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Top Stories: Criminal Justice Issues The Legislature Passed; The Stereotypes Surrounding Low Riders

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The top local stories this evening from KERA News:

The 85th Texas Legislature is over, and while the threat of a special session looms, most of us are still trying to figure out what actually made it across the finish line. There were tons of law enforcement and criminal justice reform bills proposed in the legislature this year and many did not pass. 

KERA’s Christopher Connelly starts off with an effort to reduce the number of poor people who end up in jail because they can’t pay fees on traffic tickets and low-level misdemeanors.

Other stories this evening:

  • The City of Dallas says it’s completed security upgrades for all of the city’s outdoor warning sirens. The upgrades follow the malfunction of about 150 sirens across Dallas in April – resulting in them blaring for about an hour and a half.

  • There’s a thriving lowrider car culture in North Texas. These are large cars that ride low to the ground – and they are popular among some motorists. Their candy paint, hydraulic systems and colorful designs make them stand out. These cars also can attract negative attention, but as KERA’s Jessica Diaz-Hurtado reports, one group in Dallas is working to shatter stereotypes. 

 You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.

Gus Contreras is a digital producer and reporter at KERA News. Gus produces the local All Things Considered segment and reports on a variety of topics from, sports to immigration. He was an intern and production assistant for All Things Considered in Washington D.C.