By Jim Pumarlo, Consultant
Crime and public safety are garnering more headlines across the country. Law enforcement and racial disparities in the criminal justice system are under increasing scrutiny. Newspapers play a key role in examining the dynamics in their own communities.
But what’s happened to police logs, the most basic of public safety reporting? Where are the regular records of traffic citations, thefts, property damage, burglaries and much more?
This essay was originally published on the The Rural Blog, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based at the University of Kentucky.
Gannett Co.’s recent recommendation or directive to local editors that they offer less opinion, and keep it local, has prompted reflections by rural editor-publishers.
Eighteen months ago, I wrote my first column as president of the Texas Press Association and said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow members of the Texas Press Association for allowing me to serve as your 2021-22 president. It is a great honor, and I am very appreciative for the opportunity to serve you and the state press association.”
That sentiment remains true and strong as I write my farewell column.
TEA releases STAAR results for grades 3-8
The Texas Education Agency has released the 2022 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness
Results for grades 3-8, which showed across-the-board improvements in all grades and subjects, with especially significant gains in reading.
Note: This is a bulldog edition of the July 3 Capital Highlights column, to accommodate papers with early holiday deadlines. It will be updated on Sunday if events dictate.
Abortion officially illegal in Texas
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade effectively ends all legal abortions in Texas within the next 30 days, many news media outlets reported.
Comptroller releases broadband plan
State Comptroller Glenn Hegar last week released his agency’s plan to support the expansion of broadband internet access to areas with limited or no access. Hegar and his agency’s Broadband Development Office received feedback through a series of town halls, virtual discussions and more than 16,000 responses to a survey.
Anti-gun violence protests and more school safety measures
Anti-gun violence protests were held in multiple cities across the state over the weekend, while the state has imposed additional measures designed to strengthen school security.
I was prepared to write a column this month about the need for more transparency in government and a call to action by newspaper publishers to reach out to their state and national legislators and strengthen relationships ahead of future battles in Austin and Washington.
I was prepared to write about many things that were newspaper related.
But all that went out the window after news of the Uvalde shootings erupted.
Nineteen children and two teachers are dead.
Let me repeat that – 21 people (19 of them elementary children) are dead in South Texas.
TEA directed to make schools safer
Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Education Agency to ensure school facilities are made safer in the wake of the killing of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.
In a letter to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, the governor requested the agency:
• Instruct school districts to identify actions to make campuses more secure prior to the start of the new school year.