The Brief: Federal spotlight is now on Baylor, sexual assault

The Big Conversation

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights announced Wednesday that it’s investigating Baylor University to see if the school violated federal Title IX laws.

The investigation comes after various allegations of sexual assault by fellow students. When former football player Sam Ukwuachu was convicted of raping a student last August, it was revealed that Baylor took little action against Ukwuachu other than suspending him from the football team. In a statement Wednesday, however, Baylor University Interim President David E. Garland said the university will fully cooperate with the review.

As the Tribune’s Matthew Watkins reports, the Department of Education said they were prompted to investigate after receiving a complaint from the former Baylor Title IX coordinator Patty Crawford, who left the school last month. Soon after her departure, Crawford told CBS that Baylor officials were more concerned with "protecting the brand" rather than its students.

The university has been sued in the past by current and former students claiming they were assaulted on or off campus and didn't receive support from the university. To continue the investigation, the Department of Education will likely request documents and other records from the school detailing how it handled these sexual assault cases.

Trib Must Reads

Democrats hope Trump effect aids long-shot bids for Texas Supreme Court, by Nicole Cobler — Three Democrats are trying to unseat Republicans on the Texas Supreme Court, but only one has raised a significant amount of money. 

When grandparents step in, state often doesn't help, by Marissa Evans — Taking in grandchildren can keep them out of the state's foster care system, but Texas often doesn't help grandparents who step up to do it.

Texas Congressional Chairs Rally to Save Their Gavels, by Abby Livingston — Texas Republicans would lose seven committee chairmanships if their party loses control of the U.S. House.

Record 15.1 million Texans registered to vote in November election, by Alex Samuels — This number eclipses the preliminary estimate by more than 85,000.

Elsewhere

(Links below lead to outside websites; content might be behind paywall)

Texas judge says his hold on Obama's transgender bathroom rules applies nationwide, The Dallas Morning News

Can't block this: Feds sue over access to Texas border fence, Houston Chronicle

Texas conservatives aren’t ready to end gay marriage fight, Austin American-Statesman

Dallas' Love Field hides its presidential history, WFAA

Express-News: Re-elect Hurd to Congress in 23rd District, San Antonio Express-News

Rick Perry On Marco Rubio’s WikiLeaks Warning: ‘I Don’t Really Care What He Thinks’, Huffington Post

McCaul disputes Trump on Russian hacks and 'rigged' election claim, The Dallas Morning News

Protests, arrests pick up as environmentalists target pipelines, Houston Chronicle

Quote to Note

"People have been talking about Texas going back to being a Democrat state. We've heard it now for over 15 years, and it's not going to happen. ... I think you've got an outlier poll. Texas is not going to be a Democratic state." 

— Former Gov. Rick Perry said in an interview Thursday prior to the presidential debate. A University of Houston poll released Tuesday showed Trump holding a 3-point lead over Clinton in Texas. 

Today in TribTalk

How Democratic gains could lead to a more conservative Texas House, by Mark P. Jones, An influx of new Democrats would make the House as a whole more liberal but would simultaneously make the majority Republican delegation more conservative.

News From Home

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•   A Conversation with U.S. Rep Michael McCaul on Oct. 25 at The Austin Club 

•   "Along Came Kinky" Screening and Conversation on Oct. 27 at the LBJ Library

•   A Symposium on Transportation on Nov. 3 at Texas A&M University - Rudder Tower 

•   A Conversation with U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke on Nov. 4 at The Austin Club 

•   A Conversation with state Reps. Andrew Murr and Jason Isaac on Nov. 14 at Schreiner University in Kerrville

•   San Antonio & the Legislature: A Preview of the 85th on Dec. 2 at University of Texas at San Antonio – Downtown Campus