WEATHER ALERT
Harrison vs. higher ed: How one lawmaker is weaponizing social media to eradicate LGBTQ+ curriculum
Read full article: Harrison vs. higher ed: How one lawmaker is weaponizing social media to eradicate LGBTQ+ curriculumState Rep. Brian Harrison has been on a crusade against Texas universities, scouring course catalogs and university websites for examples of “gender ideology” or LGBTQ+ curriculum, and riling up his X followers about “liberal indoctrination” on campuses.
How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M
Read full article: How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&MOfficials have struggled to detail the exact reasons for the A&M professor’s termination, citing a technical issue with her course description. Faculty say the move was politically motivated.
Faculty, advocacy groups fear Texas A&M firing threatens academic freedom
Read full article: Faculty, advocacy groups fear Texas A&M firing threatens academic freedomThe firing happened over two years after Texas A&M stressed its support for academic freedom and amid a changing higher education landscape.
Texas A&M professor fired after viral video disputes termination
Read full article: Texas A&M professor fired after viral video disputes terminationAn attorney for Melissa McCoul, seen in a video clashing with a student over gender-identity content in her class, said the professor is weighing her legal options.
Video of clash over gender-identity content in Texas A&M children’s lit class leads to firing, removals
Read full article: Video of clash over gender-identity content in Texas A&M children’s lit class leads to firing, removalsAfter the video fueled outrage, a professor was fired and two college leaders removed from their administrative roles for approving content inconsistent with the course’s description.
Texas Democrats return for second special session as redistricting fight resumes
Read full article: Texas Democrats return for second special session as redistricting fight resumesAfter a two-week walkout, enough Texas House Democrats have returned to the Capitol to restore a quorum, allowing the second special session to begin. The return follows intense protest over Republicans’ mid-decade congressional redistricting effort.
Texas’ DEI debate centers on a disagreement about whether programs perpetuate or prevent discrimination
Read full article: Texas’ DEI debate centers on a disagreement about whether programs perpetuate or prevent discriminationSupporters say diversity initiatives close educational and income gaps born from a history of prejudice. Republican officials say they prioritize identity over merit.
Transgender staffer navigates Texas Capitol with guarded care amid growing hostilities
Read full article: Transgender staffer navigates Texas Capitol with guarded care amid growing hostilitiesMo Jenkins is one of only a few openly transgender staffers working in the Capitol as lawmakers are making headway in restricting rights for LGBTQ+ Texans.
Texas GOP leaders defend appointee after tense exchange over diversity hiring
Read full article: Texas GOP leaders defend appointee after tense exchange over diversity hiringSeveral of Texas’ top Republicans are defending Gov. Greg Abbott’s pick to head the state’s water agency following pointed questions from a GOP lawmaker over the agency’s diversity hiring policies.
Texas leaders defend Black official after lawmaker’s public interrogation of DEI policies left her in tears
Read full article: Texas leaders defend Black official after lawmaker’s public interrogation of DEI policies left her in tearsThe topic was a budget request from a state agency. The exchange grew emotional when a lawmaker pressed for answers about a strategic plan that praises diversity.
Texas Medical Board director retires after uproar over his Planned Parenthood employment
Read full article: Texas Medical Board director retires after uproar over his Planned Parenthood employmentConservative lawmakers claimed credit for Dr. Robert Bredt’s retirement after it came out he also worked at a Planned Parenthood-affiliated lab.
Texas conservatives plan to further restrict trans lives this legislative session
Read full article: Texas conservatives plan to further restrict trans lives this legislative sessionEmboldened by the recent election, some Texas lawmakers are already filing bills that would dictate bathroom use, limit gender identity markers on documents and restrict funding for surgeries.
Four Texas House Republicans censured for campaigning against incumbents
Read full article: Four Texas House Republicans censured for campaigning against incumbentsThe censured members said they had been punished for campaigning against “liberal incumbents” alongside statewide elected officials like Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Republicans’ budding interest in Texas’ housing crisis could create strange political bedfellows
Read full article: Republicans’ budding interest in Texas’ housing crisis could create strange political bedfellowsRepublican lawmakers may try to force Texas cities to allow greater housing density as the state faces a housing crunch.
Texas House approves ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers
Read full article: Texas House approves ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employersViolations could bring a $50,000 fine under an amendment adopted Wednesday. The bill’s sponsor said the ban would be the strongest in the nation.
New Texas law bans COVID mask, vaccine and shutdown mandates, but some Republicans want more
Read full article: New Texas law bans COVID mask, vaccine and shutdown mandates, but some Republicans want moreThe bill, recently signed by Gov. Greg Abbott and set to take effect Sept. 1, does not restrict pandemic rules by private entities.
Analysis: After months of legislating, ranking the 2021 Texas House and Senate from right to left
Read full article: Analysis: After months of legislating, ranking the 2021 Texas House and Senate from right to leftThese rankings across the ideological spectrum are based on roll-call votes in the Texas House and Senate during this year’s regular and special sessions.
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Brian Harrison wins Texas House seat after beating fellow Republican John Wray, who used to hold the seat
Read full article: Brian Harrison wins Texas House seat after beating fellow Republican John Wray, who used to hold the seatHarrison is the former chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump. He will replace Waxahachie Republican Jake Ellzey, who was elected to Congress in July.
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John Wray fights for old Texas House seat against Brian Harrison in special election that has turned personal
Read full article: John Wray fights for old Texas House seat against Brian Harrison in special election that has turned personalThe two Republicans are fighting to replace former state Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Waxahachie, who is now a congressman.
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Special election runoff between John Wray and Brian Harrison for state House district in North Texas set for Sept. 28
Read full article: Special election runoff between John Wray and Brian Harrison for state House district in North Texas set for Sept. 28The two Republicans are vying to replace former state Rep. Jake Ellzey, who is now in Congress.
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8 candidates file for special election to replace former state Rep. Jake Ellzey
Read full article: 8 candidates file for special election to replace former state Rep. Jake EllzeyFive Republicans, one Democrat, an Independent and a Libertarian are vying to fill Ellzey's seat after he won a promotion to Congress last month. The filing deadline was 5 p.m. Thursday.
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23 candidates join the race to replace late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright
Read full article: 23 candidates join the race to replace late U.S. Rep. Ron WrightAd"We need fighters in Texas, and that’s what I’m coming here for," Rodimer told The Texas Tribune. Some of the other candidates had already announced their campaigns, most notably including Wright's widow, longtime GOP activist Susan Wright. On Tuesday evening, one potential major GOP candidate, former Trump campaign adviser Katrina Pierson, announced she was not running. The district has been getting increasingly competitive in statewide results, with Trump carrying it by only 3 percentage points last year. However, Ron Wright won it by more healthy margins when he was first elected in 2018 and then reelected in 2020.
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Gov. Greg Abbott sets May 1 special election to fill seat of late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott sets May 1 special election to fill seat of late U.S. Rep. Ron WrightEarly voting in the special election to replace the late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, will begin April 19. Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas TribuneGov. Greg Abbott has selected May 1 as the date for the special election to succeed late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington. The candidate filing deadline for the special election is March 3, and early voting starts April 19. The special election for the Republican-leaning seat is set to draw a large crowd, and several candidates have already announced or filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. AdTwo Democrats have declared their candidacies: Jana Lynne Sanchez, the 2018 Democratic nominee for the seat, and Lydia Bean, last year's Democratic nominee for state House District 93.