Four misdemeanor cases were heard Tuesday in County Court, with County Judge Lisa Johnson presiding and County Attorney Kyle Miller prosecuting. Daniel Santos and Vanessa Marquez pled guilty to theft of property—a Class A misdemeanor—and were each granted one year of deferred adjudication probation, and ordered to pay $750 fines and court costs, and to meet all terms and conditions of probation.

I MET BETTY SITTING outside on the sidewalk. Betty spends a lot of time there.

AUSTIN—Texas Secretary of State John Scott recently announced a new poll-watcher training program that allows interested Texans to become certified as poll watchers for the upcoming Nov. 8 general election. Under Texas law, individuals seeking to become poll watchers must obtain a Certificate of Completion from the Texas secretary of state’s office through this training program—as well as a certificate of appointment from a candidate, political party, or specific-purpose political action committee—in order to be accepted as a poll watcher at a particular polling location, meeting place for an early voting ballot board or signature verification committee, or central counting station where voted ballots are tabulated.