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News
Pot cases down, confusion up after pot law change
Houston sees increase in fentanyl-laced drugs
Experts present details about finding first fentanyl-laced ecstasy tablet in Houston area
Deadly fentanyl found in XTC 'party pills' targeted at teens in Houston area
Deadly fentanyl, meth combo found in tablets that look like ‘party’ drugs, Houston forensic lab warns
Fentanyl seizures rise in Houston
Fentanyl-laced ecstasy found in Houston
Houston Forensic Science Center finds first fentanyl-laced ecstasy tablet
Dozens of guns seized daily as violent crime 'never stops'
Will bringing science back to the White House reinvigorate forensics reform?
Legislation to eliminate rape kit backlog has turned out to be toothless. Austin should do something about it.
Dallas has the largest backlog of rape kits in the state — by a long shot
Investigation underway at HFSC following claims of toxic work environment
Caution Is Necessary When Expanding Field Testing Capabilities
New DNA technology at Houston lab can help solve crimes faster
LOCAL // CRIME Rapid DNA tests expected to help Houston police with rising murder investigations
Houston's rate of unsolved murders is soaring. Experts say the police department is to blame.
Houston forensic science director warns what's at risk without more help
New research offers insight into drunk, drugged driving in Houston
Opinion: Protect Texans from drugged driving and expand marijuana testing capabilities
Hemp or marijuana? After a year in the dark, Harris County prosecutors will finally know.
Hemp or Marijuana? Houston lab can finally tell the difference
NY State Prisons Abruptly Suspend Drug Tests For Contraband
10 employees test positive for COVID-19 at Houston Forensic Science Center
COVID-19 in staff puts Houston Forensic Science Center ‘precariously close’ to limiting crime scene responses
Austin city manager proposes police cuts, but where will that money go?
Project Profile: Houston Forensic Science Center
HPD Broadcast: Community and Trust
Why Is Courtroom Science So Unscientific?
Hemp is booming in Texas. Distinguishing it from marijuana is still a challenge.
PCP driving up concerns on Houston roads
Roughly 1 in 5 DUI cases in Houston involve PCP in driver’s system, new study reveals
'This is scary," officials say 16% of DWI cases in Houston between 2013-2018 involve PCP
New DNA technology could help solve more cases in Houston
Teen who was addicted to vaping talks to Fort Worth ISD students about dangers of e-cigs
Houston sexual assault victims appeal to U.S. Supreme Court on city’s failure to test rape kits
Cornyn’s effort gets rape-kit test funding back on track [Editorial]
Implementation of a Blind Quality Control Program in a Forensic Laboratory
Rapid DNA testing could revolutionize rape investigations ─ if the science holds up
Fingerprint Analysis Is High-Stakes Work — but It Doesn’t Take Much to Qualify as an Expert
Leaked Documents Say Roughly 2,000 NY Prisoners Affected By Erroneous Drug Tests
Houston crime lab’s move into new space will speed up testing, ensure independence, officials say
Houston Forensic Science Center is an Early Implementer of Standards on OSAC Registry
Cornyn and advocates blame Democrats for stalling rape kit test funds
In Houston, Sen. Cornyn Calls For Renewing Congressional Rape Kit Funding
‘Rapid DNA’ promises breakthroughs in solving crimes. So why does it face a backlash?
Houston Forensic Science Center moving to state-of-the-art facility
Houston officials find spiked CBD being sold in stores
CBD Products Sold In Texas May Contain Dangerous Ingredients
Texas’ Marijuana-Hemp Issue Could Be Solved, But Without Funding It Risks Backlog Of Untested Kits
How do we improve forensics?
More fallout from state's new hemp law
When Texas Legalized Hemp It Forced Some Counties To Change How They Prosecute Pot
'I feel lucky, for real': How legalizing hemp accidentally helped marijuana suspects
It’s not about hemp or marijuana. It’s about justice [Opinion]
Texas was warned its hemp law would complicate marijuana prosecutions. Lawmakers didn't listen.
DA is right not to prosecute low-level pot offenses [Editorial]
Behind the scenes of Houston's new crime lab
Texas Legalized Hemp, not Marijuana, Governor Insists as Prosecutors Drop Pot Charges
Pot is still a crime, Texas governor tells district attorneys
Despite new hemp law, marijuana is still illegal in Texas, top officials say
How much should juries rely on expert testimony?
Mitigating Flaws in Forensic Science
Is pot now legal in Texas? District attorneys scrambling to respond to clumsy legislative action
New Texas hemp and CBD law could snuff out marijuana prosecutions
Texas hemp regulation prompts some DAs to dismiss cases
Most Texas labs cannot test for marijuana, hemp under new laws, jeopardizing arrests
'This is a critical problem': 1,700 DWI cases affected by blood vial recall, Houston lab says
Thousands of DWI cases in Harris County thrown into question after blood vial recall
We need to fix forensics. But how?
APNewsBreak: Texas says Rapid DNA supplier jeopardizes cases
DNA technology upgrades credited for linking Josue Flores murder suspect
Texas creates task force to strengthen sexual assault survivor services
Online Rape Kit Tracking System Launches This Week In Four Texas Cities
An inside look at CrimeCon 2019
Houston Votes To Place Wrongfully Convicted San Antonian On Board For City's Forensics Lab
Ten Years Later, Independence Should Be the Future of Forensics
City Council to vote on wrongly convicted woman's appointment to forensic science board
Reasonable Doubt
Questions rise after private investigator finds new evidence in botched Harding Street raid
Houston’s drug-raid scandal grows
Evidence left behind after botched Pecan Park drug raid raises new questions about shootings
City officials announce crime lab pilot program
Houston pilot program will let victims track their rape kits electronically
Forensic Update: March 2019
Crime Scene That One Case: The Death of a President … and a Boy
A long handshake can spread your DNA to objects you didn’t touch
Rapid DNA Technology Gets Mixed Reviews in Houston
Increased ‘drugged driving' prompts new needs at Houston Crime Lab
Beyond CSI: How big data is reshaping the world of forensics
Drugged driving cases on the rise, Houston forensic scientist says
That One Time I Went to a Fans House for Lunch: AJ On The Road
Coming Soon to a Police Station Near You: The DNA ‘Magic Box’
Just Science: Just Blind Proficiency Testing
Just Science: Just Transparency in Public Communications
Houston Forensic Science Center to Voluntarily Adopt OSAC Standards
Houston Forensic Science Center To Align With Standards Approved By National Lead Agency
Houston Forensic Science Center to Move Crime Laboratory Around the Corner
DNA and fingerprinting advances led to speedy arrest in bombing case
Houston City Council approves moving crime lab to downtown building
Forensic Science Center’s Crime Lab to Move to New Facility in 2019
Houston City Council OKs crime lab relocation
Conviction reversed because Houston crime lab analyst, supervisor did not disclose evidence problems
Houston's crime lab plans downtown move
Houston Forensic Science Center Asks For New Crime Lab
Texas deaths from drug overdoses spiking
Cannabis users will drive into murky territory when they get behind the wheel
HCCLA's Reasonable Doubt
Judge dismisses lawsuit over rape kit backlog
HCCLA's Reasonable Doubt
How The Houston Forensic Science Center Aims To Address Its DNA Backlog
Houston labs see spike in fentanyl-related cases
HCCLA's Reasonable Doubt
To get ahead of backlog, Houston Forensic Science Center outsources DNA work
Houston forensic center will spend $2 million outsourcing DNA testing to cut rape kit backlog
Texas drivers raising thousands for rape kit testing
CBD oil, pill users at Houston smoke shops 'are volunteering to be lab rats,' doctor says
Houston Forensic Science Center Slides Blind Testing Into Workload
Science Documentary : Scientific Investigation, the Power That Reveals the Truth
Local rape victims in limbo over evidence issues
Case alleging racial bias in hair tests goes to trial
HPD tests new DNA tech that gives results in 90 minutes
Houston forensic analyst fired for shredding homicide documents
Is the Opioid Epidemic Fueling Wrongful Convictions?
National opioid epidemic felt locally in Spring, Klein
From ‘Evidence Protection’ to ‘Personal Protection’: How To Keep Lab Analysts Safe
Meet Dr. Peter Stout of Houston Forensic Science Center
Technology Common In The Oil Industry Is Now Being Used For Houston’s Forensic Science
Houston Forensic Science Center: Saving Evidence and Saving Lives
New law lets Texas drivers help tackle the state's rape kit testing backlog
How Labs Prepared for Harvey: Protect People First, Then Equipment
Misplaced DNA evidence in sexual assault case found in Houston lab office
Solving gun crimes with new approach to forensic investigations
Go behind the scenes with Houston's elite CSI Academy
HFSC Launches First Academy to Train CSIs
Behind the Scenes: CSI Academy Trainees at Work
Woman finds evidence bag full of marijuana at neighborhood park
Trump's drug commission wants 'national emergency' for opioids as seizures rise in Houston area
Houston Police to Stop Field Testing for Drugs
FBI Audit Finds Missteps in Houston Center's Use of DNA Criminal Database
Houston Officials Speak on Opioid Dangers
Stopping Gun Crime: Revamped Ballistics Strategy Targets Houston's Serial Shooters
Houston Forensics Streamlines Fingerprints Analysis by Cutting Unnecessary Comparisons
Just Say No to Drug Testing
HFSC's CSU to be Civilian by Year's End
America's Opioid Epidemic Hits Houston
Crime-scene errors put 65 cases under review, audit finds
Texas House Passes Bill Allowing Drivers to Donate Money to Rape Kit Testing
HFSC Board Vice Chair Thompson Testifies to Congressional Committee on Forensic Independence
Behind the Scenes of Houston's Digital Forensics Lab
Houston Forensic Scientists Work to Reduce Backlog
Houston Forensic Science Center Eliminates Digital Backlog
Harris County Deputies Mistake Kitty Litter for Meth
Houston CSU Director Cleared of Sexual Harassment and Intoxication at Scene – But Policies Changing
HFSC Paves the Way for Industrial Technologies in Forensics
In a National First, HFSC Begins Blind Testing in DNA, Latent Prints
CSI Houston: A New Drama
Video Technology Helps Capture Murder Suspect
Austin Looks to Independence as Possible Fix For Crime Lab Woes
Houston CSU: City’s Forensic Science Center and Police at Odds Over Scene Response
Fentanyl Masquerading as Other Illegally Purchased Pharmaceuticals Appears in Houston
Inside Story: What is Kush?
Call for Houston Forensic Science Center Independence
Fentanyl is Showing Up in Counterfeit Pills in Houston
HFSC Finds Fentanyl in Counterfeit Pills
Powerful Opioid, Fentanyl, Arrives in Houston
HFSC DNA Forensic Scientists Commended for Work on Serial Rape Case
Houston Police Want Their Crime Scene Unit Back
How Houston Became Kush City
Internal audit finds Houston crime scene technicians lack independence and proper training
298 Wrongful Drug Convictions Identified in Ongoing Audit
Field Drug Tests, Wrongful Convictions, and How Houston Cleaned Up Its Mess
Police field tests on suspected drugs lead to false convictions
HFSC eliminates rape kit backlog, hits 30-day turnaround time
Who should control Houston’s crime lab?
No Bones About It: HFSC Workshop a Blast
KHOU: HFSC cuts rape kit backlog in half
Dr. Peter Stout discusses rape kit backlog, merger
Is a city-county crime lab merger beneficial?
County, city again talk of crime lab merger
HFSC moves beyond troubled past
Mexico fights crime lab corruption
Tour HFSC's Controlled Substances Section
Tour the HFSC Firearms Section
A Matter of Conviction
HFSC gets first client outside the city
Dr. Dan Garner talks about HFSC and it's expansion goals
San Jacinto votes for HFSC to do county's forensic work
Houston's rape kit experience an example for others
HFSC Board members discuss past, future
From Death Row to HFSC’s Board
Univision: Exoneree appointed to HFSC board
From Death Row to the Crime Lab Boardroom
From death row to HFSC
Ex-death row exoneree appointed to HFSC board
HFSC focuses on timely, accurate science
Rush to test rape kits impacts victims
Rape kit focus may put offenders behind bars
Mayor talks about clearing Houston’s rape kit backlog
HFSC CSI presents at Pa. forensic symposium
The death and afterlife of Houston’s crime lab
Why backlogged rape kits are a problem
UH law professor, HFSC board member calls for crime lab reform
Federal funds help clear rape kit backlogs
Rape kit testing may have halted future attacks
Houston eliminates rape kit backlog
HFSC's Irma Rios talks about rape kit testing
Houston a Model for the Nation on Rape Kit Testing
Houston eliminates rape kit backlog
HFSC completes reviews of untested rape kits
Defense told of HFSC manager's 9-year-old error
New drug policy will cost money
An apology, and a look forward on the rape kit project: Part 2
A look back at the rape kit backlog: Part 1
HPD, HFSC errors cause DWI charge dismissal
Like drunk driver, evidence wove through HPD lab
Investigators recreating crime scenes in 3D
HCCLA's Reasonable Doubt Video
HFSC Hires New COO
At least 50 arrests in Houston rape kit project
Shortage of lab techs hampering Austin burglary
Garner: Rapidly putting operations on the map
HFSC helps in fight against synthetic marijuana
HFSC in the war on synthetic cannabinoids
HFSC sees synthetic cannabis daily as city bans it
Rape kit testing gets 19 new suspects
HFSC leads the way in rape kit testing
Experts reflect on forensic historical event
HFSC director ready for challenge in Houston