A state lawmaker has refused to leave the Texas Capitol as Republicans use police to prevent Democrats from fleeing the state over a redistricting vote.

Republicans in the Texas House forced returning Democrats to around-the-clock surveillance by state Department of Public Safety officers to leave the floor.

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.

"He lost me on the trail, got angry about it, and made a scene in front of my constituents on the trail," Cole said about the DPS officer assigned to escort her upon her return to Texas.

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

Several Texas state House Democrats ripped up the written agreements that allowed them to leave the chamber with a police escort and returned to the House floor Tuesday night, the caucus announced.

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.