Texas Senate leaders signal intent to spend big on border security
Faulting the federal government for lax border enforcement, leaders in the Texas Senate signaled they would continue to spend significant portions of the state budget on efforts to curb immigration.Th[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comLetters: Immigration questioned
I would like to address and pose some questions to illegal immigration activists and apologists who continue to use this forum to attack and vilify Gov. (1) What positive good is derived from massive/unrestricted illegal immigration? (2) How much is too much illegal immigration at the expense of American taxpayers who have to pick up the tab for food, shelter, transportation, etc., of illegal immigrants? (3) Would illegal immigration activists/apologists stop vilifying and attacking Gov. … I think he’s unfit for office.”Ted Cruz: “Whatever he does, he accuses others of doing.
myrgv.comAppellate court hits pause on Abbott, Point Isabel mask mandate challenge
The 13th Court of Texas Appeals has placed on hold a challenge by Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton of a lower court ruling that overrode Abbott’s authority during the pandemic to nullify a mask mandate by the Point Isabel Independent School District.
myrgv.com13th Court of Appeals abates mask mandate appeal
The 13th Court of Texas Appeals has placed on hold a challenge by Gov. “Accordingly, we ABATE this appeal and remove it from the Court’s active docket until such time as the Texas Supreme Court issues its opinion in the direct appeal on one of the aforementioned cases. After that opinion issues, we direct appellants to promptly file a motion to reinstate this appeal,” the justices wrote. The appeal that the 13th Court of Appeals abated on Wednesday was in response to the temporary injunction issued by the 444th. Once the Supreme Court rules in the Dallas, San Antonio or Houston cases, Wednesday’s order directs the appellants and appellees to promptly notify the court.
myrgv.comTennessee Bill Would Imprison People for 3 Years If They 'Lie' About Rape to Get an Abortion
Republican lawmakers in Tennessee introduced a bill this week that would add a rape exception to the state’s near-total abortion ban—with the caveat that those who “lie” about being raped to access abortion care could be sentenced to up to three years in prison. The bill, which Jessica Valenti first surfaced in her abortion news newsletter on Tuesday, would also require rape victims who do receive abortion care (which they can only get after an invasive forensic exam) to preserve and submit “a s
news.yahoo.comTexas Legislature gears up to tackle long-standing and fresh issues in public education. Here’s what you need to know.
Lawmakers are looking at ways to keep teachers in the profession, make schools safer, give parents money for private schooling and censor conversations about sex and gender.
TikTok access restricted at certain Texas colleges
TikTok holds its spot as the number-one app for millions of people around the globe. However, some Texas students will find their access to the app limited following changes at some of the state’s largest universities. Schools such as the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) and Texas A&M, among others, have implemented efforts to...
trinitonian.comAt parental rights event, Gov. Greg Abbott sheds light on how he’d implement “school choice” policy
For the first time, Abbott makes it clear which policy he supports. Bills that would allow parents to get state money to send their kids to schools outside of the state’s public education system have been floated previously, but top lawmakers believe the policies will pass this session.
Texans should avoid travel in regions hit with icy weather as power grid expected to meet demand
A dayslong winter storm warning in Texas is already disrupting travel plans and closing schools, but state officials say the power grid is holding up.[How to know the difference between a local power [San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comHundreds of Chinese Americans protest in Dallas against 'discriminatory' Texas Senate bills
Chinese Americans from North Texas are protesting against two Texas Senate bills that would ban specific communities from buying property in the state. Over 250 protesters flocked to John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza in downtown Dallas on Sunday to condemn Senate Bills 147 and 552, which they have denounced as discriminatory. Bill 147, filed by Republican State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst in November 2022, will effectively prevent people with ties to four countries — China, Russia, North Korea and Iran — from purchasing Texas property or real estate if passed.
news.yahoo.comTexans should avoid travel in regions hit with icy weather as power grid expected to meet demand
School closures and hazardous road conditions are expected throughout a large portion of Texas, according to forecasts. State officials caution Texans about local power outages but expect the grid to stay up.
Texas gov. announces state border wall under construction south of San Benito
SOUTH OF SAN BENITO — Governor Greg Abbott visited the Valley once again to unveil a new section of the state’s border wall and its latest addition to the governor’s growing border policies — the state’s first ever border czar. The state then began its border wall construction in the Valley through a project initiated in December 2021 in Starr County. The cost on average per mile is about $25 million to build one mile of a border wall. Although he admitted there was a problem with human smuggling in that area years ago, he felt it was largely addressed by Border Patrol agents patrolling that area. The governor said his new border czar, Michael Banks, will be tasked with reaching out to communities like San Benito.
myrgv.comWith full state coffers and bipartisan support, Texas teachers are hopeful they’ll get a raise this year
The COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and burnout have pummeled teachers in the last few years. Lawmakers from both parties agree they should get a pay bump — but it won’t happen without some negotiation.
Letters: Governor defended
I am writing in response to a recent editorial, “No goodwill: Christian goodness absent from Abbott’s busing stunt (Jan. 3). So, it is all Abbott’s fault for the circumstances those who knowingly, and willingly chose to enter the country find themselves in. But Greg Abbott lies when he says the border is being invaded and must be stopped. Greg Abbott was waiting for Mexico to pay for Trump’s wall. “Always lie because you can cover up your lie with another lie.
myrgv.comWanna bet? Texas Legislature to reconsider legalizing casinos and sports betting
Gambling legalization advocates in Texas are going all in again this legislative session, confident that they have built more support since their efforts came up far short in 2021.The push is still an[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comUvalde families press urgency after California shootings
Families of the 21 victims killed in a Texas elementary school shooting last May gathered Tuesday at the state capitol in Austin to renew their calls for tighter assault weapon restrictions, just days after three separate shootings in California left 24 people dead.
Two years after Texas’ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections bills
State policymakers have mapped out familiar territory early in the legislative session, with Democrats seeking to expand voting access and Republicans pledging to make elections more secure.
We must stop taking in the world’s discards
We are now maybe the world’s third-most-populous nation behind China and India; no longer do we need to worry about populating our shores. This country has absolutely no reason to consider it our responsibility to make the asylum seekers of the world happy here. Compassion for our own less fortunate and improving our population should now be our only responsibility; we are no longer here to take in the world’s discards. Joe Biden’s destruction of Donald Trump’s immigration prevention measures immediately upon taking office was as stupid it was capricious. We have a large percentage of our workforce not working because they sponge off others, not because they can’t work.
myrgv.comTexas silent after Guard member shoots migrant on border
AUSTIN (AP) — A Texas National Guard member shot and wounded a migrant during a struggle this month on the U.S.-Mexico border as the soldier tried to detain the person, according to records from the s[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comBorder security, tax relief and raises top list for Texas legislature
For the Texas House and Senate, there is not much daylight between each chamber’s priorities in this year’s legislative session.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comBill to ban Chinese citizens and government from buying Texas land gains steam among Republicans
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst filed a bill that would ban citizens, governments and entities from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from purchasing land in the state, part of what she and other Republicans have said will help stem foreign influence in Texas.
sacurrent.comBill to ban Chinese citizens and government from buying Texas land gains steam among Republicans
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst filed a bill that would ban citizens, governments and entities from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from purchasing land in the state, part of what she and other Republicans have said will help stem foreign influence in Texas.
Migrant shot and injured by National Guard soldier patrolling border
A Texas National Guard soldier patrolling the Texas-Mexico border shot a migrant Sunday morning just west of McAllen, according to an internal Texas Military Department document obtained by Military Times and The Texas Tribune.
mysanantonio.comTexas Legislature’s state budget proposals leave more than $50 billion in state funds up for grabs
The preliminary budgets by House and Senate call for $130.1 billion in state spending over two years, even though tens of billions more are available to them. The bills do not bust state or constitutional spending limits.
UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks
Students and faculty will not be able to access the popular social media app while connected to university internet servers. It’s the latest step to limit access to the service after Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to ban the app on government-issued devices citing cybersecurity risks.
Gov. Greg Abbott says in inauguration speech Legislature will prioritize budget surplus, schools and power grid
Abbott is on track to becoming Texas’ second-longest-serving governor, behind Rick Perry, who served more than 14 years. Abbott enters his third term after a decisive reelection win in November.
COVID-19 upended Texas schools’ finances. Now they’re calling for a new funding system.
Districts like Pflugerville ISD, which is struggling with a $12 million deficit and weighing school closures, say the pandemic and rising inflation have eroded the value of the state’s last effort to overhaul its public education finance system.
Buses from Texas drop off more than 100 migrants in a bitterly cold Washington, D.C., on Christmas Eve
Gov. Greg Abbott reportedly sent the migrants, who arrived at Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence Saturday night. The governor has been busing migrants to Democratic-let cities since April and first sent buses to Harris’ home in September.