30 min before #UTAustin curfew, ~100 students are seated on S Lawn plying music, having discussions. Very small police presence on the main mall.

A Texas appeals court has ruled that a 2018 investigation by ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle into famed Houston heart surgeon Bud Frazier provided a “fair, true, and impartial account,” potentially bringing a close to the nearly six-year legal battle. propublica.org/article/texas-…

A Southern Baptist megachurch in Houston is being sued by three victims of abuse by a former pastor, who allege the SBC has “known for years that churches are a hunting ground” and that the church enabled the pastor’s assaults. #SBCtoo #ChurchToo chron.com/culture/religi…

I’m thrilled to finally be able to share that I’ve joined the Texas Tribune to cover the Rio Grande Valley as a Report for America corps member.

Already, I’ve been having an amazing time working with this team and I’m excited for what’s to come.

NEW: In texts with lawmaker, UT President Jay Hartzell fully acknowledges calling DPS to campus because “our police force couldn’t do it alone.”
“We asked for help, Senator.”
The exchange is between Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, Hartzell and UT System Chancellor J.B. Milliken.

WHAT

'Laura Duclos, a savvy audience-first journalist, will help us get our work out through new platforms, in particular short videos that explain the news.'

Someone pinch me, I still can't believe I get to work here! 🤩

texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ber…

Back at UT Austin for day two of protests. This one says it is both intended to support Gaza and to condemn the police response yesterday.

The crowd is at least 5x larger than the crowd that showed up yesterday at this time. Peaceful, quiet. Very little law enforcement presence.

The American Association of University Professors announces a statement of no confidence in UT President Jay Hartzell.

“Faculty demand that criminal charges against students and others be dropped”

“End Hamas Now” in the background from a group of Jewish counterprotesters

New: The Travis County attorney dropped 46 charges after 57 people were arrested at a pro-Palestinian demonstration Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the attorney's office said law enforcement lacked probable cause in the cases dismissed. bit.ly/4aOLDa9

Students can generally peacefully protest, regardless of their viewpoint, but colleges and authorities may enforce some restrictions and criminal laws to maintain peace and order. bit.ly/4dbAB0a

Update our photographer was released just now from Travis County Jail.

He was booked last night at 8:29pm.

FOX 7 Austin

Watch this guide UT released 'in celebration of Free Speech Week' 6 months ago.

They explain the campus is open for the public to demonstrate - student or not - and the university can impose content-neutral time/place/manner limits.

The video is unlisted now, comments off

NEW: University of Texas-Austin faculty are condemning the response to yesterday's pro-Palestine rally, in which 57 people were arrested. Meanwhile, a second rally is slated to begin at noon today. Texas Tribune
texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ut-…

an Emerson College student sent me this video of city crews cleaning blood from the alleyway where 108 students were arrested last night during an encampment sweep. I'm at Boston municipal court today where eight of those arrested have been given summons for arraignments in May.