Category: Texas

Senate “sanctuary cities” bill hearing

After a 16-hour hearing that included tears, heckling, bursts of anger and warnings from lawmakers to witnesses to respect the rules of the Capitol’s upper chamber, the Texas Senate’s State Affairs Committee voted 7-2 along party lines early Friday morning to advance a controversial state-based immigration bill to the full Senate. Senate Bill 4, commonly known as the anti-sanctuary cities bill, would punish local government entities and college campuses that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials or enforce immigration laws.

‘Sanctuary cities’ bill advances in Texas, despite outcry

A state Senate panel has approved a so-called sanctuary cities bill that would withhold state money from local jurisdictions that don’t hand over immigrants already in custody for possible deportation A state Senate panel has approved a so-called sanctuary cities bill that would withhold state money from local jurisdictions that don’t hand over immigrants already in custody for possible deportation Pennsylvania’s top prosecutor says investigators have received a significant number of tips related to the case of a boy allegedly raped by several men, including one dressed in a fox costume Pennsylvania’s top prosecutor says investigators have received a significant number of tips related to the case of a boy allegedly raped by several men, including one dressed in a fox costume Betsy DeVos has cleared a major hurdle in the Senate to become the next education secretary despite vigorous … (more)

Israeli settler group brushes off Trump settlement warning

A corrections union official says the guard killed at Delaware’s largest prison saved his colleagues’ lives by warning them that the inmates had set a trap A corrections union official says the guard killed at Delaware’s largest prison saved his colleagues’ lives by warning them that the inmates had set a trap Texas Republicans eager to reinforce President Donald Trump’s call for a crackdown on illegal immigration have begun their push to deny state money for local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate Texas Republicans eager to reinforce President Donald Trump’s call for a crackdown on illegal immigration have begun their push to deny state money for local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate Federal judges on opposite coasts are due Friday to hear legal arguments defending President Donald Trump’s travel ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries Federal judges on … (more)

Texas governor echoes Trump with ‘sanctuary city’ crackdown

Thousands of supporters protect hundreds of Muslims attending Muslim Day at the Capitol form a human chain in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made no mention of President Donald Trump’ temporary ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations during his State of the State address that was going on inside the Capitol.

What to watch: Border wall windfall? Abbott and ‘Muslim Day’

Donald Trump has formally ordered up his border wall built and it could cost the federal government as much as $30 billion. Top Republicans in the Texas Legislature have for months speculated that walling off the U.S.-Mexico border could save the state money on having to use its own law enforcement personnel to help secure the area.

Texas Does ‘The Time Warp’ Again at Fan Expo Dallas

The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick and Meat Loaf Reunite When Texas’ Largest Gathering of Pop Culture Lovers Takes Over Dallas Convention Center for Three Days DALLAS, TX, January 27, 2017 /PressReleasePoint/ – The Lone Star State’s biggest congregation of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming fans – the 16th annual FAN EXPO DALLASa – is set to return to the Big D Friday, March 31, through Sunday, April 2, 2017, at Dallas’ Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. Among the pop culture luminaries on hand will be the stars of the internationally famous cult movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, including actors Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick.

Ap Fact Check: Trump Cites Man’s Dubious Voter Fraud Claims

President Donald Trump has pressed his widely debunked claims of massive voter fraud by encouraging the work of a Texas man who has offered no evidence to support his claim that millions of people illegally voted in the 2016 election. Trump tweeted on Friday: “Look forward to seeing the final results of VoteStand.

3 proposed bills may affect estate planning in Texas

Budget: With a revenue shortfall predicted to top $4 billion, the new state budget will have to go on a diet, even as Abbott and legislative leaders hope that President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to bolster federal border-security initiatives and curb skyrocketing health care costs could save the state billions. Less money will affect passage of proposals with big price tags, including franchise tax reductions and tuition reforms, they agree.

Trump acts to advance Keystone XL, Dakota Access pipelines

President Donald Trump shows off his signature on an executive order about the Dakota Access pipeline, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. President Donald Trump shows off his signature on an executive order about the Dakota Access pipeline, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

With Rubio’s support, Tillerson’sa

Former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson is almost certain to become the next Secretary of State, thanks to a lukewarm endorsement from the most pivotal senator in the confirmation process. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, announced on Monday that he would back the native Texan for the post as the chief American diplomat.

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush’s health improves

Former President George H.W. Bush smiles as he listens to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speak as he met with Bush to pick up his formal endorsement in Houston in this March 29, 2012 file photo. Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush is recovering well from pneumonia but will remain in the intensive care unit at the Texas hospital where he has spent the last week, a spokesman said in a statement.

Thursday’s Trump Cabinet confirmations: What to watch

Donald Trump’s Cabinet confirmation hearings continue Thursday, just one day before the President-elect is set to take the oath of office. Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs banker, is scheduled to face the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET, according to the committee’s website.

Politico: Cruz Swatted Down Supreme Court Nomination

Ted Cruz and Donald Trump appear to have moved past their contentious campaign, but the Texas senator does not want to become the president-elect’s new Supreme Court nominee. After Cruz spoke with Trump a week after Election Day, he and his chief of staff, David Polyansky, met with Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon and rejected the potential nomination, reports Politico, and has been emerging as one of Trump’s key allies in the Senate instead.

The Latest: No last-ditch appeals for condemned Texas inmate

The attorney for a Texas death row inmate set to die Wednesday evening says she plans no last-minute appeals to try to put off the execution. Hilary Sheard says she’s “alarmed and troubled” that during the entire appeals process in recent weeks only one judge on the nine-member Texas Court of Criminal Appeals acknowledged injustice in the case of condemned killer Christopher Wilkins.

Combative Trump concedes Russia’s role in election hacking

Trump says he owns a “great” company but really one of the … . FILE – In this Oct. 26, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, accompanied by, from left, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Trump, Melania Trump, Tiffany Trump and Ivanka Trump, speaks during the gra… By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press The 14-year-old Pennsylvania girl who was raped, tortured and killed at her adoptive mother’s house had been abused or neglected in at least three homes… By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press A14-year-old Pennsylvania girl raped, tortured and killed at her adoptive mother’s home had been abused or neglected in at least three homes during her short life.

Ted Cruz, Texas governor meet with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen in Houston

Washington: US Senator Ted Cruz and Texas Governor Greg Abbott met with the president of Taiwan on Sunday during a stopover in Houston that was sure to pique Chinese leaders already upset by her conversation with President-elect Donald Trump. It is not unusual for US lawmakers to meet with Taiwanese leaders when they pass through the country, but tensions are high this winter after Trump, who like Cruz and Abbott is a Republican, spoke to Tsai Ing-wen last month.

Ted Cruz, Texas governor meet with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen in Houston

Washington: US Senator Ted Cruz and Texas Governor Greg Abbott met with the president of Taiwan on Sunday during a stopover in Houston that was sure to pique Chinese leaders already upset by her conversation with President-elect Donald Trump. It is not unusual for US lawmakers to meet with Taiwanese leaders when they pass through the country, but tensions are high this winter after Trump, who like Cruz and Abbott is a Republican, spoke to Tsai Ing-wen last month.

Ted Cruz, Texas governor meet with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen in Houston

Washington: US Senator Ted Cruz and Texas Governor Greg Abbott met with the president of Taiwan on Sunday during a stopover in Houston that was sure to pique Chinese leaders already upset by her conversation with President-elect Donald Trump. It is not unusual for US lawmakers to meet with Taiwanese leaders when they pass through the country, but tensions are high this winter after Trump, who like Cruz and Abbott is a Republican, spoke to Tsai Ing-wen last month.

Ted Cruz: I dona t see a GOP primary …

Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that as it stands now, he doesn’t see anyone who is likely to mount a GOP primary challenge against him in his 2018 bid for re-election but that he’s taking nothing for granted. “At this point, I don’t see anyone that is likely to run, but I am going to assume that the threat is serious and prepare accordingly,” Mr. Cruz told radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Federal Judge Delays Texas’ Fetal Remains Rule, Again

A federal judge extended a restraining order Wednesday to delay the start of the state’s rules on fetal remains for at least another three weeks. The decision to delay a ruling, which was expected by Friday, came after the Center for Reproductive Rights and the state of Texas presented their final arguments to conclude a two-day hearing Wednesday.

Rick Perry’s Texas giveaways: There’s something fishy about…

Donald Trump’s selection of Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy has prompted many Democrats to question Perry’s qualifications for the position. While he governed a state rich in fossil fuels and wind energy, Perry has far less experience than President Obama’s two energy secretaries, both physicists, in the department’s primary work, such as tending the nuclear-weapons stockpile, handling nuclear waste and carrying out advanced scientific research.

Homeless Lucas Werner ‘banned from Starbucks’ lies about age on dating websites

Weed belong together: Mariah Carey is pictured at a marijuana dispensary on Christmas Eve – as it’s revealed she DID do a soundcheck before ‘sabotaged’ New Year lip-sync disaster Tearful Colorado mother pleads for help finding her six-year-old boy after he ‘wandered away’ from their home on New Year’s Eve and vanished Elon Musk’s SpaceX blames a fault in helium canister for massive Falcon 9 rocket explosion that destroyed Facebook’s $200m internet satellite Will President Obama use the five-minute break between congressional sessions tomorrow to appoint Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court? The Donald blasts Rahm Emanuel for Chicago’s bloodiest year in almost two DECADES: Trump says the mayor must ask for federal help if he can’t fix the city after a record 762 homicides in 2016 Can sugar really give you CANCER? Diet author reveals how the smallest amount can trigger health problems such … (more)

The Media Outlets Poised To Become Trump’s Personal Propaganda Machine

After the 2016 presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump is coalescing a network of supportive right-wing media outlets, including an online publication owned by his son-in-law, a supermarket tabloid, and a new 24-hour news outlet that has been described as “Trump TV.” Since the primaries, these right-wing media outlets have helped push Trump’s agenda and have attacked his political opponents.

Charade: Over.

Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to sign a bill if it passes through the Texas Legislature next session. The bills come after two faithless electors in this month’s Electoral College vote in the Texas State Capitol refused to vote for the state’s winner.

White births, migration explain why Texas remains a red state

Erika Jaramillo, center, and others hold signs supporting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a Democratic National Convention watch party in San Antonio on July 26. In Texas, where 39 percent of the population is Hispanic, Democrats have been shut out of statewide elections for decades. That is likely to occur for decades to come if the statistic bear out.