1
00:00:02,879 --> 00:00:06,240
I'm just in Dane with a brief
look at the latest news in Texas politics

2
00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:12,519
and policy from the Texas Tribune.
Suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying

3
00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:17,920
to avoid testifying during his September impeachment
trial. Prosecutors are opposing the move and

4
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,679
want to retain the option of forcing
him to testify under oath. Prosecutors are

5
00:00:22,719 --> 00:00:26,920
opposing the move and want to retain
the option of forcing him to testify under

6
00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:32,200
oath. Paxton's legal team has asked
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who will preside

7
00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,039
over the trial in the Texas Senate, to prevent the House impeachment team from

8
00:00:36,079 --> 00:00:41,359
issuing a subpoena for Paxixston's testimony.
They argue that Paxton's right to not testify

9
00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:46,600
should be upheld, as impeachment is
legally considered a criminal proceeding. However,

10
00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:52,240
House impeachment managers say that trial rules
give them the authority to subpoena Paxton as

11
00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:57,679
a witness. They contend that no
rule excludes Paxton from being called to testify,

12
00:00:58,079 --> 00:01:00,560
and if he chooses to assert his
fifth men right against self incrimination,

13
00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:06,680
he must do so from the witness
stand. Paxton is facing impeachment on charges

14
00:01:06,719 --> 00:01:11,319
of abusing his office to assist Austin
real estate investor Nate Paul, who was

15
00:01:11,359 --> 00:01:15,920
also facing federal chargers related to his
financial dealings. The decision on whether Paxton

16
00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:21,239
can be compelled to testify is expected
to be made during the trial's opening phase.

17
00:01:21,879 --> 00:01:26,719
The outcome of that decision could impact
his ongoing legal battles outside the impeachment

18
00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:34,280
proceedings, potentially effecting his defense strategy
and perceptions of guilt. During the state's

19
00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,519
severe heat wave of this summer,
at least forty one people have died in

20
00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,200
prisons from heat related causes or unknown
reasons, according to a Texas Tribune analysis.

21
00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:48,040
Prison rights advocates and families of those
who died believe that some of these

22
00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,319
deaths were caused by the extreme heat. Despite the heat related deaths, the

23
00:01:52,359 --> 00:01:57,560
Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains no
prisoner has died from heat related causes in

24
00:01:57,599 --> 00:02:01,959
their facilities since twenty twelve. The
dire conditions in many Texas prisons, where

25
00:02:01,959 --> 00:02:07,200
over two thirds lack air conditioning in
most living areas, have drawn the attention

26
00:02:07,239 --> 00:02:12,120
of Democrats on the U S House
Committee on Oversight and Accountability. They are

27
00:02:12,199 --> 00:02:16,800
calling for an investigation into the conditions
prisoners are enduring during the sweltering temperatures.

28
00:02:17,479 --> 00:02:23,080
While the t d c J has
implemented some mitigation strategies, such as providing

29
00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:27,960
fans and cold water, many prisoners
and their families argue that these policies are

30
00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,360
not consistently followed and that the heat
is taking a toll on both inmates and

31
00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:38,719
staff. Despite the evident heat related
challenges, the Texas legislature has not allocated

32
00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:43,840
funds for air conditioning in prisons,
prompting criticism from advocates and lawmakers alike.

33
00:02:46,759 --> 00:02:51,240
Starting on September first, a new
Texas law will enable local Texas Department of

34
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:57,439
Transportation engineers to adjust speed limits for
sections of roads or highways without eating approval

35
00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:02,400
from statewide transportation commissioners. The variable
speed limits will be used during conditions such

36
00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:07,360
as construction, maintenance, heavy fog, ice, or rain. The modified

37
00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,639
speed limit will only be in effect
when indicated on signs and cannot be lower

38
00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:17,080
than ten miles below the regular speed
limit. State Representative Kerry Canalis and Edinburgh

39
00:03:17,159 --> 00:03:23,000
Democrat, who authored the bill,
believes that this measure could have prevented catastrophic

40
00:03:23,039 --> 00:03:27,159
accidents. Like the massive pile up
on Interstate thirty five West in Fort Worth

41
00:03:27,479 --> 00:03:30,840
in February of twenty twenty one,
where slippery conditions led to a one hundred

42
00:03:30,879 --> 00:03:36,319
and thirty three car pile up resulting
in six deaths. The law aims to

43
00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,360
enhance safety by allowing engineers to adjust
speed limits to match current conditions. A

44
00:03:40,439 --> 00:03:46,479
pilot program in twenty fourteen tested the
effectiveness of variable speed limits in Texas,

45
00:03:46,639 --> 00:03:52,039
which showed safety benefits and contributed to
the development of this statewide program. The

46
00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:58,199
bipartisan bill is aimed at prioritizing public
safety while addressing concerns about potential misuse for

47
00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,240
speed traps. Check for updates to
any of these stories at Texas Tribune dot

48
00:04:02,319 --> 00:04:06,240
org, and follow the Brief podcast
for daily news updates wherever you get your

49
00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:13,719
podcasts. I'm just In Dane for
the Texas Tribune. You've been briefed.

50
00:04:15,759 --> 00:04:21,000
Today's brief is brought you by Episcopal
Health Foundation. A large majority of Texans

51
00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:26,839
support Medicaid expansion and say it's very
important for candidates to address issues that make

52
00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,000
healthcare more affordable. Those are just
some of the results of a new statewide

53
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:36,199
Episcopal Health Foundation health policy poll on
healthcare access and affordability in Texas. Read

54
00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,759
more at Episcopal health dot org