Shows
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 4/25/25: Can Texas Republicans Be Trusted With Our Water Future? And MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Rising demand and dwindling supplies of water in Texas are placing major pressure on the business-friendly and environmentally-indifferent Texas GOP: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/the-impossibly-expensive-plan-to-save-texass-water-supply-texas-monthly/Trump crazy is beginning to wear on his MAGA faithful - will they be able to find common cause with progressives to fix the problem? https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/trump-uncertainty-texas-layoffs-20290420.phpAs he backs away from the DOGE chainsaw - with which he's destroyed his own reputation and that of Tesla - look for...2025-04-2510 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 4/4/25: Trump Trade War Launches - Texas Will Pay A Price, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Global economic shock is underway this morning as Donald Trump's foolish tariff plan becomes reality - and Texas will most certainly feel the impact: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/trump-tariffs-texas-revenue-growth/The Texas House Committee on Public Education advanced HB-3 yesterday, which would establish a new private school voucher program in Texas, on a 9-6 party line vote: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/education/texas-voucher-bill-clears-first-test-in-texas-house/287-0b3bdb58-c2f8-4800-b8e0-849cc4e729e3...A group of House Democrats have complained of yesterday's...2025-04-0412 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/28/25: Texas GOP Dodges Blame And Responsible Response For Measles OutbreakStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Republican officials from Governor Abbott on down have been generally silent when it comes to recommending vaccinations for their constituents in the midst of the biggest outbreak of measles in Texas in three decades: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/28/texas-measles-abbott-lawmakers-response/...The Mennonite community of Gaines County has become a scapegoat in the outbreak, but their doctrine does not specifically forbid vaccines - the issue is science denial, not religion: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/mennonites-measles-west-texas-20189910.php...Much closer to the real cause is widespread...2025-02-2809 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/27/25: Unvaccinated Texas Child Dies Amid Measles Outbreak, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:A child died Tuesday night of measles at a Lubbock hospital - the first American measles death since 2015: https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9...New Trump administration U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to downplay the Texas outbreak, falsely claiming that most hospitalizations are simply for quarantine purposes: https://newrepublic.com/post/192025/robert-f-kennedy-jr-response-measles-death...Texas Republican leaders are now forced to try to counter the anti-vax sentiments they've allowed to develop in Texas...2025-02-2709 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/26/25: Amidst Texas Measles Outbreak, Anti-Vax Movement Is Unmoved, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Anti-vax "experts" are blaming the Texas measles outbreak on the measles outbreak itself - and are theorizing that the outbreak was engineered as an attack on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/texas-measles-outbreak-anti-vaccine-advocates-blame-shot-rcna193478...The case count is now up to 128, with cases popping up 250 miles from the Gaines County epicenter: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/18/texas-measles-outbreak-climbs/...The Republican mayor of Brownfield, Texas - in Terry County which has seen 21 measles cases so far - bravely attests that he believes in vaccines: https://apnews...2025-02-2609 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/6/25: Texas Senate Passes Private School Voucher Scam, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
No surprise that the Texas Senate has fast-tracked approval of SB2, Governor Abbott's private school voucher scam, to approval: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/texas-senate-school-voucher-vote/
Austin saw hundreds turn out for Texas' share of the national protest against the Trump administration's policies organized in all 50 states yesterday: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/protesters-rally-at-texas-capitol-against-project-2025
...The ACLU of Texas is providing training materials on best practices related to public protest, how to interact with police and immigration officers, and more:
https://www.aclutx.org/en/events
...2025-02-0609 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/27/25: Deportation Raids Ramp Up Across Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A variety of federal agencies began "enhanced targeting operations" against, so they claim, undocumented immigrants presenting criminal threats across Texas, including Austin and San Antonio: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/26/texas-immigration-deportation-ice-austin-san-antonio/
...Also in North Texas and the Rio Grande Valley: https://www.keranews.org/news/2025-01-26/ice-begins-immigration-raids-across-texas-dozens-arrested
...Protests against Trump's immigration policies have begun popping up, including one at the Texas State Capitol in Austin: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/protest-at-texas-capitol-after-ice-operations-in-austin/
...And a bigger one near downtown Dallas: https://www.cbsnews...2025-01-2709 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/17/25: 7 Texas HHSC Employees Fired For Data Breach and Theft From Poorest Texans, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Seven employees of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission have been fired under suspicion of breaching the data and stealing the service funds of thousands of low-income Texans who rely on their services: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-hhsc-food-stamp-fraud-data-breach/
Amarillo anti-choice activist judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, his court cherry-picked by of officials from Idaho, Kansas and Missouri and in defiance of a recent SCOTUS ruling, has green-lighted those states efforts to scale back access to the abortion drug mifepristone: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-judge-allows-states-to-advance-efforts-to-restrict-access-to-mifepristone/
...2025-01-1707 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/14/24: Welcome To The Jungle! 89th Texas Legislature Opens Today, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The 89th Texas Legislature opens today! First act in a likely long and dramatic drama: the selection of a House Speaker, which may not go the way anyone thinks: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2025/01/13/jason-villalba-the-texas-speaker-race-can-still-usher-a-surprise/
...Ken Paxton, in his zeal to unify Republicans in support of Mansfield Rep. David Cook, ironically supports a lawmaker who supported Paxton's impeachment in 2023: https://www.kvue.com/video/news/politics/texas-legislature/texas-ag-ken-paxton-in-leander-to-support-david-cook-for-texas-house-speaker/269-19634f2b-2da5-4708-be82-e5b92157cfe5
Even the wonkiest of wonks might need a little refresher as the notoriously arcane...2025-01-1408 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 12/11/24: Texas GOP Schism Over Speaker Race Set To Widen, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Texas GOP machine choice David Cook and establishment-defying Dustin Burrows both claim to have enough votes to become Speaker of the Texas House - Burrows in particular is flirting with disaster: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-19971639.php
...Burrows has started calling himself "Speaker-elect", drawing legal scrutiny from his opponents: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/12/11/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-republican-state-election-code-house-speaker-elect/76889871007/
Much to review in advance of the 2025 Lege - our Advocacy department has gotten that look ahead going: https://progresstexas.org/preview-2025-texas-maga-legislative-session
2024-12-1109 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 12/2/24: Maternal Morbidity Committee Will Ignore First Years Of Texas Abortion Ban, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The Texas Maternal Morbidity Committee has announced that they will skip the data from the first two years of Texas' near-complete abortion ban, ignoring the effect of that ban on pregnant women in Texas: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/texas-maternal-mortality-committee-to-skip-over-full-reviews-in-years-after-abortion-ban/
...Any other deaths directly attributable to the denial of emergency medical care in Texas are now likely to remain unknown: https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/worried-experts-concerned-as-texas-board-declines-to-investigate-abortion-ban-deaths/ar-AA1uMLgf
...Meanwhile, more and more OB-GYN doctors are choosing not to take the risk of...2024-12-0207 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 11/26/24: A Third Texas Death Due To Withheld Abortion Care, And MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Propublica is reporting on a third Texas woman who died needlessly after being denied abortion care in the midst of a problem miscarriage: https://www.propublica.org/article/porsha-ngumezi-miscarriage-death-texas-abortion-ban
...Domestic violence shelters are reporting an uptick in pregnant women arriving at their facilities seeking refuge from abusive partners: https://www.tpr.org/public-health/2024-11-25/domestic-violence-shelters-in-texas-see-a-surge-of-pregnant-women-after-the-dobbs-decision
...The anti-choice movement, oblivious to the suffering they are causing, is ramping up their efforts against doctors and advocates for reproductive rights: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article...2024-11-2607 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 11/8/24: Texas Democratic Party Chairman Hinojosa To Resign, And MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Gilberto Hinojosa, Chair of the Texas Democratic Party since 2012, is reported to be set to announce his resignation today: https://quorumreport.com/quorum_report_daily_buzz_2024/texas_democratic_party_chairman_hinojosa_to_announ_buzziid32336.html
...This follows uproar over comments Hinojosa made using the TDP's defense of trans Texans as an example of a reason for the historic election loss this week: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/democratic-party-chair-texas-19898371.php
...Texas LGBTQ+ advocacy orgs were especially incensed: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/texas-democratic-party-chair-on-defensive-after-blaming-losses-on-support-of-trans-rights-36010763
...2024-11-0809 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 11/4/24: Texas Progressives Fired Up On Eve Of Election Day, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Early voting totals turn out below 2020 overall, with encouraging stats for both sides - for Dems, heavy early turnout for women could be key: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/columns/2024/11/03/who-has-voted-early-in-texas-2024-elections-trump-harris/75989548007/
...Almost half of the total of registered voters in Texas have showed up early: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/almost-half-of-texas-registered-voters-early-voting-numbers/287-7ea7dd66-f0b2-4767-883a-86d8da3ed561
...Ted Cruz is part of a national Republican push to falsely raise fears of widespread election fraud: https...2024-11-0409 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/25/24: Harris In Houston As Early Voting Keeps Truckin' In Texas, And MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A growing number of urban Texas counties exceed 100,000 early votes cast, as a growing number of rural Texas counties top 27% early turnout: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml
...Progress Texas weighs in on the huge early turnout: https://progresstexas.org/blog/statement-texas-early-voting-excitement-shatters-records
...Want to confirm that your ballot was counted? It takes some doing, but can be done: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/elections/texas-check-ballot-counted-status/287-08daf8ac-123a-45f1-8806-5f121c0f303c
Vice President...2024-10-2508 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/22/24: Early Voting First Day Turnout Records Fall Across Texas, And MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Massive, record-breaking turnout on the first day of early voting in the 2024 election yesterday in North Texas: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-is-the-third-least-safe-state-to-live-in-america-heres-why/3676621/?os=vb.&ref=app
...In the Austin area: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/long-wait-times-seen-as-early-voting-kicks-off-in-texas
...In the Houston area: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/harris-county-clerk-addressing-election-rumors-first-day-early-voting
...In the San Antonio area: https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/bexar-county-early-voting-record-19848470.php
...While voter totals are smaller, a great number of Texas' rural and suburban counties saw percentages of their...2024-10-2207 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/17/24: Texas Hours From Executing An Innocent Man, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Texas is now hours from executing a man who experts - and his own prosecutors - agree was convicted on junk science. The bipartisan Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence has issued a subpoena for Roberson to testify before them at a date beyond his scheduled execution: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/17/texas-execution-robert-roberson-subpoena/
...The state, for over a decade, has ignored a 2013 law that allows convictions based upon undermined science to be re-tried: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/17/robert-roberson-texas-execution-shaken-baby-syndrome
Starting November 1, Texas hospitals are under...2024-10-1707 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/11/24: South Texas State House Races Heat Up In Home Stretch, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Republicans are pouring money into three South Texas State House races - lately significantly outraising their Democratic opponents: https://www.latintimes.com/republicans-investing-south-texas-district-campaigns-561769
Like Progress Texas, the Dallas Morning News has endorsed Christine Weems over Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, and spells out very clearly why: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/10/11/we-recommend-for-texas-supreme-court-place-4/
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has been subpoenaed to testify in the criminal trial of one of his closest advisors: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/10/texas-sid-miller-ag-commissioner-todd-smith-hemp-indicted/
The class-action lawsuit filed...2024-10-1107 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/9/24: Majority Of OB/GYN's Considering Leaving Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A new survey finds that about 2 in 3 OB/GYN's practicing in Texas have been negatively impacted by our state's extensive abortion ban, and many are thinking of leaving the state altogether: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/10/08/texas-abortion-bans-prompt-some-ob-gyns-to-mull-leaving-survey-finds/75558421007/
Elon Musk, following his impressive Trump rally dance moves, has cut a $1 million check to a Trump-backing PAC: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/elon-musk-texas-election-campaign-donation-19823703.php
Colin Allred continues outpacing Ted Cruz in fundraising - though we recall that Beto O'Rourke did too: https...2024-10-0908 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/2/24: Progressive Leaders Rally As Texas Polling Narrows, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Over 2,400 young Texas progressives have attended rallies led by Austin U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and Senator Bernie Sanders this week, with two more events happening in Austin today: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/01/bernie-sanders-texas-colin-allred-kamala-harris/
...Efforts like these are part of the reason voter registration in Texas has spiked over the last four years: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/texas-voter-registration-groups-19786964.php
...And part of why Ted Cruz's numbers are dwindling: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4910340-texas-senate-cook-political-report/
Tim Walz outdid J.D. Vance...2024-10-0207 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 9/26/24: For Texas GOP, Cruelty Is The Point - Especially With Kids, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Ken Paxton, after being rebuffed by two lower courts, is pressing his push to force the State Fair of Texas to allow patrons to carry guns into their event to the Texas Supreme Court: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/paxton-challenges-texas-state-fair-firearms-ban-again-after-appeals-court-decision/
Paxton is also suing the Biden Administration over federal requirements to properly accommodate LGBTQ+ kids in state foster care: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/25/paxton-biden-lgbtq-foster-youth/
A new investigation shows widespread harm to Texas families and children as state officials rushed last year to kick 2 million...2024-09-2608 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 9/23/24: More Data Shows Women's Healthcare In Texas In A Shambles, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
New research shows an even starker picture of maternal morbidity in Texas, which has spiked 56% since 2021, compared to a national rise of 11%: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/texas-abortion-ban-deaths-pregnant-women-sb8-analysis-rcna171631
Now funded primarily by oil billionaires and fearing defeat, the state GOP is planning to pour more money into South Texas races: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/16/texas-republican-party-south-texas-fundraising-outreach/
...Their advertising spokesman in South Texas is a 9/11 and COVID conspiracy theorist: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/20/south-texas-ad-election-2024-conspiracy-theorist/
Ken Paxton will appeal last week's denial of...2024-09-2308 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 9/20/24: Paxton Loses - No Guns At Texas State Fair, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A Dallas judge has denied Attorney General Ken Paxton's request to block a new policy enacted by the State Fair of Texas which will ban the carrying of guns into this fall's event: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/19/texas-state-fair-gun-ban-injunction-denied/
Paxton has sued (again) Harris County over its guaranteed income program for low income residents, even after it was revised to accommodate issues raised by the Texas Supreme Court: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/guaranteed-income-harris-county-19777648.php
Investigative reporter Steven Monacelli is looking into connections between...2024-09-2007 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 9/19/24: Maternal Morbidity Stats Show Wide Racial Healthcare Disparity in Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The annual report from the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee shows a dramatic uptick in maternal deaths within one year of giving birth - being suffered mostly by Black and Hispanic mothers: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/maternal-mortality-2020-2021/
Ted Cruz has helped Republicans in the U.S. Senate avoid a vote on requiring insurance companies to pay for IVF treatments - they'd rather not be forced to say yes or no to a popular option that involves the destruction of unused embryos: https://www.houstonchronicle...2024-09-1909 min
Inside Texas FootballGunnar Helm Interview: Herman to Sark Transition, Michigan Touchdown, Texas' Growth in Year 4Texas TE Gunnar Helm joins to the channel to discuss his journey from high school to starting for the Longhorns. Support the Texas Tight End Room by Donating Today: https://www.surlyhorns.com/board/burnt-ends-nil-program/ Join InsideTexas.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/texas-longhorns/join/ Chapters: 00:00 Why Helm Liked Texas 01:34 Helm's Athleticism 02:14 Herman to Sark Transition 03:49 Early Years at Texas 05:05 Texas Team Growth on the Last 4 Years 07:13 Helm's Michigan Touchdown 08:40 Burnt Ends Texas Tight End Program Purchase The 2024 Longhorn Football Prospectus: Thinking Texas Football - 12th Annual Edition: https://sites.google.com/view/the-2023-burnt-orange-bible/home Written for the...2024-09-1310 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 8/30/24: Texas GOP Flooding The Zone With Racist Disinformation, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Texas Republicans are underway with a broad, coordinated attempt to stoke racist fear of Hispanic migrants, intimidate Latino Texans away from the polls, and undermine general confidence in our elections system: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4854249-texas-immigration-strategies-republicans-democrats/
Yet another Texas judge has stopped Ken Paxton from harrassing yet another non-profit group dedicated to humanitarian support for migrants: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/29/texas-attorney-general-deposition-migrant-aid-group-brownsville/
Republicans have stepped in to stop a program to activate unregistered voters in Harris County: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/29/texas-attorney-general-deposition-migrant-aid-group-brownsville/
Paxton...2024-08-3007 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 8/28/24: Texas' Targeting of Latino Voters Could Be Terrible Timing For Trump, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Ken Paxton's raids in South Texas on Democratic politicos likely hinges on new restrictions on voting access activism, enacted as reaction to false election claims related to the 2020 election: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/28/ken-paxton-south-texas-vote-harvesting-investigation-politiqueras-hist/
...Greg Abbott's chest-puffing over illegally registered non-citizen voters kicked off the rolls are also designed to instill fear and undermine faith in our elections: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/27/greg-abbott-voter-rolls-texas/
...An opinion piece for MSNBC notes that an attack on Latino voters may turn out to be poorly timed for Donald Trump, who need...2024-08-2808 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 8/20/24: Texas Leaders Center Stage at DNC, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Last night's opening night of the Democratic National Convention was full of highlights, including Texas abortion rights activist Amanda Zurawski: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/08/19/us/dnc-harris-trump-election
...Harris County Lina Hidalgo sang the praises of both President Biden and Vice President Harris: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/lina-hidalgo-kamala-harris-19664933.php
Could Texas flip blue this year? While it's long seemed unthinkable, the topic keeps coming up: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/18/kamala-harris-tim-walz-democratic-nominees-affect-texas-2024-elections/74722944007/
The civil trial targeting the parents...2024-08-2017 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 8/16/24: Right Wing Group Mounts Massive Attack On Texas Voter Rolls, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A Houston-based right-wing group has been bombarding election officials in Texas with thousands of objections to voter rolls: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/16/voter-registration-challenges-texas/
...The Texas Tribune has posted a great guide on the obstacles and opportunies that Texans with disabilities need to be aware of for November: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/16/texas-voter-disabilities-election-2024/
Yet another child sex abuse scandal has popped up related to Gateway Church in Southlake: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/gateway-church-new-lawsuit-child-sex-abuse/
Texas has been revealed as the national leader...2024-08-1609 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 8/13/24: Two Texas Hospitals Targeted For Refusing Abortion Care, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Two Texas women have filed suit against two Texas hospitals, which they say denied needed emergency care for ectopic pregnancies: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/12/texas-abortion-law-ectopic-pregnancies/
Primary-defeated and outgoing Harris County DA Kim Ogg is set to announce corruption charges in relation to the November 2022 election in the Houston area: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/ogg-rangers-corruption-election-harris-county-19652702.php
Over 70 Republican officeholders and nominees have signed a letter demanding that the State Fair of Texas reverse its decision not to allow patrons to carry guns into...2024-08-1308 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 8/9/24: Abbott Demands Immigrant Info From Texas Hospitals, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
We were proud to be included in yesterday's celebration of the Texas Rangers' 2023 World Series victory with President Joe Biden at the White House: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40784277/biden-hosts-world-series-champion-rangers-white-house
Governor Abbott has signed an executive order demanding information on undocumented people who seek medical care at Texas hospitals: https://abc13.com/post/texas-hospitals-ordered-inquire-patients-immigration-status/15162069/
An enormous scheduling backlog at Texas DPS's drivers license division is causing months-long appointment delays - and yet another obstacle to voting: https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/texas-dps-staffing-shortages-missed-appointments-massive-delays-getting-drivers-license/3616134/
2024-08-0907 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 8/6/24: Are You On Texas' Voter "Suspense" List? And MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
About 12 percent of Texas voters - over two million of us - are on an official "voter suspense list" due to uncertainty that our addresses match our voter registration: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/elections/2024/08/05/texas-voter-suspense-list-tops-21-million-heres-what-to-do-if-youre-on-it/
A Texas Ranger targeted for termination earlier this year due to failure to execute his job properly during the Uvalde school shooting has been reinstated: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/05/chris-kindell-uvalde-fired-reinstated-texas-ranger/
New all-time energy demand is expected by ERCOT as summer heat maxes out this week - will the...2024-08-0607 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 7/25/24: Fired Up Around Harris and Allred, Texas Dems Coordinate - and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The voter registration site Vote.org reports a massive spike in registrations since President Biden stepped out of the race: https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1816088296583209122?t=sv_uB_VvIGtnW5Zh2AkL7w&s=03
...While we're also hearing about mysterious suspensions of registration here in Texas - we must ALL confirm we're good to go in November: https://govotetexas.org/
Vice President Harris speaks this morning at 10 in Houston at the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers - stream to watch: https://www.aft...2024-07-2508 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 7/23/24: Texas DNC Delegation Backs VP Harris, Bigly - and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Texas' delegation to the Democratic National Convention - the nation's 3rd-largest - voted overwhelmingly to support Vice President Kamala Harris in a call last night: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/21/joe-biden-texas-delegates-nomination-process/
...Meanwhile Team Harris is raising record-setting amounts of campaign donations: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-fundraising-81-million-biden-drops-out/
...An ActBlue heat map shows D/FW as a major source of Harris' funding: https://www.reddit.com/r/Destiny/comments/1e9lr23/actblue_small_dollar_donation_heat_map/
...Local Metroplex Democratic leaders helped get that...2024-07-2307 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 6/3/24: Texas Supreme Court Decision Must Galvanize Pro-Choice Texans, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Friday's decision not to protect pregnant Texans and their doctors by the Texas Supreme Court should provide motivation for pro-choice voters to unite: https://www.reuters.com/legal/texas-top-court-wont-guarantee-right-abortion-complicated-pregnancies-2024-05-31/
...We hope to see you Thursday in El Paso for our live podcast taping at the Texas Democratic Convention: https://progresstexas.org/blog/live-texas-democratic-party-convention-abortion-and-our-freedoms-2024
Longtime Houston U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has announced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/06/03/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-pancreatic-cancer/
National coverage of the bitter division within the...2024-06-0308 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 5/31/24: Trump GUILTY - And Texas Bootlickers Are Outraged, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts yesterday brings out Republican outrage against our system of justice, and Democratic calls for decency:
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/30/34-guilty-verdicts-for-trump-2-very-different-reactions-from-texas-republicans-democrats/
...However, Trump's court loss could reinvigorate his support among Texas GOP voters who love outlaws: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/bud-kennedy/article288894752.html
...Many of whom are now being intimidated into turning out for Trump: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/05/30/texas-republican-trump-flyer-reddit-election-mailer/73912292007/
Another plank of the new Texas...2024-05-3107 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 5/21/24: Texas Medical Board Forum On Abortion Rules Solves Nothing, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The anticipated public forum held by the Texas Medical Board seeking to clarify rules governing abortion access exceptions in Texas did little but increase confusion: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/20/texas-medical-board-abortion-guidance/
...Among those testifying was Kate Cox:
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/kate-cox-tells-texas-medical-board-newly-proposed-rules-wont-help-clarify-abortion-law/287-4d342554-38fc-4e5c-a425-8e494289de39
...And Progress Texas staffers Tatum Owens and Reagan Stone: https://progresstexas.org/blog/lack-guidance-medical-emergencies-puts-texan-lives-line
Texas A&M's administrator of Title IX finds himself suspended for the offense of speaking in...2024-05-2107 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 5/15/24: Dan Patrick Preaches Christian Control Over Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Speaking at a tax-exempt (and thus presumably politically neutral) Houston church, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick espoused his view that Christianity should underpin Texas law: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/dan-patrick-sermon-second-baptist-19455537.php
Governor Greg Abbott appears to have fallen off the VP radar of Donald Trump: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/greg-abbott-donald-trump-vp-candidate-list-discussion
Heat builds around the discovery that Texas tax dollars may have been sent to Colorado charter schools founded by state-installed Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/14/hisd-mike-miles-tea-investigation/
2024-05-1507 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 5/13/24: Dan Patrick Wants Theocracy In Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick told a Christian talk show this weekend that he thinks Christian theology should provide the basis of government in Texas: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/13/lt-gov-dan-patrick-says-christianity-is-needed-more-than-ever-in-texas-politics/
Houston-area U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls is under investigation by the U.S. House Ethics Committee for apparantly paying himself rent from his campaign funds: https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/rep-troy-nehls-ethics-campaign-funds/285-f04829af-59d1-4635-80b2-5b0a9160f409
An 18-year UT Austin instructor has been arrested and fired...2024-05-1308 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 5/9/24: Abbott Orders Texas Universities To Break Federal Law, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Governor Greg Abbott has extended his orders to the TEA to defy new Federal guidelines on Title IX protecting LGBTQ students to administrators of state universities: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/greg-abbott-texas-universities-ignore-title-ix-revisions/3536397/
...As Carroll ISD is asked by the U.S. Department of Education to address four claims by students about racial and homophobic harrassment endured in its schools: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/southlake-texas-carroll-isd-civil-rights-investigation-rcna151009
That "weather watch" from ERCOT yesterday helped spur a massive spike in power prices last night: https...2024-05-0908 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 5/7/24: New Anti-Abortion Scare Tactics In Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A new attempt to legally target a Texas woman who sought abortion care in Colorado represents a new effort by abortion rights opponents to frighten Texans away from exercising their reproductive rights: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/05/us/texas-abortion-collin-davis-colorado/index.html
...It remains LEGAL to seek abortion care out of state: https://www.jezebel.com/texas-man-is-trying-to-sue-ex-partner-for-wrongful-death-over-alleged-abortion
...Colorado in particular has its own shield law protecting people who seek reproductive care there: https://www.cpr.org/2024/05/07/texas-woman-abortion-in-colorado-ex-legal-battle-state-shield-might-stand-in-way/
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's current legal troubles...2024-05-0708 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 4/16/24: SCOTUS Fails To Protect 1A in Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that protest organizers are liable for the actions of attendees, undermining the First Amendment right of gathering and demonstration: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-right-to-protest-19403818.php
...While video of the death of another unarmed Black man while being restrained by police in Texas is released: https://www.expressnews.com/news/texas/article/kenneth-knotts-body-cam-footage-19395426.php
The Texas Health And Human Services Commission is found to be in contempt of...2024-04-1606 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 4/9/24: Texas Solar Power Now Eclipse-Proof, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Yesterday's historic eclipse reminds us how far solar power infrastructure has come in Texas: https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/eclipse-overshadows-texas-solar-power-strength-2024-04-08/
A group of nine Houston-area state lawmakers are calling for a public hearing about potential violations of state law by Houstpn ISD, still under TEA control: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/texas-hisd-violations-19391789.php
Hundreds of Texas seniors have recently been overcharged on their Social Security checks by a Texas Health and Human Services Commission clerical error: https://www.newsweek.com...2024-04-0907 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 4/8/24: Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine Pushes Election Misinformation, and MoreStories we're following thi s morning at Progress Texas:
Happy Eclipse Day! Careful with your glasses and good luck with the weather.
Eagle Pass is missing out on a huge, rare windfall with Operation Lone Star occupying Shelby Park, where a big eclipse festival had been planned: https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-gov-greg-abbott-already-managed-to-screw-up-the-eclipse
A video of Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine went viral over the weekend in which he pushes election fraud misinformation: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/05/texas-supreme-court-justice-john-devine-2024-election/
...A great moment to revisit Find Out PAC, who are looking to...2024-04-0807 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 4/1/24: Texas Court Defies New Rules Against "Judge Shopping", and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The chief judge of the Northern District of Texas says his court will not follow new rules from the Judicial Conference designed to curb "judge shopping": https://www.commondreams.org/news/judge-shopping-texas
A Starr County woman has sued the Starr County prosecutor's office over false murder charges they pressed upon her over a self-induced abortion in 2022: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/30/us/texas-abortion-murder-charge-lawsuit.html
Severe emotional trauma for an East Texas family whose matriarch was forced to carry a baby with a fatal brain anomaly to...2024-04-0108 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 3/15/24: Texas Medical Board To Clarify Abortion Exceptions, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
At the behest of two Texas attorneys, the Texas Medical Board is set to discuss clarification for medical exceptions to the near-complete ban on abortion care in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/14/texas-medical-board-doctors-abortion-guidance/
Ken Paxton escalates his assault on Frisco ISD, whose social media posts about funding he sees as illegal electioneering: https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/frisco/education/2024/03/14/texas-attorney-general-claims-frisco-isd-violated-restraining-order-files-contempt-motion/
A shadowy Texas company that paid an FBI informant now under indictment for lying to his handlers about Hunter Biden has been connected to Donald Trump...2024-03-1508 min
The Texas ExaminerBehind the Texas Badge: Trends , Tactics, and Unsolved MysteriesIn this episode of The Texas Examiner, hosts Robert Saenz Jon Tipton interview Deputy Chief Nancy Sanford from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office and Texas Ranger Kevin Wright. They discuss their law enforcement careers, notable investigations, misconceptions about Texas Rangers, the increase in vehicle theft and burglary, the impact of fentanyl in the area, collaboration with Border Patrol, and reporting misconduct or abuse of government funds. They emphasize the importance of community support and cooperation among law enforcement agencies. In this conversation, Texas Ranger Kevin Wright and Deputy Chief Nancy Sanford discuss their roles in investigating public corruption and...2024-02-2258 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/21/23: Texas Dems Face Long Slog On Gun Safety, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
As primary voting begins, a review for progressives of why gun safety reform is so bogged down in Texas: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/mass-shootings-in-texas-have-shaped-the-democratic-primaries-18642421
In the Republican primary, Collin County will serve as a test of Ken Paxton's ability to sway voters: https://www.nbcdfw.com/decision-2024/collin-county-is-frontline-for-emotional-texas-house-primary-elections/3467634/
...That said, Governor Abbott is backing incumbents Paxton has targeted: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/in-n-texas-governor-abbott-ag-paxton-back-different-candidates-in-gop-primaries/
...And Donald Trump has his greasy hands in the soup too: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/02/20/trump-throws-weight-behind-rivals-of-four-texas-republicans-who-crossed-abbott-and-paxton/2024-02-2110 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/12/24: Rising Texas Teen Pregnancies Could Go National With GOP Wins, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
An increase in teen pregnancies that followed Texas' abortion restrictions could become a national problem if Republicans are triumphant this fall: https://www.salon.com/2024/02/12/a-rise-in-texas-teen-pregnancies-could-foreshadow-national-trends-experts-warn/
...Progressives need to get familiar with the legal concept of "extraterritoriality" - the GOP push to enforce Texas culture-war laws outside our borders: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/09/texas-abortion-transgender-care-outside-state-borders/
...The direct connection between our state's stamping out of reproductive freedom and Donald Trump exists in attorney Jonathan Mitchell: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/us/elections/jonathan-mitchell-trump-ballot-case.html
A UT...2024-02-1213 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/7/24: Texas GOP U.S. Reps Fail To Impeach Mayorkas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Despite the full support of Texas Representatives, the Republican majority in the U.S. House falls short of impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/06/mayorkas-impeachment-vote-fail/
...Partly thanks to a heroic vote by Texas Rep. Al Green, who had escaped his hospital bed to cast a decisive vote establishing a 215-215 tie: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/al-green-mayorkas-impeachment.html
...While Republicans flail over the border, dangerous elements are heeding their calls for violence: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/texas-gopers-border-cosplay-becomes-target-for-violent-extremists-and-grifters
...And...2024-02-0712 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/6/24: Climate Advocates Urge Texas Congressional Support On LNG Limits, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A diverse group of environmental advocates and frontline communities have signed on to an open letter urging Texas progressives in the U.S. House to oppose a resolution allowing for liquid natural gas expansion: https://progresstexas.org/blog/good-step-pausing-lng-export-approvals-next-step-combat-climate-crisis-texas
A new deal on federal border policy finds Democrats running to face Ted Cruz in the fall election divided: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/05/texas-reaction-border-deal-ukraine-israel/
Governor Abbott is limiting his filter for endorsements in Texas House races to the single issue of school vouchers: https://www.star-telegram...2024-02-0609 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 2/5/22: Religious Zealotry And Racial Hate On Display At Texas Border, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Today is the last day to register to vote in the March primary! Get it done: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/02/05/monday-is-last-day-to-register-to-vote-in-march-5-texas-primary-election/
All about voting in Texas: https://govotetexas.org/
Governor Abbott, gathered at Eagle Pass with 13 other Republican governors, pledges to expand the border territory his Operation Lone Star is excluding from access by federal Border Patrol personnel: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/04/us/texas-border-abbott-governors.html
...While U.S. House Democrats from Texas respond to Abbott's obvious theatrics and warn...2024-02-0512 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/31/24: Despair, Death and Disinformation at the Texas Border, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
No progress reported on the standoff between Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden on federal access to the border: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/texas-refuses-budge-in-border-standoff-with-biden
Eagle Pass firefighters talk about the trauma of recovering so many drowned migrants from the Rio Grande lately: https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2024/01/30/eagle-pass-texas-migrant-surge-border-immigration-contd-orig-lr-ag-ak.cnn
Christian voters, in particular, should be wary of stunts like the "God's Army" truck convoy: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/gods-army-texas-border-christian-nationalism-rcna136279
Ken Paxton gets a pass - for now...2024-01-3112 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/30/24: America Awaits Biden Move In Texas Dispute, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The standoff between Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden continues: https://www.kens5.com/video/news/special-reports/at-the-border/273-ded0a575-7d5c-4ec3-8465-7d701b45e7f3
...Historic parallels to the situation include Eisenhower '57 and Kennedy '63: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/29/immigration-border-texas-trump/
...Should legal solutions in the Congress not work out, Biden faces a difficult call: https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/if-border-bill-fails-time-for-biden-to-take-control-of-texas-border-says-writer-203146309828
...U.S. Reps Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar implore Biden to act: https://www...2024-01-3008 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/24/24: Supreme Court Call On Border Defied By Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
So far, the order issued by the U.S. Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol full access has been defied by Governor Abbott, as the feds issue a new Friday deadline: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/23/us/us-mexico-border-texas-migrants/index.html
...Conservatives recklessly encouraging Abbott's defiance: Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn: https://themessenger.com/politics/gop-texas-sen-cruz-slams-scotus-razor-wire-border-ruling-disgraceful
...Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: https://www.newsweek.com/supreme-court-texas-war-marjorie-taylor-greene-warning-1863296
...Texas U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and right-wing think-tankers: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article...2024-01-2409 minProgress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/17/24: ERCOT Survives A Mild Texas Winter Test, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Record low temperatures have been recorded across Texas: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/article/texas-cold-front-18611255.php
...Including in normally-balmy Houston - but this was no Uri: https://www.chron.com/weather/article/houston-freeze-texas-18610377.php
Two attorneys have sought clarification on abortion restriction exceptions from the Texas Medical Board: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/16/texas-medical-board-abortion/
Governor Abbott has accepted an enormous $6 million donation from a Pennsylvania billionaire who backs private school vouchers: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/16/greg-abbott-jeff-yass-camapaign-donation/
Texas has until the end...2024-01-1709 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/16/24: The Power Stays On In Texas - For Now, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Shamefully, it's of national note that the Texas power grid has mostly stayed functional amidst the current winter blast:
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/good-news-texas-power-grid-holding-up/
...ERCOT's most recent plea to conserve power is in effect as we publish this morning:
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-winter-weather-ercot-power-conservation-appeal-jan-16
...The cold snap arrived as inspections of power facilities remained incomplete: https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/hundreds-of-ercot-power-facility-inspections-were-not-completed-before-winter-blast/3434953/
...It's even colder in Chicago, where Governor Abbott continues sending migrants into lacking shelter: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15...2024-01-1612 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 1/4/24: COVID and Flu Spike Concerns In North Texas, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Health officials in the D/FW area are watching a spike in both COVID and flu-related hospitalizations - a good time to be sure vaccinations are up to date: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/flu-and-covid-19-cases-continue-to-increase-across-texas/3424962/
The Biden Department of Justice has sued the state of Texas over SB-4: https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-justice-dept-sues-texas-over-immigration-law-2024-01-03/
...While U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson leads a congressional field trip cosplay at Eagle Pass: https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-migrants-texas-mexico-909cfb700eafef95196f97906dc16ae1
2024-01-0409 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 12/20/23: Outrage And Lawsuits Over Texas Immigration Law, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The ACLU, alongside El Paso officials, have sued the state over Governor Abbott's signing of SB-4: https://newrepublic.com/post/177674/texas-just-passed-one-countrys-racist-immigration-laws
...El Paso's district attorney is one of the lawsuit's targets - though Bill Hicks' office has said they won't pursue SB-4 cases: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/el-paso-texas-migrant-arrest-suit.html
...The immigration advocacy group American Gateways is participating in the lawsuit: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-immigration-law-sb-4
...ACLU chapters in New Mexico and other states have issued warnings to non-White residents regarding...2023-12-2010 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 12/14/23 - SCOTUS Will Review Texas Judge's Call On Mifepristone, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The U.S. Supreme Court, dominated by conservative Trump appointees, is set to review a Texas judge's revoking of the FDA approval of the common abortion drug mifepristone: https://www.keranews.org/government/2023-12-13/u-s-supreme-court-to-consider-limits-on-abortion-medication-mifepristone
...The prospects of the SCOTUS review are "grave": https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-12-13/supreme-court-to-hear-case-determining-access-to-abortion-drug/
...Democrats rally around abortion rights as 2024's election looms: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/us/politics/abortion-texas-elections.html
...While Ted Cruz would rather talk about anything else: https://www.vanityfair.com...2023-12-1408 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 12/13/23: National Outrage Over Texas Abortion Policy, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The entire country is stunned over recent developments regarding abortion care for women with problematic pregnancies in Texas: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/what-does-texas-supreme-court-ruling-emergency-abortions-mean-patients-2023-12-12/
...The Texas Supreme Court regards Cox's legal plea as evidence she doesn't qualify for exception to the ban:
https://x.com/AliceOllstein/status/1734372711332274677?s=20
...The reassuring language from the Court is a "trap" for Texas healthcare providers:
https://www.vox.com/2023/12/12/23998301/kate-cox-texas-supreme-court-abortion-ken-paxton
...Legal experts interpret Ken Paxton's "extraordinary" threats against Texas doctors as his continued "enforcement...2023-12-1309 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 12/12/23: Texas Mom Forced To Flee For Emergency Abortion Care, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The Texas Supreme Court ruled against Dallas-area mother Kate Cox, denying her emergency emergency care, forcing Cox to leave Texas to receive it: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2023/12/11/kate-cox-flees-state-to-get-abortion-after-supreme-court-decision/
...Proving that the "exceptions" Texas law provides are really not intended to help Texas mothers: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/texas-abortion-ban.html
...And serves as the ironic "pro-life" protection of a doomed pregnancy at the cost of future children for Cox: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/09/opinions/texas-abortion-laws-kate-cox-ziegler/index.html
The filing deadline for...2023-12-1208 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 12/11/23: Texas Supreme Court Sides Against Texas Mom, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court stayed a lower court order that would have allowed Dallas mother Kate Cox to terminate a doomed pregnancy that threatens her health: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-hold-kate-cox/
...Drawing national attention to the contrast of approaches to reproductive freedom between Democrats and Republicans: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4351771-five-things-to-know-texas-abortion-fight/
...Setting the stage for one of the primary issues that will decide next year's election: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-biden-campaign-condemn-blocking-emergency-abortion-texas-woman-2023-12-09/
...And providing a preview...2023-12-1108 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 12/6/23: A New Lawsuit Challenges Texas Abortion Ban, and MoreKate Cox, a Dallas mother of two, is calling for a court order to allow her to receive abortion care amidst a dangerous pregnancy: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/us/texas-abortion-lawsuit.html
...Every day that passes increases the danger to Ms. Cox: https://progresstexas.org/woman-sues-texas-allow-abortion
SB-4, the blatantly unconstitutional immigration bill, could be signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott any day now: https://www.click2houston.com/news/investigates/2023/12/06/texas-on-the-cusp-of-enacting-new-immigration-enforcement-law/
...While lawmakers and advocates ask the Biden administration to step in: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/advocates-want-biden-reign-texas-immigration-crackdown-rcna128187
The fourth...2023-12-0609 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 11/28/23: Texas Supreme Court Hears Zurawski Case Today, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The Zurawski vs State Of Texas case will be the subject of a hearing at the Texas Supreme Court this morning: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/11/28/1215463289/texas-abortion-lawsuit-texas-supreme-court
...Livestream link: https://www.texasbarcle.com/CLE/sc.asp
Will there be a fifth special session? No word yet from the Governor: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/texas-legislature-recesses-with-school-choice-legislation-still-in-limbo-will-governor-abbott-call-a-fifth-special-session
We're also watching for Governor Abbott to sign SB4, and the legal backlash certain to follow: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/yall-itics/yall-itics-texas-border-to-become-the-show-me-state-when-sb-4-signed-into-law/287-87...2023-11-2810 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 11/6/23: Texas GOP Pushes Vouchers To End of Special Session, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
As the end of the current special session looms tomorrow, Texas Republicans are continuing their press for private school vouchers: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/03/texas-house-school-vouchers-funding/
...While odious immigration reform bills appear to be on hold for the NEXT special session: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2023-11-05/texas-lawmakers-put-the-brakes-on-sweeping-immigration-enforcement-bill-for-now
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will take up a lower court decision that eliminated a key avenue to confidential teen access to contraception today: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/06/texas-5th-circuit-kacmsaryk-birth-control/
GOP misinformation...2023-11-0608 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/27/23: Texas GOP Targets Texas Hispanic Community, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
New immigration bills, which will pave the way for regular harassment of Texas Latinos, continue towards the Governor's desk: https://www.axios.com/2023/10/26/texas-migrants-border-arrest-bill
...While Houston Representative Armando Walle becomes a touchstone of his community's frustration: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/texas-latino-democrat-walle-slams-republicans-immigration-bill-detain-rcna122335
A judge rules that the TEA cannot release school and district ratings, which had been challenged due to changes in rubric: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2023/10/26/judge-halts-texas-education-agency-from-releasing-a-f-school-ratings/71338396007/
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether a proven dangerous...2023-10-2709 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/25/23: Texas U.S. Congressmen Wash Out Of Speaker Race, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Both Republican U.S. Reps Pete Sessions and Roger Williams have seen their aspirations to become Speaker of the House dashed: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/24/pete-sessions-us-speaker-race-texas/
Ken Paxton sues the Biden administration, this time for removing deadly razor wire from the border: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/24/politics/texas-paxton-biden-administration-border-razor-wire-lawsuit/index.html
Houston U.S. Representative and mayoral candidate Sheila Jackson Lee apologizes for a profanity-laden recording in which she berates her staff: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/24/sheila-jackson-lee-houston-mayor-audio-leak-staffer/
5,000 workers at Arlington's GM assembly plant join...2023-10-2510 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/18/23: All But 3 Texas GOP U.S. Reps Vote For Jordan, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Of the 20 Republican holdouts stopping Jim Jordan from becoming Speaker yesterday, only 3 were from Texas: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/how-did-texas-congressional-delegation-vote-for-speaker-of-the-house/
Jonathan Stickland, following a day-long hang with notorious Nazi Nick Fuentes, appears to be out as president of the hard-right Defend Texas Liberty PAC: https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2023/10/18/defend-texas-liberty-pac-names-new-president-after-leader-met-with-white-supremacist-nick-fuentes/
Texas Republican lawmakers want to give Governor Abbott another $1.5 billion of your tax money for border wall construction: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-border-wall-spending-18422945.php
...While New Mexico...2023-10-1807 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/10/23: Texas GOP In Disarray Begins Push For Vouchers, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Texas Republicans are at each other's throats as the special session on school vouchers opens: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/09/special-session-school-vouchers-dan-patrick-dade-phelan/
Headline of the month: "Why Texas Moms Could Sink School Choice": https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/yall-itics/texas-moms-could-sink-school-choice/287-acab7fd5-3f4f-4d5e-9294-9e3284ba0e38
The effects of the new Israel/Hamas clash will be felt acutely in the Lone Star State: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/texans-are-already-feeling-the-impacts-of-the-attacks-in-israel/
...While Governor Abbott moves to increase security at Texas...2023-10-1009 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/5/23: More Border Walls in Texas Get Biden Go-Ahead, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Both sides of the political divide now recognize that the U.S. is experiencing an immigration crisis: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/influx-migrants-border-gains-renewed-attention-crisis-rhetoric-spreads-rcna118595#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16964949969634&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitics-news%2Finflux-migrants-border-gains-renewed-attention-crisis-rhetoric-spreads-rcna118595
...While the Biden Administration gives an emphatic green light to Trump-reminiscent border wall construction: https://apnews.com/article/border-wall-biden-immigration-texas-rio-grande-147d7ab497e6991e9ea929242f21ceb2
...A Liberty County housing development comes under Republican fire for selling homes...2023-10-0509 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 10/4/23: Texas U.S. Rep Wants Trump For Speaker, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
After resisting his nomination, all Texas U.S. Reps stuck with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to the end: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/03/texas-republicans-kevin-mccarthy-speaker-vote/
...And now, Fort Bend Rep. Troy Nehls wants Donald Trump to be the new Speaker: https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/troy-nehls-nominates-donald-trump-speaker-of-the-house/285-ac4a2f55-bbe0-4df0-90f5-ae0d8f7dc843
House impeachment managers release more dirt on Attorney General Ken Paxton, which they say they didn't have time to use during the impeachment trial: https...2023-10-0407 min
Progress Texas PodcastsDaily Dispatch 8/15/23: Texas Launches Broadside Against Planned Parenthood, and MoreStories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Texas launches a lawsuit designed to destroy Planned Parenthood: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/texas-planned-parenthood-repay-millions-dollars-102273480
Women forced to carry medically hopeless pregnancies to term under SB-8 continue to tell their stories: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-abortion-plaintiff-hopes-daughters-death-can-ultimately-help-others/3316090/
The Biden Administration calls on U.S. Supreme Court to take up controversial Texas social media law: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/14/biden-supreme-court-social-media-texas-florida/
TCEQ sues Shell (for a pittance) over fire at its Deer Park facility: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/environment...2023-08-1507 min
Talk+Water#63 - 88th Texas Legislative Session Wrap-UpSend us a textTexas+Water Editor-in-Chief Dr. Todd Votteler talks about water-related bills that passed during the 88th Session of the Texas Legislature with Jeremy Mazur, Senior Policy Advisor for Texas 2036, Sarah Schlessinger, Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Water Foundation, and Carlos Rubinstein, Principal at RSAH2O, LLC, and Perry Fowler, Executive Director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network (TWIN).Rubinstein was appointed chairman of the Texas Water Development Board from 2013-2015. During his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of the $2 billion State Water Infrastructure Fund for Texas. Rubinstein also served as a...2023-06-081h 09
Texas Prison Stories The PodcastIs The Texas Prison Food Strike Over? Aryan Circle and Texas Mexican Mafia Members Speak Out For The Fist Time Ever About Their Living ConditionsWelcome to Texas Prison Stories on YouTube! Your host is Tim Sno. Tim spent over 25 years as a active gang member. He's one of the few men that have been to Texas' State Jail, Texas Prisons, and Federal Prison. On this channel we tell stories about all 3 systems and never glorify prison. We are here to show young men that they really don't want what so many of them are asking for. Tim Sno is a single father and sole provider of a beautiful 4 year old baby girl named Ella Rose. He has changed his life for his first...2023-02-0310 min
Talk+Water#54 - Jeremy Mazur, Texas Water PolicySend us a textTexas Water Journal and Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, talks with Jeremy Mazur, Senior Policy Advisor for Texas 2036, about water policy priorities in Texas.Mazur directs Texas 2036’s work in the area of natural resources, which includes water, oil and gas, and energy. Since joining Texas 2036 in September 2021, Mazur has played a leading role in Texas 2036’s energy expansion project, charting an energy future that includes cleaner oil and gas and renewable sources of energy. Mazur also directs research and policy development in water. His current projects include a study on water markets...2023-01-2258 min
Above and Beyond Caring - Texas HCS and Day Hab ProviderWhat is the Texas HCS Interest List? Texas HCS 101Today we're looking at an article by Mary Jenkins titled "What is the Texas HCS Interest List?" Mary is a Texas HCS provider whose company, Above and Beyond Caring, has been providing Texas Home and community Based Services to individuals in the Brazoria and Galveston county areas since 2007. Here's her article.If you are a Texas resident who is interested in receiving home and community-based services (HCS), then you need to be on the Texas HCS Interest List. This is a list of residents who have expressed an interest in receiving HCS. Being on this list will...2022-07-1710 min
The Great State of InnovationEp. 21: Texas Medical Cannabis with Morris Denton, CEO of Texas Original Compassionate CultivationIn this episode, Cole, and Judge sit down with Morris Denton, CEO of Texas Original Compassion Cultivation, the only Texas-built and owned medical cannabis operator licensed under the Texas Compassionate Use Act.
We discuss:
The founding of Texas Original
The history behind the Texas Compassionate Use Act and recent legislative action regarding cannabis in Texas
Texas cannabis policy and how Texans feel about medical cannabis
Are you curious about whether you qualify for medical cannabis in Texas?
What are the types of medical cannabis?
The patient experience under current Texas medical cannabis regulations
Interested...2022-06-1748 min
The Great State of InnovationEp. 17: Founder Institute Texas - The Texas Chapter of the World's Largest Pre-seed Startup AcceleratorIn this episode, Judge and Cole sit down with Martín Martinez, Executive Director & Entrepreneur-in-Residence of Founder Institute (FI) Texas, and the team behind FI Texas' Dallas Cohort, Javy Martinez and Holly Burrow.
The conversation dives into the experience of going through a pre-seed startup accelerator and the lifecycle of a startup. If you are a founder or looking to take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey, this episode is for you.
Martín Martinez - Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas
Javy Martinez - Venture Partner & Director, Founder Institute Dal...2022-05-2345 min
Texas Standard » Stories from TexasThe Queen’s Royal Welcome to TexasBy W. F. Strong and Lupita Strong
February 2021 will mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 69th year on the British throne. In all of those years during which she witnessed some of the world’s most pivotal events, one can say — if one is a Texan — that we deserve an honorable mention amongst those events from her majesty’s life. Specifically, her 1991 two-day visit to the Lone Star state. She was the first British monarch ever to visit Texas and we gave the Queen a Texas-sized tip of the ole Stetson. She loved it. She asked her U.S. chief of...2020-10-2104 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasTexas: A State That Loves Its FlagBy W.F. Strong
If you were ever to start a new country, one of the first tasks you’d have to undertake would be to design a flag. Are you really a country if you don’t have a flag to advertise your existence – a flag that can fly atop skyscrapers, state houses, schools and ships at sea? Now cities and even corporations have flags, as do organizations and social movements.
I’m proud to tell you that according to Ted Kaye, one of the world’s leading vexillologists – a fancy word for one who studies...2020-09-2305 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasThree Texas Myths That Won’t DieIn my travels around the state I run into people now and then who have deeply held convictions about Texas that are simply untrue. They hold to myths that have been nurtured by well-intentioned souls since San Jacinto days, and it breaks my heart to tell them they are mistaken, but not for long. I soon realize, you see, that they are not saddened by their error, but by mine. As one man told me, “Son, you need to get out more. Try reading a book or two.”
With that caveat staring me icily in the face like...2020-01-2205 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasThe Republic of Texas is No MoreLater this year, way later this year, we’ll mark the 175th year of Texas statehood. That will be on December 29th. That’s the day in 1845 that Texas officially joined The United States of America, or, as the proudest of Texans say – the day the U.S. was allowed to join Texas.
Though the 29th was the day that President Polk signed the joint resolution that made Texas a state, there was some confusion as to the official moment that the Republic of Texas passed into history and statehood status began. Then President of Texas, Anson Jones...2020-01-0806 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasWhat Elvis Presley Owed West TexasBy W.F. Strong
It is my belief that Texas was largely responsible for launching Elvis Presley’s phenomenal career. Texas, perhaps as much as Tennessee, gave him a vital push onto the national stage and empowered his rise to the eventual undisputed title of “The king of rock and roll.”
Now, I’m not claiming that he became the timeless icon of popular culture that he became, solely because of Texas. Given his super-charged charisma, even if he’d first toured in Northern Siberia, he still would have melted teenage hearts and attracted a massive fo...2019-09-1806 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasThe Texas CrutchBy W.F. Strong
I like that Texas is so famous for certain things that those things carry the Texas brand all around the world. Like Texas toast, for instance. Or Texas Hold ‘em poker. The Texas two-step. Texas-style brisket. And even within the specialized world of backyard chefs, the brisket has a sub-specialty technique known as the Texas crutch. This technique allegedly originated in Texas, and therefore carries the Texas name throughout the barbecue world.
I’m going to teach you about this technique over the next three minutes. It may come in handy this...2019-07-1004 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasPicturing TexasOver the past decade I’ve seen more breathtakingly beautiful photographs of Texas than I saw in all the decades before, combined. This is thanks to social media where many photographers share their exquisite work online daily. I’ve made it a point to befriend these great visual artists so I can enjoy Texas in all its resplendent glory from mountain to sea, from high plains to the tropics. I will share with you the names of some of my favorites so that you can see Texas through their gifted eyes. Now this is just MY list, work I’ve com...2019-02-0606 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasTexas As A Unit Of MeasureBy W. F. Strong
Tom Hanks in the movie “Cast Away” was stranded all alone on a deserted pacific island. He was the lone survivor of a plane crash. The seriousness of his situation sunk in as he did the math in his head. He explained radial geometry to Wilson (his Volleyball friend) as he illustrated their predicament on a stone wall. He concluded, impressively, that since they went 400 miles out of their way to circumvent the storm the search area would be (400 miles squared x pi) 500,000 square miles. And he thought a moment and added, dejectedly, “it’s t...2018-08-0805 min
TXBiobytes from Texas BiomedTexas Biomedical Forum: Women Who Support Science — TX BioBytes Podcast Episode 008The Texas Biomedical Forum started in 1970 as a group of women on a mission – to support the hope and promise of life-saving research at Texas Biomedical Research Institute.
What started as the brainchild of a handful of women has turned into an organization that is more than 300 members strong. The Forum raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in support of the science at Texas Biomed.
From left to right: Jody Lutz, Tena Gorman, Ruth Eilene Sullivan, Courtney Percy
The purpose of the Texas Biomedical Forum continues to be to support the Texas Biomedical Research Institute through community relations,vo...2018-05-0806 min
The Dog TagHome Improvement Loans for Texas Veterans & MilitaryOn this episode of The Dog Tag, Matt Elledge talks with Bill McLemore, Deputy Director for the VLB Veterans Land & Housing Program, and Charlotte Mumphord, Director of the Land & Housing Program, about the Texas Veterans Home Improvement Program (VHIP). Matt and his guests break down the home improvement loan process including how to apply for pre-approval online, select a contractor and which projects are eligible. These loans are available to Veterans, Military Members and eligible spouses in Texas. Charlotte Mumphord has served Texas Veterans and Military Members in Texas for 32 years at the Texas Veterans Land B...2018-04-2520 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasA Handy Guide To The Most Texas-Loving Pages On Facebook
Back when Facebook was new on the net, in order to spur participation on the platform, Facebook made a page for every state and issued a challenge: “Let’s see which state can get to a million likes first.”
Texas won and won handily. It wasn’t even close.
Given Texas’s galactic reputation for state pride, the only surprise would have been had Texas not come in first. California and New York were much more tech savvy and digitally connected at the time and should have at least come in second and third, but they didn’...2018-01-1004 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasTexas: The Name Heard ‘Round The WorldBy W. F. Strong
I’ve spent a good deal of time over the last couple of years contemplating all things Texas inside of Texas. So I thought I would take a look at Texas OUTSIDE of Texas. There is a lot out there.
First, I suspect you’ve heard that in Norway the word “Texas” means something like “crazy.” More like wild and crazy. Let me use it in a sentence as the Norwegians would: “That party last night, after 1AM, turned Texas on us.” I am honored to have Texas utilized that way – describing somethi...2017-08-2304 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasTexas Weather is Never NormalWhen Admiral Perry arrived at the North Pole, according to legend, he said, “Must be a cold day in Amarillo!” He was referring of course to the old Texas saying that there is nothing between Amarillo and the North Pole but a barbed wire fence.
Amarillo and the Panhandle are not just famous for arctic fronts and blue northers. They are well known for wind in general. Chicago is not really the king of windy cities; Amarillo is. The Weather Channel says that Amarillo is the windiest city in America. In fact four of the top ten wind...2017-03-0804 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasHere’s Your Texas-Themed Reading List for 2017I’m not an expert on many things, but when it comes to judging the quality of Texas literature, or Texana as it is called, I am as confident as a bronc rider still upright at seven seconds. That last second of the eight is reserved for humility. Chance needs scant time to have one spittin’ up dirt.
So I decided I would take my chances and prepare a list of good Texas books you might want to tackle in the coming year. Each book is tied to the month that will perhaps enhance your reading of it.2016-12-2804 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasThe Story Behind Texas’ Favorite ButterTexas has a great number of Texas brands:
Southwest Airlines.
Texas Instruments.
Lone Star Beer.
Dell Computer.
Imperial Sugar.
The King Ranch.
Now, The King Ranch is a brand that came, quite literally, from a brand. King Ranch even has its own brand of Ford Pickup.
The King Ranch also helped launch another old Texas brand, Falfurrias Butter.
It is a little circuitous, but this is how it all came about. Richard King’s partner, Mifflin Kenedy, sold 7,000 cows to Ed Lasater, who then created the da...2016-12-2603 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasSure, Texas Is Big – But It Used to Be Even BiggerTexans have a kind of proverb that goes like this:
“Driving across Texas isn’t a trip; it’s a damn career.”
Texas is big, no doubt about that. But it used to be a lot bigger – about a fourth bigger. When Texas joined the United States in 1845, Texas’ borders (and shape) were quite different.
The northern boundary of Texas in those days stretched all the way up into what is today southern Wyoming. It´s true. In those days, the northernmost town in Texas was not Dalhart, it was Rawlins. You think it’s a long w...2016-10-0504 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasHomesick for Texas: Songs & Tributes to the Lone Star StateTo my mind, the signature song about longing for Texas is this one:
I wanna go home with the Armadillo;
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene;
The friendliest people and the prettiest women you’ve ever seen.
That’s “London Homesick Blues” sung by Jerry Jeff Walker and written by Gary P. Nunn.
But there are dozens of songs that make Texpatriates (Texans forced to live outside of Texas a
while) a little misty eyed. Like “Amarillo By Morning” by George Strait:
Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone.2016-09-0705 minTexas Standard » Stories from Texas‘You May All Go to Hell’ And 9 More Great Texas Quotes1. “You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas.” Davy Crockett said this angrily after losing his Tennessee bid for the U.S. Congress.
I think he really said, “Y’all can go to hell,” but grammatical purity likely corrupted the original transcription.
2. Mary Lasswell, who grew up in Brownsville and wrote the famous book “I’ll Take Texas” said:
“I am forced to conclude that God made Texas on his day off, for pure entertainment, just to prove that all that diversity could be crammed into one section of earth by a really...2016-06-0103 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasIn the Land of Pickups, Texas is KingTo paraphrase Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now, “I love the sound of a diesel engine in the morning.” Could be a pickup, or a tractor, or an 18 wheeler. But I love the sound, because it sounds like adventure. It is the sound that says we’re off on a road trip, or going fishing, hunting, or simply taking livestock to auction, to make more money for more adventure.
In Texas we buy more pickup trucks than any other state. Not all diesel of course, but taken all together we buy more pickups than any other state. In fact...2016-03-2303 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasThink There’s No Poetry In Texas? Think AgainA New Yorker told me that he never uses the words Texas and poetry in the same sentence.
He thinks Texas poetry is an oxymoron because he doesn’t see how such a refined art form could be produced in a macho culture. But he is wrong. Cowboys and vaqueros were reciting poetry in the warm glow of firelight on the Texas plains hundreds of years ago.
A modern inheritor of this tradition is Walt McDonald. He gives us this poem that celebrates country music in Texas. It’s called “The Waltz We Were Born For.”2016-02-2404 minTexas Standard » Stories from TexasWhat You Might Not Know About the Texas ConstitutionIf you want to hold public office in Texas, you have to believe in God. You cannot serve even as dog catcher – if it’s an elected office, you must believe in God.
Given the long history we have had of con artists, and scofflaws, carpetbaggers, and white-collar criminals holding public office around the state, this may seem hard to believe.
But it is right there in the Texas constitution. Plain as day.
Section 4 of the Texas Bill of Rights says that if you wish to hold elected office in Texas you must “acknow...2015-12-0203 min