Tag Archives: Texas

The New York Times reports: Several members of the Supreme Court’s conservative majority seemed deeply skeptical of a challenge to a Texas law that seeks to limit minors’ access to pornography, peppering a lawyer for the challengers with exceptionally hostile questions. The lawyer, Derek L. Shaffer, said the law violated the First Amendment by requiring age verification measures like the …

The Roys Report reports: The former pastor of a now-shuttered Calvary Chapel congregation in south-central Texas has been sentenced to two years in prison for possessing child sex abuse material. On Tuesday, Judge Phil Grant of the 9th District Court of Texas sentenced Bruce Hollen, 63, to two years in state prison, according to court records. For several years, Hollen …

The Texas Tribune reports: Two hours after Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock was elected Texas House speaker on Tuesday, Christian worshippers gathered in a Capitol meeting room to prepare for “spiritual war” and protect lawmakers from demonic forces. “Pray for the fear of the Lord to come into this place,” Landon Schott intoned from the stage as a small band …

The Associated Press reports: A Texas anti-pornography law is going before the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a collision of free speech rights, regulation of online content and the protection of children. Texas is among more than a dozen states with similar laws aimed at blocking young children and teenagers from viewing pornography. The adult-content site Pornhub has stopped operating …

The Hill reports: A Texas lawmaker got down on one knee and proposed to his longtime partner on the statehouse floor during the first day of the 89th legislative session. Texas Rep. Venton Jones (D-Dallas) popped the question to Gregory Scott Jr. on Tuesday, right before other lawmakers were set to be sworn in. “In a time when our love …

CBS News reports: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed that American flags on state property be flown at full staff to mark President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week, bypassing the national mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter. The move has sparked both praise and criticism on social media. On Dec. 29, President Biden ordered flags across the country to …

“BREAKING: I just announced a statewide tour next week. I’ll be visiting individual state representative districts with incumbents who continue to obstruct a Speaker elected by a majority of Republicans. Texans expect a Republican-led majority to elect a Speaker by a majority of Republican state representatives. “Take this as a warning. If you’re making deals with Democrats to block a …

Austin’s ABC affiliate reports: Gov. Abbott’s office released a full statement on Sunday shortly after news of Jimmy Carter’s passing. In the statement, Abbott said Americans owe Carter gratitude for his service as the 39th president of the United States and extended prayers and condolences to the entire Carter family. But Abbott mistakenly extended condolences to Jimmy Carter’s late wife, …

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports: Texas gained more new people than any other state between July 2023 and July 2024, according to Census data. Texas’s population jumped by 562,941 people. Florida saw the second highest numeric growth with 467,347 new people and California the third with 232,570. Every state saw an increase in international migration. Texas saw the third largest …

Tyler, Texas’s ABC affiliate reports: Senator Bob Hall of Canton has introduced Senate Bill 80, allowing Texas to declare federal actions unconstitutional. Hall has dubbed it the Texas Sovereignty Act. “We are an independent state, except for where the constitution gives the federal government specific authority to do something,” said Hall. The bill would create a bi-partisan joint committee to …

The Texas Tribune reports: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Sunday he sued the National Collegiate Athletic Association, accusing the organization of misleading college sports fans by allowing transgender women to participate in events marketed as women’s competitions. Paxton said the NCAA violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by deceiving fans who want to support sporting events that only …

Axios reports: Congress’ long-simmering debate over the age of its members has resurfaced over revelations that Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) has been living in an independent living facility in Texas. Granger’s son Brandon told the Dallas Morning News that she has been “having some dementia issues late in the year.” Brandon Granger pushed back on a report from the Dallas …

The Texas Tribune reports: President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday he would nominate Houston billionaire hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta to serve as U.S. ambassador to Italy. Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and Landry’s restaurant group, is a prolific political donor who hosted a fundraiser for Trump at his Post Oak Hotel in Houston earlier this year. He has donated millions …

The Dallas Express reports: Amid the ongoing drama in D.C. with Congress furiously debating and voting on an interim spending bill a key question has arisen from constituents in Texas Congressional District 12, “Where is Congresswoman Kay Granger?” According to Ms. Granger’s roll call vote page, Grangers last vote was on July 24th, 2024 as she voted No to the …

Amarillo’s ABC affiliate reports: The Bible is back on Canyon ISD shelves after being temporarily removed under a new state law banning sexually explicit material from school libraries. House Bill 900, known as the READER Act (Restricting Explicit and Adult Designated Educational Resources), states, “a library material vendor must perform a contextual analysis of the material to determine whether the …

Bloomberg News reports: Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him …

The Texas Tribune reports: In an already heated race for Texas House Speaker, state GOP officials are hoping to wield new powers that would ensure their preferred candidate wins — and give them unprecedented control over who can run in Republican primaries. Last week, the Republican Party of Texas implied it would censure any GOP Texas House member who does …

The Texas Tribune reports: SpaceX’s goal is to colonize Mars. But first, it wants to create an official city in Texas. Employees living on the site of SpaceX’s operations in South Texas are requesting a special election to determine whether the site can be incorporated into a city. Current residents of Starbase, the company’s South Texas headquarters and launch site, …

The Texas Tribune reports: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit accusing a New York doctor of prescribing abortion drugs to a Texas resident in violation of state law. This lawsuit is the first attempt to test what happens when state abortion laws are at odds with each other. New York has a shield law that protects providers …

Lone Star Live report: Hillary Hickland, member-elect of the Texas House of Representatives’ District 55, is determined to “protect the children” by moving to ban the sale of “obscene devices” in stores that are not considered “sexually oriented businesses.” Hickland recently proposed legislation to be considered in the next legislative session, in 2025, that would prevent major retailers such as …