Texas
Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Harris County over guaranteed income program 'Uplift Harris'
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Harris County, claiming it “illegally implemented a lottery-based handout program.”
The video above is from a previous report.
The program the lawsuit is referring to is called Uplift Harris, the county’s guaranteed basic income pilot program that provides $500 per month to low-income families.
READ MORE: Harris Co. commissioners approve ‘Uplift Harris’ program, OK fight over election restrictions
According to the lawsuit, the county is violating the Texas Constitution by redistributing $20.5 million it received through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act to be used for COVID-19 relief initiatives. It also claims the selection of recipients is “inherently arbitrary.”
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Commissioner of Harris County Precinct 1 Rodney Ellis, and Commissioner of Harris County Precinct 2 Adrian Garcia are among the defendants listed in the lawsuit.
“This scheme is plainly unconstitutional,” Paxton said. “Taxpayer money must be spent lawfully and used to advance the public interest, not merely redistributed with no accountability or reasonable expectation of a general benefit. I am suing to stop officials in Harris County from abusing public funds for political gain.”
Read the full lawsuit here:
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee will represent the defendants in the suit, the county said.
“This lawsuit is nothing more than another attack on Harris County government by Republican state leaders looking to make headlines,” Menefee said in response to the lawsuit. “This program is about helping people in a real way by giving them direct cash assistance-something governments have always done. I cannot for the life of me understand why any public servant would be opposed to that.”
County officials said the state is seeking an immediate ruling to block Harris County from beginning to make payments under the program.
The hearing for that decision is said to take place in the next few weeks.
For more updates on this story, follow Shannon Ryan on Facebook, X and Instagram.
SEE PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
2,000 families could be getting extra cash every month with Harris County Uplift Program
Harris Co. guaranteed income program deadline approaches, and officials push for bodycams in jail
Glitches anticipated a day before Harris Co. guaranteed income program launches, county judge says
Applications for Uplift Harris delayed as Commissioners Court set to discuss program details
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Texas
Brazoria County deputy shoots, kills Texas State University student after car chase, report says
BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas – A Texas State University student was shot and killed by a Brazoria County Sheriff’s deputy early Monday morning after an attempted traffic stop in Lake Jackson.
The news was first reported by The University Star, Texas State’s student-run newspaper.
In a Tuesday statement to KSAT, the university identified the student as John Gabriel Mendoza Jr., 18. He was a freshman who studied management, according to the school.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, classmates, and all those affected by this tragedy,” the university said in its statement.
Deputies attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle just after midnight Monday near Farm-to-Market 2004 and This Way Street in Lake Jackson, the sheriff’s office said.
The driver of the vehicle, who was identified as Mendoza by The University Star, did not stop, deputies said. The deputies then chased after the vehicle for approximately a mile into a neighborhood located in the 100 block of Indian Warrior Trail.
According to the sheriff’s office, the driver went inside a home’s garage and parked before a deputy approached the vehicle, the release said.
The deputy then pulled out his firearm and shot into the vehicle. The sheriff’s office said the gunfire struck the driver.
The University Star reported that Mendoza was the one shot. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The deputy who pulled the trigger has since been placed on administrative leave in accordance with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office policy.
KSAT reached out to the Lake Jackson Police Department and the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office for more information, but neither agency has responded at this time.
The shooting investigation is being led by the Texas Rangers, according to a Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office news release.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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