Texas
Simply Put, The Death Penalty Costs Too Much
Second of a two part series. By Ross Parker ticklethewire.com Stan Garnett, the District Attorney in Boulder, recently told the people of Colorado that, although he was not morally or philosophically opposed to the death penalty, he had simply concluded that it was too expensive, time consuming, and subject to random application. As…
End of the Road: Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Ex-Rep. William Jefferson’s Appeal
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com It looks as if it’s the end of the road for Louisiana’s ex-Rep. William Jefferson, who is in prison serving a 13-year sentence for a public corruption conviction. Bruce Alpert, the star reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports that the U.S. Supreme Court Monday refused to take the appeal…
Border Patrol Agent Dies While on Duty in Texas
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A Border Patrol agent on foot patrol in Texas died Friday following a medical emergency, the agency told Tickle the Wire today. Foul play isn’t suspected in the death of Agent David Delaney, said Bill Brooks, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The agency is awaiting results from an autopsy to determine the…
Texas to Arm Property Owners With Spy Equipment Along the Mexican Border
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Private landowners may play a key role in the battle to crack down on human and drug smugglers along the Mexican border, Reuters reports. Texas officials announced an initiative Thursday to allow landowners to equip their property with hundreds of small, motion-activated cameras. Many landowners already have an incentive. “Our farmers and…
Thousands of Recorded Phone Calls Helped FBI Investigate Sale of Suspicious Electronics to Russia
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Federal agents investigating a Houston business that is accused of sending microelectronics that can be used for weapons and radar to Russia spied on damning phone calls, the Houston Chronicle reports. One of the most revealing phone calls that helped the FBI was a phone call between an ARC Electronics manager and…
Eight Arrested in Alleged Scheme to Sell Cutting-Edge Military Technology to Russia
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A Houston company accused in a scheme to sell high-tech electronics to the Russian military and intelligence agencies told employees to hide information about the technology, the Associated Press reports, citing an FBI agent. In custody are Arc Electronics Inc. owner Alexander Fishenko and seven employees accused of illicitly selling military technology…
FBI Probes Fatal Police Shooting of Double Amputee in Houston
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The FBI is investigating whether a Houston police officer used excessive force by fatally shooting a double-amputee in a wheelchair at a home for the mentally ill, the Associated Press reports. The AP said police were responding to a call about an irate one-armed, one-legged man who wouldn’t come down. One of…