Daily News Recap (3-23-15)

Compiled by Holly Henrichsen
Assistant Web Content Manager

First Term Texas Senator Ted Cruz [spoke] at Virginia’s Liberty University [this morning], making his first public announcement for his presidential bid, following a 30 second presidential nomination video which Cruz was released earlier this morning. Senator Cruz is the first candidate to formally announce his plans for the GOP Primary races and has already begun his campaign tour. Senator Cruz is well known for a 21 hour speech he gave in 2013 that helped lead to the 17 day Government shutdown as a response to Obamacare. According to a CNN International Survey, Senator Cruz is receiving 4% of support from republicans and individuals who lean republican.
-Taylor Zavala

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether police should take extra precautions when dealing with mentally ill suspects today. The case dates back to 2008 when Teresa Sheehan, a mentally ill woman, was shot five or six times after threatening officers with a knife. According to The Guardian, Sheehan survived and sued both the officers and the city for failing to take her mental disability into consideration during the arrest. Sheehan’s lawyers say that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires officers to modify arrest procedures when dealing with the mentally ill. Despite a 2013 study from the Treatment Advocacy Center claiming that 50 percent of people shot and killed by police have mental health problems, there is currently no standard regarding interactions with the mentally ill.
-Joe Teagle

The Supreme Court refused to consider Wisconsin’s voter ID law. According to the Huffington Post, Civil rights groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Advancement Project have been setback by the decision. They were hoping the court would take up the case and find that the law impacts hundreds of thousands of residents who lack proper ID. Some of the people who would be impacted include racial minorities, seniors, students and people with disabilities. Advancement Project Co-Director Penda D. Hair said in a statement today that the 300,000 registered Wisconsin voters who lack the limited forms of photo ID needed to vote in Wisconsin – disproportionately African Americans and Latinos – deserve to have their voices heard in the political process.
-Eryka Villarreal

The Texas State Student Government Senate will be meeting tonight at 7 pm in the LBJ Teaching Theater where a nomination will be made for the new Director of Governmental Affairs, followed by a budget appropriations bill which will include 100 dollars going towards spring programs, 750 dollars towards their spring banquet, 200 dollars towards engagement week and 750 dollars towards Bobcat for a Day.
-Taylor Zavala