SUMMARY: Joshua Garcia, a 17-year-old, has been arrested and charged with the murder of 14-year-old Abraham Choar, who was found shot in a parked car in July. Garcia had been on the run until a community tip, recognizing him from surveillance footage, led to his capture. Court documents revealed that the murder occurred during a narcotics transaction, with evidence suggesting a hand-to-hand drug deal. Garcia’s bail was set at $1 million, and he faces conditions including house arrest. A second suspect, a young female, was arrested in October and is also charged with capital murder in connection to the case.

Joshua Garcia, 17, was formally charged with murder in connection to the death of Abraham Choukair. During a probable cause court Tuesday night, Garcia admitted to the murder, told people he was going into hiding shortly afterward, and deactivated his Instagram.

Source

SUMMARY: Real estate developer Nate Paul has agreed to plead guilty to making false statements to a lending institution, ending his 18-month federal fraud case. The plea resolves charges related to his leadership of World Class Holdings. The government recommends a sentence of no more than six months in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Paul faced up to decades in prison but could avoid a lengthy trial with this agreement. His legal troubles include an FBI raid and bankruptcy filings tied to his company. Paul also faced ties to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment.

Read the full article

The post Austin real estate developer Nate Paul pleads guilty, ending federal fraud case appeared first on www.kxan.com

SUMMARY: The Texas House elected state Rep. Dustin Burrows as their new speaker with a vote of 85 to 55, following former speaker Dade Phelan’s decision not to seek reelection. Burrows gained support from 49 Democrats and 36 Republicans, focusing on issues such as property tax reform, education, and water infrastructure. His election follows a contentious campaign and highlights Republican infighting, particularly around the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Republican Party of Texas plans to censure members who supported Burrows. Despite division, past impeachers among House Republicans were largely reelected, reflecting ongoing tensions within the party.

Read the full article

The post Burrows elected as Texas House Speaker, embraces bipartisanship, lists priorities | Texas appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com