News from the South - Texas News Feed
White Settlement man charged in deadly drunk driving crash kills himself week before trial
SUMMARY: Donald Gruber, accused of driving drunk and crashing into a home, killing 18-year-old Katie Kirkland in 2022, committed suicide days before his trial. The Kirkland family had awaited justice for two years following the tragic incident, which left Katie dead and her father critically injured. His death means the intoxication manslaughter charges will be dismissed, leaving the family grappling with mixed emotions—relief at avoiding a painful trial but frustration at his evasion of courtroom accountability. Amy Kirkland, Katie’s mother, expressed her conflicting feelings about closure and the loss of an official guilty verdict. Her husband is recovering from his injuries.

A man accused of crashing into a White Settlement home while driving drunk and killing 18-year-old Katey Kirkland was supposed to go to trial next week. Instead, he was found dead after taking his own life.
Subscribe to FOX 4: https://www.youtube.com/fox4news?sub_confirmation=1
Dallas news, weather, sports and traffic from KDFW FOX 4, serving Dallas-Fort Worth, North Texas and the state of Texas.
Download the FOX LOCAL app: fox4news.com/foxlocal
Watch FOX 4 Live: https://www.fox4news.com/live
Download the FOX 4 News App: https://www.fox4news.com/apps
Download the FOX 4 WAPP: https://www.fox4news.com/apps
Follow FOX 4 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fox4DFW/
Follow FOX 4 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOX4
Follow FOX 4 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox4news/
Subscribe to the FOX 4 newsletter: https://www.fox4news.com/newsletters
News from the South - Texas News Feed
Cy-Fair ISD Superintendent responds to book revisions
SUMMARY: Cy-Fair ISD is at a crossroads as school board members prepare to vote on next year’s curriculum, following last year’s controversial decision to remove chapters from state-approved textbooks on topics like global warming, diversity, and vaccines. The school board’s directive led to the removal of 13 chapters, sparking debate among parents and teachers. Some parents argue the changes protect students from misinformation, while teachers express concern over the quality of education. Superintendent Dr. Douglas Killian, who initially recommended approval of the textbooks without changes, was forced to implement the board’s decision, which some feel could hinder students’ college and career readiness.

Nearly a year after the Cy-Fair Independent School District made the controversial decision to remove chapters from state-approved textbooks, the debate remains unresolved.
News from the South - Texas News Feed
KHOU 11 Investigates: DA’s office may have filed wrong charges in 300 cases
SUMMARY: KHOU 11 Investigates reveals that the Harris County District Attorney’s Office may have filed incorrect charges in up to 300 criminal cases over the past five years. Defendants were sometimes charged with a higher-level offense than warranted by the facts, leading to potential over-punishment. The mistake, attributed to errors in the coding system used by prosecutors, affected cases involving criminal trespass. In half of the flagged cases, defendants pleaded guilty and may seek to correct their records. The DA’s office is reviewing additional cases for possible errors and has notified defense attorneys to address any concerns.

Harris County may have filed incorrect charges in up to 300 cases, potentially impacting convictions and punishments.
News from the South - Texas News Feed
AMBER Alert: One of the founders believes changes should be made to system | FOX 7 Austin
SUMMARY: The Amber Alert, created in 1996 by Diana Simone and Tarant County Sheriff D. Anderson, was designed for high-threat child abduction cases. Simone now believes the system is oversaturated and misused, with alerts issued for less critical situations, diluting its impact. Some law enforcement uses it as a scare tactic in custody disputes, straying from the original intent of warning imminent danger. Both founders advocate for revising Amber Alert criteria and updating its notification system, emphasizing that routine alerts reduce public attention. Simone suggests modernizing the technology to deliver alerts less disruptively and to restore the system’s effectiveness.

For nearly 30 years, the AMBER Alert has helped locate hundreds of children, but one of its founders believes changes should be made to make the emergency alert system more effective
FOX 7 Austin brings you breaking news, weather, and local stories out of Central #Texas as well as fun segments from Good Day Austin, the best from our video vault archives, and exclusive shows like the Good Day Austin Round-Up and CrimeWatch.
-
News from the South - Missouri News Feed3 days ago
Missouri lawmakers on the cusp of legalizing housing discrimination
-
Mississippi Today2 days ago
Derrick Simmons: Monday’s Confederate Memorial Day recognition is awful for Mississippians
-
Mississippi Today5 days ago
Struggling water, sewer systems impose ‘astronomic’ rate hikes
-
News from the South - West Virginia News Feed6 days ago
Is West Virginia — and the rest of the country — prepared to care for our seniors?
-
News from the South - Texas News Feed6 days ago
Storms Move Through Houston: Expect Heavy Rain and Possible Flooding This Afternoon
-
Mississippi Today5 days ago
Parents, providers urge use of unspent TANF for child care
-
News from the South - South Carolina News Feed6 days ago
140 new homes could be coming to Pickens, if plans get approved
-
Mississippi Today5 days ago
Tyler Perry comedy about a Mississippi lieutenant governor ‘She The People’ set to stream on Netflix