The Brief: June 8, 2015

The Big Conversation

A McKinney police officer is on administrative leave after video of his actions to subdue a 15-year-old girl at a pool party Friday night received more than 1 million views online over the weekend.

Here's the write-up from Tasha Tsiaperas and Claire Cardona of The Dallas Morning News:

Police Cpl. Eric Casebolt was placed on administrative leave after a video surfaced showing him pulling a 15-year-old girl to the ground and pinning her down outside a pool party Friday night in the expansive Craig Ranch subdivision. Seconds later, he pulled his gun and pointed it at two teens who appear to try to come to her aid.

The profanity-laced seven-minute video, posted to YouTube on Saturday, had been viewed more than 1 million times Sunday. It shows white police officers trying to control black teens who had scattered as officers arrived at the pool.

The incident raises questions anew about police actions and racism, a topic high up in the national conversation after unrest in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore, Md. In the aftermath of this incident, there's disagreement as to whether police targeted black teens or if the incident was racially motivated. At least one community leader was urging patience as the incident is investigated.

The News, meanwhile, noted that the city of McKinney has had its police force come in for scrutiny before.

McKinney found itself in the national spotlight in 2004 after the Police Department’s tactics were called into question by the U.S. Department of Justice. Racial tensions between police and residents in an east-side neighborhood escalated following four execution-style slayings earlier in the year.

About 75 percent of McKinney residents are white, and about 10 percent are black, according to 2010 census data.

Trib Must-Reads

Perry Fires Back at Clinton on Voter ID, by Abby Livingston — "I don’t know who she’s playing to, but she’s not playing to the people of Texas," Rick Perry said on CNN, referring to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's criticism of his voter access policies as governor.

With Campaign Swing, Santorum Flexes Texas Ties, by Patrick Svitek — Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who launched a 2016 presidential campaign last month, got a chance to show off his deep ties to Texas with a recent trip to the state.

In Urban Mayors Races, Minorities at the Forefront, by Alexa Ura — As Texas' major cities continue their decades-long evolution to minority-majority populations, tracking minority and female ascension to mayoral firsts has almost reached the complexity of a political trivia game.

After Early Momentum, Energy Legislation Stalls, by Jim Malewitz — Who killed the House and Senate's top energy bills? Their autopsy evokes the names of T. Boone Pickens and Koch Industries and involves plenty of squabbling between the chambers.

Perry Revisits Iowa in First Official Campaign Swing, by Alana Rocha — Less than 48 hours after announcing his second run for the Republican presidential nomination, former Gov. Rick Perry started a swing through Iowa on Saturday before heading to New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Elsewhere

Analysis shows property tax bills likely to rise despite relief package, San Antonio Express-News

Bikers' continued jailing sparks Waco protest 3 weeks later, The Associated Press

'We are the people our parents warned us about', Houston Chronicle

Fort Worth woman admits guilt in voter fraud case as national debate continues, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Central Texas floods expose gaps in high-tech warning systems, Austin American-Statesman

Immigrant family detention centers face uncertain future, The Associated Press

Ben Taub 'under assault' as funds from many sources cut, threatened, Houston Chronicle

Taylor faces conflict of interest over rent subsidies, San Antonio Express-News

Tax woes hound mayor candidate’s spouse, San Antonio Express-News

As G.O.P. Courts Iowa, Party Debates Relevance of State, The New York Times

On talk circuit, George W. Bush makes millions but few waves, Politico

Quote to Note

"I think he did the best job of anyone I've seen, even though I don't agree with him on all the issues. I think we benefited from having a former senator in the chair."

— Thirty-two-year Senate veteran John Whitmire, D-Houston, assessing the performance this session of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

Today in TribTalk

An imperfect but triumphant session for conservatives, by Bill Peacock — Not everything went our way, but the 84th Texas Legislature shows what conservatives can accomplish when they set clear goals and stay on top of them.

Trib Events for the Calendar

•    A Conversation With House Speaker Joe Straus on June 9 at The Austin Club

•    A Conversation About Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators 2015 on June 18 at The Austin Club

•    A Conversation About Health Care and the 84th Legislature on June 24 at UT Health Science Center San Antonio

•    The Texas Tribune Festival on Oct. 16-18 at the University of Texas at Austin