Texas - wild wild west

[Olde Hornet]

The Texas Senate Just Voted To Destroy Its Public Universities​

MSN

Why Do Texas Republicans Hate College Football?​

Generally I don’t flag whacky proposed legislation at the state level or bills that don’t have much chance of passing. They’re too often trolly, and you have enough real stuff to keep track of. But yesterday’s vote by the Texas Senate to end tenure at the state’s three dozen or so public universities is so extraordinary and representative of the current cultural moment that it’s worth your attention.

Many observers in Texas think it’s unlikely that the tenure ban will pass the GOP-controlled Texas House. I hope that’s right. But even if it dies there, we have to reckon with how far Texas senators were willing to go.

The tenure ban contained some wrinkles to give the appearance of softening the blow, as the Texas Tribune notes (emphasis mine):

SB 18 would eliminate tenure only for newly hired professors and would allow a university system governing board to set up its own system of “tiered employment” for faculty, as long as professors receive an annual review.

But let’s not kid ourselves. Eliminating tenure for new hires would put Texas universities at an extreme disadvantage when recruiting faculty. It would cripple many graduate programs. It would inject politics deeply into university management and administration. It would allow state government to play the same kinds of games with higher ed that they love foisting on elementary and secondary educators.

 

[Olde Hornet]

Texas Senate approves bills requiring 10 Commandments in K-12 classrooms, Bible time in school​

MSN

Texas Senate approves bills requiring 10 Commandments in K-12 classrooms, Bible time in school​

The Texas Senate approved a bill Thursday that would require public schools in the state to prominently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, starting next school year, The Texas Tribune reports. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Phil King (R), argued earlier this month that the Ten Commandments are part of American heritage, and his legislation "will remind students all across Texas of the importance of the fundamental foundation of America."

The state Senate also gave final passage to legislation that would allow public and charter schools to require that time be set aside for students and employees to party and read the Bible or other religions texts. The bills are "the latest attempt from Texas Republicans to inject religion into public schools," the Tribune reports. In 2021, the state Legislature passed a law require schools to display "In God We Trust" signs donated by community members.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick backs both bills, calling them wins for religion freedom. "Bringing the Ten Commandments and prayer back to our public schools will enable our students to become better Texans.," he said in a statement. Proponents of the bills argue they will withstand challenges on constitutional grounds after the Supreme Court ruled last year that a Washington State high school football coach could pray at football games.

 

[Olde Hornet]

Texas Senate moves to end countywide voting on Election Day​

Texas Senate moves to end countywide voting on Election Day

Countywide polling locations on Election Day would be banned in Texas under a bill approved by the Texas Senate on Thursday.

Senate Bill 990, authored by Republican Sen. Bob Hall of Edgewood, passed 17-12 along party lines. The bill — if approved by the state House — would eliminate countywide voting centers on Election Day and require residents to vote at an assigned precinct, typically in their neighborhood. Larger voting centers would be permitted through early voting.

Currently, 90 counties — including large metro counties like Harris and Dallas as well as rural ones — are approved by the secretary of state’s office to use countywide voting centers on Election Day.

Hall has framed the bill as necessary to address potential issues with vote counts, but Democrats who opposed the bill pressed him for any evidence that countywide polling had led to people voting at more than one location. Hall said on Thursday that spreading voting locations across a precinct makes it “impossible” to ensure an accurate count and that limiting voters to a central polling location would simplify the tally. There has been no evidence of systematic voter fraud in Texas. And each county that has been approved to use countywide voting policies must pass audits by the secretary of state’s office during two election cycles to keep the practice in place.

Officials with the secretary of state’s election division have said the program — which began in rural counties — is popular among voters because it allows them to vote anywhere in the county. That is especially helpful in some of the state’s largest and most sprawling counties like Harris and Bexar, where Texans have long commutes from work to home and could possibly miss their window to vote if they don’t make it to their neighborhood precinct on time after work. Election officials also like the convenience the program provides to voters because they don’t have to scramble to figure out where to vote on Election Day.

 

[Fiyah]

Texas Senate approves bills requiring 10 Commandments in K-12 classrooms, Bible time in school​

MSN

Texas Senate approves bills requiring 10 Commandments in K-12 classrooms, Bible time in school​

The Texas Senate approved a bill Thursday that would require public schools in the state to prominently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, starting next school year, The Texas Tribune reports. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Phil King (R), argued earlier this month that the Ten Commandments are part of American heritage, and his legislation "will remind students all across Texas of the importance of the fundamental foundation of America."

The state Senate also gave final passage to legislation that would allow public and charter schools to require that time be set aside for students and employees to party and read the Bible or other religions texts. The bills are "the latest attempt from Texas Republicans to inject religion into public schools," the Tribune reports. In 2021, the state Legislature passed a law require schools to display "In God We Trust" signs donated by community members.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick backs both bills, calling them wins for religion freedom. "Bringing the Ten Commandments and prayer back to our public schools will enable our students to become better Texans.," he said in a statement. Proponents of the bills argue they will withstand challenges on constitutional grounds after the Supreme Court ruled last year that a Washington State high school football coach could pray at football games.

View: https://twitter.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/1649396938213580800?s=20

You might be thinking "They can't do that." You might be thinking "That's unconstitutional." Well it is, but they did it, despite the fact that a Supreme Court verdict back in 1980, Stone v. Graham, determined that it violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution when Kentucky tried the exact same thing. Conservative Republicans have been steadily chipping away at the norms and laws that protect our nation's most vulnerable citizens, like how they did away with crucial segment from the Voting Rights Act, and how they just overturned Roe v Wade. Laws like this will negatively impact upon students who do not share the same religious beliefs as the majority of students, and could even stigmatize them as lesser members of the student body.

 

[Kendrick]

View: https://twitter.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/1649396938213580800?s=20

You might be thinking "They can't do that." You might be thinking "That's unconstitutional." Well it is, but they did it, despite the fact that a Supreme Court verdict back in 1980, Stone v. Graham, determined that it violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution when Kentucky tried the exact same thing. Conservative Republicans have been steadily chipping away at the norms and laws that protect our nation's most vulnerable citizens, like how they did away with crucial segment from the Voting Rights Act, and how they just overturned Roe v Wade. Laws like this will negatively impact upon students who do not share the same religious beliefs as the majority of students, and could even stigmatize them as lesser members of the student body.

Isn't that indoctrination?

 

[Attack Dog]

Yes; They are at the end of their rope trying to save themselves, but the universe has spoken.

 

[skyvolt2000]

Isn't that indoctrination?

YES and NO...

A sign saying "In God we Trust" is not as most schools still say the Pledge of Allegiance and one nation under God.

The Bible time-YES.

And here is the bigger question-WHEN IS THAT BIBLE TIME SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN? Not when we got STATE TESTING. There are at least 20 different tests that go on in schools a year.

When does that time happen?? From March to the end of school-we have state testing going on. That allows kids to take all day long to finish it.

So is the school day going to be extended???

 

[JROCK]

The states of GA & MS. have some sick legislation they’re trying to get signed into law as well. I guess separation of church and state in Texas is merely a cliché nowadays.

 

[Olde Hornet]

Fatalities confirmed in shooting at outdoor outlet mall in Texas; shooter 'neutralized'​

Texas mall shooting updates: 'I knew she was gone,' shooting witness says

Eight people were killed and seven others were injured when a gunman opened fire at an outdoor mall north of Dallas, Texas, on Saturday afternoon, officials said. The alleged gunman died after a confrontation with police at the Allen Premium Outlets, police said. The mass shooting suspect...

www.yahoo.com

There is an unspecified number of fatalities and multiple people injured in a shooting at an outdoor outlet mall in Texas on Saturday, police said.

A shooter has been "neutralized," police said.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, a northern suburb of Dallas. The Allen Police Department earlier confirmed to ABC News they were responding to an active shooter incident at the mall

Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey confirmed during a press briefing that there have been fatalities in the incident but did not have a firm number.

"This is a tragedy. People will be looking for answers," he said. "We're sorry that those families are experiencing that loss."

At least nine people were transported from the scene to local hospitals, according to Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd. There may be others who were transported in private vehicles, he said.

 

[tigertrail]

Fatalities confirmed in shooting at outdoor outlet mall in Texas; shooter 'neutralized'​

Texas mall shooting updates: 'I knew she was gone,' shooting witness says

Eight people were killed and seven others were injured when a gunman opened fire at an outdoor mall north of Dallas, Texas, on Saturday afternoon, officials said. The alleged gunman died after a confrontation with police at the Allen Premium Outlets, police said. The mass shooting suspect...

www.yahoo.com

There is an unspecified number of fatalities and multiple people injured in a shooting at an outdoor outlet mall in Texas on Saturday, police said.

A shooter has been "neutralized," police said.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, a northern suburb of Dallas. The Allen Police Department earlier confirmed to ABC News they were responding to an active shooter incident at the mall

Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey confirmed during a press briefing that there have been fatalities in the incident but did not have a firm number.

"This is a tragedy. People will be looking for answers," he said. "We're sorry that those families are experiencing that loss."

At least nine people were transported from the scene to local hospitals, according to Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd. There may be others who were transported in private vehicles, he said.

Insane man. I go to that outlet mall all the time.

 

[GRAM4LIFE]

Insane man. I go to that outlet mall all the time.

Same

 

[GSUperTiger]

I am sick as I just found out one of those shot was a Gramblinite where we were at Gram together.

Please keep him in prayer as he was shot multiple times, but alive in ICU. I was considering going to the outlet yesterday.

 

[Lenard]

Horrible situation. smh

What type of translator was needed for the shooter's parents when questioned???

 

[Olde Hornet]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMfdDRuOXN0

 

[pvdogteam]

Same

me and my family also

 

[pvdogteam]

My twitter feed showed me the shooting before it broke on the news, somebody showed the victims in the tweet, it is a shame what they guy did, I'm glad they got him. However this doesn't change the crazy laws we have about our gun violence. abbott will send prayers and go about taking his money form the nra

 

[JROCK]

Kemp signs bill allowing removal of local prosecutors in Georgia

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed a bill on Friday to establish a commission with the power to remove local prosecutors who “refuse to uphold the law.” Kemp’s office said in a release that h…

thehill.com

 

[tigertrail]

Same

I passed by there today and saw all the cars still there.........man talk about an eerie feeling. Knowing that something like that happened that close.

 

[Olde Hornet]

Source: Investigators examine ideology of Texas gunman​

Source: Investigators examine ideology of Texas gunman

Federal officials are looking into whether the gunman who killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall expressed an interest in white supremacist ideology Sunday as they work to discern a motive for the attack, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official cautioned the...

www.yahoo.com

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — Federal officials are looking into whether the gunman who killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall expressed an interest in white supremacist ideology Sunday as they work to discern a motive for the attack, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official cautioned the investigation is in its early stages.

Federal agents have been reviewing social media accounts they believe were used by Mauricio Garcia, 33, and posts that expressed interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, said the official, who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Garcia also had a patch on his chest when he was killed by police that read “RWDS,” an acronym for the phrase “Right Wing Death Squad,” which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups, the official said.

In addition to reviewing social media posts, federal agents have interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs, the official said. Investigators are also reviewing financial records, other online posts they believe Garcia made and other electronic media, according to the official.

Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey declined Sunday evening to answer questions from the AP, saying of the investigation, “we actually don’t have a lot.

 

[Olde Hornet]

Armed hijacker on city bus in Dallas area shoots at officers in police chase​

Armed hijacker on city bus in Dallas area shoots at officers in police chase

The suspect was pronounced dead after exchanging fire with police. Two officers were injured.

www.nbcnews.com

An armed man is dead after hijacking a bus and leading police on a chase and a shootout that injured two officers in the Dallas area Sunday morning.

Authorities received a call at 11 a.m. local time reporting that a man entered a bus and fired a weapon, shooting out several windows, according to a statement from Dallas Area Rapid Transit. The man is then alleged to have demanded that the DART bus driver take them to an undisclosed location.

A DART officer was reported to have been wounded in the leg and an officer from the Dallas suburb of Garland also sustained a non-life-threatening injury, the transit authority said.


Police in Garland began to chase the bus, and as officers neared, the man shot at them while leaning out the windows, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

Spikes were deployed on the bus, but the vehicle turned around and headed to Rowlett, another Dallas suburb, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

 

[buckwheat1911]

Insane man. I go to that outlet mall all the time.

I used to go that mall when I lived in Dallas.

 

[buckwheat1911]

Source: Investigators examine ideology of Texas gunman​

Source: Investigators examine ideology of Texas gunman

Federal officials are looking into whether the gunman who killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall expressed an interest in white supremacist ideology Sunday as they work to discern a motive for the attack, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official cautioned the...

www.yahoo.com

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — Federal officials are looking into whether the gunman who killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall expressed an interest in white supremacist ideology Sunday as they work to discern a motive for the attack, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official cautioned the investigation is in its early stages.

Federal agents have been reviewing social media accounts they believe were used by Mauricio Garcia, 33, and posts that expressed interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, said the official, who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Garcia also had a patch on his chest when he was killed by police that read “RWDS,” an acronym for the phrase “Right Wing Death Squad,” which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups, the official said.

In addition to reviewing social media posts, federal agents have interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs, the official said. Investigators are also reviewing financial records, other online posts they believe Garcia made and other electronic media, according to the official.

Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey declined Sunday evening to answer questions from the AP, saying of the investigation, “we actually don’t have a lot.

Garcia? He's mexican smh

 

[Olde Hornet]

A Massive Texas County Turned Blue. Then The GOP-Controlled Senate Voted To Overturn Their Elections.​

A Massive Texas County Turned Blue. Then The GOP-Controlled Senate Voted To Overturn Their Elections.

The Texas state legislature is poised to pass a bill allowing the secretary of state to overturn election results in the state’s most populous county, only a few years after it turned blue.

On May 2, the Republican-controlled state Senate passed Senate Bill 1993, which, if it passes the state House as expected, would grant Secretary of State Jane Nelson (R) the authority to order a new election in counties with at least 2.7 million people if at least 2% of their polling places run out of ballots. Under these circumstances, only Harris County fits the bill.

Harris County, Texas, has a population of over 4.7 million people, which includes the city of Houston. It became the focus of right-wing uproar during the 2022 midterms, when polling places encountered technical difficulties—delayed polling site openings, a paper ballot shortage, and staffing issues—that state Republicans have characterized as “election improprieties.”

Harris County is also one of the most populous and diverse counties in the state, and it’s shifted blue over the past few years. Experts told TPM that SB 1993 is clearly a Republican attempt to regain control of a region that slipped out of its grasp.

 

[Olde Hornet]

MSN

Republicans 'eating themselves alive' over impeachment of Ken Paxton: 'Never seen grassroots this mad!'​

Republicans who voted to impeach Texas attorney general Ken Paxton can expect primary challenges in an intra-party battle that mirrors the national GOP's dynamic around Donald Trump.

Paxton has been embroiled in criminal investigations and legal battles for nearly his entire tenure as attorney general, but he was finally impeached last month after asking the state to pay off his $3.3 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit. Hardline conservative factions are seeking retribution for the 60 GOP legislators who backed the move, reported the Washington Post.

“We have never seen the grass roots this mad!” posted Julie McCarty, CEO of the hard right True Texas Project, shortly after the vote. "They are being eviscerated by you … as they should be!”

State Rep. Terry Wilson has heard plenty from those angry GOP voters, hundreds of whom have called his office in Austin or confronted him directly at public events, and some of them tied their support for Paxton to the attorney general's efforts to overturn the former president's 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden.

 

[Fiyah]

MSN

Republicans 'eating themselves alive' over impeachment of Ken Paxton: 'Never seen grassroots this mad!'​

Republicans who voted to impeach Texas attorney general Ken Paxton can expect primary challenges in an intra-party battle that mirrors the national GOP's dynamic around Donald Trump.

Paxton has been embroiled in criminal investigations and legal battles for nearly his entire tenure as attorney general, but he was finally impeached last month after asking the state to pay off his $3.3 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit. Hardline conservative factions are seeking retribution for the 60 GOP legislators who backed the move, reported the Washington Post.

“We have never seen the grass roots this mad!” posted Julie McCarty, CEO of the hard right True Texas Project, shortly after the vote. "They are being eviscerated by you … as they should be!”

State Rep. Terry Wilson has heard plenty from those angry GOP voters, hundreds of whom have called his office in Austin or confronted him directly at public events, and some of them tied their support for Paxton to the attorney general's efforts to overturn the former president's 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden.

He's been under federal indictment for years. I want to know what's taking so long for him to go to court over those indictments.