Investigative Summary:In the past six years, hundreds of Texas police officers and jailers facing felony charges have been given the opportunity to avoid prison by surrendering their law enforcement license in plea bargain agreements. KXAN investigations in 2019 and again in 2021 have found this process is widespread and hasn’t slowed, but new legislation at the state Capitol could upend the bargain system and change how the state handles troubled officers.AUSTIN (KXAN) – After her coma, Michele Gonzales spent months relearning how to walk, eat and talk. The accident that nearly left her...…Investigative Summary:In the past six years, hundreds of Texas police officers and jailers facing felony charges have been given the opportunity to avoid prison by surrendering their law enforcement license in plea bargain agreements. KXAN investigations in 2019 and again in 2021 have found this process is widespread and hasn’t slowed, but new legislation at the state Capitol could upend the bargain system and change how the state handles troubled officers.AUSTIN (KXAN) – After her coma, Michele Gonzales spent months relearning how to walk, eat and talk. The accident that nearly left her...WW…

Posted: Feb 18, 2021 / 06:35 AM CSTUpdated: Feb 18, 2021 / 08:41 AM CSTAUSTIN (KXAN) — The nonprofit managing 26 million Texans’ access to electricity voted to hand one-third of its decision-making power to five people who do not call Texas home. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, known as ERCOT, manages about 90% of the state’s electric load, according to the organization.As millions of Texans are still without power, Texas lawmakers and the governor are demanding answers after ERCOT activated the state’s Energy Emergency Alerts. The first alert happened at 12:17 a.m. Monday. A...…Posted: Feb 18, 2021 / 06:35 AM CSTUpdated: Feb 18, 2021 / 08:41 AM CSTAUSTIN (KXAN) — The nonprofit managing 26 million Texans’ access to electricity voted to hand one-third of its decision-making power to five people who do not call Texas home. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, known as ERCOT, manages about 90% of the state’s electric load, according to the organization.As millions of Texans are still without power, Texas lawmakers and the governor are demanding answers after ERCOT activated the state’s Energy Emergency Alerts. The first alert happened at 12:17 a.m. Monday. A...WW…

Posted: Jan 24, 2021 / 04:55 PM CSTUpdated: Jan 24, 2021 / 08:34 PM CSTAUSTIN (KXAN) — By the time 1966 came around, the Broken Spoke was just another Texas dance hall, struggling to find its way. James White had an idea to put the honky tonk on the map.It would take a miracle to convince the biggest name in Texas music history to go to south Lamar Boulevard. “What the hell,” White thought, and put word out to the King of Western Swing that he had an open invitation to the then, not so world famous Broken Spoke.White was bartending and selling beer for 25 cents a pop that night in 1966 when...…Posted: Jan 24, 2021 / 04:55 PM CSTUpdated: Jan 24, 2021 / 08:34 PM CSTAUSTIN (KXAN) — By the time 1966 came around, the Broken Spoke was just another Texas dance hall, struggling to find its way. James White had an idea to put the honky tonk on the map.It would take a miracle to convince the biggest name in Texas music history to go to south Lamar Boulevard. “What the hell,” White thought, and put word out to the King of Western Swing that he had an open invitation to the then, not so world famous Broken Spoke.White was bartending and selling beer for 25 cents a pop that night in 1966 when...WW…

Posted: Jan 10, 2021 / 06:00 AM CSTUpdated: Jan 12, 2021 / 11:48 AM CSTAUSTIN (Nexstar) — In two days, lawmakers from across Texas will come to the State Capitol for the start of the legislative session. The new session comes as the country is still facing the aftermath of Wednesday’s riot in Washington, where mobs forced their way into the U.S. Capitol to temporarily disrupt the certification of the November Presidential election.The events before, during, and after the riot put some Texans in the spotlight.Hours before the violence, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke in Washington at...…Posted: Jan 10, 2021 / 06:00 AM CSTUpdated: Jan 12, 2021 / 11:48 AM CSTAUSTIN (Nexstar) — In two days, lawmakers from across Texas will come to the State Capitol for the start of the legislative session. The new session comes as the country is still facing the aftermath of Wednesday’s riot in Washington, where mobs forced their way into the U.S. Capitol to temporarily disrupt the certification of the November Presidential election.The events before, during, and after the riot put some Texans in the spotlight.Hours before the violence, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke in Washington at...WW…

Posted: Oct 2, 2020 / 02:28 PM CDTUpdated: Oct 2, 2020 / 06:29 PM CDTInvestigative Summary:From Lubbock to Brownsville to El Paso to Tyler — in literally every corner of the Lone Star state, we’ve heard the same story concerning the phone lines at the Texas Workforce Commission: long wait times, and a roll of the dice whether a person they finally connect with can actually help them. KXAN’s investigation discovered some of the hundreds of contractors hired to help with the surge in calls aren’t able to provide much beyond basic assistance and are telling callers who have more complicated...…Posted: Oct 2, 2020 / 02:28 PM CDTUpdated: Oct 2, 2020 / 06:29 PM CDTInvestigative Summary:From Lubbock to Brownsville to El Paso to Tyler — in literally every corner of the Lone Star state, we’ve heard the same story concerning the phone lines at the Texas Workforce Commission: long wait times, and a roll of the dice whether a person they finally connect with can actually help them. KXAN’s investigation discovered some of the hundreds of contractors hired to help with the surge in calls aren’t able to provide much beyond basic assistance and are telling callers who have more complicated...WW…

Posted: Sep 20, 2020 / 10:32 AM CDTUpdated: Sep 20, 2020 / 10:32 AM CDTAUSTIN (Nexstar) — Somehow, Shereda Rawls has managed six months without a paycheck. Rawls lost her job in March then went on unemployment. But her unemployment payments stopped almost as soon as they started.Rawls said her employer filed an appeal with the Texas Workforce Commission, claiming she shouldn’t be qualified for unemployment benefits, and the employer’s account shouldn’t be deducted because of it.The appeal filing stopped her payments.Then, both sides waited for the TWC, which oversees unemployment claims in...…Posted: Sep 20, 2020 / 10:32 AM CDTUpdated: Sep 20, 2020 / 10:32 AM CDTAUSTIN (Nexstar) — Somehow, Shereda Rawls has managed six months without a paycheck. Rawls lost her job in March then went on unemployment. But her unemployment payments stopped almost as soon as they started.Rawls said her employer filed an appeal with the Texas Workforce Commission, claiming she shouldn’t be qualified for unemployment benefits, and the employer’s account shouldn’t be deducted because of it.The appeal filing stopped her payments.Then, both sides waited for the TWC, which oversees unemployment claims in...WW…

Posted: Jul 17, 2020 / 05:40 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 17, 2020 / 10:15 PM CDTInvestigative Summary:An Austin woman was surprised to find out her business was approved for a multi-million dollar loan she says she didn’t apply for. Even more puzzling, the address listed for the loan is a resort in the Hill Country, the Horseshoe Bay Resort. Deb Gabor contacted KXAN for help after a week of defending herself from what she calls “shaming” on social media by critics of the Paycheck Protection Program. The bank that issued the loan said the blame for all of this lies with the Small Business...…Posted: Jul 17, 2020 / 05:40 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 17, 2020 / 10:15 PM CDTInvestigative Summary:An Austin woman was surprised to find out her business was approved for a multi-million dollar loan she says she didn’t apply for. Even more puzzling, the address listed for the loan is a resort in the Hill Country, the Horseshoe Bay Resort. Deb Gabor contacted KXAN for help after a week of defending herself from what she calls “shaming” on social media by critics of the Paycheck Protection Program. The bank that issued the loan said the blame for all of this lies with the Small Business...WW…

Posted: Apr 29, 2020 / 12:44 PM CDTUpdated: Apr 6, 2022 / 10:10 AM CDTInvestigative Summary: The private security work has raised concerns among locals about conflicts of interest, and KXAN’s investigation discovered several law enforcement agencies involved in the private work keep no public records showing who their officers work for, when they work or how they are contracted and paid.BLANCO, Texas (KXAN) – If you’re itching to meet a Blanco police officer, park your car on either side of the ninety-degree bend where Lindeman Lane becomes Lindeman Circle and wait.You’ll usually see a...…Posted: Apr 29, 2020 / 12:44 PM CDTUpdated: Apr 6, 2022 / 10:10 AM CDTInvestigative Summary: The private security work has raised concerns among locals about conflicts of interest, and KXAN’s investigation discovered several law enforcement agencies involved in the private work keep no public records showing who their officers work for, when they work or how they are contracted and paid.BLANCO, Texas (KXAN) – If you’re itching to meet a Blanco police officer, park your car on either side of the ninety-degree bend where Lindeman Lane becomes Lindeman Circle and wait.You’ll usually see a...WW…