TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalTwo-time felon, accused in A&M Commerce killings, walked out of jail for as little as $1,500
Jacques Smith was known as a violent man. The criminal justice system in Dallas County had his long record of arrests and pleas stemming from violent acts. His background demonstrated his capacity to hurt others.
But despite yet another arrest — for beating his ex-girlfriend Abbaney Matts — he wasn’t kept behind bars. And earlier this week he allegedly shot and killed her and her sister, Deja Matts, and wounded Abbaney’s 2-year-old son.
So why was Jacques Smith free on a $15,000 bond that likely saw him post as little as $1,500 to walk out of Dallas County jail and, according to the charges against him, drive to his Deja Matts’ dorm room at Texas A&M Commerce University?
Let’s review Smith’s history of crime to the point of his release. And let’s ask how this man was free to commit the murders law enforcement says he committed. We don’t know. We don’t have the answer yet. We need the answer.
Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2020/02/06/two-women-at-texas-am-commerce-might-be-alive-if-their-alleged-killer-wasnt-out-on-bond/
El Paso shooting suspect faces nearly 100 federal charges, including hate crimes
by Julián Aguilar, Texas TribuneEL PASO — The man accused of killing 22 people during a mass shooting at a Walmart store in the border city last summer has been charged with nearly 100 federal crimes, John Bash, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, announced Thursday.
Patrick Crusius, the alleged gunman in the Aug. 3 massacre, already faces state capital murder charges for the racially motivated shooting spree that also wounded dozens.
He is charged federally with 22 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, 23 involving an attempt to kill and 45 charges of firing a weapon in relation to the hate crimes, according to an indictment of Crusius. The U.S. attorney’s office said that upon conviction, prosecutors will seek either the death penalty or life in prison.
Crusius allegedly published a manifesto in which he indicated the crime was motivated by hatred toward Hispanic Americans and immigrants. He also told authorities after he was arrested that he drove 10 hours from his home in Allen to kill Mexicans and ward off what he said was an invasion. Eight of the victims were Mexican nationals.
Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/02/06/el-paso-shooting-suspect-expected-be-charged-federal-hate-crimes/
In Keene, Yang makes pitch before primary
A year ago, it would have been surprising to hear that long-shot Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang would speak to a crowd full of people at The Colonial Theatre less than a week before the New Hampshire primary.
But that’s exactly what Yang, a 45-year-old tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, did on Wednesday night, pitching his solutions to raise up those left behind by a post-industrial American economy at a venue usually reserved for top-tier candidates.
“We’re in the midst of the greatest economic and technological transformation in the history of our country,” said Yang, describing a pattern of automation that he said has eliminated over four million manufacturing jobs over the last few years — 12,000 in the Granite State alone — with devastating consequences for local communities.
“If you’ve been to those towns after the [manufacturing] plant closes, the shopping district closed, people left and that town has never recovered,” said Yang.
Read more: https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/in-keene-yang-makes-pitch-before-primary/article_b3fb7e88-b979-5633-a0cb-2b298d57d7e4.html
(Keene Sentinel)
UT System proposes medical school in Tyler
The University of Texas System proposes establishing another medical school, this time in Tyler. If successful, it would be the first medical school in East Texas and the seventh medical school in the system.
Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife and System Chancellor James B. Milliken said Thursday the school would address a growing need in a region that has historically had a shortage of healthcare professionals.
“A medical school in Tyler will give East Texans the chance to pursue their career aspirations without having to leave the region to do so,” Eltife said in a statement. “More importantly, it will increase the number of physicians and critical specialty areas to serve the region, which ultimately will enhance health outcomes and benefit all East Texans.”
UT System estimates the economic impact of a medical school in Tyler would be significant. The Perryman Group, a Texas economic research and analysis firm, estimates a medical school in Tyler would produce an economic impact of $1.9 billion annually and create 18,145 new jobs.
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20200206/ut-system-proposes-medical-school-in-tyler
How to Bet on Politics: Everything You Need to Get Started
Note: I am not encouraging anyone to place wagers on the primary races. However, since some of the political sites are making projections that mirror the betting markets, I believe this is an important topic to discuss. Please keep in mind that the odds in betting markets are based upon how much is being wagered rather than reflecting an actual count of voters and that gamblers can wager on more than one candidate.Gambling on political outcomes in the United States used to be considered an illegal activity, under federal and most state laws. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA); the Federal Wire Act; and, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act all stood in the way of you, the potential bettor, wagering any real money on the next round of presidential hopefuls.
In short, these laws combined used to prohibit both online and offline, USA-based sports betting, in all states save for Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. [Additional states have legalized sports betting since this article was published.]
However, in May of 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court shut down PASPA, ruling the federal restriction of legalized sports betting unconstitutional. Legalization and legislation is now determined at a state level, meaning it will be up to each individual state to decide whether or not to allow its residents to engage in sports betting, including political events.
https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/guides/how-to/bet-on-politics/
Nevada Democrats attempt to calm nerves after problem-plagued Iowa contest, may transition entirely
Nevada Democrats attempt to calm nerves after problem-plagued Iowa contest, may transition entirely to paper systemNevada Democrats, the day after their counterparts in Iowa held a problem-riddled caucus, sought to calm the nerves of voters, the media and other interested observers Tuesday.
The statement released by the party was short, but its message was simple: What happens in Iowa, stays in Iowa.
But it’s going to take a lot more than that to assuage the fears of the public — and campaigns — in the wake of Iowa’s first in the nation presidential nominating contest on Monday, which left the public clueless about who the victor was for roughly 20 hours. The Iowa Democratic Party finally released almost two-thirds of the results Tuesday afternoon, showing former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders neck-and-neck in the race, but remained vague about its timeline for releasing the rest of them.
The Iowa Democratic Party has blamed the delay in reporting results to a “coding error” in their app, casting doubt on the future of Nevada’s Feb. 22 caucus, which was slated to lean on not only one but two different apps to proceed smoothly. Nevada State Democratic Party spokeswoman Molly Forgey confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the political technology company Shadow Inc., which was responsible for developing the problem-plagued Iowa caucus app, also developed the two Nevada apps. The party has since terminated its relationship with Shadow and is currently looking into other alternatives for its upcoming caucus.
Read more: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/nevada-democrats-say-different-app-vendor-to-be-used-in-caucus-than-the-one-that-plagued-iowas-contest
A Complicated Map To Victory: The New Hampshire Towns To Watch On Primary Day
Four years ago, the dynamics of the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary were elemental. Voters were either in with establishment frontrunner Hillary Clinton, or they joined forces with the outsider, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. In the end, the “outs” had it: Sanders won in a landslide, sweeping every county in the state by double-digit margins.
This time, the map to victory in New Hampshire may be more complicated for Sanders and his wide array of competitors.
No one expects the winner of this multi-candidate contest to win an outright majority. During the past 30 years, winners of multi-candidate New Hampshire primaries typically have carried 30 to 40 percent of the vote.
For all the candidates -- fresh faces such as Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Yang, and familiar ones like Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren -- the path to victory (or at least an impressive showing) will depend on winning one or more smaller contests within the Granite State, across a variety of geographic and socioeconomic settings.
Read more: https://www.nhpr.org/post/complicated-map-victory-new-hampshire-towns-watch-primary-day
Buttigieg says 'absolutely' he can win NH
CONCORD -- Former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg said he can "absolutely" win the first-in-the-nation primary, while admitting it will be more difficult than his breakthrough showing at the Iowa caucus.
"I recognize I am competing with not one but two New England senators from states touching New Hampshire," Buttigieg said referring to primary rivals Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
"We recognize this is a competitive challenge but I think that the independent nature that is so important here in New Hampshire also allows us to prove once again that this is a campaign that can bring in many different kinds of people across the spectrum and form the coalition that can defeat Donald Trump.”
Buttigieg, 38, said the magnitude of his stunning result in Iowa hit him during a town hall forum at Laconia Middle School Tuesday night.
Read more: https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/voters/buttigieg-says-absolutely-he-can-win-nh/article_5a43c2ce-b14d-5b38-8d73-8b2df9284095.html
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
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