Holiday redistricting stories, not unusual things if you've watched this for a while, always start with three wise persons in the guise of federal judges. It's super-sized this year, with six wise men, three in San Antonio and three in Washington.
Full Story
A panel of three federal judges in San Antonio proposed new congressional districts for Texas Wednesday. The map is a proposal; the court is seeking comments from the parties by noon Friday.
Full StoryA panel of federal judges in San Antonio ordered the state to conduct its 2012 House and Senate elections using political maps drawn by the court and not those drawn by the state, issuing final maps that give minority voters — and Democrats — more power. The state's top lawyer will move immediately to stop the new maps.
Full StoryThe Texas Legislative Council has a terrific redistricting section on its website, with full statistical reporting on all of the new maps, including geography, demographics, incumbencies, and election results all the way back to 2002.
Full StoryA tiny tempest over deadlines, and Thanksgiving.
Full Story
Rep. Joe Driver and Travis County prosecutors come to terms on his legislative expense accounts.
Full StoryIn which we asked in the insiders about redistricting and, separately, about Formula One racing in Texas.
Full StoryOccupy Houston participants got a shock Monday when a 21-year old man dressed in a suit started shooting a rifle near their encampment. No one in the gathering was injured and the gunman continued on to Tranquility Park where police intercepted him. After a standoff, police shot the man and he was taken to a local hospital, although his wounds were not life threatening.
All parties in the Formula One racetrack debate are pointing fingers when it comes to deciding if the first scheduled race will go forward next November as scheduled. The CEO of Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, says he’s waiting for a $25 million sanctioning fee and he’s set a deadline for the receipt of the money. The promoter of the race, Tavo Hellmund, is negotiating with his partners at Circuit of the Americas to come to a resolution of the issue before the December 7th vote on the 2012 racing schedule.
After the San Antonio panel presented its final San Antonio maps, state Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston, filed a motion asking the lead judge, Orlando Garcia of San Antonio, to step aside. She said, correctly, that his sister-in-law is state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio. The other judges on the panel turned that down; Garcia disclosed the relationship at the beginning of the trial and asked the state and the other parties whether they had any objection. Nobody did, so he stayed.
The San Antonio panel includes two Republicans and a Democrat. Garcia is a Democrat and a former state legislator. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton. Xavier Rodriguez, a Republican, was appointed by President George W. Bush, after losing a Republican primary for the Texas Supreme Court, where he was trying to hold onto a seat to which Gov. Rick Perry had appointed him. Jerry Smith, a Houston judge on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is also a Republican. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan.
