Texas paid more than $264 million in 2023 — the most recent available data — for court-appointed attorneys to defend people who can’t afford an attorney when facing criminal charges. Twenty-two attorneys earned over $500,000 each from court-appointed cases. More than half of these attorneys (51.6%) took on at least 100% of the recommended maximum caseload, according to data compiled by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. The high payment total can be attributed to several factors,...

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a massive issue in the United States. Roughly 37 Americans are killed per day in drunk-driving crashes — on average, that’s one person every 39 minutes. More than 11,000 people die each year in drunk driving crashes – that’s about 30% of all traffic fatalities, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The physical toll is only part of the high cost – accidents total approximately $58 billion annually, racking up...

Every 39 minutes, an American dies in a DWI or DUI-related accident – that’s 37 people per day. About a million arrests are made each year for driving while intoxicated. Despite the risks, millions of people in the United States each year choose to drive after drinking. It’s also essential to understand the role of addiction in DWI. Drugs and alcohol can create a heightened sense of pleasure or euphoria, which in turn can lead to questionable choices. September 14 is National Sober Day. To...