San Marcos Traffic Stop, Officer Discipline, and a Viral Backlash: When Perception Outruns Procedure
A predawn traffic stop in San Marcos set off arrests, officer discipline, public outrage, and an immigration fight that quickly spread far beyond the original call to police, turning a local encounter into a viral public controversy. But records, official letters, and competing public statements — including the district attorney’s letter and the union response — show a more layered account of what officers knew, what happened on the roadside, and why the fallout grew far bigger than the stop itself.
City of Kyle Appoints Perwez Moheet as Interim City Manager
The City of Kyle has appointed longtime Finance Director Perwez Moheet as interim city manager following the departure of Bryan Langley, with the appointment taking effect May 9. Moheet, who has served the city since 2010, will hold the interim post for at least 12 months while continuing in his finance role as city leaders move through the transition.
Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt Arrested Again, Now on Galveston County DWI Charge
Harris County Treasurer Dr. Carla Wyatt was arrested early Saturday in Galveston County on a charge of driving while intoxicated, adding to a legal timeline that already included a prior DWI case resolved through pretrial diversion and a December 2025 burglary-of-a-vehicle case that ended in a no-bill.
Former Laredo Council Member Files Removal Petition Against Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar
A petition filed in Webb County seeks the removal of Sheriff Martin Cuellar Jr., with petitioner Alfonso “Poncho” Casso asking the court to suspend Cuellar from office pending trial and ultimately remove him under Chapter 87 of the Texas Local Government Code. The filing centers on Cuellar’s federal indictment and alleges official misconduct tied to the alleged misuse of sheriff’s office staff, equipment and county resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Cuellar has already filed an answer denying the allegations and demanding strict proof.
Atascosa County Officials Raised Concerns About Judge Prasifka’s Office, Records Show
Atascosa County records show two county officials documented concerns in 2025 about children and a non-employee being present inside Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, where Judge Russell “Rusty” Prasifka serves. Although the county said it had no formal complaints responsive to the records request, it released written statements from Commissioner Mark Gillespie and Constable John Rutherford describing what they said they observed and the concerns later reported to Human Resources.
Former Cotulla Employee Dropped Defamation Suit After Grand Jury Indictment
Margie Gallardo, a former City of Cotulla employee, filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2024 accusing Carlos Benavides of making false kickback allegations that she said led to her termination. But the case took a sharp turn in 2026, when a La Salle County grand jury indicted Gallardo on forgery and theft charges tied to her former city role, and Frio County records show she was processed on April 8. One month later, on May 8, the lawsuit was non-suited, ending the civil case after the criminal case had already begun.
While Hays County Fights Data Centers, County Judge Becerra Misses Conference Session on Them
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra has recently sounded the alarm over data centers and their impact on local water and infrastructure. But video by Hays Progressives United appears to show Becerra away from a Texas county-policy conference session focused on the very issue he has cast as urgent, raising new questions about whether his public push reflects sustained leadership or political timing.
Before Nixon PD Could Fire Him, the K-9 Officer Resigned and Moved to Karnes County
A January complaint over a 15-year-old’s cellphone was only the beginning. Nixon Police Department records show K-9 Officer Charles Schnitz later joined a multi-county pursuit with his 10-year-old stepson in the patrol unit, told the child to “ride it out buddy” and later to “duck down,” reached 131 mph, and was then recommended for termination and a criminal referral. Before that could happen, the records say, Schnitz resigned. In a separate disciplinary matter, Officer Jesse Ramirez was terminated after allegedly telling a supervisor, “nah bro, those are my kids and you don’t tell me what to do with them.
The Hawk’s Eye vs. the Gavel: Investigative Reporting Sparks SCJC Action on Hays County Judge
The Hawk’s Eye’s year‑long investigation into Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra uncovered a pattern of blurred lines between public office and private gain. It began with a May 2025 exposé showing that the judge and his family created a nonprofit to run a courthouse car show and directed sponsorship dollars to a barber friend. Subsequent reporting revealed deleted posts about a disputed lease, unregistered business entities and a promotional video recorded in a courtroom, raising questions about transparency and misuse of judicial prestige. The series culminated in April 2026 when the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public admonition, finding that Becerra had lent the prestige of his office to advance private interests—a decision that vindicated The Hawk’s Eye’s reporting and underscored the power of independent journalism.
After Refusing to Quit, Uhland Mayor Lacee Duke Resigns Following Election Upheaval
Uhland Mayor Lacee Duke, who said after her December 2025 felony arrest that she would not resign, has now stepped down following a divisive May election and months of mounting public pressure.