› City Council hits the bricks today (lucky Thursday, Feb. 13) with the most contentious debate likely to be over proposed residential occupancy limits, a couple of economic incentive packages, and maybe SXSW fee waivers. See “City Council: Less Is More.”
› Reportedly, Council will consider, in executive session, a proposed settlement to benefit the children of Larry Eugene Jackson Jr., killed last summer by Austin Police Detective Charles Kleinert, who has since resigned from the force. At press time, no details of the proposal had been made public.
› Early voting for the March 4 party primaries begins Tuesday, Feb. 18 (through Friday, Feb. 28) – and no, this has nothing to do with City Council, which has plenty of candidates but no election until November. Major contests for Travis County Judge and Commissioners Court: See Chronicle endorsements.
› AISD and Education Austin have officially reached an impasse in their negotiations on restoring three-year contracts for staff. The administration shifted all employees – except for Superintendent Meria Carstarphen – to one-year contracts in 2011 as a cost-saving measure, but now the board of trustees has appointed a subcommittee to examine restoring longer contracts to improve teacher retention.
› On Friday, an appeals court ruled in favor of a group of Austin police officers who alleged age discrimination in the 2009 merger of the parks and airport forces with the Austin Police Department. The court agreed that the merger unfairly targeted cops older than 40 by not taking into account years of service in setting rank and pay. The city has not announced whether they will appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.
› A major shake-up at the University of Texas: In a surprise announcement, UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa will be stepping down after five years leading the state’s top university body.
› The Court of Criminal Appeals has denied a request by death row inmate Larry Swearingen to conduct DNA testing on a length of pantyhose used to strangle Melissa Trotter in 1998. The court ruled that in order to obtain DNA testing, Swearingen would first have to prove there is DNA on the murder weapon that could be tested.
› In an interview with the Dallas Morning News editorial board, Democratic guv candidate Wendy Davis said she would support legalizing medical marijuana and would consider measures to decriminalize pot possession. Should the state legalize weed? On that, she said, she remains undecided.
› U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia heard arguments Wednesday in a suit seeking to bar Texas from enforcing its constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The case was filed on behalf of same-sex couples, including a pair of Austinites legally wed in Massachusetts. Regardless of the outcome, the suit is expected to land in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
This article appears in February 14 • 2014.