Abbott Names New Interim AG. Gov. Greg Abbott named Fort Worth lawyer John Scott as interim attorney general while Ken Paxton faces impeachment. Scott previously served as the state’s interim Secretary of State during the 2022 primaries and midterm elections and had been a lobbyist during the regular legislative session this year. He quit the day the House voted on Paxton’s impeachment. The Senate trial is expected to begin before August 28, and until the matter is resolved, Paxton is suspended from his office.
Fate of Property Tax Relief Still Up in the Air. Not much has changed in the game of legislative chicken over property tax relief being played between Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dade Phelan. However, Abbott released a statement Wednesday praising the House for passing exactly what he asked, and Patrick responded that Abbott“seems misinformed about the roles of the executive and legislative branches of government.” Basically, they’re still in a fight about it, and a repeat special session seems kind of likely.
Suspect in Preston Center Shooting Found. Dallas Police said Wednesday that Antwon Osborne, 17, was arrested last week in Nevada after he allegedly shot a security guard at Preston Center West on May 19. Osborne is suspected of being the person security video depicts fighting with Adalberto Santiago and then shooting him before fleeing in a gold sedan. Santiago later died of his wounds.
Juvenile Department Director Sues Dallas County. Dallas County Juvenile Department director Darryl Beatty filed suit against the County this week in a bid to avoid giving commissioners redacted records the Commissioners Court seeks regarding how children are confined while in the department’s custody. Commissioners are asking for redacted observation sheets that should explain how long children are confined to their rooms, and the lawsuit argues that the request is unlawful. A recent report by an advocacy group found that children in Dallas County are detained 95 days before the case is resolved, longer than the national standards.
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