideration.

#TXlege bit.ly/3fpHzBK
Under Senate Bill 1311, any physician who prescribes hormone therapy or puberty suppression treatment to children under 18 for the purpose of gender transitioning would have their medical license revoked and could not be covered under liability insurance.
In a Senate State Affairs committee hearing, transgender Texans and medical experts testified that access to gender confirmation care is key to reducing the elevated risks of suicide and depression among transgender Texans. bit.ly/3hOc5bl
Read 4 tweets
5 May
Texas lawmakers are poised to enact sweeping restrictions on access to abortions, prohibiting the procedure as early as six weeks and opening the door for a potential flood of lawsuits against abortion providers. #TXlege bit.ly/3nOVXY1
Beyond the limitations on abortion access, the bill would let nearly anyone — including people with no connection to the doctor or the woman — sue abortion providers, and those who help others get an abortion in violation of the proposed law.
People who support abortion funds and clinics could also be hit with lawsuits, and lawyers warn those sued would not be able to recover some of the money they spent on their legal defense.
Read 4 tweets
4 May
1/ Lubbock voters passed on Saturday an ordinance that tries to outlaw abortions in the city’s limits, likely prompting a lawsuit over what opponents say is an unconstitutional ban on the procedure. bit.ly/3tjdubG
2/ The ordinance allows the family members of a person who has an abortion within city limits to sue the provider and anyone who assists someone getting an abortion, like by driving them to a clinic.

There aren't exceptions for rape or incest. bit.ly/3tjdubG
3/ The vote comes less than a year after Planned Parenthood opened a clinic in Lubbock and months after the City Council rejected the ordinance on legal grounds.

Council members also warned it could tee up a costly court fight. bit.ly/3tjdubG
Read 11 tweets
29 Apr
The Texas House on Thursday gave preliminary approval to three police reform measures that are part of a sweeping set of legislation following the murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin last year. #TXlege bit.ly/3eEHvh3
The bills would:

—Require Texas law enforcement agencies to implement more uniform and substantive disciplinary actions for officer misconduct

—Bar officers from arresting people for fine-only traffic offenses

—Require corroboration of undercover officer testimony
The approved measures will head to the more conservative Senate after a third vote in the House. bit.ly/3eEHvh3
Read 4 tweets

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