Bexar County is facing pressure to reform its court system, a Texas grandfather was arrested after a newborn was found dead in a Walmart trash can and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is proving to be a stickler for the rules early on in his first term, ruffling feathers at City Hall along the way. These were the top stories in South Texas this week, according to you, our readers.
Texas AG urges Bexar County to scrap controversial court system
The Texas Attorney General’s Office urged Bexar County to phase out its rotating Presiding Court system, calling it unfair and legally questionable while refusing to defend the county in a Supreme Court challenge. The system, which assigns pretrial hearings to different judges, faced criticism for causing inconsistent rulings and confusion for litigants. Judge Christine Hortick challenged the decades-old system, but most of her colleagues supported keeping it, citing high costs to dismantle it. The Texas Supreme Court is expected to push for a statewide rule assigning each case to a single judge, leaving Bexar County under pressure to reform.
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Texas grandfather arrested after newborn found dead in Walmart trash can
Police arrested Jerry Lee Martinez after his newborn grandchild was discovered dead in a Kingsville Walmart restroom trash can. Martinez faced charges including child endangerment, tampering with evidence and witness tampering, with an additional sexual assault charge raising his bond to $1.3 million. Security footage showed Martinez’s 17-year-old daughter, believed to be the baby’s mother, spending significant time in the restroom before the infant was found. Authorities also arrested Martinez’s stepfather, Mario Duran, on a sexual assault charge as the investigation expanded. The Texas Rangers joined local police in the ongoing probe.
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Kerrville opts not to drain Nimitz Lake after flood search narrows
Kerrville officials decided against draining Nimitz Lake on the Guadalupe River after the number of missing flood victims dropped to two. Earlier, county commissioners had proposed draining both Nimitz Lake and Lake New Ingram to aid search and cleanup efforts following deadly flooding. City leaders determined draining the lake solely for debris removal was unnecessary, citing high costs and the need for state and federal approval. Dredging the lake would have cost millions, and officials noted agencies were open to the idea if the city had pursued it…