State Rep. Cecil Bell, a private contractor, says he has a plan to curb costly and sometimes dangerous strikes to underground pipelines during construction: make sure whoever is responsible pays to fix them.
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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Criminal Justice
In Ken Paxton Case, SEC Lawyers Face Skeptical Judge at Hearing
A federal judge considering whether to dismiss the civil fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton suggested that the Securities and Exchange Commission was trying to fit a “square peg into a round hole,” basing its case on precedents that do not back up their arguments.
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Even When Off Duty, Police Officers Have Wide Discretion to Shoot
In at least 66 cases — about 10 percent of police shootings in Texas’ largest cities between 2010 and 2015 — the officer pulling the trigger was off duty, according to an analysis of police data obtained by The Texas Tribune.
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Discipline, Charges Rare in Texas Police Shootings
At least 881 officers were involved in police shootings in Texas’ 36 largest cities between 2010 and 2015, according to data compiled by The Texas Tribune. Seven officers have faced criminal charges for pulling the trigger in that period. None have been convicted, so far.
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On Mental Crisis Calls, Police Sometimes Use Lethal Force
When police shoot a mentally ill person, calls inevitably follow for providing officers more training in how to de-escalate situations and deal with mental health issues.
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Criminal Justice
Here’s What a Former Police Chief Thinks of Texas Police Shootings
Our readers asked a former police chief about his experience and Texas police shootings. Here’s what he told them.
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Seeing a Threat, Police Officers Will Shoot an Unarmed Individual
Public outcries over shootings of unarmed people are often especially pronounced, underpinned with the inference that police should seldom find it necessary to unleash lethal force on unarmed civilians.
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Criminal Justice
Paxton Due Back in Court as Legal Woes Persist
Lawyers for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will try to convince a federal judge on Friday to throw out the federal civil fraud case filed against him for allegedly misleading investors in a technology startup.
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Race Frames Discussion, Controversy Over Police Shootings
Policymakers and the public have begun to question with renewed fervor whether police shoot at minorities at a disproportionate rate, whether it’s possible to tell how often and what can be done about it.
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Bordering on Insecurity
Austin Poised to Become First True “Sanctuary City” In Texas
With the likely election of a new Democratic sheriff in November, Austin is poised to become the first true “sanctuary city” in GOP-ruled Texas if Travis County stops cooperating with federal immigration policies.
