Vol 31, Issue 37 Print Issue

The Week in the Rearview Mirror

A patient at Dallas' Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital was diagnosed Tuesday with Ebola, the first such infection to appear in the U.S. The diagnosis spurred a response by both the federal and state governments, including a quarantine of the infected man's family. Scrutiny also fell on the hospital after it was revealed the patient was sent home before he was put in isolation two days later.

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday lifted a stay issued by a lower court that had blocked enforcement of the law passed last year subjecting Texas abortion clinics to new restrictions. Eight clinics in the state remain open while a challenge to the law continues to make its way through the legal system.

Debates were held this week between the major party nominees for governor and lieutenant governor. Both debates were characterized by tough stances taken by the candidates as they made their likely last appearances together on stage before the Nov. 4 general election.

The state's highest criminal appellate court refused to reinstate money-laundering convictions against former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The appeals court upheld the Third Court of Appeals' ruling reversing the 2010 convictions.

The state will appeal a district judge's ruling against the school fincance system, according to a filing made late last week. The appeal goes directly to the Texas Supreme Court.

Political People and their Moves

Dave Mann has joined the staff of Texas Monthly as senior editor. A longtime fixture at the Texas Observer, Mann joined that publication in 2003 and was made editor in 2011.

Alan Gray has left the Licensed Beverage Distributors after 22 years there, the last six as executive director. He has since hung out his own shingle, Alan Gray Advocacy and Consulting, which he said is a general lobbying operation.

Ken Paxton, the GOP nominee for attorney general, was endorsed by the political arm of the Texas Farm Bureau.

The political arm of the Texas Medical Association endorsed GOP comptroller candidate Glenn Hegar and Wayne Faircloth, the GOP nominee for the Galveston-based HD-23. The district is considered one of the House's few swing districts.

Libby Willis, the Democratic candidate in Tarrant County-based SD-10, was endorsed by the Texas Parent PAC, which backs public education-oriented legislative candidates. SD-10 is considered the one swing district in the Senate.

Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby endorsed fellow Democrat Leticia Van de Putte, who is running for his old job.

Disclosure: Texas Monthly, the Texas Medical Association and the Texas Farm Bureau are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. The Hobby Family Foundation is a major donor to the Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.