Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard faces potential contempt of court charges after appearing on Fox News in April to discuss evidence in the high-profile Charlie Kirk shooting case, allegedly violating a judge's gag order. Fourth District Judge Tony Graf Jr. is expected to determine if Ballard's media appearance breached court restrictions on out-of-court statements, according to NBC News. Tyler Robinson's defense attorneys filed a motion characterizing Ballard's appearance as a contemptuous media tour, designed to circumvent judicial limitations. Robinson, 23, is accused of killing Kirk during a September 2025 appearance at Utah Valley University. Robinson faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated murder, discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in a child's presence. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if the defendant is convicted. Robinson has yet to enter a plea.Watch the video below. Your browser does not support the video tag.
A dispute over player eligibility now has Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) involved after he entered himself into the fray on Thursday.The Big 12 Conference finds itself with its hands tied after a court ruling pumped the brakes on the NCAA punishing a Texas Tech player.'Any such action would be unlawful and would expose the Conference to substantial liability.'Quarterback Brendan Sorsby was caught earlier this year gambling on NCAA games, and it turned out he had been betting on his own team for years. Sorsby wagered approximately $90,000 over four years, On3 reported, and he also allegedly used sportsbook accounts registered to his friends and family.Earlier this week, a Texas judge in Lubbock County, where Texas Tech is located, temporarily prevented the NCAA from enforcing a permanent eligibility ban on Sorsby, meaning the 22-year-old will be able to play this season for the Red Raiders, apart from the first two games.Then came reports that the Big 12 and other conferences were considering boycotting Texas Tech altogether, with Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor telling Yahoo Sports that the Big 12 had "serious conversations" about it.Enter Texas AG Paxton's office, which sent a letter to the conference saying the state could seek "substantially more than $200 million" if the Big 12 tries to move forward with the boycott.Reporter Pete Nakos posted the AG's letter, which said Texas is aware of the attempted sanctioning of Texas Tech for "continuing its support of Mr. Sorsby as a student-athlete.""This letter serves to notify the Big 12 that any such action would be unlawful and would expose the Conference to substantial liability," Paxton's antitrust chief, Thomas York, wrote.RELATED: 'USA!' chants rock Madison Square Garden as Trump attends NBA FinalsFrom the letter: "Should the Big 12 seek. to sanction Texas Tech for acting consistent with the Order, Texas Tech will pursue all legal avenues to protect its interests and those of Texas Tech’s student-athletes."https://t.co/Q8ap2Ezie4 https://t.co/jPc4uAixce pic.twitter.com/gAE15NqykH— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) June 11, 2026The letter continued, describing the possible plan as "a naked horizontal agreement among competitors to disadvantage Texas Tech by cutting off access to the resources it needs to compete."The state government argued this would open up the conference and its members to potential damages stemming from Texas Tech's "lost football revenues, damages to its alumni contributions, and damages to its recruitment, plus attorneys' fees."Paxton's office also cited a possible breach of contract and "tortious antitrust," described as "any sanction that disrupts or interferes with Texas Tech's existing or potential contracts associated with its football team."This includes the disruption of potential sponsorships, ticket sales, and other commercial relationships, for example.Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R) then fired off a letter of his own, calling Paxton's claims "meritless" and "facially absurd."Drummond also expressed support for the Big 12 sanctioning Texas Tech over the Sorsby saga. Texas Tech "has shirked responsibility by running with a bogus claim to a friendly court. Its leadership has prioritized winning over sport, over honor, and over integrity. If Texas Tech will not do the right thing, the Big 12 should," he wrote, according to images of the letter shared by ESPN college football reporter Pete Thamel.RELATED: 'I had the right papers': Somali World Cup referee booted from US gets an answer from the White House John E. Moore III/Getty Images As Blaze News previously reported, members of the Big Ten and the SEC have also discussed refusing to play Texas Tech.Thamel cited three unnamed Big Ten sources on Monday night who said they planned on discussing the possible sanction, while University of Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks reportedly issued an internal memo to his school's coaches advising them not to schedule any games against Texas Tech in any sport without conference approval.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico flip-flopped on border security, gun control, and transgender issues during a podcast interview this week.
A deadly shooting unfolded in Midland, Texas, Friday morning before a standoff with police that reportedly left the suspected gunman dead.Midland Police responded to an active shooting incident in the 4600 block of West Wall Street, officials said.'We see the drones, and then we see the Texas Rangers and the undercover cars with lights on. ... Had to be, seems like, 50 police officers, like a small army.'Officers heard gunfire coming from a building and worked quickly to secure and clear the area, officials said, adding that "armored units were deployed, and partner agencies assisted in the response."The shooting left at least one victim dead and 10 others injured, officials told NBC News.The suspect was seen dead with a drone, Midland Mayor Lori Blong told CBS News.More from NBC News:Nine victims were taken to Midland Memorial Hospital, a spokesperson for the hospital said. Three are undergoing surgeries, and one is in recovery. Two others are stable and remain in the emergency department, and three have been discharged.Another person was taken to Odessa Medical Center Hospital.A spokesperson for the city could not confirm if all of the victims had been shot.Video reportedly from the scene captured the startling sounds of the shooting.Blong added to CBS News there was no indication that any police officers were injured.Lee Carlisle was at a nearby Super 8 Motel and described to CBS News what he saw and heard."We heard several, several gunshots, like 20 gunshots, and then it moved down — the whole situation moved further down," Carlisle told the news network. "We see the drones, and then we see the Texas Rangers and the undercover cars with lights on. ... Had to be, seems like, 50 police officers, like a small army."Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement: "Cecilia and I are deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence in Midland. We are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire community," he wrote on social media.RELATED: CA man finds home intruder firing shotgun at his wife — and ends the threat permanently "I have been briefed on the matter and commend the swift response from the Midland Police Department, DPS and all assisting law enforcement agencies," Abbott added.Midland is located in Western Texas about three hours south of Lubbock.This is a developing story; updates may be added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
