The former chairman of a state forensic board applauded the current commissioners’ report on the arson investigation used to convict Cameron Todd Willingham, but said he’s deeply concerned that politics stymied their ability to take a stronger stance.
Aziza Musa
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Board Approves Report on Willingham
Members of a state forensic board today accepted an amended version of a report on convicted arsonist Cameron Todd Willingham’s case, but won’t rule on professional negligence until the attorney general says whether they have jurisdiction to do so.
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Criminal Justice
Still No Decision on Question of Negligence in Willingham Case
After releasing a draft report on the case of convicted arsonist Cameron Todd Willingham, state forensic board members refused again today to rule on whether investigators in the case were professionally negligent in deciding the fire that killed Willingham’s three daughters was intentionally ignited.
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Criminal Justice
Juvenile Justice Agencies Come Closer to Merger
Hours after the state Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would merge the state’s two juvenile criminal justice agencies, a House committee passed a similar bill.
Posted in
State Government
House Tentatively Passes Eminent Domain
Another bill on Gov. Rick Perry’s emergency items list — eminent domain — tentatively passed in the House today, and it could further curb the government’s right to take private property.
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Health care
Senate Working on Abortion Sonogram Compromise
A panel of senators today discussed an abortion sonogram carve-out that would allow women in remote communities to wait just two hours after a sonogram to have an abortion, instead of 24 hours.
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Criminal Justice
Wentworth Temporarily Pulls Down Campus Carry Bill
After his bill received heated debate on the floor, Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, withdrew his campus carry bill today.
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Economy
Thousands Rally for Smaller Budget Cuts
Thousands of protesters chanted “They say, ‘Cut back.’ We say, ‘Fight back'” as they marched to the Capitol this afternoon to rally against proposed budget cuts.
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State Government
Senate OKs Renaming, Shrinking RR Commission
The Senate approved a bill today that would change the name of the Railroad Commission to the Texas Oil and Gas Commission and reduce the size of the commission from three elected members to one elected commissioner.
Posted in
State Government
Bill Could Punish TSA Agents for Pat-Downs
TSA agents could be charged with misdemeanor crimes for intrusive pat-downs of Texas travelers, under a bill filed by Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, and co-authored by more than 40 other lawmakers.
