Five of the nine members of the state’s Commission on Jail Standards, which oversees the 245 county lockups, are elected officials from or employees of the counties whose facilities they regulate. Advocates say that’s a conflict of interest, and they’re calling for a change in the commission’s makeup.
August 2010
Posted inState Government
2010: Chet Edwards Gets NRA Nod
The Waco Democrat, in the fight of his career as he runs for re-election in the most Republican House district held by a Democrat anywhere in the country, got a big boost Monday when the National Rifle Association’s Victory Fund announced it would support him over his GOP opponent, Bill Flores.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Abbott Declines to Opine on Gay Marriage
In a letter formally declining El Paso County’s request for an opinion on transgender marriages in Texas, Attorney Greg Abbott’s office said it would not opine on the issue because a case currently in court could clear up the question.
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: Perry Talks Obama, Border Issues
After a brief tarmac meeting with President Barack Obama, Gov. Rick Perry returned to bashing the administration over border security.
Posted in
Higher Education
Obama: “It’s Good To Be Back”
Watch the start of President Barack Obama’s Monday speech at the University of Texas.
Posted in
Higher Education
Obama Talks Higher Ed
President Obama wrapped up a trip to Austin this afternoon with a speech on higher education on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
Posted in
Congress
2010: Inside the Obama Fundraiser
The menu, the people, the president. Details from inside the Austin DNC fundraiser headlined by President Barack Obama.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Abbott Takes On BP
The Texas attorney general accuses BP of “once again prioritizing profits over environmental compliance” at its Texas City refinery.
Posted in
Politics
The Polling Center: White’s No Mad Man
Bill White deciding to travel to points far from Austin and Dallas while President Barack Obama visits the state today to raise money and speak at the University of Texas presents us with yet another mountain-out-of-a-molehill political story in the long, hot summer of gassy coverage of the governor’s race. A look at Obama’s standing in Texas makes it clear that White would be nuts to share a stage with Obama unless he feels like doing a favor for Gov. Rick Perry’s ad team.
