Sean Alexander Meeks, 49, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 400 months (33 years, 4 months) in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Montgomery County Texas Sheriff's Office investigators identified Meeks as administrator of an online messaging group where illegal child sexual abuse material was exchanged.
Where
Lake Charles, Louisiana (defendant's residence); Montgomery County, Texas (investigators' jurisdiction)
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.
The Trump administration and U.S. officials disputed CBS News' 60 Minutes report on the deportation of Moussa Diawara, a 57-year-old from Mali who lived in Texas. The disagreement centered on Diawara's stated reason for seeking asylum and whether he was aware he would be deported to Mali via Ghana.
Moussa Diawara, 57-year-old Mali-born Uber driver deported from the United States; CBS News 60 Minutes, Reported on Diawara's deportation; Trump administration, Disputed 60 Minutes account and 4 more
A 50-year-old North Texas woman was indicted on 10 federal charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining over $680,000 in pandemic relief loans and using part of the funds to finance a home construction project in Cedar Hill.
$$680,000 for COVID fraud scheme total
April Watson, defendant charged with 10 counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering; Ryan Raybould, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas; Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Texas Field Office and 1 more
Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Moussa Diawara, a Texas resident, to Ghana on July 31 as part of a third-country deportation program. Ghanaian officials subsequently sent him to Mali. A U.S. immigration judge had ruled in 2012 that Diawara could not be deported to Mali because he would likely face persecution there.
Moussa Diawara, Texas resident deported by ICE; Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), agency that deported Diawara; Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued deportation paperwork and 2 more
Timothy France Johnson, 63, the brother of El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for running a Ponzi scheme involving NBA preseason games. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and monetary transaction charges.
$$3,148,094.48 for restitution ordered
Timothy France Johnson, defendant; El Paso mayor's brother; Mayor Renard Johnson, El Paso mayor; defendant's brother; U.S. Attorney Simmons, U.S. Attorney and 1 more
The Port of Galveston announced it has received federal grants totaling $1.18 million from FEMA's Port Security Grant Program for security enhancements, including video surveillance, cybersecurity updates, smart padlocks, and a mobile vehicle barrier system. The port is contributing its own funds toward the projects.
$$393,750 for FEMA grant for video surveillance expansion (federal share)
FEMA, federal agency awarding grants; Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO; Port of Galveston, recipient of security grants
Construction began Monday on a new 1.7-mile segment of the Spring Branch Trail West in northwest Houston, part of a planned 11-mile trail network connecting the Addicks Reservoir to the White Oak Bayou Greenway.
$over $20 million for trail and park connections investment in Precinct Four
Lesley Briones, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner; Houston Parks Board, Project partner; Justin Schultz, President and CEO of Houston Parks Board and 3 more
Jury selection began in the capital murder trial of Shane James, accused of killing his parents in Kirby on Dec. 4, 2023, and four others in Austin the following day. James' defense plans to argue not guilty by reason of insanity.
Shane James, Defendant, accused of killing six people and injuring three others; Phyllis James, Victim, Shane James' mother; Shane James Sr., Victim, Shane James' father and 5 more
Early voting in Texas was up approximately 74 percent two weeks before Election Day on November 3, 2026, compared with the same point in the 2022 midterm election, according to an Associated Press analysis. More than 30 million Americans had cast ballots nationwide as of October 26.
Associated Press, conducted analysis of early voting; University of Florida's Election Lab, tracked early voting numbers