Latest News
National Coalition of Attorneys General Files Amicus Brief Condemning Texas State Bar for Baseless Lawfare Weaponized Against Texas OAG Leadership
By Austin Journal | Apr 15, 2024
A national coalition of state attorneys general has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of Texas in a case involving the State Bar of Texas and the leadership of the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG). The case, which revolves around allegations of politically motivated lawfare, specifically targets Attorney General Ken Paxton's top deputy, First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster.The State Bar of Texas's Commission for Lawyer Discipline initiated disciplinary action against Paxton and Webster for their involvement in the Texas v. Pennsylvania...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Urges Expedited Process In Concertina Wire Lawsuit
By Austin Journal | Apr 10, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to expedite the resolution of the ongoing concertina wire case in order to safeguard Texas's border security measures. In a letter filed with the court, Paxton highlighted new and crucial facts pertaining to the case.Paxton emphasized findings from the district court regarding events at the border. The court determined that the three drowning deaths near Shelby Park on January 12 occurred before the federal government reached out to the Texas National Guard or Department of Public...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Harris County Over Illegal “Guaranteed Income” Welfare Scheme
By Austin Journal | Apr 9, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action against Harris County for implementing what he deems an unlawful “guaranteed income” program. The initiative, introduced by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in 2023, involves distributing public funds in a manner that Attorney General Paxton argues violates the Texas Constitution.The program in question aimed to randomly select 1,928 eligible Harris County residents through a lottery system to receive $500 cash payments for 18 months with “no strings attached.” Funded by $20.5 million allocated to the county from...
Despite a population and resource boom, public transit in Austin is in decline
By Austin Journal | Apr 8, 2024
In 1985, voters in Austin established the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, known locally as CapMetro, to provide public transportation service to the greater Austin area. The services provided today by CapMetro include bus services, paratransit services for persons with disabilities, and a commuter rail.
'Texas offers hardworking Texans the freedom to aspire': Abbott praises continuous economic growth
By Austin Journal | Apr 3, 2024
The Bureau of Economic Analysis recently released data indicating that the Texas economy continues to outpace the rest of the United States. This development, reported on April 2, was positively received by Gov. Greg Abbott, as per a press release from the Office of the Texas Governor.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Announces Education Partnership Between OAG Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit and Texas State University School of Criminal Justice and Criminology
By Austin Journal | Apr 2, 2024
Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced a partnership between the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) and Texas State University (“TXST”) to facilitate educational opportunities and bring more investigative power to solving cold cases. The TXST program, termed the Cold Case Team, is a one-year internship program enabling students in the Texas State University School of Criminal Justice and Criminology to work with the OAG Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit (CCMPU). Attorney General Paxton established the CCMPU in 2021 within the Criminal Investigations Division to...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Announces $6.6 Million Settlement With Intercontinental Terminals Company For Injuries to Natural Resources Resulting From 2019 Deer Park Fire
By Austin Journal | Apr 2, 2024
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a settlement of over $6.6 million with Intercontinental Terminals Company, LLC (“ITC”) to address natural resource damages resulting from the 2019 fire at the Deer Park facility. Paxton expressed satisfaction with the settlement, stating, “I’m pleased we were able to secure this natural resource damages settlement after the serious destruction caused by the fire at Deer Park. This fire burned for three days, spewing hazardous chemicals into our air, water, and land.”The State of Texas and the United States filed a civil complaint and...
'Texas stands with survivors of sexual assault': Abbott proclaims April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
By Austin Journal | Apr 1, 2024
On April 1, Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged the commencement of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in Texas. A press release from the Office of the Texas Governor confirmed that Abbott, a Republican, has pledged the Lone Star State's support for survivors of sexual assault.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Two More Pornography Companies for Violating Texas Age Verification Law
By Austin Journal | Mar 21, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Multi Media, LLC, and Hammy Media, major pornography companies that operate sites such as “Chaturbate” and “xHamster,” for violating HB 1181, a Texas law that requires reasonable age verification measures to protect minors from being exposed to harmful obscene material.According to the Attorney General, these companies failed to implement the necessary age verification systems, leading to minors accessing pornographic content without proper screening. Paxton is now seeking an injunction against the companies to enforce...
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Biden Over Unlawful Ban on LNG Exports
By Austin Journal | Mar 21, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action against the Biden Administration, filing a lawsuit aimed at halting what he deems an unlawful and indefinite ban on approving applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG). Paxton's move comes in response to the Department of Energy's acknowledgment that the ban has "no factual or legal basis."Joined by Louisiana and fourteen other states, Texas is leading the charge to challenge the constitutionality of the LNG export ban. The lawsuit argues that the ban goes against the Natural Gas Act's presumption in favor...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Colony Ridge for Fraudulent Practices That Enabled Major Problematic Real Estate Development to Flourish
By Austin Journal | Mar 19, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County for deceptive trade practices, fraud in real estate transactions, and other violations of Texas and federal law.Colony Ridge is a sprawling real estate development northeast of Houston that has expanded quickly in recent years. In an October 2023 letter to Members of the United States Congress and fellow Texas leadership, Attorney General Paxton noted that the development’s rapid growth has presented major problems. He expressed concerns, stating, "The development appears to be...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Prevails at SCOTUS Allowing Texas Immigration Law to Take Effect
By Austin Journal | Mar 19, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has achieved a significant legal victory as the Supreme Court of the United States rejected emergency motions filed by the Biden Administration and other groups attempting to halt the implementation of Texas’s recent immigration law, SB 4.The Supreme Court's decision to deny the emergency motions has cleared the way for Texas to enforce SB 4 immediately, following the vacation of an administrative stay previously granted. This development allows Texas to proceed with the law's enforcement while the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Emergency Relief In Favor of Texas Border Security Law
By Austin Journal | Mar 18, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has successfully secured emergency relief in favor of Texas's new border security law, known as SB 4. The emergency stay was granted by the Fifth Circuit, temporarily halting a district court ruling that could have blocked the implementation of SB 4.
SCOTUS Leaves West Texas A&M University’s “Drag Show” Denial Intact
By Austin Journal | Mar 15, 2024
AUSTIN – In a case where Attorney General Ken Paxton is defending West Texas A&M University’s President for rejecting an organization’s request to host a college campus “drag show” with child attendees, the Supreme Court of the United States denied an injunction to the organization. Due to SCOTUS’s action today, President Wendler is free to maintain his denial of the “drag show” scheduled to take place on March 22.The organization sought to short circuit the ordinary appellate process so they could host the show. The trial court, however, concluded that the organization...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Murder Conviction in Retaliatory Shooting Death
By Austin Journal | Mar 14, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has successfully obtained a life sentence without parole for Brandon Harris, who was convicted of the murder of 24-year-old Valerie Hackett in Longview, Texas in 2020. Harris' actions were described as a revenge shooting against individuals associated with an apartment complex where he had previous legal issues. According to reports, Harris shot and killed Hackett during the incident, which also involved an attempted attack on the apartment manager who managed to escape. Harris then proceeded to target others on the premises, but...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Releases School Safety Guidance and Makes OAG Training Available to School Resource Officers
By Austin Journal | Mar 13, 2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued an advisory outlining the mandates under state law for school districts to enhance student safety measures. The guidance aims to inform Texas families about the regulations in place, empowering them to ensure that school districts are effectively implementing policies crucial for safeguarding children within educational environments.Under the updated state law, school districts are now obligated to equip every classroom with silent panic alarms, have armed security officers stationed on each campus, mandate specific staff...
Austin considers city petition process changes
By Austin Journal | Feb 26, 2024
The City of Austin Charter Commission, appointed by the City Council, is advancing a proposal to increase the signature requirements for voter-initiated ordinances and council recalls. The Save Our Springs Alliance warns that if voters approve this measure in November 2024, it would curtail the existing rights of direct democracy in Austin.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Reports Record-Breaking Year in 2023
By Austin Journal | Feb 12, 2024
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) had another successful year in 2023, breaking its own record for the second consecutive year. With over 22 million total passengers served, AUS surpassed the previous year's record by more than one million passengers. December 2023 was also the busiest December on record for the airport, with 1,802,593 passengers flying during the month.The continued growth of the Austin and Central Texas populations has led to increased demand for air travel. AUS has been working closely with airline partners to offer new nonstop destinations....
Community Kick-off Event for Equity-Based Preservation Plan
By Austin Journal | Feb 12, 2024
The City of Austin is hosting a community kickoff event for the Equity-Based Preservation Plan on Tuesday, February 13th. The event will take place at the historic Huston-Tillotson University and will feature various community leaders who will give lightning talks on topics such as Austin's rich history, cultural heritage, displacement prevention, sustainability, and the importance of historic preservation.Among the speakers at the event are Linda Y. Jackson from Huston-Tillotson University, Ben Heimsath from the Historic Landmark Commission, Robbie Anderson from the...
City of Austin Seeks Community Input on the Next City Manager
By Austin Journal | Feb 9, 2024
AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin has begun its search for the next City Manager, and they are reaching out to the community for valuable input. The City Manager is appointed by and reports to the Austin City Council, and the council members want community involvement in the selection process.To gather feedback, residents of Austin are invited to participate in a short, three-question survey. The survey is available in both English and Spanish and will be open until Friday, February 16th. The aim of the survey is to allow the public to share their preferences and...