Texas
Feds accuse Texas prison agency of discriminating against employee for wearing a headscarf
Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Friday accusing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice of discriminating against one of its former employees based on her religious beliefs.
The federal lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Texas, alleges that the state agency denied Franches Spears religious accommodations by refusing to allow the non-uniformed employee to wear a head covering, according to court documents.
“Employers cannot require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or improperly question the sincerity of those beliefs,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “This lawsuit is a reminder to all employers of their clear legal obligation to offer reasonable religious accommodations. In our country, employers cannot force an employee to choose between their faith and their job.”
The lawsuit alleges the Texas prison agency’s refusal to accommodate Spears’ religious practice violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“TDCJ does not comment on pending litigation, but the agency respects the religious rights of all employees and inmates,” Hannah Haney, the agency’s deputy director of communications, told The Texas Tribune in a statement.
In July 2019, Spears was hired to work as a clerk at the Pam Lychner State Jail, a TDCJ facility in Humble, northeast of Houston.
In line with her Ifa beliefs, Spears began wearing a headscarf to work in September 2019. Ifa, a West African religion, dictates that some of its practitioners cover their “head with a head dressing during periods of religious ceremony, mourning, or to protect her spiritual power,” the complaint read.
Shortly after Spears began wearing the covering, she met with Human Resources Specialist Elizabeth Fisk to explain the religious significance behind the head dressing. According to the complaint, Fisk responded to Spears’ by saying, “Basically you just pray to a rock.”
Fisk told Spears that she could either remove her headscarf and continue working or go home until the agency decided on her religious accommodation request. TDCJ placed Spears on unpaid leave, according to court filings.
“TDCJ further questioned the sincerity of Spears’s faith when Bailey mailed a letter demanding documentation or a statement from a religious institution pointing to the specific Ifa belief or doctrine that supported the necessity of Spears’s head covering,” the complaint read, referring to testimony from TDCJ’s Religious Accommodation Coordinator Terry Bailey.
While TDCJ was considering Spears’ request for religious accommodation she received a “salary warrant letter” from the agency in November 2019. She understood the letter as a termination notice demanding the return of TDCJ property, like identification cards and keys, in order to receive her final paycheck.
In February 2020, Spears filed a complaint against TDCJ with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The federal agency found reasonable cause that TDCJ discriminated against Spears and attempted to resolve the issue through mediation. When that failed, the EEOC referred the case to the DOJ.
The complaint asks TDCJ to compensate Spears for lost wages and other damages related to the incident. Additionally, the Justice Department wants the Texas agency to institute religious accommodation policies.
We’ve got big things in store for you at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Join us for three days of big, bold conversations about politics, public policy and the day’s news.

Texas
Lawyers for wealthy Texas housewife accused of plowing Porsche into man on first date argue her designer heels caused deadly crash

The wealthy Texas housewife accused of plowing into and killing a man on a first date while drunk and high claims her expensive high heels got stuck on the gas pedal of her Porsche 911 Carrera.
Kristina Chambers, 34, went on trial Friday for manslaughter in connection with the April 2023 crash that killed 33-year-old Joseph McMullin as he and his date were leaving a Voodoo Doughnut shop in Houston.
Prosecutors allege Chambers had been bar-hopping with friends that night, was four times over the legal alcohol limit, and had small baggies of cocaine in her car and purse, according to the Houston Chronicle.
But her attorney, Mark Thiessen, argued her designer shoes caused the fatal crash.
Thiessen claims his clients expensive Christian Louboutin heels had gotten stuck on the gas pedal of her Porsche as she drover down “one of Houston’s most dangerous curves.”
However, prosecutors Andrew Figliuzzi refuted the argument to the jury — believing Chambers was “itching to show off her sports car” to her two friends inside the Porsche at the time of the fatal wreck.
About an hour after the crash, Chambers registered a blood alcohol level of .301, nearly four times the legal limit, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing medical records.
Audio tech Briana Iturrino, who was on a date with McMullin that night, told the court they’d just left Voodoo Doughnuts around 2:25 a.m. when she saw blinding headlights barreling straight at them.
Iturrino testified that she realized the speedy sports car — estimated to be traveling over 70 mph at the time of impact — was about to make a sharp turn directly toward them.
In the blink of an eye, the Porsche whipped past, missing Iturrino by inches — and when she turned to shout a warning to McMullin, he had vanished.
“I thought he had gotten out of the way, because I couldn’t find him,” Iturrino said.
Iturrino said she felt something brush against her hip, which she first thought was the car, but later realized was McMullin being thrown about 30 feet as Chambers drove on and slammed into a pole.
She then called 911 and a dispatcher instructed her to perform CPR until paramedics arrived, but McMullin died at the scene.
Chambers and her two passengers were injured in the wreck.
The general manager of the nearby Slick Willie’s pool hall, Alfredo Ponce, also testified, telling the court he heard the crash and ran outside to help, the outlet reported.
“I’ve seen so many accidents on that road,” Ponce said. “Every time, I get out and help whoever needs help and is injured.”
Ponce testified that the crash was one of the worst he had seen and said when he reached the sports car to help those inside he remembered it reeked of alcohol.
Chambers was charged with manslaughter in McMullin’s death. She has pleaded not guilty, with prosecutors alleging she was driving at an excessive speed and lost control of her vehicle.
In the two years since her arrest, Chambers’ case has seen a string of legal battles.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by McMullin’s parents against Chambers in June 2023 remains pending.
The suit also partly blames Chambers’ former partner — hedge fund manager, Xuan Si, who filed for divorce from her just days after she was released on bail — for purchasing the luxury sports car just months before the fatal crash.
However, Si has denied purchasing the sports car for his ex-wife, claiming instead that she bought the car herself using cash from their joint account.
Si also denied that his wife had a drinking problem, and said he had never seen her consume drugs or drive drunk.
Sebastian Lopez — a close friend who was riding with Chambers the night of the fatal crash — described her as an “alcoholic” in his deposition and claimed Si knew she regularly drank and did drugs.
He added that she’d driven drunk “a handful” of times, even after getting the luxury Porsche.
McMullins grieving parents are seeking over $1 million in compensation for their son’s death.
Lawyers in Chambers’ criminal trial have been forbidden from mentioning the explosive claims in the civil lawsuit, which is slated for an April court date.
Texas
Texas Oil Men Catch the Buzz About New Nuclear Technology

Welcome to our guide to the commodities powering the global economy. Today, Will Wade looks at how soaring energy demand is making Texas excited about nuclear power.
Country music was playing during lunch as conference attendees wearing cowboy boots talked energy. But the chatter wasn’t about oil — all the buzz was for “electrons.”
Texas
Here’s how to buy LSU vs. Texas A&M college football tickets

There’s not many undefeated teams left at the top of the college football rankings, but Texas A&M is one of them. LSU will be looking for redemption when the Aggies roll into town, after losing to Vanderbilt and dropping nine spots in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Vanderbilt defeated LSU, nearly dropping the Tigers to sub-20 ranking. On the other hand, the Aggies have only faced one ranked opponent, squeaking by Notre Dame earlier in the season. Texas A&M is coming off a close win over the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Don’t miss this top-20 SEC matchup, tickets are available now.
Here’s everything you need to know to buy LSU vs. Texas A&M tickets:
LSU vs. Texas A&M college football tickets
The LSU Tigers will host the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets are available now, starting at $117. For a slightly better view, tickets on the east or west sides are starting at $327.
LSU vs. Texas A&M game information
-
World15 hours ago
Israel continues deadly Gaza truce breaches as US seeks to strengthen deal
-
Alaska7 days ago
More than 1,400 seeking shelter as hundreds wait to be evacuated after catastrophic Western Alaska storm, officials say
-
News15 hours ago
Trump news at a glance: president can send national guard to Portland, for now
-
Business14 hours ago
Unionized baristas want Olympics to drop Starbucks as its ‘official coffee partner’
-
North Carolina1 week ago
Guide to NC State Fair 2025: Tickets, transportation, parking, new rides and special event days
-
Politics13 hours ago
Trump admin on pace to shatter deportation record by end of first year: ‘Just the beginning’
-
Science14 hours ago
Peanut allergies in children drop following advice to feed the allergen to babies, study finds
-
World1 week ago
Albanian judge killed in courtroom shooting amid growing anger over justice system reforms