Tren de Aragua Leader Extradited to Houston on Federal Terrorism ChargesMay 16, 2026Law and PolicyA Venezuelan Tren de Aragua leader was extradited to Houston on federal terrorism and drug conspiracy charges, the DOJ announced May 15, 2026.
Texas Court Approves $1.1 Million Varsity Brands Data Breach SettlementMay 16, 2026Law and PolicyA Texas federal court granted final approval to a $1.1 million settlement resolving a data breach class action against cheerleading apparel company Varsity Brands Inc.
Texas Jury Convicts Blankenship in Fentanyl-Related Murder CaseMay 15, 2026VerdictsA Wichita County, Texas jury convicted Jakob Joel Blankenship of fentanyl-related murder on May 14, 2026, in what prosecutors say may be the first such conviction in Texas.
Webb County Sheriff Faces State Removal Petition After Federal Fraud IndictmentMay 14, 2026Law and PolicyA Texas removal petition targets Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar following a January 2026 federal indictment alleging COVID-era fraud and misuse of county resources.
Texas Hemp Industry Wins Injunction Blocking THCA RulemakingMay 14, 2026Law and PolicyA Travis County judge temporarily blocked Texas hemp regulations that counted THCA toward THC limits and raised licensing fees by up to 4,000%, setting trial for July 27.
ACLU Sues Texas to Block State Immigration Enforcement LawMay 14, 2026Law and PolicyThe ACLU and partners filed a class-action lawsuit May 4, 2026, seeking emergency relief to block Texas SB 4's state immigration enforcement provisions before their May 15 effective date.
Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar Faces State Removal PetitionMay 14, 2026Law and PolicyA former Laredo council member petitioned a Texas court to remove Sheriff Martin Cuellar after a federal five-count fraud indictment tied to COVID-era fund misappropriation.
San Antonio Jury Convicts Preciado on Three Capital Murder CountsMay 10, 2026VerdictsA Bexar County jury convicted Christopher Preciado on three capital murder counts for the 2023 deaths of Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra, and their unborn child. He received automatic life without parole.
Extradited Chinese National Faces Federal Hacking Charges Over COVID-19 Research TheftMay 6, 2026Law and PolicyChinese national Xu Zewei appeared in Houston federal court after extradition from Italy on a nine-count indictment alleging state-directed COVID-19 research hacking.
WDTX Jury Clears Riot Platforms in $400M Immersion-Cooling Patent CaseMay 5, 2026VerdictsA federal jury in Waco cleared Riot Platforms of all patent infringement claims brought by Green Revolution Cooling over immersion cooling technology in bitcoin mining.