Headlines

The People's Task Force hosted a rally on Sunday, Nov. 1, following an Oct. 29 decision by Federal Judge Lee Yeakel, granting former APD Detective Charles Kleinert immunity in the killing of Larry Jackson Jr. in 2013. Organizers moved the protest from Givens Park to outside the U.S. District Court building once the decision was announced. (Photo by John Anderson)

It's back to the drawing board for Travis County: The $287 million bond proposition for a new civil courthouse was defeated Tuesday by about 1,000 votes of 73,000 cast, 50.7% to 49.3%. See "State and Local Elections," Nov. 6.

Statewide voting results show overwhelming passage of all seven constitutional amendments. The lowest vote-getter, at 66%, was Prop. 3, eliminating the requirement that state officials live in Austin. The big-money Prop. 7, more money for highways, elicited 83%. See "State and Local Elections," Nov. 6.

AISD may finally be moving on building the long-awaited South Austin High School. Voters approved money to buy the land in 2008, and board members are expected to finally select a site this December. However, there will still have to be another bond election to pay for construction.

"My great uncle was a Confederate officer, but I find no honor in the cause of the Confeder­acy," said Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, in announcing that the county would no longer indirectly support the Veterans Day Parade after the parade committee voted to continue to allow the Confederate battle flag to be flown by the Descendants of Confederate Veterans. County Veteran Services Officer Olie Pope resigned from volunteer chairmanship of the committee.

Brandon Daniel has had another change of heart. The 27-year-old death row inmate, convicted in the 2012 killing of APD officer Jaime Pad­ron, has reneged on his plea to represent himself through the appeals process (thus essentially ending hope of any relief) and last week reinstated the Office of Capital Writs as counsel.

An Anti-LGBT Victory: Overridden by fear from the religious right, on Tuesday Houstonians voted down the (needlessly) controversial Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), meant to protect a wide range of citizens from housing and workplace discrimination. Targeting transgender residents, anti-LGBT conservatives claimed the measure would threaten the safety of women in public restrooms. Houston stands today as the only major U.S. city without a non-discrimination ordinance.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that he'll withhold state grant funding for any sheriff's department that does not fully comply with all Immigration & Customs Enforcement detainer requests for immigrants.

Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential campaign is complaining about the role of super PACs in the 2016 primary – specifically, the super PACs supposedly backing him. Staffers have complained to Politico that the coalition of four independent groups under the Keep the Promise banner is sitting on a combined $38 million war chest, but unlike his opponents' PACs they have not reserved any TV time in key primary states.