Checking the news once – much less twice! – can be hard over the holidays. But it's rewarding.
There’s isn’t any snow falling in the Texas Capital City, but it's beginning to feel a lot like that special time of year once again. Here's the thing about holidays, though: the news keeps on coming. While impeachment keeps making the most headlines, there are several other stories we’re tracking, among them: how an incident of domestic violence that resulted in the shooting death of a Houston police officer has renewed a
conversation over gun control. The incident has prompted a discussion of whether Congress is doing enough to protect victims of domestic violence, or the police who have to respond to domestic violence calls. It's just one of the stories our editors have hand-picked this week to keep you in the loop (as we all scramble with overstuffed to-do lists). We thank you for sharing a bit of your Texas time with us, amid all the bustle. And on behalf of the entire team here at the Standard, here are our warmest wishes for a joyous and peaceful holiday season.
- David Brown
Closing The ‘Boyfriend Loophole’ Could Prevent Domestic Violence Deaths. Congress Hasn’t Acted.
Advocates want to prevent boyfriends with a history of domestic violence from buying guns, but the NRA argues that would limit gun rights.
In Ongoing Bond Election Saga, Missing Ballot Box Reveals Hundreds Of Votes (Marfa Public Radio)
Harris County’s Student Election Clerks Are Part Of A New Generation Of Voters (Houston Public Media)
Remains Of Three Bodies Found At The Alamo During Archaeological Excavation (Texas Public Radio)
After Controversial Name Change, Austin Installs New 'Menchaca' Road Signs (KUT)
Houston can be kind of an odd place, so we like to vote in odd years. This week, incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner was
reelected in a runoff, capping off a contentious race with attorney Tony Buzbee. On election night, I watched behind the scenes as election judges and student clerks raced to process the votes. The next day, I got the first post-election interview with Mayor Turner. And there are still a lot of stories from the runoff to follow: one Houston City Council district election was decided
by just 12 votes, which may mean a recount is on the horizon. Meanwhile, another district still hasn’t voted because of a pending lawsuit over state election code – namely, are people with felony convictions eligible to run for office in Texas? And here’s one other bit of news: when the council reconvenes in 2020, the majority of members will be women. Stay tuned to the Standard and
follow me on Twitter for more Houston news.
