The Texas Tribune: Lexi Churchillhttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/lexi-churchill/The latest news by Lexi Churchill.enWed, 15 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500Help ProPublica and The Texas Tribune report on your community’s school board and bond electionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/15/texas-school-board-bond-elections/We want to hear about how heated elections affect the people learning, teaching and living in districts across Texas.By Jessica Priest, Jeremy Schwartz, Lexi Churchill and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 15 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/15/texas-school-board-bond-elections/A group that calls itself “pro public education” offers ballot suggestions outside a voting center in Granbury.Shelby Tauber for ProPublica and The Texas TribuneTexas school districts violated a law intended to add transparency to local electionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/texas-school-districts-violated-election-transparency-law/The Texas Tribune and ProPublica analyzed 35 Texas school districts that held trustee elections last fall and found none that posted all of the required campaign finance records.By Jessica Priest and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, Research by Dan Keemahill and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaThu, 25 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/texas-school-districts-violated-election-transparency-law/A photo illustration shows a web search box with “BOARD ELECTION Campaign Finance Report” and “Page Not Found” over a photo of a Texas school building.Photo illustration by ProPublica. Photo by Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune.Soldiers charged with violent crimes will now face more scrutiny before they can leave the Armyhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/19/us-army-soldiers-violent-crimes/The change comes after reporting from ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and Military Times revealed that hundreds of soldiers charged with offenses like sexual assault and domestic violence left the Army without facing courts-martial.By Vianna Davila and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Davis Winkie, Military TimesFri, 19 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/19/us-army-soldiers-violent-crimes/Joan Wong for ProPublica and The Texas TribuneNearly two years after the Uvalde massacre, here’s who has been reprimanded and where investigations standhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/29/uvalde-shooting-investigations-status-personnel-changes/As a grand jury considers whether any law enforcement officers are criminally charged for their inaction during the Robb Elementary shooting, some families say they feel they’ve been let down and betrayed by elected officials.By Lexi Churchill and Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaFri, 29 Mar 2024 11:20:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/29/uvalde-shooting-investigations-status-personnel-changes/A copy of the Department of Justice’s review of law enforcement officers’ actions at Robb Elementary School.Copy of the Department of Justice's Critical Incident Review Active Shooter at Robb Elementary School, at the Herby Ham Activity Centerin Uvalde on Jan. 18, 2024.Chris Stokes for The Texas TribuneActive shooter training: State-specific requirements for schools and law enforcementhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/08/active-shooter-training-schools-law-enforcement/No states mandate annual active shooter training for police officers, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and FRONTLINE. In comparison, at least 37 states require such training in schools, typically on a yearly basis.By Lexi Churchill and Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaThu, 08 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/08/active-shooter-training-schools-law-enforcement/“Cascading failures”: Justice Department blasts law enforcement’s botched response to Uvalde school shootinghttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/18/uvalde-school-shooting-federal-investigation-police-response/U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said that had responding officers followed general procedures, some victims would have survived.By Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune, and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaThu, 18 Jan 2024 09:33:37 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/18/uvalde-school-shooting-federal-investigation-police-response/Students flee after a gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24, 2022.Students flee and authorities help others evacuate after a gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24, 2022.Courtesy of Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-NewsReports about police actions in U.S. mass shootings lack standardization and often leave unanswered questionshttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/27/police-reponse-mass-shooting-reports-questions/A lack of national standards leads to wide variability in after-action examinations of law enforcement’s response, ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and FRONTLINE found.By Lexi Churchill and Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 27 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/27/police-reponse-mass-shooting-reports-questions/After-action reports can vary widely in what they examine and what information they release because there is no national standard for how they should be conducted.After-action reports can vary widely in what they examine and what information they release because there is no national standard for how they should be conducted.Compilation image by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica“Someone tell me what to do”https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/05/uvalde-officer-student-trainings-mass-shootings/Across the country, states require more training to prepare students and teachers for mass shootings than for those expected to protect them. The differences were clear in Uvalde, where children and officers waited on opposite sides of the door.By Lomi Kriel and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Jinitzail Hernández, The Texas TribuneTue, 05 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/05/uvalde-officer-student-trainings-mass-shootings/Collage by ProPublica. Body camera stills obtained by ProPublica and The Texas TribuneCollage by ProPublica. Body camera stills obtained by ProPublica and The Texas TribuneJudge says DPS must release documents related to Uvalde shooting responsehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/29/uvalde-shooting-dps-records/The state police agency had been withholding nearly all of its records on law enforcement’s botched response to Texas’ deadliest school shooting. DPS will have an opportunity to redact the files before they are released.By Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and William Melhado, The Texas TribuneThu, 29 Jun 2023 18:29:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/29/uvalde-shooting-dps-records/Family members and friends participate in a march on July 10, 2022, in support of those killed and injured in the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.Family members and friends participate in a march in support of those killed and injured in the school shooting at Robb Elementary, in Uvalde on July 10, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas TribuneInside 30 years of former NFL player Kenny Hansmire’s troubled businesseshttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/08/inside-30-years-kenny-hansmire-troubled-businesses/Politicians across the country have allocated millions to the National Child Identification Program. The company stands out as a success amid a decadeslong string of businesses plagued by legal and financial problems.By Kiah Collier and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaMon, 08 May 2023 05:05:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/08/inside-30-years-kenny-hansmire-troubled-businesses/Lauren Crow for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaThe Army increasingly allows soldiers charged with violent crimes to leave the military rather than face trialhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/10/military-army-administrative-separation/A federal watchdog called for ending the practice nearly 50 years ago, but the military pushed back. Now, soldiers leave the Army with a negative discharge, avoiding possible federal conviction and with little record of the allegations against them.By Vianna Davila, Lexi Churchill and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Davis Winkie, Military TimesMon, 10 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/10/military-army-administrative-separation/Joan Wong for ProPublica and The Texas TribuneUvalde district attorney fights release of public records against wishes of most familieshttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/08/uvalde-district-attorney-fights-release-public-records-despite-family/Joining the Texas Department of Public Safety’s fight against the release of records, the district attorney claims the support of every family who lost a child in the 2022 mass shooting. Attorneys representing many of the families refute that claim.By Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune, and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 08 Mar 2023 12:50:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/08/uvalde-district-attorney-fights-release-public-records-despite-family/A memorial sprung up last year in Uvalde for victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.A cross in memory of Eva Mireles is decorated for the holiday season, at the Memorial Plaza in Uvalde on Dec. 21, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas TribuneHe was accused of sexual assault, she of using drugs. The military dealt with them very differently.https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/15/army-military-pretrial-confinement-sexual-assault/Comparing the cases of Pvt. Olivia Ochoa and Pfc. Christian Alvarado provides a striking example of Army commanders’ uneven use of pretrial confinement.By Ren Larson, Vianna Davila and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaMon, 15 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/15/army-military-pretrial-confinement-sexual-assault/Joan Wong for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaIn the Army, you’re more likely to be detained for drugs than sexual assaulthttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/11/army-sexual-assault-pretrial-confinement-takeaways/A first-of-its-kind analysis reveals that, on average, Army soldiers had to face at least eight counts of sexual offenses before their commanders detained them ahead of trial as often as soldiers charged with drug or burglary crimes.By Vianna Davila, Lexi Churchill and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Kengo Tsutsumi, ProPublicaThu, 11 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/11/army-sexual-assault-pretrial-confinement-takeaways/Joan Wong for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaHelp The Texas Tribune and ProPublica report on the military justice systemhttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/09/military-justice-system/We’re looking into how the military investigates service members accused of crimes, intersects with the civilian justice system and treats cases that do not make it to courts-martial. Guide us to important stories.By Vianna Davila, Ren Larson, Lexi Churchill and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Adriana Gallardo, ProPublicaTue, 09 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/09/military-justice-system/Joan Wong for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaTwice accused of sexual assault, he was let go by Army commanders. He attacked again.https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/09/army-military-sexual-assault-pretrial-confinement/A first-of-its-kind analysis reveals that soldiers in the Army are more likely to be locked up ahead of trial for drug offenses than for sexual assault under a system that gives commanders control.By Vianna Davila, Lexi Churchill and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaTue, 09 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/09/army-military-sexual-assault-pretrial-confinement/Joan Wong for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaTexas agencies resist releasing public records that could help clarify response to Uvalde school shootinghttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/15/texas-public-records-uvalde-shooting/The Texas Tribune and ProPublica have submitted about 70 requests to state and local agencies for emergency response documentation surrounding the mass shooting at Robb Elementary. Most likely won’t be released publicly for months, if ever.By Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 15 Jun 2022 17:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/15/texas-public-records-uvalde-shooting/Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at nearby Robb Elementary School.Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde, Texas, after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at nearby Robb Elementary School.Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneCarbon monoxide killed a Texas mother and daughter. A firefighter was reprimanded after a delayed 911 response.https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/04/texas-winter-storm-carbon-monoxide-firefighter/After half of a Houston family was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning, reporting by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News revealed that a fire crew had failed to enter the house to check on them. A firefighter has now been disciplined.By Perla Trevizo and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC NewsFri, 04 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/04/texas-winter-storm-carbon-monoxide-firefighter/Laila Milevski/ProPublicaU.S. plans new safety rules to crack down on carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generatorshttps://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/25/generators-carbon-monoxide-safety-rules/The announcement comes two months after an investigation by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News detailed the deadly cost of the government’s failure to regulate portable generators.By Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, and Perla Trevizo and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaFri, 25 Feb 2022 14:30:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/25/generators-carbon-monoxide-safety-rules/Laila Milevski/ProPublicaGenerators can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. But the industry resists rules to make them safer.https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/17/texas-generators-winter-storm-carbon-monoxide-deaths/Portable generators are among the deadliest consumer products. Two decades after the government identified the danger, and as climate change leads to more power outages, people are left vulnerable by a system that lets the industry regulate itself.By Lexi Churchill, Perla Trevizo and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh and Suzy Khimm, NBC NewsFri, 17 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/17/texas-generators-winter-storm-carbon-monoxide-deaths/Laila Milevski/ProPublica