Several Texas state House Democrats plan to rip up the written agreements that allowed them to leave the chamber with a police escort on Monday and return to the House floor Tuesday night, the caucus announced.

Republicans required their Democratic peers to have an escort to ensure they returned to the chamber on Wednesday following their two-week venture outside the state to thwart a GOP redistricting effort.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows said Monday that Democrats who previously left the state could not leave the chamber unless they agreed to having a DPS escort. Collier refused one and must remain in the chamber.

Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier spent the night on the Texas House floor in protest after refusing a Republican demand to be placed under the watch of the state Department of Public Safety.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority worker struck and killed on I-44 yesterday will receive a hero's escort home tomorrow.

Police were on hand to ensure a family of swans crossing a major road completed their journey safely. Essex Police received reports about a pair of adults with four cygnets swanning around on the A131 Regiment Way, Chelmsford.