As the campaigns for gubernatorial candidates Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis use social media to expand the discourse on the issues they consider priorities, they must also deal with addressing issues like name calling and personal attacks in such forums.
Department of Public Safety
Posted in
Politics
Stimulus Fund Allegations Spicing Up AG Contest
The campaigns for two GOP attorney general candidates — state Rep. Dan Branch and state Sen. Ken Paxton — are accusing each other of benefiting from President Obama’s 2009 stimulus package. Those are fighting words in a Texas GOP primary.
Posted in
Energy
Video: As West Continues to Rebuild, Agencies Make Changes
The Federal Emergency Management Agency next week will complete its assessment of damage from an April fertilizer plant explosion in West. As the city continues to recover, state agencies are implementing changes to further ensure safety.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
DPS to Roll Out Mobile Stations to Process Free Voter IDs
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced on Tuesday that 25 mobile locations will begin processing free election identification certificates on Oct. 1.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
U.S. DOJ Again Seeks to Stop Texas Voter ID, Redistricting Maps
The U.S. Department of Justice will once again seek to stop Texas’ voter ID law, this time in a lawsuit alleging the measure violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It will also challenge state redistricting maps.
Posted in
31 Days, 31 Ways (2013)
Hard Copy Not Required: Law to Let Drivers Show Insurance on Phones
Motorists in Texas will soon be allowed to use their cellphones to show proof of insurance during traffic stops. Proponents of the legislation say that the law will increase at the efficiency at those stops. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2013)
Money for DPS to Help With Backlog of Rape Kits
Thousands of untested rape kits are likely to get processed for DNA evidence after state budget writers included $11 million for the effort in the 2014-15 budget. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
Posted in
State Government
Evidence of Excrement Remains Elusive
Debate continues over whether visitors to the Capitol on July 12 attempted to sneak in containers of human feces. The Department of Public Safety is seeking to withhold information about the alleged incident.
Posted in
Energy
Lawmakers Seek Lessons From West Explosion
A panel of House lawmakers on Monday agreed to join other state officials in calling on the federal government to send additional aid to the small town of West, which was rocked in April by a massive plant explosion.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Budget Plan for DPS Has Pay Hikes for Troopers
The 2014-15 budget plan for the Texas Department of Public Safety doesn’t include money for big-ticket items like gunboats or planes, but it does include money for troopers’ raises and retains funding for the agency’s fusion center.
