The top local stories this morning from KERA News: Affluenza teen Ethan Couch is due in court this morning to determine whether his case will be transferred to the adult system.
He could face up to 120 days in jail as part of the terms of adult probation. A ruling keeping him in the juvenile system could trigger hearings in which Couch could either go free or be sent to prison for 10 years when he turns 19.
Couch was sentenced to 10-years of juvenile probation for killing four people in a drunk driving crash in 2013. He was spared him prison time after his lawyers used an “affluenza defense,” saying he was never taught to take responsibility for his actions.
Authorities believe 18-year-old Couch and his mother fled to Mexico in December as Texas prosecutors investigated whether he violated his probation. Since then, Tarrant County officials have been pushing to transfer his case to the adult system.
Other stories this morning:
- Dallas city leaders want to shut down a homeless encampment known as Tent City for good by early May.
- Virgin America’s CEO said he’d rather fly out of Dallas with empty seats than sell cheaper tickets. He told analysts the airfare competition at Love Field Airport hurts airliners.
- In this week’s Friday Conversation, former state senator Wendy Davis discusses the sexism she faced in her failed bid for Texas governor, and how she sees similar things occurring with Hillary Clinton.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:20 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
