Why some Texas cities and counties had to return millions of dollars meant to help renters during the pandemic
For some local relief programs, a lack of staffing, political support and effective community outreach got in the way of spending federal funds to prevent evictions, a new report found. More than $30 million went unspent and had to be returned.
Texas struggles to get guns away from domestic violence suspects, leaving victims in danger
Although there are laws on the books preventing certain people from possessing guns, there are few places in the state where the criminal justice system has programs to hand over firearms to law enforcement — leaving survivors at a heightened risk for gun violence.
Commissioners, county judge argue during SH 45 Southwest discussion
The Hays County Commissioners Court’s discussion surrounding a letter sent by Travis County asking the county to reconsider its plan to move forward with the completion of the final section of State H[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comCommissioners to discuss Travis County’s letter rebuking SH 45 Southwest plans
The Hays County Commissioners Court will discuss a letter sent by Travis County rebuking a decision to complete the final section of State Highway 45 Southwest.Travis County’s letter outlines its disa[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comHays County commissioner pleads to lesser charge in 2021 DWI crash case
A Hays County commissioner who was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into a vehicle in Austin last year has been sentenced to nine months of community supervision in the case, Travis County court records show.
Travis County rebukes Hays County’s SH 45 Southwest decision
Hays County’s decision to move forward with plans to complete the final section of State Highway 45 Southwest has been met with disapproval by the Travis County Commissioners Court.The Hays County Com[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comIndictment: Woman convicted of murdering husband provided false payroll info in $9 million scheme
A woman convicted in 2016 of murdering her husband during a road rage incident provided false payroll information over a seven-year period in order to avoid more than $9 million in payments, Texas Department of Insurance officials confirmed Thursday.
Gov. Greg Abbott floats pardons for Austin police officers charged with excessive force in 2020 protests
Abbott’s move is the latest in a long clash between Texas Republicans and Austin-area officials over policing — and comes as the push for reform in the Texas capital enters a more complex and uncertain chapter.
2 of 19 Austin officers charged were in cases that settled
AUSTIN (AP) — Two of the 19 Austin police officers indicted for their actions during 2020 protests over racial injustice were involved in cases that the city paid millions of dollars to settle, accord[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comAustin police officers charged with aggravated assault for force used in 2020 protests
Defense attorneys for eight of 19 indicted APD officers say they were following orders when they used force against 2020 protesters. So far, there are 14 lawsuits against the city for injuries suffered during those confrontations.
In fight for Congress, Eddie Rodriguez targets Greg Casar’s record on Austin homelessness, police funding
Casar has impressive progressive endorsements, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. But he also is tied to some of Austin’s most progressive policies, which have attracted powerful enemies and turned off some moderate Democrats.
Vote-by-mail rejections are testing integrity of Texas Republicans’ voting law
With less than a month left to vote by mail in the March primary election, hundreds of applications for mail-in ballots are being rejected as both Texas voters and local election officials decipher new ID requirements enacted by Republican lawmakers.
Court fight brews over constitutionality of Texas governor’s border arrests
A legal defense group is asking Travis County courts to throw out the arrests of hundreds of migrants swept up in the governor’s border initiative. The case is expected to draw in the Texas attorney general and address whether Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan is unconstitutional.
Texas judge opens door for widespread constitutional challenges to Gov. Greg Abbott’s border initiative
A Travis County judge Thursday tossed out the trespassing charge of an Ecuadorian man who said he came to the United States seeking asylum. His lawyers argued that the governor’s directive to arrest migrants on state charges unconstitutionally usurps federal immigration law.
Study finds COVID in Texas white-tails
The study by scientists from the University of Texas at El Paso looked at white-tailed deer in Travis County. Their conclusions matched research confirming COVID in deer populations in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. Watts and fellow researchers studied blood samples from 54 hunter-harvested deer in Travis County during the first two months of 2021. The COVID risk to hunters who harvest deer in Texas is regarded as low. The research paper on the Travis County deer herd was published in the journal “Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.”
myrgv.comAmid Texas GOP’s effort to question electoral integrity, attorney general tried to indict Travis County elections chief
The effort to charge Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir came at a time when many Texas Republicans questioned the integrity of last year’s election despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud.
Facing civil suit, DA Ori White denies allegations that he wrongly fired assistant – The Big Bend Sentinel
In the suit, Phillips alleged that White and Houston wanted the case back in local jurisdiction to get a more lenient plea deal. Phillips believes his firing was because he reported his belief of wrongdoing in these four incidents to DA White. While details of the specific case are not provided in the lawsuit, Phillips filed to dismiss the case. Asked why he believed Phillips had filed the suit, White said, “He’s not a happy person,” and declined to comment further on the allegations. Three of the counties named as defendants in the suit have filed to request the venue be moved to district court in the local counties.
bigbendsentinel.comLetter from comptroller shows state support for Samsung Semiconductor facility location in Williamson County
A letter from the Texas comptroller shows state support for the Samsung semiconductor facility, which has filed applications for tax limitation agreements locally in Travis and Williamson Counties.
communityimpact.comCourt hears arguments in Valley mask lawsuit
A Travis County District Judge Tuesday heard more testimony and arguments over several Rio Grande Valley school districts who sued Gov. The court heard several hours of testimony on masks from representatives from Hidalgo County and other parties related to the suit on Monday. Judge Catherine Mauzy, who heard the testimony and arguments, said she was set to hear testimony on two related TROs tomorrow. Representing Valley school districts, O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo attorney David Campbell argued the governor was overstepping his bounds with the mask fight. “Because that is the only thing the school districts are trying to do in this case,” he said.
myrgv.comNo Decision: Judge recesses hearing on masks
The Brownsville Independent School District's policy of requiring face masks in classrooms remained in effect Monday after a hearing in Travis County over Gov. Greg Abbott's attempt to block mask mandates by the state's two largest school districts and several from the Rio Grande Valley including Brownsville.
myrgv.comHidalgo County officials testify at mask mandate hearing
Greg Abbott over the authority to mandate masks at a local level. An order issued by Hidalgo County Health Authority Dr. Ivan Melendez issued just before the start of the school year also mandates masks, unless districts vote to opt out of it. The court also heard from representatives from Hidalgo County’s largest school district, among them Edinburg CISD Board President Mike Farias, who said there’s been little local opposition to the district’s mask mandate. “As a matter of fact, on our first day of opening school our superintendent received a total of four phone calls, with expressing them not agreeing with the mask mandates. “The mask mandate for La Joya ISD is critical because we need to make sure that we keep students in school, and we believe that the mask mandate can help us (do) that,” she said.
myrgv.comCourt: Democrats who don’t show up for Legislature can be arrested
House Democrats who refuse to show up for the Legislature could soon be detained by law enforcement and brought back to the state Capitol, after the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday voided a state district judge's temporary restraining order barring their arrest.
myrgv.comAustin announces stricter coronavirus protocols for unvaccinated residents as cases increase. But it can’t legally enforce them.
The city’s return to Stage 3 risk-based guidelines marks the first time a major Texas city has reversed direction in the trend toward normalcy. But others are also reporting surges in cases.
Army sergeant indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges after fatally shooting Austin protester Garrett Foster in 2020
Army Sgt. Daniel Perry shot and killed Foster, who was legally armed, after an altercation during a protest against police brutality last summer, police said. Perry argues it was in self defense.
“If you are vaccinated, go for it”: Large counties roll back some pandemic-era limits as COVID-19 deaths drop statewide
Officials in Travis and Harris counties — both early adopters of pandemic restrictions — rolled some back Tuesday in an effort to allow vaccinated residents to return to pre-pandemic living.