By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
Investigators say the crew of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed at Texas A&M did not follow correct emergency procedures. Two crew died and three were injured in the Jan. 12 crash during a training exercise.
A Texas Air National Guard investigative report issued in July was obtained by KBTX-TV under an open records request. The story was broadcast this week.
The report says the aircraft went into a spin after a control pedal became obstructed by a boot, but that didn't cause the crash. The report says "the crew did not fully realize the situation" and "did not execute the proper emergency procedure."
Crew chief Sgt. Charles C. Mitts and 2nd Lt. Zachary Cook died in the crash.
Texas towns file lawsuit against Open Meetings Act
Four Texas cities and 15 elected officials have filed a lawsuit against the state seeking to declare part of the Texas Open Meetings Act unconstitutional.
The suit, filed Monday in federal court in Pecos, contends that the act violates the First Amendment free speech rights of elected officials by preventing them from speaking in public or private on public issues.
The act prohibits a quorum of members of a governmental body from deliberating in secret. Violations are punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.
However, the Austin American-Statesman reports the plaintiffs argue that some communication by a quorum of elected officials should be allowed outside of a posted meeting. Those would include e-mail or social media Web sites such as Facebook or Twitter.
Defense rests in trial of 2nd polygamist member
The defense has rested in the West Texas trial of a polygamist group member accused of tying the knot with a 15-year-old girl.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in the Schleicher County trial of 57-year-old Allan Keate on a count of sexual assault of a child. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison if convicted of sexual assault of a child.
The prosecution rested Monday night after spending most of the afternoon focusing on documents recovered from the Yearning for Zion Ranch during an April 2008 raid. One of the two defense witnesses called to testify in Eldorado on Tuesday challenged that testimony.
The case could go to the Schleicher County jury later Tuesday.
New international bridge opens
A new international bridge linking south Texas and Mexico has opened, becoming the first new land port of entry on the southern U.S. border in 10 years.
The Anzalduas International Bridge began processing travelers between Mission and Reynosa, Mexico at 6 a.m. CST Tuesday. The new route, three miles west of the existing Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, bypasses downtown Reynosa, Mexico, and is expected to cut about 30 minutes off the drive to Monterrey, Mexico.
The bridge is 3.2 miles long between the U.S. and Mexican ports of entry. It is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to non-commercial traffic.