Headlines
Fri., Dec. 18, 2015
City Council meets today (Dec. 17) with a hefty 100-Item agenda, although they've eased the workload by tentatively agreeing (at work session) to postpone most of the short-term rental regulation discussion to Jan. 28. Still contentious on the list: new regs on transportation network companies, and festival season fee waivers.
Tuesday's work session was relatively sedate, thanks in part to the absence of Council Member Don Zimmerman, who was in court – his lawsuit against the city's campaign finance limitations was being heard in federal court this week. Zimmerman is arguing that the fundraising rules violate his First Amendment rights.
Filing closed for the March 1, 2016, primary elections on Dec. 14, and the paperwork reveals a revived Democratic Party, having filed candidates in every statewide race. See "'Tis the Filing Season," Dec. 18, for more details.
AISD Board President Gina Hinojosa has stepped down from her leadership position to run to replace Rep. Elliott Naishtat, who made the surprising announcement that he won't run for re-election. Hinojosa will finish her term as a trustee, but the board will elect a new president – and possibly a whole new slate of officers – in January.
In response to what he says are rising numbers of border crossings in recent months (including many unaccompanied children), Gov. Greg Abbott took a few swipes at the federal government while announcing more state resources to border security – more National Guard troops, DPS/TP&W police boats and planes, and money for interdiction. "My first and foremost responsibility as governor is to protect the citizens of Texas," Abbott said, "with or without the federal government's help."
Gov. Abbott has installed an education-reform hard-liner as the new Texas Education Agency commissioner. Dallas ISD trustee Mike Morath, who has spent much of his political career at odds with his fellow board members, replaces outgoing commissioner Michael Williams.
Another victory for student privacy: Judge Scott Jenkins has dismissed UT System Regent Wallace Hall's lawsuit demanding student records that he claims will prove nepotism in UT-Austin admissions under previous president Bill Powers.
The Downtown landmass known as the site of the Austin American-Statesman was sold Tuesday for an undisclosed amount to family members involved with Cox Enterprises in Atlanta. Cox is the media group that owns the Statesman, making the handover of the 19-acre property somewhat strange – if not foretelling. Questions concerning the future of the prized riverfront real estate have been circling for years.
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