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Dallas representative files bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas

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Dallas representative files bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas


  (Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

While Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick wants to ban all THC products in Texas, other lawmakers are looking to make recreational marijuana legal in the state.

State Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) filed House Bill 1208 for the upcoming legislative session before Patrick came out against THC products.

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The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults would also be allowed to keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

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Packaging for cannabis products would be required to be in child-resistent packaging that would be clearly labeled, and not easily confused for candy.

The bill also lays out plans for the production and sale of recreational marijuana.

Under the plan, businesses looking to grow, transport, test or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

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A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

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The Texas legislative session will begin on Jan. 14, 2024.

Marijuana in Texas

Recreational marijuana is illegal in Texas, but voters in some Texas municipalities have supported its decriminalization.

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This November, voters in Dallas, Lockhart and Bastrop approved ballot measures to legalize the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana with arrests or citations.

Voters in Denton, Austin, Elgin and Killeen previously supported similar measures.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against several of the cities, saying the measures conflict with state law.

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Medical cannabis is legal in Texas, though it is limited. The Texas Compassionate Use Program allows certain physicians to prescribe low-THC cannabis to Texans with an approved list of conditions. Some of the conditions include epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder.

READ MORE: Recreational marijuana is illegal in Texas, so why are THC products on store shelves?

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An agriculture bill passed in 2019 allowed hemp products with low levels of THC to be sold in the Lone Star State.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has called for the so-called hemp loophole to be closed in the next legislative session.



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Texas man arrested after allegedly throwing bucket of possible human remains toward FBI field office

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Texas man arrested after allegedly throwing bucket of possible human remains toward FBI field office


A Texas man has been charged with abuse of a corpse after he threw a bucket containing suspected human remains over a fence at the FBI’s Dallas field office and posted a video of it on YouTube.

Michael Chadwick Fry, 41, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, the Bartonville Police Department said in a news release.

The investigation began on March 16 when a Bartonville police officer responded to a call from Fry’s mother, who said he asked her for money to pay for a U-Haul. When asked why, he said he “had a body that needed to be moved,” the probable cause affidavit said.

Fry then became “irate” and left the home. Shortly afterward, the officer received information from Fry’s sister that he had “filmed himself on YouTube” at the Dallas FBI field office, the affidavit said.

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The video showed Fry throwing a large, closed white bucket over the fence into the secure parking lot of the FBI building, according to the affidavit.

Fry claimed in the video he was trying to compel the FBI to intervene “in what he describes as wrongdoing by Denton County officials from a past arrest,” the affidavit said. It’s not clear what that alleged wrongdoing was.

An FBI special agent said “the bucket contained numerous bones” that appeared to be human, per the affidavit. The bones are awaiting further forensic analysis.

Fry had also posted another video on YouTube that showed what appeared to be a human skull at his Denton County home.

The mother told police that she found in her vehicle’s GPS history three searches for cemeteries — one in Arlington, Texas, and two in Oklahoma City. She also said she found a shovel that was never at the residence before and her son had started to lock the shed in the back of the home, which he didn’t do previously, the affidavit said.

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In the investigation by Bartonville police and FBI agents, Fry was found to have posted videos online showing separate human remains and an urn of ashes.

Investigators later determined that Fry had stolen an urn containing human remains from a cemetery in Oklahoma City — which was the subject of an Oklahoma City Police Department investigation from February, according to Bartonville police.

FBI agents also found evidence at a cemetery in Denton, Texas, “indicating that a coffin containing human remains had been removed from a mausoleum,” Bartonville police said.

Officials did not disclose whom the remains belonged to or why Fry might have targeted them.

The case remains active and next of kin have been notified, police said.

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Fry remained in custody Sunday on a $30,000 surety bond, according to booking records. It’s not immediately clear if he has retained a lawyer.

Fry had made headlines in the past for ramming a truck into a FOX 4 building in downtown Dallas in 2018. In that case, police determined Fry was upset about a 2012 police shooting in Denton County that killed his friend. He apologized to the local news station during a court hearing, FOX 4 reported.



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Where to watch LSU vs. Texas Tech in March Madness Second Round: Time, TV Channel

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Where to watch LSU vs. Texas Tech in March Madness Second Round: Time, TV Channel


March Madness is underway and college basketball’s big dance continues with No. 2 seed LSU taking on No. 7 seed Texas Tech in a Second Round matchup on Sunday, March 22. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the clash between the Lady Raiders and Lady Tigers.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering women’s March Madness to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

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Join the USA TODAY $1 million Bracket Challenge

What time is Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game?

No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech tips off at 3:00 PM (ET) on Sunday, March 22 from Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).

What channel is Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game?

No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech is airing live on ABC.

How to stream Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game

No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech is available to stream on Fubo.

Watch the NCAA Tournament all March long with Fubo

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Women’s March Madness schedule today

See the schedule, live scores and results for all of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament action here.

2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule

  • March 18-19: First Four
  • March 20-21: First Round
  • March 22-23: Second Round
  • March 27-28: Sweet 16
  • March 29-30: Elite 8
  • April 3: Final Four
  • April 5: National Championship

Join the USA TODAY Survivor Pool to win cash prizes



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Kahil Fennell of Texas-Rio Grande Valley takes over struggling Western Michigan program

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Kahil Fennell of Texas-Rio Grande Valley takes over struggling Western Michigan program


KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Western Michigan has hired Kahil Fennell away from Texas-Rio Grande Valley to take over its struggling men’s basketball program, athletic director Dan Bartholomae announced Saturday.

Fennell was 35-29 in two seasons with the Vaqueros and will take over a WMU team coming off its eighth straight losing season and fourth under Dwayne Stephens, who was fired two weeks ago. The Broncos were 10-21 this season and tied for last in the Mid-American Conference.

“As we set out to find our next head coach, we sought a leader who not only had experience working with some of basketball’s finest programs and coaches, but one who had also led his own program to new heights at the Division I level,” Bartholomae said.

“We also sought someone who would be a great community partner as we prepare for the most transformative event in the history of our athletics program,” he added. “There is no question that Western Michigan University and the entire Southwest Michigan community has found that leader in Kahil. His track record of recruiting, developing and connecting with student-athletes stood out, and his vision and leadership acumen was unmatched.”

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Fennell was an assistant at Louisville and BYU before he was hired to lead a UTRGV program that had won six games in 2023-24. His first Vaqueros team went 16-14. This season, UTRGV finished 19-14 and third in the Southland Conference.



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