Texas could soon become the largest state to allow citizens to openly carry handguns. The Texas House of Representatives voted, 96 to 35, Friday to allow residents with concealed-handgun licenses to openly carry their guns in public in holsters. Gov. Greg Abbott has expressed support for the law. A similar measure passed the Texas Senate last month and the two bill must be squared up before heading to Abbott’s desk. Texas, despite its reputation for being lax on gun laws, is one of six states, including California, New York and Florida, that currently bars citizens from openly carrying handguns. With News Wire Services Join the Conversation: … [Read more...] about Texas House of Representatives votes to allow residents to publicly carry guns in holsters
Texas
Texas man tattoos infamous Internet meme The Dress onto his leg
We know where he stands on The Dress. A Texas man got a blue and black tattoo of the polarizing frock that some swear is white and gold on his calf because he "thought it would be funny." "I keep up with social memes and I see all of this stuff going around," Daniel Howland told the Daily News. "This is the one thing that I couldn’t wrap my brain around." The 24-year-old piercer’s new ink also says: “White and gold?” The tattoo took about 20 minutes for Howland’s co-worker Nick York to complete Friday at their Austin shop. York, 19, did the body art for free, according to BuzzFeed. "We did it for fun," Howland said. York, who is still team white and gold, was offended that The LAD Bible dubbed his work "the worst tattoo you will see today." "It’s not perfect, but it’s not a bad tattoo," York told The News. Howland and York are both covered in ink and say joke tattoos aren't a big deal. "You get stupid stuff," … [Read more...] about Texas man tattoos infamous Internet meme The Dress onto his leg
SEE IT: Texas woman forced to drive bullet-riddled car after insurer denies claim
A Texas woman driving around in a bullet-riddled car that was damaged in a police shoot-out after her insurer denied her claim to have it repaired. Erica Montes' vehicle was hit by four stray bullets during a fatal firefight in Lewisville in November 2014, reports Fox 4 News. She was an innocent bystander in the gun battle, sparked after Davis Thomas went on the run from officers and allegedly stole several cars. Her SUV suffered $2,000 worth of damage as the 22-year-old exchanged fire with police — and ended up being killed by one of the officers. Montes was told to file a claim with Lewisville Police Department's insurer Texas Municipal League (TML). However, TML rejected her application because it said that the damage wasn't the police department's fault. She says she was told to file the claim with her own insurance company, according to Fox. But Montes revealed that as her SUV is already paid off, she now only had … [Read more...] about SEE IT: Texas woman forced to drive bullet-riddled car after insurer denies claim
Texas man charged with capital murder for deaths of two Baytown teens found in bayou
A 20-year-old Texas man has been charged with capital murder for the deaths of two Baytown teens who were pulled from the bayou Thursday, authorities said. Brandon Alejandro Flores, who is not yet in custody, was the last person to be seen with Alex Chavez, 18, and Jarvis Morgan, 17, before the two friends went missing two weeks ago, according to reports. Their decomposed bodies were found Thursday along the edge of Double Bayou near Anahuac. Alex Chavez (l.) and Jarvis Morgan went missing for two weeks before their bodies were pulled from a Baytown bayou. Jose Juan Chavez is also a person of interest in the case, police said. Join the Conversation: … [Read more...] about Texas man charged with capital murder for deaths of two Baytown teens found in bayou
‘My first bow kill’: Texas veterinarian fired after allegedly killing cat with arrow and bragging about it on Facebook (VIDEO)
A gruesome Facebook photo showing a Texas veterinarian posing with a cat killed by an arrow through its furry skull touched off a furious backlash that got the woman canned and opened a police investigation. The image of Dr. Kristen Lindsey holding the dead orange and white cat is just “disgusting,” Austin County Sheriff Jack Brandes told the Daily News. “My first bow kill,” is how Lindsey captioned her photo, complete with cat emojis, from an account that has since been deleted. “The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it’s (sic) head! Vet of the year award... gladly accepted.” Upon seeing the inhumane social media post Friday morning, Brandes sent two deputies to Lindsey’s home to investigate whether such an act of animal cruelty really happened. Intentionally killing a cat, even a stray as Lindsay suggested, is against the law nationwide. “This is not acceptable in our society. I don’t … [Read more...] about ‘My first bow kill’: Texas veterinarian fired after allegedly killing cat with arrow and bragging about it on Facebook (VIDEO)
Texas executes man who fatally shot police officer because he ‘didn’t want to go to jail’
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A San Antonio man who fatally shot a SWAT team member with the officer's own gun more than 14 years ago was executed Wednesday, the sixth convicted murderer put to death in Texas so far this year. Manuel Garza Jr. received a lethal injection of pentobarbital for killing San Antonio Police Officer John "Rocky" Riojas in February 2001. The U.S. Supreme Court had refused in November to review his case, and no last-day appeals were filed before his execution. Asked to make a final statement, Garza said he was sorry for causing pain to his family, friends and "especially police officers." "Y'all probably hate me," he said, looking at three friends of his victim, dressed in their navy blue San Antonio police uniforms. He wished them "peace and love and hope y'all find God like I have and I'll see you on the other side." As the lethal drug began taking effect, Garza uttered: "Here it comes!" His voice rose as he said "Good bye," and then he let out a howl … [Read more...] about Texas executes man who fatally shot police officer because he ‘didn’t want to go to jail’
Texas chef facing $2,000 fine for feeding homeless continues to serve
A Texas chef won't back down after she was ticketed for feeding the homeless. Joan Cheever has continued to serve gourmet meals to the needy, like she's done for the last decade, even though she faces a $2,000 fine, My San Antonio reported. And every time Cheever ventures out to Maverick Park, where she was cited, a crowd of supporters cheers her on. Cheever, who has been profiled on Rachael Ray's cooking show, was stopped by San Antonio cops while transporting a three-course meal from her charity's truck to the homeless April 7. She has a food permit for her Chow Train vehicle, but police said it did not extend to handing out food outside the truck, Cheever said. They wrote Cheever a ticket for transporting food without a permit. The chef and attorney said the citation impinges on her freedom of religion. "This is how I pray. I pray when I cook. I pray when I serve," she told the Washington Post. She said she plans to argue for her right to free worship … [Read more...] about Texas chef facing $2,000 fine for feeding homeless continues to serve
SEE IT: Texas trooper’s leaping karate kick knocks biker off motorcycle
Somebody watched a little too much “Walker, Texas Ranger.” A fleet-footed state trooper dropped a surrendering motorcyclist with a leaping karate kick at the end of a high-speed chase, a stunning dash cam video revealed. The hapless rider took off after running a stop sign, and he kept going even after the run-and-gun trooper pulled alongside his bike and opened fire, shooting him in the leg, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The paper unearthed the video of the action-packed 2012 encounter while reporting on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Wild West approach to chasing down suspects who run. Trooper Abraham Martinez joined the motorcycle pursuit while it was in progress. The rider, 25-year-old Steven Gaydos, topped 130 mph on his Suzuki 750 as he fled through one Houston-area county to another. Martinez can be heard shouting over a loudspeaker for Gaydos to pull over. When the strip club bartender … [Read more...] about SEE IT: Texas trooper’s leaping karate kick knocks biker off motorcycle
‘Mad Men’ star Jon Hamm accused of violent frat hazing while student at University of Texas in 1990, victim’s pants set on fire
Before he was a “Mad Man,” John Hamm was a very bad boy. The Emmy-nominated star, in a cruel fraternity hazing ritual, shoved a pledge’s face in the dirt, whacked the man with a paddle — and then lit the student’s jeans on fire, recently uncovered documents show. “He rears back and hits me left-handed, and he hit me right over my right kidney, I mean square over it,” Sigma Nu hopeful Mark Allen Sanders said in a lawsuit. “Good solid hit and that, that stood me right up.” The brutal hazing occurred in 1990 when the actor belonged to the fraternity’s chapter at the University of Texas, records from the school and court showed. Hamm participated in the pledge abuse “till the very end,” according to the Sanders lawsuit. The actor became “mad, I mean really mad” after Sanders flubbed his response after a demand to recite certain phrases about different brothers, the lawsuit charged. … [Read more...] about ‘Mad Men’ star Jon Hamm accused of violent frat hazing while student at University of Texas in 1990, victim’s pants set on fire
Texas woman says she was beaten by deputies when she was 9 months pregnant
A Texas woman alleges she was punched and beaten, while nine months pregnant, by Hunt County Sheriff's deputies. Deanna Robinson, 38, said she was handcuffed when a deputy repeatedly punched her in the back as he and a colleague shoved her against a countertop, causing extensive pain and bruising, she said Monday. The woman has posted video online showing a portion of the incident from early last month. In it, Robinson can be heard screaming and cursing as the deputies and child protection officials took custody of her 18-month-old toddler, Landry, over a domestic violence investigation. Robinson said Monday that she demanded to see a court order, but was not shown one. "I'm positioning myself in front of my child as the officers are screaming, 'There's the kid. Grab him,'" Robinson said, WFAA-TV reported. The Sheriff's department is investigating. Photos posted to Facebook by a Robinson friend show several images of a pregnant woman's stomach marked by deep bruising. … [Read more...] about Texas woman says she was beaten by deputies when she was 9 months pregnant