McAllen protest, Democrat convention, choking death mistrial: Your weekend roundup

June 24,  2018 By Wayne Carter and Carla Solórzano Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines of the weekend so far. 🌤️ Weather: Morning clouds, then mostly sunny, windy and hot. High of 97 degrees. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Demonstrator Martha Mercado tries to stop a bus with immigrant children aboard during a protest Saturday outside the U.S. Border Patrol Central Processing Center in McAllen. (David J. Phillip/The Associated Press) Immigration Lawmakers get a close-up look at border crisis, while protesters call for tolerance Immigration activists from Dallas and other parts of Texas [descended on the Rio Grande Valley]( to protest the Trump administrations zero-tolerance policy toward border crossers. Rallies focused around the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border are scheduled this weekend, while more than two dozen congressional Democrats planned to visit detention facilities in Texas. On Saturday, Sister Norma Pimentel led a prayer that began a 24-day fast seeking relief for over 2,300 children separated from their families. Protesters carried replicas of a medal carried by civil rights icon Cesar Chavez during his own fast in the 1960s. Pause at the border: Friday marked the first day in a month [that no parents and children were separated]( in McAllen. Using his pulpit: A McKinney Methodist pastor [criticizes Jeff Sessions over zero tolerance and separation of families.]( Molly Chambers (left), Ashly Ibarra and Cathy Clark chant and hold signs during the Texas Democratic Convention's Families First Rally Saturday at the Fort Worth Convention Center. (Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer) Texas democratic convention 'Families belong together': Texas Democrats at state convention decry family separations at border Texas Democrats devoted much of their biennial convention this weekend to denouncing the Trump administration's separation of immigrant families, [holding a rally Saturday to punctuate their dissent.]( Carrying posters that read "Family rights are human rights," "Reunite the families" and "You should really care," referring to a message on first lady Melania Trump's jacket, the Democrats called for family reunification. Advocates are concerned that the policy, which starts criminal proceedings against anyone caught illegally crossing the border, is still in place and that more children haven't been returned to their families. Man of the hour: Beto O'Rourke [appealed to Republicans as he thrilled the delegates.]( Minority faction: Abortion opponents at the state convention wonder: [Is there room for us in today’s Texas Democratic Party?]( Political high jinks: A couple of Republicans got booted by police after [posting prank 'gun-free safe space' signs]( at the convention. Terry Thompson, accused of fatally choking John Hernandez, is shown in court June 13, 2018, in Houston. Terry and his wife, Chauna Thompson, a former Harris County Sheriff's deputy, face murder charges in the chokehold death of John Hernandez at a Denny's restaurant. (Melissa Phillip/The Associated Press) crime Mistrial declared in Houston-area choking death case A judge declared a mistrial Saturday in the case of a Houston railroad worker accused of choking a man to death after he caught him urinating outside of a Houston-area Denny's restaurant last year. [The prosecution will have to decide if 42-year-old Terry Thompson will be tried again after jurors said they were deadlocked after 26 hours of deliberations](, the Houston Chronicle reported. John Hernandez, 24, died after video captured him being pinned to the ground outside a Denny's in Crosby, northeast of Houston. The video shows Thompson on top of Hernandez as he kicks and people yell, "Quit it." Thompson is married to former Harris County sheriff's deputy Chauna Thompson, who faces her own trial in the case in October. Hernandez died May 31, 2017, three days after the fight at Denny's. Frisco: A 35-year-old McKinney man riding a bicycle was in critical condition Saturday [after he was hit from behind by a vehicle](. Wichita Falls: A retired Texas cop, his wife, son and stepdaughter have been charged with [running a scheme to sell stolen goods online](. Advertisement (Jason Janik/Special Contributor) Photo of the Morning Drummer Vinnie Paul performs with metal supergroup Hellyeah during the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Fest in August 2015 at Gexa Energy Pavillion in Dallas. Paul -- whose given name was Vincent Paul Abbott, and who co-founded revered metal band Pantera in Arlington with his late brother, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott -- [died Friday at age 54](. Around The Site - Campaign salvo: Incumbent Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, says a vote for Democratic challenger Colin Allred [is a vote for Nancy Pelosi.]( - Campus controversy: Texas Tech's interfraternity council president stepped down after [comments in an online forum suggested hunting illegal immigrants for sport.]( - Security scare: Fort Worths' Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base briefly closed its gates Saturday [after a suspicious package was found.]( - Texas Democrats: [A Muslim couple attended the Texas Democratic Convention for the first time]( and found a welcoming home. - Final salute: A Texas soldier's remains were [identified and returned home]( more than 70 years after his death in World War II. - More to the story: Alleged collusion between Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and the National Enquirer [casts new light on the tabloid's Ted Cruz tales.]( - Medical malfeasance: A former ER doctor and two nurses [were found guilty of carrying out a $13 million health care fraud.]( Opinion roundup - Editorial: [Texas needs to answer the cry for help from its kids who are attempting suicide at an alarming rate.]( - Commentary: [A visit to the border clarified an Ohio teen's perspective on the immigration and family separation controversy.]( - Editorial: [Texans are raising thousands to test rape kits — now the Legislature needs to do more.]( - Commentary: [Trump's pattern of cozying up to Russia is unmistakable — and decades old.]( - Editorial: [A Sex slavery bust in Dallas reveals a big problem for the city, and for Texas.]( - Commentary: [English not only binds us, but it can ease America’s identity crisis.]( - Editorial: [John Wiley Price is wrong to allege misconduct without facts, but fixes are needed in assigning murder cases.]( - Commentary: [Charles Krauthammer never allowed his strong convictions on some issues to mean certainty in all matters.]( Tyron Garner (left) and John Lawrence (right) embrace a supporter after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Texas' ban on "homosexual behavior," ending a court battle that had begun with their arrest five years earlier. (2003 File Photo/Staff) Finally... How far have gay rights in Texas come since ‘homosexual conduct’ was illegal 15 years ago? On a balmy night in Harris county 20 years ago, sheriff's deputies srrested Tyron Garner and John Lawrence and charged them with "deviant sexual intercourse." In the eyes of the law, because they were gay — and had allegedly acted on it, in the privacy of their own home — Garner and Lawrence were now alleged criminals. Their arrest would spark a yearslong legal battle that would erase anti-gay laws in Texas and 13 other states, and lay the groundwork for every major LGBTQ rights advance that came after it. But as the anniversary of Lawrence and Garner's court win approaches, [gay and lesbian Texans are wondering how far they've come in the battle for their rights — and how far they have to go.]( Advertisement 👋 That's all for this morning! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. 💖 Share the love! 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