Texas
Gov. Abbott updates ongoing response to severe winter weather in Texas
AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott will be briefed Wednesday morning on the latest in the severe winter weather that will affect a large area of the state. He will then hold a news conference in Austin around 10:30 a.m. to announce any updates.
The Governor will be joined by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Transportation Deputy Executive Director Brian Barth, Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Pablo Vegas, Public Utility Commission Chair Thomas Gleeson, and other state officials and emergency management personnel.
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Winter Storm Warning
What we know:
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for parts of North Central and Northeast Texas from 6 a.m. Thursday until Noon on Friday.
The National Weather Service expects heavy mixed precipitation with a transition to all snow on Thursday evening. Total snow accumulations will be between 2 and 4 inches. The NWS says isolated snowfall amounts could top 8 inches within more intense bands of snow.
Another aspect of a warning is what this weather will impact. Travel could be very difficult for the Thursday morning and evening commutes.
RELATED STORY: Dallas weather: Winter storm watch upgraded to warning, when to expect snow tomorrow
State Emergency Response Resources
Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to increase the readiness level of the Texas State Operations Center (SOC) to Level II (Escalated Response) ahead of winter weather expected to impact the state, with the greatest impacts beginning Wednesday through the weekend.
What they’re saying:
“With below-freezing temperatures beginning to impact large portions of the state, Texas is increasing the readiness level of the State Operations Center to ensure resources are swiftly deployed to communities,” said Governor Abbott. “As the State of Texas mobilizes the emergency response resources Texans need to stay safe and warm, I urge everyone to remain weather-aware, regularly monitor road conditions before traveling, and heed guidance from state and local officials. I thank all the first responders and emergency management personnel for their efforts to help Texas communities brace for winter weather.”
Winter Storm Watch
The National Weather Service has also issued a Winter Storm Watch which remains in effect from now through Friday night.
What they’re saying:
Heavy mixed precipitation is possible with a transition to snow expected late Thursday. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch are possible.
Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes.
Dig deeper:
Texans can locate winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, find warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and check road conditions at DriveTexas.org.
The Source: Information in this article is from the Texas Governor’s Office and the National Weather Service.
The Salvation Army is opening warming shelters across North Texas overnight on Saturday. Below is a list of locations.
North Texas warming shelters
Dallas County
- The Carr P. Collins Social Service Center (5302 Harry Hines Blvd)
- The Garland Corps Community Center (451 West Avenue D)
Tarrant County
- The Arlington Corps Community Center (712 W. Abram St)
- The Mabee Social Service Center (1855 E. Lancaster Ave)
Collin County
- The McKinney Corps Community Center (600 Wilson Creek Pkwy)
Find out more at the Salvation Army website.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Salvation Army of North Texas.
Texas
Texas fugitive wears ‘I will put you in the trunk’ sweatshirt as he’s arrested in connection with woman’s ‘suspicious’ death
A Texas fugitive wore an ominous sweatshirt threatening to abduct people as he was arrested in connection with the “suspicious” death of a 37-year-old woman.
Kruz Dean Wanser was charged with felony tampering/fabricate physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and parole violation, officials announced Thursday.
Wanser was wanted by the Azle Police, the Texas Rangers and the US Marshals after Margaret Pennington was found dead in her Azle home last Sunday.
Officials had offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to Wanser’s arrest on Monday, a day after Pennington’s body was discovered.
Wanser was booked into Azle jail, where his mugshot featured the fugitive with a tattoo under his right eye as he was wearing a purple sweatshirt that displayed a threatening message.
“I will put you in the trunk and help people look for you. Stop playing with me,” the shirt read.
Pennington was declared dead just before 7 p.m. at her home on the 100 block of Lakewood Drive in Azle, 20 miles northwest of Fort Worth on Jan. 11.
The cause and manner of Pennington’s death are still pending, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s records viewed by The Post.
Officials have not charged Wanser with Pennington’s death and the relationship between the two has not been revealed.
Police declared the investigation was still open and are still looking for information.
Wanser has faced three separate criminal cases in Tarrant County since 2021. For evading police with a vehicle in 2021 and two separate drug possession charges between 2022 and July 2025, according to court records viewed by The Post.
Texas
North Texas probation officer accused of pressuring woman on probation for sexual favors, affidavit says
A Parker County probation officer was arrested and jailed after allegedly pressuring a woman whose case he oversaw to have sex with him, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by CBS News Texas.
Andy Dillard, 53, faces two charges of official oppression. He is currently out of jail on a $50,000 bond.
The Texas Rangers started investigating Dillard on Jan. 11 after the victim filed a report. She is currently on probation, and claimed that Dillard, a probation officer, who was overseeing her case, sent her graphic text messages and images and asked her for sex.
In court papers, the investigating officer said the victim showed him the sexually explicit messages from a phone number registered to Dillard. According to the affidavit, investigators later identified the phone number as an AT&T line registered to Dillard. The victim came forward because she said “she was afraid of not responding because Dillard was in charge of her freedom and could potentially revoke her probation,” according to a sworn statement from the investigating officer.
The affidavit states the victim told investigators the messages included explicit sexual requests, photographs and a video allegedly sent by Dillard, and that she repeatedly felt harassed and intimidated. She told investigators she had not engaged in sexual intercourse with Dillard but said he continued contacting her and trying to arrange meetings.
Official oppression is a Class A misdemeanor in Texas. If convicted, Dillard faces up to one year in jail on each count. The charges allege Dillard acted under color of his office as a public servant while supervising the woman’s probation case.
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