Sheriff Robert Chody indictment
Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody says the indictment he now faces is nothing more than a political move. Sheriff Robert Cody is facing tampering with evidence charges by Williamson County D.A. Shawn Dick alleges Chody had a hand in the destruction of Live PD recordings of the 2019 death of Javier Ambler.
“We’re now about one month from election, and the D.A. is just now acting on a case that is nearly two years old. The facts are very clear and let me be very clear, I did not tamper with evidence,” says Chody.
Chody alleges the Ambler case has been mishandled by prosecutors, and now they’re looking to pass the buck onto him.
Austin Attorney Jason Nassour has also been indicted by a grand jury in connection to the Javier Ambler death. Like Sheriff Chody, Nassour is facing a felony evidence tampering charge. He represented the sheriff’s office last year when the county sued Chody over claims that he restarted filming with show Live PD after the county terminated the contract.
Not unexpectedly, there is mixed reaction in Williamson County to the indictment of Sheriff Chody, who’s also up for re-election. Some people say this will definitely change their vote in November. This local resident tells KVUE that this is the United States, and in this country you’re innocent until you’re proven guilty.
“As far as I’m concerned, until he has his day in court, he is innocent. Now if he gets reelected and then he’s guilty, then that’s we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he says.
Chody won’t have his first court appearance until November 30th, which is weeks after the election.
COVID-19 update
Coronavirus patients are nearly cleared out of the hospitals in Williamson County. Over the past day, total hospitalizations have fallen to only five. That’s a decline of seven from this time yesterday. There 120 active cases in the county. That’s a drop of 26. Overall, the county has found 8,624 cases, and 8,362 of them are recoveries.
Down in Travis County for the first time in months, the numbers of coronavirus patients in the ICU and on a ventilator are both less than 20. As of today, 19 people are in intensive care, 16 people are on a ventilator. Overall, 78 people hospitalized and it’s been months since that number has been so low. 29,343 cases have been confirmed since March and 28,252 have recovered.
AISD reopening plan
The Austin school district’s reopening plan has won the stamp of approval from the Travis County Health Authority. Based on what he’s observed in other districts, Doctor Mark Escott tells the school board the spread of COVID-19 is not happening inside of classrooms.
“Clusters that we’ve seen at schools that have reopened have been related to extracurricular activities,” Escott says.
We know far more about the virus now than we did back in the spring when schools had to be closed and Escott believes AISD’s reopening plan is actually one of the more conservative among area districts.
Declining enrollment
For years, the Austin school district has really struggled with declining enrollment. There was a bit of an increase last year, but for the most part it has been year over year declines. This year has been no different. Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde says already this semester they’re down by about 5,000 students. That loss is projected to mean the district will lose $48 million in state revenue if the enrollment decline continues throughout this year.
Proposition A
Later today, the Travis County Commissioners court will make its stance known on Proposition A, which would approve a new tax rate to fund the $7.1 billion proposed transit overhaul. Commissioner Gerald Daugherty has already come out strongly against it
“In the middle of the worst economic event Austin Texas may ever have, it is insulting and I just can’t believe they’re doing it.” says Daugherty.
He expects the city tax bills to spike by about 25%. At least a dozen local business owners are expected to weigh in on that later today.
Lakeway Regional Medical Center settlement
Lakeway Regional Medical Center has agreed to fork over big bucks as part of a settlement agreement. The facility will pay nearly $1.2 million over allegations it submitted false Medicare and Medicaid claims. Separately, the medical centers also agreed to pay nearly $14 million over allegations it got a development loan from the Federal Housing Administration by providing false information.
Lakeway tax rate
Lakeway has approved it’s $15 million budget. The city was expected to also approve a new tax rate. But because of the financial fallout from the pandemic, the council made a last minute decision last night to keep the tax rate unchanged. However, not changing the rate is leaving the city with a $41,000 budget shortfall, which has to be covered by the reserve fund.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-9-29-20
