� The police shooting of Nathaniel Sanders II reignited with a vengeance last weekend, following a leak of a mostly unredacted version of a heavily redacted report, which stated Austin Police Officer Leonardo Quintana acted “reckless[ly] to the point that he needlessly endangered himself, his fellow officers, the suspects and the onlookers.” See “‘Reckless Tactics’ … and the Blowback.”
� In a related APD development, Chief Art Acevedo last week fired Officer Leonardo Quintana for drunken driving earlier this year. Acevedo noted in a disciplinary memo that Quintana has “engaged in other behavior that demonstrates an ongoing pattern of poor judgment.”
� City Council meets today to consider a hefty set of enviro and transportation matters. See “Naked City” and “City Hall Hustle.”
� The Capital Metro board announced Tuesday the names of two finalists for CEO, both of whom hail from outside the agency. See “Bus Stops Here: Two Finalists for Top Spot” for more.
� Travis County commissioners voted May 11 to pull their support for building Texas 45 Southwest, long a divisive issue between environmentalists and suburbanites. Southwest Commish Karen Huber carried the move to withdraw the county’s support, which passed 3-1, with County Judge Sam Biscoe voting no and Margaret Gómez absent.
� Travis County voters will return to the polls June 12 for run-offs following the May 8 election. Tamala Barksdale and Julie Cowan are entering a second round for an Austin ISD at-large seat while Vic Villarreal and David Reiter face off for Place 5 on the Austin Community College board. For election coverage, see austinchronicle.com/elections.
� At a press conference Tuesday at City Hall, the Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance called for a ban on plastic grocery bags, which they deemed an environmental hazard due to their chemical composition, lack of biodegradability, and propensity for flight. More than a year ago, the city started a program encouraging consumers to recycle their bags at grocery stores and elsewhere, but Zero Waste reps say it’s time to take more aggressive action.
� A massive sewage spill last weekend closed Barton Springs Pool and forced Southwest Austin residents who draw drinking water from private wells to boil their water. Vandals blocked a sewer pipe, sending 250,000 gallons of wastewater into a feeder stream for the Edwards Aquifer. The Austin Water Utility is offering a $5,000 reward for information that would help officials track down the scoundrels.
� The sentencing trial for Laura Hall, scheduled to begin May 17, has been pushed back. Hall was convicted in 2007 for her role in covering up the gruesome 2005 murder of Jennifer Cave by Colton Pitonyak.
Quote of the Week
“We need to grab that money.”
– Texas House Appropriations Chair Jim Pitts, suggesting the state should add casinos to its revenue stream in anticipation of an $18 billion shortfall
This article appears in May 14 • 2010.