Veterans Affairs Restores 2nd Amendment Rights
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will no longer report Veterans to the federal firearm background-check system solely because they require a fiduciary to manage VA benefits, calling the prior practice inconsistent with federal law and constitutional due-process protections. Officials said the change halts future reporting and begins removal of past entries tied only to fiduciary participation, a move federal leaders describe as restoring Second Amendment rights to affected Veterans.
Hays County District Attorney Race: Alfonso Salazar Responds to Hawk’s Eye Questionnaire
With early voting underway, Alfonso Salazar’s full responses to The Hawk’s Eye questionnaire provide voters insight into how he says he would exercise prosecutorial authority, ensure accountability, and manage key decisions within the Hays County District Attorney’s Office.
Dismissed DWI Arrest Leads to Federal Civil-Rights Lawsuit Against Magnolia Officials
A driving-while-intoxicated arrest that was later dismissed has led to a new federal civil-rights lawsuit accusing the City of Magnolia and several police officials of carrying out an unlawful traffic stop, securing a blood-draw warrant through false or misleading information, denying necessary medical care during detention, and publicly stigmatizing the arrestee before any court determination. The case, filed in the Southern District of Texas, seeks damages and a jury trial while the city and named officers prepare to respond through the court process.
Stalking Cases Filed After SAPD Chief’s Report to His Own Department Are Dismissed
Bexar County court records show two felony stalking cases naming San Antonio Police Chief William McManus and his wife as reported victims—filed after the chief made a complaint to officers within his own department—were rejected for further investigation and dismissed in December 2025.
Colorado County Traffic Stop Leads to Arrests, Seizure of $31K and THC Device
Authorities in Colorado County report that a traffic stop along Interstate 10 led to the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of more than $31,000 in cash along with a THC vaping device. The stop, conducted by a Criminal Interdiction Unit investigator and supported by a K9 from the Austin County Sheriff’s Office, followed an alleged traffic violation and a subsequent refusal of consent to search the vehicle. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Bexar County Filing Adds New Details to Doxing Case Involving Live Oak Critic
Newly released court records detail how a harassment complaint filed by a Live Oak government critic evolved into a criminal disclosure case, including investigators’ finding that a resident whose address appeared in a public social-media post did not know about the disclosure until police contacted him. The arrest-warrant affidavit outlines the sequence of Facebook and TikTok activity, police interviews, and the probable-cause determination that led to a Class B misdemeanor charge in Bexar County.
Former San Antonio Attorney’s Federal Conviction Set Aside by Fifth Circuit
A federal appeals court has vacated the guilty plea of former San Antonio attorney Christopher John Pettit, who was previously sentenced to 50 years in prison for fraud and money laundering. The Fifth Circuit found the trial court failed to properly advise Pettit of the true maximum sentence he faced before accepting his plea, a violation that affected his decision to plead guilty and required the conviction to be set aside.
Comal County Prior Licensed Day Care Owner Sentenced to 40 Years in Child Abuse Case
A Comal County jury has convicted a New Braunfels woman who testified she previously owned a licensed day care of four counts of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. Jurors sentenced Susan Rae Helton to stacked prison terms totaling 40 years after hearing evidence of prolonged starvation, confinement, and severe malnutrition involving two adopted children, according to the district attorney’s office.
Comal County Deputy Constable Terminated After Traffic-Stop Complaint
A Comal County Precinct 4 deputy constable was terminated in 2025 after an internal affairs investigation into a disputed traffic-stop encounter with a citizen, according to disciplinary records obtained by The Hawk’s Eye. Video of the interaction shows the deputy ultimately acknowledging no law had been broken before allowing the citizen to leave without citation or arrest. Investigators later concluded the deputy violated multiple agency policies, including reporting for duty without required uniform and equipment and failing to follow established traffic-stop procedures, leading to the recommendation for termination.
Indicted Bexar County Judge Suspended by State Judicial Commission
Bexar County Court at Law No. 13 Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez has been suspended without pay by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, one week after a grand jury indicted her on criminal charges tied to a December 2024 courtroom incident involving a defense attorney. The suspension remains in place pending dismissal of the charges, an acquittal, or further action by the commission, as the criminal case moves forward.