News

In the first segment:

It appears that regardless of what passes or doesn't pass in the legislature this month, the San Antonio city ordinance on payday lenders in San Antonio will remain.

According to Texans for Public Justice, an anti-corruption advocacy nonprofit, payday lenders had more than $3.7 million in donations to state lawmaker campaigns since 2010.  

The organization says the payday loan lobby is fueling a "tepid" set of reforms.  

The city is in the middle of a week-long list of events to motivate residents of all ages - from elementary to high school and beyond - to go to college.

On Monday, Mayor Julián Castro reminded people on the steps of City Hall about the city’s commitment to education.

"San Antonians set a bold goal," he said. "That goal was to make the biggest turnaround in educational achievement any big city has seen in a decade."

Update: (May 2, 3:20 p.m.) Allen was sentenced to three months confinement, reduction to the grade of E-3 (Airman First Class) and hard labor without confinement for 30 days.

Allen's is the 18th completed courts-martial in the ongoing Lackland sex scandal involving military training instructors.

Two Senate lawmakers and the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court are asking the state to look into the possible disparity of minority children being criminally ticketed for misbehaving in the classroom. 

"An estimated 300,000 misdemeanor tickets are issued in our state’s schools each year," said Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson. "We are criminalizing our children for non-violent offenses."

Much like laws in the other states that ban restaurants and food eateries from using trans fats, Texas senators are now considering a similar measure in House Bill 1359.  

"The bill prohibits the use of any trans fats above .5 grams, and it doesn’t have any enforcement provisions in it, but it does allow the food inspection department to provide some grading on the restaurants using or not using trans fats," said Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, who authored the bill.

In response to a request by state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has issued an opinion on domestic partner benefits.

Abbott said cities, school districts and other "political subdivisions" who allow benefits to domestic partners are in violation of the Texas Constitution.

Lawmakers in the Texas Senate wasted no time passing a bill to fund the future of Texas’ water needs, passing Senate Bill 4 by unanimous vote within the stretch of just a few hours. 

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, authored the bill that sets up the structure of awarding 500 water projects over the next 50 years.  

A bill winning favor in the Senate provides protection to anyone with a smartphone or other camera while filming the police. 

Senate Bill 897, which was authored by Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, reinforces protection for a citizen's first amendment right if they are arrested for filming the police.