This is TPR's roundup of the latest headlines and news developments. It provides a succinct and clear summary of the stories TPR is following.
Today's weather: Expect a high today of 99 and a low of 62. A cold front late Tuesday or Wednesday will push highs into the low 80s and bring a chance of rain later in the week.
The tropics: There is no significant tropical weather this morning. Atlantic hurricane season ends on Nov. 30.
Election 2024 voter guides: Charter amendments on council pay, term lengths, ethics revisions
Death row inmate moves closer to Oct. 17 execution
Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson lost one of his final appeals on Friday. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refused to stop his execution scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17.
His attorneys have argued that his conviction was based on a now-debunked shaken baby syndrome diagnosis. In 2003 Roberson was convicted of the capital murder in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki.
Earlier this month, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction of a Dallas man on a similar shaken baby case. Roberson's attorneys argued that he should also be granted a new trial. The court disagreed.
A growing number of supporters are calling for the execution to be halted. State Rep. Joe Moody, chair of the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, called a hearing of the committee for Oct. 16.
Judge strikes down more SBI provisions
A federal judge in San Antonio has struck down more provisions in Texas' controversial 2021 voter security law SB1. The law was enacted in the wake of the 2020 election and former president Donald Trump's baseless claims about voter fraud.
The provisions include a ban on compensation for anyone who helps a voter. Another requires the signature of an oath affirming the person they're helping can vote legally and a disclosure of their relationship to the voter.
U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ruled the provisions violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and would infringe on the rights of people with disabilities and literacy issues.
The latest rulings come just weeks before Election Day so while people can't be prosecuted for any of these things, it's too late to change any forms.
Court fight over foster youth shifts to judge overseeing those cases
Attorneys representing current and former Texas foster youth said they will appeal a decision to void fines against the state and remove the longstanding judge.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit removed Judge Janis Jack from the 13-year-old case against Texas’ child welfare system on Friday. The panel said she was biased against the state and nullified millions in fines over failures in Texas’ investigations of abuse and neglect in facilities for intellectually disabled children.
Now the attorney representing youth, Paul Yetter, said in a statement he will appeal the case to be reheard by the entire 5th Circuit.
The district case, which had a hearing scheduled for Dec. 9, will likely be delayed again while the court decides on whether the full court will rehear the case.
Boca Chica sees another SpaceX Starship launch
Sunday morning marked the fifth test of the SpaceX Starship as it lifted off from Starbase at Boca Chica in deep South Texas.
Minutes after the 400 foot-tall rocket lifted off, the booster section returned to the launch pad and was successfully caught by what are called the “Chopsticks,” two giant mechanical pincers which closed around the Superheavy booster.
SpaceX said the main spacecraft also experienced a successful flight, splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
The company hopes to use the Starship to travel to the moon and eventually Mars.
Wrongful death abortion lawsuit settled
A Texas man has settled a wrongful death lawsuit against two women he alleged helped his ex-wife obtain abortion pills.
The Texas Tribune reported the man filed the lawsuit last year and said the women helped facilitate a self-managed abortion, which he alleged qualified as murder under state law.
His ex-wife's friends counter sued and alleged the man knew about the abortion but did nothing to stop it.
The case was settled last week with both sides dropping their claims ahead of a trial originally scheduled to begin today. The settlement did not include financial payment to either side.
SAPD launches new police response dashboard
The San Antonio Police Department has unveiled a new public safety dashboard that displays police response by area.
The tool provides access to calls for service, arrests, response times, and offense reports by police service area and zip codes. The dashboard will be updated at the beginning of each month and will eventually provide year-to-year comparisons.
It's the first in a series of 3 dashboards that will be released -- others will be in partnership with the fire department and the Good Neighbors Program. View the dashboard here.
Revered journalist honored at Esperanza Peace & Justice Center
Journalist and producer Maria Martin was memorialized at a tribute Saturday at San Antonio's Esperanza Peace & Justice Center.
Martin co-founded the public radio program Latino USA. Many of her former colleagues were in attendance, including the program's long-time host, Maria Hinojosa.
"Her radicalness of life, like, pushing all of those boundaries, really filled me," she said. "She gave me a roadmap of what our journalistic profession looks like when you have a commitment. When it's not just about getting on the air, but when you have a commitment. And Maria taught us how to own our power unequivocally."
Martin was living in Guatemala, where she trained journalists. She had also been teaching journalists at the Esperanza until her death last December.
