Texas news, down to the facts.

Early voting is open through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3, 15 days away. Elections

Public Safety

Texas cities charge millions for public records on Flock camera use

Local and state governments in Texas have increasingly made it difficult to access public records about Flock Safety surveillance cameras. North Richland Hills charged a records requester $2.3 million for Flock-related documents, citing labor costs. Other agencies have charged varying fees or denied access entirely.

Where
North Richland Hills, Texas; Statewide
When
Late August 2026 (records request filed); October 5, 2026 (reporting date)
Sources
Reported by 3 outlets

Counties: Tarrant

Taxes and money

The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.

  • Public records invoice for Flock documents$2.3 million2 Who pays or receives it: Requester
  • Labor cost rate for records search$15 per hour2
  • Previous high Flock records charge$5,0002 Who pays or receives it: Requester (Victoria, Texas)
  • Flock records charge to KPRC news$121,0002 Who pays or receives it: KPRC
  • Flock records charge to Irving$70,0002 Who pays or receives it: Requester
  • State funding blocked by Abbott for FlockNot specified2 Who pays or receives it: State

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Phil MynonaAnti-surveillance advocate who filed public records requests to 200 law enforcement agencies on behalf of Texas Privacy Coalition
  • North Richland HillsCity that issued $2.3 million invoice for Flock records
  • Texas Privacy CoalitionAnti-surveillance group
  • Greg AbbottGovernor who blocked state funding for Flock cameras
  • Flock SafetyAtlanta-based company that makes the surveillance cameras
  • Lufkin PoliceDepartment where officer was sentenced for Flock camera misuse
  • Department of Public SafetyState agency that released audit data on Flock searches

The facts

  • North Richland Hills charged $2.3 million for Flock camera records, citing $15/hour labor costs.2
  • Phil Mynona filed public records requests to nearly 200 law enforcement agencies about Flock camera use.2
  • Sealy provided over 400,000 pages of Flock documents to Mynona at no cost.2
  • A Lufkin Police officer was sentenced to 5 years in prison for using Flock cameras to stalk people.2
  • A USA Today public records request prompted investigation and audit of Lufkin Police Department.2
  • Governor Abbott blocked state funding for Flock cameras in August and September 2026.2
  • Flock cameras collect license plate numbers and identifying information like make, model, and bumper stickers.2
  • Officers can search thousands of cameras owned by hundreds of police agencies in a single query.2

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Phil Mynona North Richland Hills charge is 'ludicrous' and a way of stifling records search.2
  • North Richland Hills city spokesperson Confirmed the $2.3 million public records invoice to The Texas Tribune.2
  • Greg Abbott Lufkin police officer case was part of reason for Flock camera 'crackdown'.2

Where the sources disagree

  • Highest Flock records charge before North Richland Hills $5,000 from Victoria, Texas per [2]

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • Texas Flock records are harder to get and more expensive

    The Texas Tribune

  • Texas city charges $2 million for Flock records as agencies make it harder to see how cameras are used

    The Texas Tribune, KSAT

  • Texas city charges over $2 million for Flock camera records

    kcentv.com

Sources

Outlets: 2 left-leaning, 1 not rated Only left-leaning outlets reported this Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Texas Flock records are harder to get and more expensive The Texas Tribune Lean Left, October 5, 2026
  2. Texas city charges $2 million for Flock records as agencies make it harder to see how cameras are used The Texas Tribune Lean Left, October 5, 2026
  3. Texas city charges $2 million for Flock records as agencies make it harder to see how cameras are used KSAT Not rated, October 5, 2026

Also reported by kcentv.com.

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

Spot an error on this sheet?

All corrections and updates

Keep reading

Body recovered from Lady Bird Lake in Austin

A body was found in Lady Bird Lake near Austin early Friday morning. Police were called for a welfare check after witnesses reported seeing a body floating in the water. The person was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is not being investigated as a homicide.

Austin Police Department, Investigating death; Austin Fire Department, Assisted with body recovery; Austin-Travis County EMS, Responded and pronounced person dead and 1 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Limestone County man sentenced to life in prison for child sexual abuse

Joshua Joseph Kofnovec, 46, of Billington, was sentenced Friday to automatic life in prison after a Limestone County jury convicted him of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by exposure in the October 2023 abuse of a 5-year-old girl. The sentence was automatic due to his prior 2023 Hill County conviction for indecency with a child by contact.

Joshua Joseph Kofnovec, defendant, convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by exposure; Judge Amy Ward, 77th State District Court judge who sentenced defendant; Beth Toben, Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted the case and 1 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Woman killed, man injured in suspected shooting at San Antonio home

A 22-year-old woman was killed and a 22-year-old man was seriously injured in a suspected shooting at a Northeast Side home in San Antonio on Wednesday evening. Investigators believe the man shot the woman before shooting himself.

Jessica Villanueva, Woman killed; 22-year-old man, Injured in shooting; Homeowner, Called 911 after finding injured parties and 1 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Texas DPS seeks tips in 1995 El Paso woman murder, raises reward

The Texas Department of Public Safety is seeking new information about the February 7, 1995 murder of Celia Loya, 30, in El Paso. The reward for tips leading to an arrest has been increased to $6,000.

$6,000 for reward for information leading to arrest

Texas Department of Public Safety, seeking tips; El Paso Police Department, investigating agency; Texas Rangers, investigating agency and 1 more

Reported by 7 outletsFound via Google News

FAA restricts unauthorized drones along US-Mexico border

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction barring unauthorized drones along the US-Mexico border up to 400 feet above ground, extending one nautical mile north of the border. The action addresses concerns about illegal drug shipments and cartel drone activity.

Federal Aviation Administration, Issued temporary flight restriction; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Stated military will shoot down cartel drones; Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Said restrictions will counter cartel drone threats and 1 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Texas A&M University-Victoria holds investiture ceremony for President Hardigree

Texas A&M University-Victoria held an investiture ceremony Wednesday to celebrate President Christian Hardigree's first year of leadership and the university's first year in The Texas A&M University System. State and federal officials, university system leaders, and higher education representatives attended the event at the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts.

Christian Hardigree, President of Texas A&M University-Victoria; AJ Louderback, Texas State Representative; Lois Kolkhorst, Texas State Senator and 4 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Bexar and Brazoria counties hold county judge races on November 3

Two Texas county judge races are scheduled for the Nov. 3 election. In Bexar County, Republican Patrick Von Dohlen is challenging Democrat Ron Nirenberg. In Brazoria County, Republican Rob Giesecke, independent Lucinda Henry and Democrat Eugene Howard are running to replace retiring County Judge Matt Sebesta.

Patrick Von Dohlen, Republican candidate for Bexar County judge; Ron Nirenberg, Democrat candidate for Bexar County judge; Rob Giesecke, Republican candidate for Brazoria County judge and 3 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

All of today's news