The pop star’s contract with the city — long hidden by what critics described as gaping holes in the state’s open-records laws — became public this week after new legislation governing the public’s right to know went into effect.
Courts
Stay up to date on Texas courts with in-depth coverage of major rulings, judicial elections, criminal justice, and the judges shaping state law from The Texas Tribune.
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Politics
How the Texas Legislature saved billionaire John Paul DeJoria $123 million
The Texas billionaire wanted U.S. courts to throw out a hefty judgment won against him in Morocco. The law wasn’t on DeJoria’s side. So Texas legislators changed it.
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Health care
Individual mandate is unconstitutional, federal appellate court rules in Texas-led Affordable Care Act lawsuit
A panel on the conservative-leaning U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sent the lawsuit back to a district court in Texas to reassess how much of the Affordable Care Act can stand if the individual mandate must fall.
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Environment
Sierra Club intervenes in open records lawsuit against Texas Attorney General
The environmental group is trying to obtain documents showing how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality arrived at a decision on increasing emissions limits for a toxic chemical.
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Criminal Justice
Cesar Fierro spent 40 years on Texas death row. A court tossed his sentence Wednesday for faulty jury instructions.
Fierro was sentenced to death in El Paso in 1980 for the murder of a taxi driver.
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In Harvey's Wake
In win for Harvey victims, federal judge finds government liable for reservoir flooding
During Hurricane Harvey, thousands of properties behind two federally owned reservoirs flooded. On Tuesday, the United States Court of Federal Claims ruled that the government was liable for the flooding and that property owners are eligible for damages.
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Politics
Waco judge sues state agency after receiving public warning for refusing to officiate same-sex marriages
Dianne Hensley, who received a warning last month from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, will be represented by First Liberty Institute, a high-profile religious liberty law firm with close ties to the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
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Health care
Nonprofits claim Texas broke the law by leaving them out of Medicaid contracts
The Houston region’s Community Health Choice and San Antonio’s Community First Health plans are suing the state, saying the law promises them a piece of roughly $10 billion in Medicaid contracts.
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Politics
Appointees claim Gov. Greg Abbott ousted them from board for voting to sanction judge who refused to perform same-sex marriages
After those two appointees left the commission, it handed down just a warning to the judge, Dianne Hensley.
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Health care
San Antonio paid sick leave requirement blocked by state judge
A judge blocked an ordinance that would provide paid sick leave for employees who work in the city of San Antonio starting Dec. 1.
