In update, Gov. Abbott urges those in Hurricane Laura's path to get out before window to evacuate shuts. Rescuers are not expected to be able to work from 7 pm tonight until 9 a.m. Thursday
Tropical storm force winds expected to hit Texas coast near Tx-Louisiana border around 7 pm tonight, with landfall around midnight to 1 a.m., Abbott says.
"We urge everyone who may be in harm's way to take these last hours to get out of harm's way," Abbott says, adding that local officials are worried at number of people yet to leave, fear word of Laura's dangers is not getting out.
At least Laura is going to be moving faster than Harvey, which should minimize flooding, but storm surge could send high, dangerous waves 30 miles inland, officials said. Classified as "unsurvivable" storm surge. High winds a worry too.
Laura is now a Category 4 hurricane with max winds of 140 mph, National Weather Service says.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Good morning. Court resumes in the Alex Jones/Sandy hook trial.
After awarding $4.1 million in actual damages to the parents of Jesse Lewis, jurors will be asked next to assess punitive damages meant specifically to punish Jones for repeatedly portraying the tragedy as a hoax.
Parents' lawyer Kyle Farrar calls Bernard Pettingill to testify as an economic expert to discuss the net worth of Alex Jones and Free Speech Systems.
Pettingill says he values private and public companies to determine their worth, typically for buying/selling them.
BREAKING: We have a verdict in the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial for actual damages.
Verdict signed by 10 of 12 jurors.
Total of $4.1 million, far below the requested $150 million.
Parents' lawyer Mark Bankston said he was not at all disappointed in the size of the verdict, calling $4.1 million a substantial sum for compensatory damages.
Alex Jones trial: Jury deliberations underway in Sandy Hook case.
Parents are asking for $150 million in actual damages.
Jones' lawyer countered with $8.
At least 10 of 12 jurors must agree on a verdict. statesman.com/story/news/loc… via @statesman
Fight erupts in morning hearing, without jurors present, over the Jones phone texts that were revealed yesterday in court as having been mistakenly provided by Jones lawyers.
Jan. 6 committee wants them.
Jones lawyer wants them protected from disclosure.
Jones lawyer Andino Reynal also moves for mistrial, accuses parents' lawyer Mark Bankston of violating the rules by "rooting through" confidential materials that were mistakenly provided by his office.
Here for Day 7 of the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial to begin at 9 am. Deputy just informed plaintiffs lawyers that the defense and plaintiffs tables will be released separately on breaks.
It seems they do not want a repeat of this:
The day bill begin with Alex Jones still on the stand for questions from his lawyer, Andino Reynal, followed by cross examination.
Judge said time should be OK if Jones is off the stand by noon lunch break.
Closing arguments later today, then instructions to jury.
Sorry for the typos. Fluorescent glare on my screen makes reading things difficult...
Day 6 of the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial opens in downtown Austin.
Today, the parents of Sandy Hook victim Jesse Lewis, 6, will testify as the last 2 witnesses for plaintiffs at this stage of the trial.
Alex Jones also is scheduled to testify as the only witness for the defense.
Before jury comes in, judge warns lawyers: "Today is probably going to be among the more emotional days, potentially heated."
Says if she sees witness giving a performance, or using testimony for other than trial issues, she will shut down down the YouTube feed, remove reporters
She makes sure Jones' lawyers pass that information along to the InfoWars host. Jones is not in the courtroom to start the day.
The second and final scheduled week of the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial begins in Austin.
The parents and older brother of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was killed in the 2012 attack, could take the stand today behind 3 experts and a video deposition.
Jones is not in the courtroom.
So Friday's bankruptcy filing by Jones' main company, Free Speech Systems, did not slow action here in state District Court, as expected.
Background: statesman.com/story/news/loc…
Parents' lawyers play a second video deposition of an InfoWars employee who said there was no training at InfoWars about journalistic standards, fact checking, vetting sources and verifying reporting by other sources.