Texas House Passes Border Prosecution Bill:  The Texas House of Representatives passed HB 12, a bill that formalizes the organizational structure of the Border Prosecution Unit.  Your Valley Voice reports that the BPU will operate as an independent unit, supporting attorneys that prosecute felony border crimes.  The unit will also act as a "clearinghouse" for information regarding the investigation and prosecution of border crimes, help to develop the best practices, and training programs for attorneys and law enforcement.

Law Would Stop Violent Felons From Owning Dogs:  A bill proposed by Wisconsin legislators would prevent felons convicted of "crimes against life and bodily security" from owning dogs.  Brenda McIntire of the Badger Herald reports that according to the senior humane animal control officer for the Green Bay Police Department, dogs can be trained to be dangerous, and can even be more threatening than a weapon because they act independently.  The bill is not breed-specific and outlines the behavior a dog would need to exhibit to be considered dangerous.

Bill To Limit Internet Access For Sex Offenders:  Texas lawmakers have introduced HB 372, a new bill that would require certain paroled sex offenders to have their internet access limited and monitored by the state.  Ashly Custer of Valley Central reports that there has been an increase in predators utilizing social media to prey on underage victims, according to the city of McAllen's police chief.  The bill will receive its third reading today.

Ohio's Death Penalty Law Faces Revision:  Two bipartisan Ohio senators are introducing a series of proposals to revise the state's capital punishment law, to improve fairness to defendants and strengthen public confidence.  Ann Sanner of the AP reports that the bill would require judges to be specific in their findings.  Court clerks would have to retain original trial file copies from death penalty cases, and attorneys would not be given a page limit on post-conviction petitions.  Some prosecutors on the task force created to analyze Ohio's 1981 law issued a dissenting report, claiming that many of the recommendations were rooted in anti-death penalty arguments.  Additional legislation should be introduced before July.

No Place to Execute Nevada Murderers:  With over 80 men on death row and no place to execute them, Nevada lawmakers are being asked to fund a new execution chamber.  Sean Whaley of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Department of Corrections Director Greg Cox is seeking approximately $829,000 to build a new execution chamber at Ely State Prison, but expects that architectural firms will avoid participating in the design.  The Public Works Board estimated that the project would take two years to complete.