Headlines

Sen. Robert Duncan signs a commemorative poster Monday, the last day of the 81st legislative session. (Photo by John Anderson)

• The 81st Legislature adjourned Monday in a welter of confusion and mutual recriminations and no certain continuing legislation for the Texas Department of Transportation, the Department of Insurance, and three other state agencies. Gov. Rick Perry says he has no immediate plans to call a special session. See "Session Ends With Finger-Pointing, Unfinished Business."

• City Council doesn't meet this week, but the budget scramble begins: Departments need to find $30 million to $40 million in savings for the next fiscal year.

• Recycling: A long-expected reorganization of Solid Waste Services was announced Friday, as 14-year Director William Rhodes was shuffled sideways to head up the new Code Compliance division; the city also appointed a new human resources director. See "Beside the Point."

• City officials faced the public Monday night in a marathon meeting at the Delco Center concerning the May 11 police shooting of Nathaniel Sanders II. The investigations are ongoing, but on Tuesday, Sanders' parents sued the APD and the city for excessive use of force. See "Sanders Family Files Suit."

• A third LG Allstarz band member was arrested Tuesday in the continuing aftermath of the May 28 shooting at Spiros nightclub. Wendon Candrick was arrested for drug possession and is suspected of stabbing someone in the incident in which eight people were shot outside the club. See "Off the Record."

• You are now the proud owner of a used automobile company – General Motors declared bankruptcy Monday, with the U.S. government buying 60% ownership and the rest of the pieces picked up by the United Auto Workers. Management looked to close some plants, sell some divisions, and in theory get the company back in private hands and profits before too long.

Photo by Nora Ankrum

• The Hyde Park Neighborhood Association returns to District Court today (Thursday, June 4) to try to prevent the owners of a 100-year-old home from bulldozing the property at 4213 Avenue G. The emotional case, compounded by a city procedural error, has prompted calls for clarity in the historic zoning process.

• The Austin ISD trustees released an efficiency report produced by consultants MGT of America, which informed them if they close several schools and fire hundreds of employees, they could save a bunch of money. Really? See "Naked City"

• Gov. Rick Perry passed an unprecedented milestone: a new modern record of 200 people executed on his watch, more than any other governor in U.S. history. On Tuesday, Terry Lee Hankins was put to death by lethal injection for the 2001 murder of his two stepchildren.

Quote of the Week

"I thought I was watching an episode of Lost."

– Gov. Rick Perry on the closing hours of the 81st Legislature