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I asked Trinidad's council candidates and community figures what's wrong with the city. Then I went through the records: a $291,723.78 meter vote set beside a budget that's 27 days late, carries no meter line, and shows no fund balances, debts or tax rate.
I grew up in Italy, Texas, and Watchtower is my one-person newsroom. I have been arrested twice by the Italy Police Department for showing up, and the Ellis County District Attorney rejected both cases. I am still showing up.
My storyTool Police Chief Robert Walker confirmed that Officer Juan Ochoa was terminated effective October 7 for repeated body camera failures. The department's own records show the problem was in writing by June 2025.
An Italy resident sent me a written complaint alleging a sergeant is making sexual harassment remarks toward a rookie female officer. It lands less than three weeks after the city upheld Kevin Oginski's firing, in a case that began with an allegation its own investigator did not sustain. The Chief's unread statement is attached.
William A. Jones, who represented Precinct 1 until July 2025, alleges in a federal lawsuit that Corsicana's former mayor, city attorney, city manager, and former police chief retaliated against him for records requests and oversight.
Two members of the Italy City Council said publicly this afternoon that nobody told them an officer had been terminated. One of them learned about it from a resident, two hours after asking the city administrator directly.
Five weeks before the vote, the Italy City Council ordered staff to bring back competing bids and a priced breakdown. One bid came back, the breakdown never did, and the council approved the higher number anyway.
Hawk Cove has an agenda item called Public Comments that nobody was allowed to comment on, a federal lender its own attorney says is done being patient, and a council whose members say on the record that they do not know what their own city is doing.
If something in your town, your agency, or a business near you does not add up, send it. Documents help, but a date, a place, or a name is enough to start. I read every tip myself.
How I handle tips and protect sources →Readers pay for this work. No ads, no sponsors. Every records request, hour of document analysis, mile of travel, and legal expense is paid for by readers.
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