On Monday, 19-year-old Stephon Morson, a suspect in an October 2024 fatal shooting in southeast Austin, had his bond increased to a total of $500,000 for his two charges, leading to his re-arrest.
Morson was initially arrested in November in connection with the death of 20-year-old Keshawn Cage, who was killed on Burton Drive in southeast Austin.
Morson’s case has become a focal point in ongoing debates about Travis County’s bail system, as his bond amounts have fluctuated dramatically over several months. (KXAN-TV)
Timeline of Bond Changes
The bond amounts in Morson’s case have experienced unprecedented volatility. Initially set at $800,000 when he was first charged with murder, the bond was dramatically reduced to just $100 per charge (totaling $200) in February after the Travis County District Attorney’s Office missed a critical 90-day deadline to present the case to a grand jury.
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, defendants charged with felonies must be released on personal bond or have their bail reduced if the state fails to present their case to a grand jury within 90 days. The prosecution presented Morson’s case on day 91, triggering the mandatory bond reduction.
This reduction allowed Morson to be released from the Travis County Jail on February 14, under conditions including wearing a GPS monitor, remaining under house arrest, and having no contact with the victim’s family or potential witnesses.
Following public outcry and after securing an indictment, prosecutors successfully requested a bond increase to $100,000 in a February 19 hearing. However, the bond was later reduced again to $30,000 in April due to continued procedural delays.
Community and Official Response
The case has sparked criticism from law enforcement and public safety advocates. The Austin Police Association called the initial bond reduction “irresponsible,” while Governor Greg Abbott has commented on similar cases as part of broader discussions about bail reform in Texas.
Family members of the victim have expressed frustration with the legal system’s handling of the case. “We’re grateful that he’s back in custody,” said Dajah Elliott, speaking about one of the periods when Morson’s bond was increased and he was re-arrested.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The case highlights systemic issues within the Travis County District Attorney’s Office regarding case management and meeting legal deadlines. Morson’s defense attorney has subpoenaed District Attorney José Garza and several Assistant District Attorneys, requiring them to appear and testify in court regarding the handling of the case.
The prosecution has indicated that DNA evidence allegedly links Morson to the crime scene, though full details of the evidence have not been publicly disclosed as the case remains in pre-trial proceedings.
Broader Implications
The Morson case has become emblematic of larger debates about criminal justice reform, prosecutorial competence, and public safety in Travis County. Critics argue that missed deadlines and procedural errors have compromised public safety, while others point to systemic underfunding and case management issues within the prosecutor’s office.
A KXAN-TV investigation has uncovered that a single judge, Tanisa Jeffers, has reduced or modified bonds for at least 100 additional defendants facing felony charges since she took office in January.
Reaction from Michael Bullock, president of the Austin Police Association:
Austin’s chief of police and Travis County’s top prosecutor say they’re working in tandem to address crime in the Austin area. (KUT 90.5)
Firefighters battled a large fire at a tire recycling facility in Burnet County on Monday.
Reliable Tire Recycling—in the 3300 block of East State Highway 29 was the scene of the blaze.
The AFD responded to an apartment fire Monday.
A 24-year-old San Marcos man was arrested in Jasper County in connection with a fire at Savage’s Bar and Grill in Wimberley that occurred this past weekend. Aiden Dwyer was arrested Monday when Jasper County deputies assisted the Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office and Texas Rangers in executing a search warrant in Buna. One person was injured in the Wimberley bar fire. Dwyer is currently being held in the Jasper County Jail while the investigation continues, led by the Texas Rangers and Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office. (FOX7 Austin)
A 31-year-old was arrested Sunday after the Criminal Investigation Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety received an online tip regarding Facebook posts threatening to kill officials at the Travis County courthouse, which included threats against the judge presiding over a separate civil case involving the suspect.
Authorities in Williamson County are charging a Hutto woman in the 2024 overdose death of a 30-year-old man.
Police in Round Rock have identified the three people killed Sunday morning in a crash on I-35.
Austin police released more information about a homicide behind a gas station June 22 in Austin.
APD released information about a pedestrian struck and killed on I-35 Saturday.
Authorities are looking for a person of interest in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred on June 14.
A downtown Austin construction company has installed a covered walkway around the ATX Tower after a glass panel fell from the high-rise under construction. The panel, which originated from a window of the ATX Tower building at the corner of West Sixth and Guadalupe streets, shattered on the street below on Wednesday afternoon.
Capital Metro is turning 40 today. To celebrate, the Austin-based public transit system is letting riders board for free.
A $40 million dollar hotel is being considered in San Marcos.
$9.1 million in incentives are being considered for a hotel on the Texas State campus that would have an event lawn and amphitheater, restaurant, bar and meeting and event space. (Austin Business Journal)
Austin’s Balcones Pool is closed indefinitely due to a mechanical issue.
Springwoods Pool
Date of impact: June 26, 2025–TBD
Description: Springwoods Pool is closed until further notice due a mechanical issue.
Bartholomew Pool
Date of impact: June 6, 2025–TBD
Description: Due to damage from the May 28 hailstorm, the Lily Pad Recreation Pool is closed until repairs are completed. The Activity Pool and the Lap Pool are open.
Balcones Pool
Date of impact: June 30, 2025–TBD
Description: Balcones Pool is closed until further notice due a mechanical repair issue.
WEATHER
Depending on the concentration of severe weather, crews and aircraft may be displaced enough to affect the timeliness of flights elsewhere across the nation and those heading overseas.
Dust from the Sahara Desert in North Africa has journeyed an incredible 6,000 miles to Texas, giving Austin a distinctively hazy, milky sky. This layer of dust, suspended around 10,000 feet above the ground, isn’t just an atmospheric curiosity; it plays a beneficial role by suppressing tropical storm development over the ocean.
Beyond its impact on weather patterns, these airborne particles also scatter sunlight low on the horizon. This can intensify the reddish-orange hues of Texas sunrises and sunsets, making them even more vibrant and picturesque.
June 2025 in Austin was notable for being the city’s driest June since 2019. Throughout the entire month, Austin did not record a single day with temperatures reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
While the month saw generally warm conditions with most days in the mid-to-upper 90s, the absence of triple-digit heat stood out. Looking ahead, forecasts indicate that July is expected to start with hotter, drier conditions, with 100-degree days becoming more likely after the 4th.
The Texas State Board of Education has renewed an elective high school course on Indigenous peoples’ history and cultures. This decision came despite objections from some Republican members who argued it might violate the state’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. (KUT 90.5)
A Dallas judge has dismissed Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to overturn the State Fair of Texas‘ ban on firearms, after a longstanding crusade from Paxton’s office to strike down the policy. (Chron)
Specific changes to SNAP and Medicaid — and other provisions in President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” — could have significant impacts in Texas.
Former U.S. Congressman Colin Allred officially launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate this morning, after losing to Ted Cruz eight months ago.
State Sen. Brian Birdwell, a Granbury Republican who’s represented parts of Central and North Texas since 2010, said Monday he did not plan to seek reelection to his seat in the upper chamber. (Texas Tribune)
State Rep. David Cook, a 3rd-term Texas House member and former Mansfield mayor, is running for Texas Senate District 22, which covers parts of Central and North Texas.
Wealthy families are buying homes to get in-state tuition at Texas universities. (KUT 90.5)
A 27-year-old truck driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a deadly pileup in North Texas Saturday that resulted in 6 fatalities, including 5 people in a pickup truck and 1 other driver, leading to 6 counts of manslaughter and 1 count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges against the truck driver.
The 13th victim of the massive flash flood in San Antonio on June 12th was identified as 77-year-old Esther Chung, the oldest casualty among those killed in the disaster, according to the Bear County Medical Examiner.
Leaders in the medical marijuana program want the Texas Legislature and Governor Greg Abbott to ban a major piece of the consumable hemp industry, synthetic delta-8 THC, and to raise the age to buy the remaining hemp products. They also want lawmakers to increase dosage limits on medical marijuana products. (Texas Tribune)
(Episode from June 30, 2025)
Temporary paper license plates will soon be a thing of the past in Texas. The state is largely eliminating paper license plates, replacing them with metal ones, starting today.
SPORTS
MLB: The Texas Rangers were invaded by Birds last night.
Gunnar Henderson drove in four runs in extra innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Texas Rangers 10-6 in 11 innings on Monday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Rangers and O’s play again tonight while the Houston Astros, after a day off Monday, are in Colorado.
NBA: The Dallas Mavericks struck a two-year, $13 million deal with point guard D’Angelo Russell on Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith has agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with the Houston Rockets. (Yahoo! Sports)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Five-star Mansfield (TX) Lake Ridge offensive tackle Felix Ojo has officially set his decision date for July 4th and the elite offensive tackle will be deciding between Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and Texas. (Burnt Orange Nation)
It’s official: Texas State is joining the Pac-12 Conference beginning in 2026.
Fluffy, puffy giants go floating through air…time for some cloud watching!
A Postcard From Texas via Texas Parks & Wildlife.
