Capitol conundrum: Should Texas change how judges are elected?

News and updates from Austin's news in your inbox Email not displaying correctly? [View Online]( [Statesman]( MORNING HEADLINES Start your day with a fresh roundup of news, features and commentary. Saturday's Top Story [Capitol conundrum: Should Texas change how judges are elected?]( [Capitol conundrum: Should Texas change how judges are elected?]( To get elected and re-elected to office, many Texas judges seek campaign contributions from lawyers and law firms that might have business before their courts, undermining public confidence in their rulings and the goal of impartial justice. [Read More »]( Local News [Travis DA making new rules for small-amount drug cases]( [Travis DA making new rules for small-amount drug cases]( Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore is developing new protocols for how felony prosecutors evaluate drug cases involving the smallest amounts of illegal substances like cocaine or methamphetamine, an effort that could potentially increase the number of dismissals in such cases and referrals to diversion programs. Moore already had instructed crime labs for the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety to stop testing substances involving the tiniest amounts of [Read More »]( [ Freedom City policies yield drop in misdemeanor arrests, Austin police say]( [‘Freedom City’ policies yield drop in misdemeanor arrests, Austin police say]( In the first three months of 2019, Austin police reduced by more than half the number of people they arrested on misdemeanor charges that were eligible for a citation, compared to last year, according to early figures from the department given to the American-Statesman. [Read More »]( [Lawsuit claims Lakeway man fleeced $8 million from investors]( [Lawsuit claims Lakeway man fleeced $8 million from investors]( An Austin-area man is at the center of an alleged investment scam that bilked about $8 million from a handful of private financial trusts and individuals, under the guise that their money was being used to fund short-term, high-interest commercial loans, according to a lawsuit. [Read More »]( [Georgetown gas leak evacuations down to 7 businesses, 7 homes]( [Georgetown gas leak evacuations down to 7 businesses, 7 homes]( The Georgetown evacuations that started in February due to a gas leak are down to seven businesses and seven homes, officials said Friday. [Read More »]( Business [Livestrong Foundation selling Austin HQ, will look for new home]( [Livestrong Foundation selling Austin HQ, will look for new home]( The Livestrong Foundation, the Austin-based cancer nonprofit, is selling its sleek East Austin headquarters in a move it says will allow it to reach more cancer patients. [Read More »]( [Austin jobless rate slips to 2.7%; demand for workers remains strong]( [Austin jobless rate slips to 2.7%; demand for workers remains strong]( The status of the Austin area as a magnet for job seekers shows no signs of weakening, despite the region's stretch as the fastest-growing large metro in the country for eight years running. [Read More »]( Sports [At Round Rock Christian, baseball is not just for the boys]( [At Round Rock Christian, baseball is not just for the boys]( ROUND ROCK — Jasmyn Aguado knew what her new teammates were thinking. [Read More »]( [Former Lake Travis quarterback Matthew {NAME} leaving Ohio State]( [Former Lake Travis quarterback Matthew {NAME} leaving Ohio State]( Former Lake Travis quarterback Matthew {NAME} is looking for a new home after deciding to transfer from Ohio State. [Read More »]( Opinion [Two Views: In pipeline politics, love of the land is a shared value]( [Two Views: In pipeline politics, love of the land is a shared value]( We can be fairly certain that gas pipeline giant Kinder Morgan didn’t have this consequence in mind when it decided to route a massive, nearly four-foot diameter gas pipeline through the Texas Hill Country and over the fragile Edwards Aquifer. [Read More »]( [Two Views: Moving more oil and gas is a win for all Texans]( [Two Views: Moving more oil and gas is a win for all Texans]( President Donald Trump is opening the floodgates to America becoming an energy superpower. [Read More »]( Nation [US authorities issue warning after group stops migrants]( [US authorities issue warning after group stops migrants]( SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) " U.S. authorities are warning citizens not to take the law into their own hands after a group patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border stopped hundreds of migrants when they crossed into southern New Mexico this week. [Read More »]( [Two-wave US flu season is now the longest in a decade]( [Two-wave US flu season is now the longest in a decade]( NEW YORK (AP) " Three months ago, this flu season was shaping up to be short and mild in the U.S. But a surprising second viral wave has made it the longest in 10 years. [Read More »]( World [Paris: Yellow vest anger mixes with Notre Dame mourning]( [Paris: Yellow vest anger mixes with Notre Dame mourning]( PARIS (AP) " French yellow vest protesters marched anew Saturday to remind the government that rebuilding the fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral isn't the only problem the nation needs to solve. [Read More »]( [Northern Irish police arrest 2 over killing of journalist]( [Northern Irish police arrest 2 over killing of journalist]( LONDON (AP) " Police in Northern Ireland say they have arrested two teenagers in connection with the fatal shooting of a journalist during rioting in the city of Londonderry. [Read More »]( Austin360 [Al Green brings his timeless soul to Austin]( [Al Green brings his timeless soul to Austin]( Al Green brings his timeless soul to Austin [Read More »]( [Austin Eastciders newest flavor, Watermelon, readies us for summer]( [Austin Eastciders’ newest flavor, Watermelon, readies us for summer]( So far, Austin Eastciders has released a rainbow of flavors guaranteeing we have a cider for every season and holiday we could possibly celebrate - [Read More »]( [Manage Account]( | [Contact Us](mailto:customercare@statesman.com) | [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Newsletters]( We have an app for whatever you want - news, weather, entertainment and more. Statesman Live: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Statesman Weather: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Austin360: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Statesman does not participate in unsolicited email. 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