The Texas House has thwarted an effort to patch what some called “glaring loopholes” in public records law, recently punched by the Texas Supreme Court.
Jim Malewitz
Jim Malewitz was a reporter at the Tribune from 2013 to 2017, covering energy and environment and then working on investigations. Previously, he covered those issues for Stateline, a nonprofit news service in Washington, D.C. The Michigan native majored in political science at Grinnell College in Iowa and holds a master’s from the University of Iowa. There, he helped launch the nonprofit Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism, where he currently serves on the board of directors. Jim also coaches the Texas Tribune Runoffs, which, sources say, is the scrappiest coed newsroom softball team west of the Mississippi.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Senate advances bill to crowdfund rape kit testing
Legislation that would crowdfund money from Texans to deal with a state backlog of thousands of untested rape kits has moved closer to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
Posted in
Energy
West Texas churches pray to Legislature for electricity rate relief
Facing sky-high electricity rates, several West Texas churches hope lawmakers will answer their calls for relief in the final days of the Legislative session, but the odds look slim.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Sen. Carlos Uresti indicted on fraud, bribery charges
A federal grand jury handed state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, two indictments Tuesday: one for his involvement in a now-bankrupt company accused of misleading investors and another for alleged bribery surrounding a government contract.
Posted in
Politics
Cornyn could face Senate resistance if tapped by Trump to lead FBI
U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer said they were uneasy about confirming anyone with a political background to lead the FBI during Donald Trump’s politically turbulent tenure.
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Criminal Justice
Reaching across the aisle, legislators target voter fraud at nursing homes
In a rare twist, Republicans and Democrats are jointly pushing an effort to crack down on voter fraud. The measure targets ballots cast at nursing homes, and it could make it easier for older Texans to vote.
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Politics
House Freedom Caucus blocks maternal mortality bills, more than 100 others
Ahead of Mother’s Day weekend, the Texas House’s self-labeled Freedom Caucus killed two bills aimed at helping the state curb its alarming rise in mothers dying less than a year after childbirth, along with more than 100 other measures.
Posted in
State Government
Texas Senate unsticks proposals to plug public records “loopholes”
With looming deadlines threatening to kill a slew of bills aiming to bolster access to public records in Texas, Sen. Kirk Watson muscled them closer to the governor’s desk — all at once.
Posted in
Economy
Texas House backs Rainy Day Fund overhaul
The Texas House approved legislation Wednesday that would overhaul the way the state stows away money for tough economic times, advancing a proposal championed by Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
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Criminal Justice
Aiming to stop suicides, Texas Senate supports crackdown on cyberbullying
The state Senate Wednesday unanimously approved a bill dubbed “David’s Law” that’s aimed at curbing teen suicides by cracking down on cyberbullying.