capitol

U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Texas redistricting maps
AUSTIN — The United States Supreme Court voted 5-4 on June 25 to approve 10 of 11 disputed Texas House and congressional redistricting maps used in the state’s 2014 and 2016 elections.
The court ruled that only Texas House District 90 in Fort Worth was gerrymandered along racial lines and therefore must be redrawn.

Senate panel conducts hearings on school violence, safety
AUSTIN — A panel of Texas Senate members on June 11 and 12 received input about ways to improve security on public school campuses.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, formed the legislative body’s Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Safety following the May shooting at Santa Fe High School in which a student shot and killed 10 people and injured 10 others.

Governor offers safety plan designed to prevent shootings at schools
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on May 30 joined state and local leaders in Dallas and San Marcos to unveil his School and Firearm Safety Action Plan. 
The governor’s plan came 12 days after the Santa Fe High School shooting in which 10 people were killed and 10 people were injured. It contains 40 recommendations, including proposals that call for:
— Increasing law enforcement presence at schools;
— Strengthening existing campus security programs;
— Enhancing firearm safety; 

Governor speaks about issues related to shooting at high school
AUSTIN — Local, state and federal law enforcement on May 18 responded to a shooting that left 10 people dead and 10 others injured at Santa Fe High School near Galveston.
One of the school’s 1,400 students was taken into custody, authorities said. 
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered flags to half-staff until May 22 in memory of those who lost their lives in what he called “probably the worst disaster to strike this community.”