Hays County Sets 2026 Primary Election Sites
Hays County voters will be able to cast ballots at any open polling location during the 2026 joint primary election after the Commissioners Court approved a countywide vote center system on January 20. Early in-person voting is scheduled for Feb. 17 through Feb. 27, with Election Day set for March 3. County officials say the flexible voting model is intended to reduce barriers to participation while ensuring all locations remain ADA accessible and equipped to serve both Republican and Democratic primary voters.
Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Program Captures 65 Fugitives During 2025
The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that 65 fugitives were captured in 2025 through the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program, following coordinated efforts between state, local, federal, and international law-enforcement agencies. DPS said the arrests included convicted sex offenders and criminal illegal immigrants, with captures occurring primarily in Texas and additional arrests made in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mexico.
Hays County DA Investigating Altercation at Buda ICE Protest
The Hays County District Attorney’s Office is investigating an altercation involving an adult and a juvenile that occurred during a student-led protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Buda on Monday afternoon. The incident followed a walkout by area high school students near a busy intersection, where multiple law enforcement agencies were deployed for traffic and pedestrian safety.
Hays County Area Agencies Arrested Nine TCOLE-Licensed Law Enforcement Personnel in 2025
Court and jail records show nine individuals holding Texas Commission on Law Enforcement credentials were arrested by agencies operating in and around Hays County during 2025. The cases span multiple jurisdictions and alleged offenses, including DWI, assault involving family violence allegations, stalking, drug possession, disorderly conduct involving a firearm, and felony accusations of official oppression and tampering with government records, with several matters still pending in the courts.
Civil Suit Claims Judson ISD Violated Open Meetings Act, Forced Creation of Spanish Class
A Judson Independent School District resident has filed a civil lawsuit against the district and its board president, alleging violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act during a January 2026 special meeting that resulted in the removal of the district’s superintendent.
The petition claims the meeting was improperly noticed and conducted without sufficient agenda detail, rendering any actions taken voidable under state law. The lawsuit also alleges that Board President Monica Ryan engaged in ultra vires and self-dealing conduct, including forcing the creation of a Spanish II class for her daughter under threat of retaliation against district employees. The case seeks declaratory and injunctive relief and remains pending in Bexar County district court.
Wilson County to Bee County: A Defamation Lawsuit Traces How Alleged False Indictment Claims Spread
A newly filed civil lawsuit is drawing a direct line from Wilson County to Bee County, alleging that informal law-enforcement communications falsely portrayed a veteran investigator as the target of a pending criminal indictment—claims that official records later showed did not exist. At the center of the case is an internal Bee County Sheriff’s Office memorandum documenting how information originating outside the county was treated as fact and used to justify the abrupt end of Joshua Jayme Olivarez’s law-enforcement career.
Dallas County District Judge Sues County Commissioner for Defamation
A Dallas County district judge has filed a defamation lawsuit against a county commissioner, alleging he made repeated public statements that misrepresented her judicial performance and harmed her professional reputation. The suit centers on remarks made in official public forums and during election season, including claims about court statistics and work attendance that the judge disputes. The case seeks monetary damages and court orders restricting future use of official proceedings to make similar statements.
Flatonia ISD Explains Why Campus Was Not Locked Down After Weapon Report
Flatonia Independent School District says a campus lockdown was not initiated following a report alleging a student possessed a weapon because administrators were first alerted only after the student had already left campus. According to Superintendent Chris Sodek, district officials immediately knew the student was not on school grounds and were able to confirm the student’s location once the report was received. District officials say those facts, developed at the outset of the investigation, meant there was no active situation on campus requiring a lockdown
San Marcos Police Arrest Travis County Jailer on Family Violence Charge
A Travis County jailer was arrested by San Marcos police in December 2025 following a domestic disturbance at a San Marcos residence. A sworn probable cause affidavit details an argument involving the jailer, her boyfriend, and children in the home that escalated into physical contact and led to a family-violence charge. The jailer was released without bail, and her case remains pending in municipal court.
TCOLE Cancels Former North East ISD Officer’s License After Administrative Ruling
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement has cancelled the peace officer license of a former North East ISD police officer after an administrative ruling, following issues first documented by The Hawk’s Eye in 2024 and later addressed in a state enforcement action.