Penelope Rivera
Tarrant County Accountability ReporterPenelope Rivera is KERA’s Tarrant County accountability reporter. She joined the newsroom in 2024 as an intern before becoming a full-time breaking news reporter. In 2025, she received a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for her continuous coverage of North Texas church scandals. Penelope was born and raised in Fort Worth.
In her free time, she enjoys painting, creative writing and trying new local restaurants and coffee shops.
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Texas Defender Service released a report highlighting details from 431 capital murder cases over a 20-year period in Tarrant County. -
Anthony Johnson Jr.'s death was ruled a homicide at Tarrant County Jail after a jailer kneeled on his back. two years ago. His family is still waiting for a trial date and pending civil lawsuit. -
Law enforcement discovered more than $130 million in gold linked to an international criminal network, Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells said in a press release Friday. -
‘He needs care, not a cage': Man with intellectual disabilities transferred from Tarrant County JailShawn Fraraccio, 26, was moved to a living facility in Mexia on April 14 after a demand for this transfer from his mother and the public. -
The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, which runs the jail, has faced scrutiny for the number of in-custody deaths since Bill Waybourn took office. -
Nonprofit group Center for Transforming Lives replaced the rental and utility assistance department, which closed last August. -
The discussion came after County Judge Tim O'Hare said an agenda item during last month's meeting "mischaracterized" certain data and facts about rejected voter ballot numbers. -
The agenda item was added by County Judge Tim O'Hare for the monthly Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting. -
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office, under Sheriff Adam King, has faced allegations of mistreatment in a jail that's been in and out of compliance for years. Meanwhile, King faces criminal charges in a sexual harassment scandal. -
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a U.S. Department of Justice program aimed at reducing and preventing crimes. -
Robert Morris, Gateway's founding pastor pleaded guilty last October to five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child. -
The man, identified as Alejandro Serrano, was charged with aggravated assault against a public servant.
