Aaronson on the rise in the state’s unemployment rate, Aguilar on the push to mandate use of an electronic employment verification program, Galbraith on fears about the drought’s impact on lake levels, Grissom on the latest in the Duane Buck case, Hamilton on the possible end of physics (academically speaking), Murphy updates our public employee pay app, Ramsey on David “Mitt” Dewhurst, Ramshaw on Rick Perry’s campaign swing through Virginia and Iowa, Root on the deletion of gubernatorial emails and M. Smith on the teaching of safe sex where you’d least expect it: The best of our best content from Sept. 12-16, 2011.
Criminal Justice
Get the latest Texas Tribune coverage on criminal justice, including crime, courts, law enforcement, and reforms shaping the state’s justice system.
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Criminal Justice
Mike Leach: The TT Interview
The former Texas Tech football coach on his pending lawsuit against the university, how the state’s doing at educating student athletes and what happens if the Big 12 falls apart.
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Criminal Justice
Supreme Court Grants Last-Minute Stay of Duane Buck Execution
At about 7:40 p.m., the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the execution of Duane Edward Buck. His trial was one of several cases in which a psychologist told jurors that his race made him more dangerous.
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Criminal Justice
With Execution Set for Tonight, Perry Faces Further Scrutiny
Tonight, Texas is scheduled to execute its 11th death row inmate this year. As Matt Largey of KUT News reports, controversy surrounding the inmate’s case could put the spotlight back on Gov. Rick Perry’s death penalty record, which has received national attention in recent weeks.
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Criminal Justice
State Fire Marshal’s Critics Fear Arson Review Will Be Compromised
Advocates for a review of previous arson cases fear it may be inadequate if it is led by the state fire marshal, who continues to stand by the Cameron Todd Willingham investigation — even though it relied on methods now considered scientifically unsound.
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Criminal Justice
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 97
This week on the TribCast, Ross, Reeve, Brandi and Jay talk about the recent GOP debates, the death penalty and the return of the HPV vaccine controversy.
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Criminal Justice
Pardons Board Denies Clemency in Buck Case
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles today voted against recommending clemency for Duane Edward Buck, rejecting the pleas of his lawyers, a victim he shot and a prosecutor who was on the team that sentenced him to death.
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Criminal Justice
Duane Buck Prosecutor Urges Clemency
A lawyer who worked on the Harris County District Attorney’s prosecution team that sent Duane Edward Buck to death row is calling on state officials to halt the execution schedueld for Thursday and allow for a new sentencing trial in the case.
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Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
M. Smith on Rick Perry’s allergic reaction to federal school money, E. Smith elicits Ted Cruz’s take on David Dewhurst, Root and Ramshaw cover Perry’s first presidential debate, Ramshaw and Aguilar poke at Perry’s immigration record and how it plays among Republicans, Hamilton on the dash for top status among Texas colleges, Galbraith on an environmental ruling from the White House that got conservative applause and one that didn’t, Grissom has the latest on the Willingham arson case and the state’s plans to look at other fires and Aaronson’s widget for comparing the presidential candidates: The best of our best content from Sept. 5 to 9, 2011.
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Criminal Justice
Guest Column: About Those Cheers for the Death Penalty
One of the oddest moments of the GOP presidential primary debate occurred when the audience burst into applause in response to a recap of Gov. Rick Perry’s record of presiding over 234 executions. Should anyone be surprised by the reaction?
