Texas Legislature

Subpoenas show Agua district investigation focuses on controversial severance payments

FOIFT2018-02-23T17:24:50-06:00

By Dave Hendricks Progress Times Originally published Feb. 23, 2018 The Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office investigation of the Agua Special Utility District focuses on two former employees who received six-figure severance payments, according to grand jury subpoenas obtained by the Progress Times. Prosecutors sent the first subpoena in November, requesting records on severance payments to former Community Relations Coordinator Oscar “Coach” Salinas and former utility Project Manager Armin Garza. Prosecutors sent four more subpoenas in January, requesting employment records for Salinas and Garza. They also sought text messages between the utility board and the former executive director who approved the [...]

Subpoenas show Agua district investigation focuses on controversial severance paymentsFOIFT2018-02-23T17:24:50-06:00

Texas prison system stalls release of public information on executions

FOIFT2018-02-15T14:08:16-06:00

By Jolie McCullough The Texas Tribune Originally published Feb. 15, 2018 The cloud of secrecy surrounding Texas executions has grown a little darker lately. After death penalty defense lawyers claimed the state’s first two executions of the year were botched because of old lethal injection drugs, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has stalled the release of public information regarding the state’s supply of lethal doses. Without providing a reason, the department told a Texas Tribune reporter last week that it would take an estimated 20 business days — until the day before the state’s next scheduled execution — to provide information on [...]

Texas prison system stalls release of public information on executionsFOIFT2018-02-15T14:08:16-06:00

Internal GLO draft audit slams unusual use of non-profits to manage Alamo

FOIFT2018-02-09T15:17:03-06:00

By Jonathan Tilove Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 8, 2018 On Dec. 5, the state Senate Finance Committee questioned Land Commissioner George P. Bush and the agency’s general counsel, Jeff Gordon, about the three nonprofits the General Land Office had set up to manage, promote and raise money for the Alamo — each with its own mission but with identical boards made up of Bush and 10 of the state’s most recognizable movers and shakers. What most vexed the senators was that Alamo Complex Management, the nonprofit responsible for day-to-day operations of the most iconic site in Texas, was entirely funded [...]

Internal GLO draft audit slams unusual use of non-profits to manage AlamoFOIFT2018-02-09T15:17:03-06:00

Dallas Morning News editorial: Paxton’s misinformed spokesman turns Public Information Act against Texans over petty grudge

FOIFT2018-02-06T05:15:47-06:00

The Dallas Morning News Editorial Originally published Feb. 2, 2018 At a conference put on last month by the attorney general's office to help train local and state officials on how to comply with the Texas Public Information Act, one of the experts providing advice was Marc Rylander. Rylander works for Attorney General Ken Paxton and in comments caught on video he managed to embarrass himself and his boss. Worse still, he undermined a reputation lawyers in that office have built over many years for evenhanded enforcement of the state's open meetings and open records laws, no matter who happens to [...]

Dallas Morning News editorial: Paxton’s misinformed spokesman turns Public Information Act against Texans over petty grudgeFOIFT2018-02-06T05:15:47-06:00

Texas senators examine free speech on college campuses

FOIFT2018-02-01T15:12:28-06:00

By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz Austin American-Statesman Originally published Jan. 31, 2018 SAN MARCOS —Incidents of hecklers shouting down controversial figures on college campuses are anathema to free speech but pose a difficult challenge to overcome, a state Senate panel chairwoman said Wednesday.“No one should be shouted down,” said Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, whose State Affairs Committee held a hearing on campus free speech issues hosted by Texas State University. “We need to put an end to that. But you can’t legislate morality or civility — I get that.” The panel has been charged by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick with recommending “policy [...]

Texas senators examine free speech on college campusesFOIFT2018-02-01T15:12:28-06:00

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