Lawmakers vow change after Blomberg verdict

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Texas Congressman Al Green says he wants the way jurors are chosen to change after the controversial acquittal of former HPD Officer Andrew Blomberg.

Blomberg was found not guilty earlier this month in the beating of teenage burglary suspect Chad Holley, but the fact that the jury was all white has many calling for a change.

Local lawmakers told us Harris County is too diverse to have a one-race jury in any trial and they're they are appealing to state and federal agencies to review what happened.

"I do not support unchallenged one-race juries in Harris County," said Congressman Al Green outside the federal courthouse downtown on Friday.

That's the message Congressman Green and other elected officials gave during the press conference. Each member of the group says it's concerned over how the first of four trials involving this videotaped beating of Holley was handled.

"In Harris County, achieving a one-race jury trial in the Chad Holley case shocks the conscious," said Green.

Congressman Green announced he met with members of the Department of Justice last week, asking them to review circumstances over how the Holley arrest was tried. That meeting, just days after the all-white Harris County jury found former HPD Officer Andrew Blomberg not guilty of official oppression for kicking the teen burglary suspect two times.

"We live in a world where it is not enough for things to be right," said Green. "They must also look right."

Other politicians are now criticizing the District Attorney's office for failing to challenge the jury selection process in a county with over 2.5 million minorities. Last week, DA Pat Lykos told Eyewitness News the initial pool had more than 60 prospective jurors, which was then cut to 19.

Lykos told us there was nothing they could do when the defense struck two black jurors for cause.

"I will tell the DA I don't want a 75-person panel," said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. "I want a 300-person panel."

The DA's office has not yet responded to our request for comment about Friday's news conference.

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Lawmakers closer to shutting Sugar Land prison

  AUSTIN, TX (KTRK) -- Texas budget negotiators have agreed on prison funding that would close a more than century-old unit near Houston to save money.

Legislative leaders Wednesday announced a prison budget of $6.1 billion, which is part of the overall state spending plan still under review.

The proposal includes closing the Central Unit in Sugar Land to save $50 million over two years. Backers say the acreage, near Sugar Land Regional Airport, could be sold for economic development.

The proposal is about $100 million, or 1.6 percent, less than the current prison budget. The measure includes raises for about 30,000 corrections employees as part of career-ladder increases.

Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire of Houston says the plan would maintain inmate security, treatment and rehabilitation.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Lawmakers demand answers from NASA

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The decision has been made, but the tug of war over NASA's retired shuttles is far from over. Now lawmakers are getting in on the fight and demanding an explanation.

Not only are lawmakers demanding an explanation, they're now threatening to use their pull in Congress to do something about it.

Texas legislators are calling for answers. They've formally asked NASA administrators to explain how Houston was left off the list of cities to receive a retired shuttle.

On a day when NASA honored Dr. Christopher Kraft, the first human space flight director...

"I pray that our nation will someday soon find the courage to accept the risk and challenge to finish the work that we started," said former NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz.

A day when the space agency renamed this the "Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. Mission Control Center," even Dr. Kraft talked of Houston not getting a retired shuttle.

"It's probably somewhat of a slap in the face that Houston didn't get one of the space shuttles, but in the big picture I don't think it's very significant," Dr. Kraft said.

Texas legislators do see it as significant. Representatives Ted Poe and Pete Olson wrote a letter demanding answers from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

"There's been no detail about the decision making process other than, 'You didn't get it,'" Olson explained. "We deserve an explanation more than that."

Just Tuesday Administrator Bolden announced that shuttles would go to Florida, New York , Washington, DC and Los Angeles. NASA said the decisions were made based on greatest potential for public exposure and educational use.

The letter calls for details: What factors were considered in choosing where the orbiters will be retired? Legislators ask for more specifics on why New York's Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum was chosen over Houston.

Poe said, "It'd be as logical as putting the Statue of Liberty in Omaha, as it is putting the shuttle in New York."

Legislators are waiting for a response from Administrator Bolden or NASA. They have not heard anything yet. When we called NASA today we were told they so far have no comment on the issue.
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If you would like to share your thoughts on the retiring shuttle fleet with NASA, you can contact them at: Public Communications Office
NASA Headquarters
Suite 5K39
Washington, DC 20546-0001
202-358-0001 (Office)
202-358-4338 (Fax)
Email: public-inquiries@hq.nasa.gov (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Technology News »

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