Federal lawsuit could mandate AC in hot Texas prisons

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice was in court Friday for the final day of this week's hearings spurred by plaintiffs' allegations that hot conditions inside Texas prisons are dangerous and unconstitutional.

The case is led by plaintiff Bernie Tiede, the Tyler mortician convicted of murder in 1996 and the subject of Ricard Linklater's movie "Bernie." He alleges he has medical conditions that place him at higher risk of heat-related illness and death. The case...