News Reader

Juneteenth, a national holiday marking the end of slavery following the Civil War in 1865, has been celebrated by Black Americans for decades.

However, it wasn’t officially recognized as a federal holiday until three years ago.

Many across the country celebrate Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.

The holiday is often celebrated with prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings, and picnics.

Recently, on June 15, the cities of DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Duncanville, and Lancaster celebrated Juneteenth with their annual Juneteenth Celebration.

The holiday is observed every year by the Best Southwest Communities with a festival, music, food, and dancing.

The annual observance marks the day on June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

It would be more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

In 2021, Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday, thanks in part to the efforts of activist Opal Lee in raising awareness.

The day is also observed internationally, with organizations in various countries using it to recognize the end of slavery and honor the culture and achievements of Black Americans.

As Juneteenth is recognized and celebrated, the holiday provides an opportunity for reflection and to honor those who fought for freedom, justice, and equality, as well as to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and achievements of Black Americans.

The post Juneteenth | Celebrating Freedom and Cultural Heritage appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

In a coordinated effort to crack down on illegal machinegun conversion devices also known as “switches,” U.S. Attorneys for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas announced, “Operation Texas Kill Switch.”

Switches are devices that can transform semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, capable of firing rounds just as fast as military-grade weapons.

The announcement was made during simultaneous press conferences throughout the state with U.S. Attorneys Leigha Simonton, Alamdar Hamdani, Damien Diggs, and Jaime Esparza.

They were joined by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives Special Agents in Charge Jeffrey Boshek and Michael Weddel.

“We’re here to talk about a roughly one-inch piece of plastic. It looks innocuous enough, a little like a lego or a k’nex block. But this one-inch piece of plastic is killing people,” Simonton said at Monday’s press conference.

“Machinegun conversion devices can turn Second Amendment-protected firearms into illegal weapons of war, and petty criminals into brutal killers. We cannot have our streets turned into war zones. We cannot – and we will not – allow switches to proliferate in north Texas.”

The officials condemned the use of switches, highlighting their role in numerous fatal shootings, including a juvenile mass shooting and multiple police killings.

Switches, which are about an inch long and can be made from metal or plastic, are designed to fit into the butt of a gun, allowing it to fire continuously with a single trigger pull.

“I have been in this business for a long time, and nothing scares me more than the rapid flood of machine gun conversion devices on the streets of Texas and beyond. Rest assured that ATF and its partners are doing everything we can to stop the flow of these things and to prevent the carnage they can create,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.

“I applaud our U.S. Attorney partners for their willingness to aggressively prosecute these criminals and gangsters.”

Switches can be easily manufactured using commercially available 3D printers, making them accessible to a wide audience.

The possession of switches is illegal under the National Firearms Act, which classifies them as machine guns.

The rise of switches has surged in recent years.

Between 2017 and 2023, Texas-based ATF agents seized 991 switches, with half of those being recovered in the past year alone.

The devices are often sold on social media, targeting both adults and juveniles.

Operation Texas Kill Switch aims to combat this trend by partnering with Crime Stoppers programs across the state.

From now until August 31, local Crime Stoppers programs will offer cash rewards for information leading to the apprehension or prosecution of individuals possessing switches or 3D printers used to manufacture them.

Tipsters can submit information anonymously, 24 hours a day, through their local Crime Stoppers program or directly to the ATF’s website.

The post Texas Launches ‘Operation Kill Switch’ to Combat Illegal Gun Mods appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) have introduced the Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List.

This latest initiative by Gov. Abbott aims to locate and apprehend repeat offenders who have entered the country illegally and are sought for dangerous crimes committed within Texas.

Funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office, Texas Crime Stoppers will offer cash rewards to individuals who provide information leading to the arrest of any of the fugitives listed.

“When President Joe Biden took office, he dismantled every effective border policy his predecessor put into place,” said Governor Abbott.

“As a result, we have seen record high levels of illegal immigration, including dangerous criminals and terrorists who are a threat to the public safety of our state and our nation. These illegal immigrants will now be spotlighted on our 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List. Texas is a law-and-order state, and with the help of our fellow Texans, we will ensure that the illegal immigrants on this list are taken off our streets and put behind bars to keep our communities safe. Texas will continue to take unprecedented action to protect Texans and our state from President Biden’s border crisis.”

Similar to other Texas 10 Most Wanted lists, individuals on the Criminal Illegal Immigrants List may be featured as the department’s monthly highlighted fugitive.

To qualify for the cash rewards, tips must be submitted through one of the following methods:

• Crime Stoppers Hotline: Call 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• DPS Website: Submit a web tip by selecting the relevant fugitive and clicking the link under their photo.
• Facebook Tip: Click the “SUBMIT A TIP” link found in the “About” section of the Texas Crime Stoppers Facebook page.

All tips remain anonymous, and tipsters will receive a tip number instead of using their name.

DPS Special Agents will coordinate with local and federal law enforcement agencies to apprehend the identified fugitives.

This will help and determine which individuals will appear on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List.

Current lists and photos of these fugitives are available on the DPS website.

Authorities advise Texans not to attempt to apprehend these fugitives, as they are considered armed and dangerous.

“Criminals from around the world who enter the United States illegally and commit crimes in Texas are a threat to public safety,” said DPS Director Steve McCraw.

“Individuals on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List are likely to commit other crimes, and DPS is enlisting the public’s help in apprehending these offenders before they commit additional crimes. I thank Governor Abbott and Texas Crime Stoppers for their partnership in launching this important program.” 

The post Gov. Abbott Announces Texas’ Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

Every year thousands of Texans are scammed by criminals posing as workers from electric utility companies.

Oncor, Texas’s largest energy delivery company, is warning people about scam attempts and how to protect themselves from falling victim.

 Criminals will pose as Oncor utility workers and approach or attempt to contact people in the service territory.

These fraudsters will try to collect money or credit card information, often threatening disconnection of electric service if payment isn’t made immediately.

However, it’s essential to recognize that while Oncor delivers electricity to over 13 million Texans, it is not a retailer and does not directly sell electricity to customers.

No genuine Oncor employee will ever visit your home to collect payments, nor will they ask for credit card information via phone, text, in-person, or online.

“It should be a red flag to customers if someone contacts them by phone or in person requesting payment,” said Oncor Director of Corporate Security Jim Stockton.

“You can call Oncor (888.313.6862) to confirm an employee’s identity, but if you fear for your safety, call 911 immediately. Do not let a stranger into your house or go anywhere with them. We take imposters very seriously and will work in tandem with local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute anyone who violates the law and the public’s trust.” 

For more information about UUAS and the different type of scams click here.

The post Oncor Warns About Scam Attempts appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Harris County over its recently implemented guaranteed income program, Uplift Harris.

The program provides nearly 2,000 residents with $500 per month for 18 months, according to Paxton.

The roots of the program, approved by Harris County Commissioners with a 4-1 vote in 2023, lie in its aim to address financial insecurity among residents.

However, Paxton argues that distributing public funds without conditions or oversight violates the state constitution.

Under Uplift Harris, selected households would receive $500 monthly for 18 months, funded by $20.5 million allocated from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act.

Despite receiving over 59,000 applications, only 1,924 households were chosen through a lottery system, as outlined on the county website.

According to Paxton’s office, the indiscriminate distribution of funds infringes upon the constitutional principle of equal rights.

The Attorney General asserts that Harris County’s approach fails to ensure public benefit and lacks transparency in recipient selection.

The Harris County program mirrors similar efforts seen in the state’s capitol.

The recent pilot program in Austin is aimed at addressing housing insecurity.

Unlike Harris County’s approach, Austin’s program disbursed $1,000 monthly to 85 households at risk of homelessness.

The city council’s decision in 2022 marked Austin as the first major Texas city to utilize tax dollars for guaranteed income programs.

Austin officials emphasized the potential for these programs to foster economic mobility and housing stability.

As the legal battle ramps up, the outcome of Paxton’s lawsuit against Harris County could significantly impact the future of guaranteed income initiatives in Texas and beyond.

The post Texas Attorney General Challenges Harris County’s Program in Court appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.