Nearly two decades after the U.S. Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional to execute those with intellectual disabilities, Texas still has no process on determining the condition — leaving life-and-death decisions in the hands of courts with very different methods.
Borris L. Miles
Posted inState Government
Women’s group urges Texas Sens. Miles, Uresti to resign after sexual misconduct reports
Annie’s List, a group that works to elect Democratic women in Texas, has called on state Sens. Borris Miles of Houston and Carlos Uresti of San Antonio, both Democrats, to resign following reports of sexual misconduct.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: The shrinking marketplace for ideas
State Rep. Briscoe Cain’s interrupted appearance at Texas Southern University is just the latest instance of a speaker being turned away from a college campus — a space that is supposed to be a shrine for competing ideas.
Posted in
Higher Education
Rep. Briscoe Cain says he’s open to rescheduling canceled Texas Southern University speech
After campus officials at Texas Southern University halted his planned speech Monday, state Rep. Briscoe Cain said later that evening that he would be “very open to revisiting the issue” of returning to campus to speak.
Posted in
Higher Education
As University of Houston Rises, Black Student Enrollment Declines
At the University of Houston, enrollment is up 18 percent since 2009-10. But black enrollment is down 17 percent.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: April 8, 2015
Lawmakers are talking about giving taxpayers billions in tax relief this session. But in a state with 27 million residents, it turns out that even $4.5 billion doesn’t stretch as far as the politicians would like it to.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Report: State Lawmaker Threatened Paxton’s DPS Detail
State Rep. Borris Miles threatened to “beat up” a plainclothes DPS trooper while the lawman was guarding Attorney General Ken Paxton during a meeting at an Austin steakhouse, according to a report obtained by the Tribune.
Posted in
State Government
Bill That Cuts Early-Voting Period Likely to Be Pulled
A bill that would slash the number of days allowed for early voting is likely to be pulled after scathing testimony Monday from opponents who said the bill was discriminatory and retrogressive.
Posted inState Government
Defeated Candidates Ask Voters for Another Shot
They lost in 2010, but some candidates are hoping by now that voters have changed their minds. The 2012 ballot will be stippled with officeholders who were cast out by voters last election but want to try again.
Posted in
Higher Education
Video: “Pansexual” Amendment Debate
While you were sleeping last night, lawmakers in the Texas House were engaged in a passionate debate over “pansexual” politics that nearly killed the entire fiscal matters bill, which is pretty much the main reason they’re having a special session. Trust us — this is must-see video.