TEXAS NEWS
Rep. Tony Gonzales resigns from Congress amid backlash over sexual misconduct allegations
Read full article: Rep. Tony Gonzales resigns from Congress amid backlash over sexual misconduct allegationsHouse members were set to vote this week on expelling both the San Antonio Republican and Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell. Gonzales’ announcement came shortly after Swalwell said he would step down.
Executive vice chancellor named the only finalist to be Texas A&M president
Read full article: Executive vice chancellor named the only finalist to be Texas A&M presidentRegents must wait 21 days before the hiring can be made official and Susan Ballabina takes charge of the state’s largest public university.
Texas Tech law student sues to block discipline related to Charlie Kirk comments
Read full article: Texas Tech law student sues to block discipline related to Charlie Kirk commentsThe Honor Council recommended a written reprimand for “celebratory” comments. The lawsuit argued that would violate her free speech rights.
Rep. Tony Gonzales could face expulsion from Congress amid furor over sexual misconduct
Read full article: Rep. Tony Gonzales could face expulsion from Congress amid furor over sexual misconductU.S. House members say they will bring resolutions to the floor this week to expel the Republican Gonzales and Democrat Eric Swalwell. Each motion would require a two-thirds majority.
Texas’ GOP attorney general candidates want to challenge decades-old Supreme Court rulings
Read full article: Texas’ GOP attorney general candidates want to challenge decades-old Supreme Court rulingsEmboldened by overturning Roe v. Wade, conservative legal groups hope Ken Paxton’s successor will help them overturn gay marriage and public school access for undocumented students.
Trump’s DOJ will move forward with Colony Ridge settlement despite concerns from judge
Read full article: Trump’s DOJ will move forward with Colony Ridge settlement despite concerns from judgeThe proposed $68 million settlement with a Texas land developer that the Justice Department had accused of preying on Hispanic residents includes no money for the victims but more than $20 million for police and immigration enforcement.
Portrayals of Islam and people of color dominate discussion in Texas’ social studies rewrite
Read full article: Portrayals of Islam and people of color dominate discussion in Texas’ social studies rewriteThe State Board of Education approved an early draft of social studies changes, setting up a vote in June that will determine how students learn history over the next decade.
Texas House Democrats who walked out over congressional map fined over $8,000 each
Read full article: Texas House Democrats who walked out over congressional map fined over $8,000 eachA Republican-led House committee approved the penalties Friday, charging Democrats $500 for each day they were absent, plus costs borne by law enforcement to bring them back.
Texas Tech System leader cancels academic programs “centered on” sexual orientation, gender identity
Read full article: Texas Tech System leader cancels academic programs “centered on” sexual orientation, gender identityChancellor Brandon Creighton directed provosts to phase out the programs and ordered universities to recognize only “two human sexes.”
Here’s how to cast a ballot in Texas’ May 2 local elections
Read full article: Here’s how to cast a ballot in Texas’ May 2 local electionsIn-person early voting is April 20 and April 22-28. The last day to apply to cast a ballot by mail is April 20. Read more about who qualifies for that option, which is limited in Texas, in our guide.
Texas’ highest criminal court overturns sentence of inmate who has been on death row for 47 years
Read full article: Texas’ highest criminal court overturns sentence of inmate who has been on death row for 47 yearsClarence Curtis Jordan’s attorney said the intellectually disabled man didn’t have a lawyer to work on his behalf for nearly four decades.
Texas education board gives preliminary OK to required reading list that includes Bible material
Read full article: Texas education board gives preliminary OK to required reading list that includes Bible materialThe board will have multiple opportunities to revise the list before a final vote in June. Before recent changes, the proposal’s length, lack of diversity and Christian focus received criticism.
Railroad commission hopeful Bo French says he wasn’t invited to a GOP candidate forum in Midland
Read full article: Railroad commission hopeful Bo French says he wasn’t invited to a GOP candidate forum in MidlandA Midland County Republican Women official said they tried for months to extend an invitation to French, who is in a runoff with incumbent Jim Wright, but were unable to reach him.
Trump’s DOJ plans to settle Colony Ridge case without compensating victims
Read full article: Trump’s DOJ plans to settle Colony Ridge case without compensating victimsThe Biden administration sued a Texas land developer accused of duping tens of thousands of Hispanic residents. Trump’s DOJ is now offering an unprecedented settlement that experts say could target the very people who were harmed by the developer.
ProPublica and The Texas Tribune name five newsroom partners for investigative initiative
Read full article: ProPublica and The Texas Tribune name five newsroom partners for investigative initiativeBig Bend Sentinel, the Houston Chronicle, KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi, KXAN Investigates in Austin and the Texas Observer will report on state and federal efforts to restrict local control.
Record oil production in West Texas helps stabilize U.S. supply amid Iran war
Read full article: Record oil production in West Texas helps stabilize U.S. supply amid Iran warProduction in West Texas has helped the U.S. stabilize its demand for foreign oil amid the Iran war, despite drilling fewer oil wells.
In South Texas, quinceañera dig becomes campaign fuel for Tejano musician Bobby Pulido
Read full article: In South Texas, quinceañera dig becomes campaign fuel for Tejano musician Bobby PulidoSince GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz said the race “isn’t about who you want performing at your niece’s quinceañera,” the Democrat has played at a dozen such events in the 15th Congressional District.
Texas summer camps sue to block new internet rule, saying it threatens their ability to operate
Read full article: Texas summer camps sue to block new internet rule, saying it threatens their ability to operateA group of 19 camps said fiber-optic internet that lawmakers ordered them to install after last year's floods is too expensive or impossible to get.
Democrats seek to pause Texas’ social studies revamp over $70K grant from conservative think tank
Read full article: Democrats seek to pause Texas’ social studies revamp over $70K grant from conservative think tankThe Texas Public Policy Foundation awarded the grant to Schreiner University’s Texas Center, which is led by a historian guiding the state in its social studies revision.
Dan Patrick says Republicans will “have a tough time” holding Texas House majority in November
Read full article: Dan Patrick says Republicans will “have a tough time” holding Texas House majority in NovemberThe lieutenant governor’s remarks are the latest sign that Republicans are worried about the fall midterms. The GOP has controlled the state House since 2003 and currently has an 88-62 advantage.
Amid license review, Camp Mystic being investigated by Texas Rangers and state health officials
Read full article: Amid license review, Camp Mystic being investigated by Texas Rangers and state health officialsCamp Mystic filed to renew its license in March. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has repeatedly urged state officials to reject the application.
Texas expected to pay $700 million in penalties to the feds for SNAP errors by 2027
Read full article: Texas expected to pay $700 million in penalties to the feds for SNAP errors by 2027The federal government is penalizing states for having a high error rate in their payments to food stamp recipients.
Artemis II astronauts make long-distance call to the space station as they head home from the moon
Read full article: Artemis II astronauts make long-distance call to the space station as they head home from the moonThe Artemis II astronauts are chatting it up with their friends aboard the International Space Station.
Texas students urge education board to focus on inclusion over politics in social studies overhaul
Read full article: Texas students urge education board to focus on inclusion over politics in social studies overhaulStudents, parents and teachers say Texas’ new social studies plan feels rushed and will exclude key perspectives and historical events.
Five weeks after teasing endorsement, Trump remains on the sidelines of Cornyn-Paxton Senate runoff
Read full article: Five weeks after teasing endorsement, Trump remains on the sidelines of Cornyn-Paxton Senate runoffThe president could still weigh in over the next seven weeks. But his inaction before last month’s dropout deadline has only hardened the rivalry.
After 1,700 Sundays preaching outside and under bridges, a Central Texas pastor retires
Read full article: After 1,700 Sundays preaching outside and under bridges, a Central Texas pastor retiresUrban minister Jimmy Dorrell bade farewell Sunday to his outdoor Waco congregation after baptizing a dozen people in the chilly waters of the Middle Bosque River.
This Texas House GOP nominee once urged Republicans to soften their immigration rhetoric. He’s changed his tune.
Read full article: This Texas House GOP nominee once urged Republicans to soften their immigration rhetoric. He’s changed his tune.In 2012, the New York Times interviewed Brad Bailey at the Republican National Convention about his efforts to get the party “stop the hatred language and fix the problem.”
These Texans want better schools for Black students. They disagree on vouchers as the answer.
Read full article: These Texans want better schools for Black students. They disagree on vouchers as the answer.One Black Texan sees education savings accounts as an escape from a burning house. Another fears they threaten a robust public school system.
This state agency was created to investigate Texas universities. How that works is a mystery.
Read full article: This state agency was created to investigate Texas universities. How that works is a mystery.Office of the Ombudsman has no written policies on how to investigate allegations that education laws are being broken, even though it’s been accepting complaints for three months.
A border wall through Big Bend appears to be on hold after public outcry, but questions remain
Read full article: A border wall through Big Bend appears to be on hold after public outcry, but questions remainWhile the federal government hasn’t made a public statement about its plans, official maps show a “virtual wall” going through the region rather than a physical barrier.
Texas attorney general’s office under scrutiny for letting donors use hotel room bookings
Read full article: Texas attorney general’s office under scrutiny for letting donors use hotel room bookingsThe attorney general’s office reallocated taxpayer-funded rooms to donors and other private citizens, some of whom initially failed to cover the cost of the stay.
Democratic congressional candidate Bobby Pulido toured with bandmate convicted of child sex crime
Read full article: Democratic congressional candidate Bobby Pulido toured with bandmate convicted of child sex crimeThe revelation reported first by the New York Post is the latest hit against the Democratic rising star who Republicans are casting as morally depraved because of his past social media posts.
At least 175 measles cases reported in Texas this year, most of them in West Texas Detention Facility
Read full article: At least 175 measles cases reported in Texas this year, most of them in West Texas Detention FacilityTexas has added 28 more measles cases in the last two weeks. Most infections so far this year have occurred inside West Texas Detention Facility in Hudspeth County.
Tyler embraces a families-first approach as it grows faster than any other East Texas city
Read full article: Tyler embraces a families-first approach as it grows faster than any other East Texas cityTyler has spent the last decade remaking its parks and sidewalks to allure families. At the same time, a constellation of groups are helping parents take care of their families.