Heat is killing Texas prisoners, and state leaders won't shell out for AC (www.motherjones.com)

submitted 15 hours ago by pelespirit@sh.itjust.works to c/investigativejournalism@sh.itjust.works

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He is also the reason Texas has spent the past two years fighting a federal lawsuit, brought by Tiede, over air conditioning in its prisons. And this spring, right before trial, the state’s own heat-tracking system did for him what it’s done for tens of thousands of other people: nothing. Officials removed him from the case, successfully arguing before the court that a policy update meant he’d now get priority for a cool bed on account of his current age: 67. They got that result due to a state formula for determining who gets air conditioning. Not the diabetes. Not the hypertension. A number.

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[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 9 points 11 hours ago

Shit, Texans love abusing prisoners. Next to football and petroleum it’s the main thing that unites them.

Remember this?

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 hours ago

He was laughing when he thought about it, yikes.

[+] Zachariah@lemmy.world 11 points 15 hours ago

[deleted]

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 hours ago

This was reported for ableism and I don't think you meant it that way, but I see their point. At least I didn't take it that way. Please clarify so I can put this to rest.

[-] Zachariah@lemmy.world 3 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

Yeah, it’s ableism. I’m deleting it.

The guy’s actions is the problem, and I had so many other ways to insult him. I was so angry I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to attack him. That doesn’t excuse it though.

I am disappointed in myself, and I can do better.

Thank you for the grace to let me respond.

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 hours ago

Thanks for clarifying and removing it. We're all good now.

[-] Zachariah@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

Thank you again. I’m not perfect, and I appreciate the opportunity to apologize. I am sorry I posted it. It’s good I was called out.

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 5 points 15 hours ago

I'm surprised they don't care about people dying, that's less money for the for-profit prisons. Maybe they just lie like a meth addict and say they're still alive to get those checks.

[-] meowmeow@quokk.au 2 points 9 hours ago

I’ve known more Texans that lied than meth addicts.

[-] username123@sh.itjust.works 4 points 13 hours ago

They’re expecting a good uptick in slave count now that they’ve upped the prison time required for THC across the board (180 days for under 1 gram, for example).

[-] Oni_eyes@sh.itjust.works 1 points 11 hours ago

That's only for hemp derived thc. Black market flower isn't hemp derived so it still falls under the state laws for regular cannabis which changes from city to city iirc. Some places it's decriminalized with a fine.

[-] DokPsy@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago

He hasn't stood up for the citizens of the state much less anything else since that lawsuit he won against the tree. Then removed the loophole that won him the lawsuit the second he could.

[-] alapakala@quokk.au 1 points 11 hours ago

Hate it when you remind folks electing demagogues into positions of power, that it will not equate to actions promised during campaigns will get fulfilled.😔
If only comprehended the actual distraction of voting.😔

this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2026

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