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Newsclips - May 2, 2025 |
Lead Stories
What to expect from Friday’s jobs report
President Donald Trump’s drastic policy moves, and the twists and turns that have come alongside them, have made economic forecasting a squirrely endeavor. The sheer uncertainty of what’s to come has put markets on the fritz and sent soft data (like consumer sentiment surveys) sounding alarms. Now, the hard data (tried-and-true economic metrics that are lagged for good reason) is starting to reflect some of the disarray. At 8:30 a.m. ET Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the jobs report for April, and it’s expected that the US economy added 135,000 jobs and that the unemployment rate stood pat at 4.2%, according to FactSet consensus economists estimates.
A tumultuous tariff program and trade war have sent recession odds higher. “Let’s not fool ourselves, things are going to get worse later this year, probably later in the summer,” Robert Frick, corporate economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, told CNN in an interview. “But for now, we really need to cross our fingers and hope that incomes and jobs hold up, because those are the things that will insulate us.” The engine of the US economy is the American consumer, whose spending accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity. And the lifeblood of consumer spending comes from one critical source: the US labor market. And as it stands now, and as it likely stood in April, that fuel source hasn’t run dry — but it very well could be starting to crack under the pressure.
Read this article at CNN - Subscribers Only
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Inside the Trump White House's early 2026 midterm strategy
Donald Trump has historically bad poll numbers for a president through the first 100 days in office, but the White House’s 2026 midterms strategy will run through Trump himself while trying to re-create the energy behind his 2024 campaign. Republicans and top White House advisers generally believe the midterm maps are favorable to them in the Senate but more up in the air on the House side. But Trump’s lagging poll numbers — and what has become an unpopular, tariff-dominated economic policy, at least for now — have some Republicans concerned that both chambers could be at risk. The 2026 goal, according to nearly a dozen Republican operatives and Trump advisers NBC News interviewed, is to try to overcome negative economic sentiment by rekindling the energy Trump brings when he is on the ballot — a needed boost for the party after Democrats have outpaced Republicans in recent special congressional and state-level elections.
House and Senate leaders are already in close consultation with the White House about key candidates who would benefit from Trump's endorsement, both to navigate primaries and to gin up general election support. His political operation is banking millions of dollars in explicitly Trump-aligned political groups that will play heavily in the midterms alongside Republicans' party committees and principal congressional super PACs. And then, top Republicans expect the rest of the party to lean into Trump's message to make the best possible pitch to his supporters to vote in 2026. “The push needs to be to push that energy. In some states his endorsement will be very beneficial, and it’s up to candidates to try and replicate his messaging to spur turnout,” said Rachel Reisner, a longtime Republican operative who worked for Trump’s 2024 campaign. Reisner added that some of the most intense Trump voters who support him in presidential election cycles do not always show up in nonpresidential races, something that has been amplified in recent special elections, most notably a Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, where Democrats overperformed compared with the political makeup of the districts in play. She said getting those voters to get engaged as though Trump is on the ballot will be a key push for Republicans next year.
Read this article at NBC News - Subscribers Only
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Cornyn rejects idea he might drop reelection bid in face of Paxton’s GOP primary challenge
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn rejected suggestions Thursday he might drop his reelection bid in the face of polls showing the party’s most conservative voters in Texas favor Attorney General Ken Paxton. “I am 110 percent committed and certainly would never dream of it, especially if the alternative is the attorney general,” Cornyn told reporters at the U.S. Capitol. Cornyn was more succinct when responding this week to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that suggested he would retire rather than risk losing the primary in a landslide. “What are you smoking?” Cornyn posted.
The two Texas Republican heavyweights have been trading blows since well before Paxton launched his primary challenge last month. Various polls have shown Paxton has an early advantage, especially among primary voters who identify as very conservative. An April report by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas shows that in February, 49% of Republicans approved of Cornyn, while 21% disapproved. In contrast, 62% of Republicans approved of Paxton and only 11% disapproved. Among respondents who identified as “extremely conservative,” Cornyn’s approval rating was 47%, with 30% disapproving. Paxton had a 76% approval rating, with only 6% disapproving. Cornyn on Thursday highlighted his long record of success in elections, including primaries. He won the 2020 Republican primary with 76% of the vote, defeating several largely unknown challengers.
Read this article at Dallas Morning News - Subscribers Only
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Defense Department designates a second military zone on US border, extending into Texas
The Defense Department said Thursday that it has designated a second stretch on the U.S. border with Mexico as a military zone to enforce immigration laws. The newest area is in Texas and is attached to the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso. Like the first zone established last month in New Mexico, military personnel are authorized to take custody of migrants who illegally cross the border until they are transferred to civilian authorities in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “The establishment of a second National Defense Area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border,” said Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command.
In New Mexico, people who entered the U.S. illegally were charged Monday with breaching a national defense area after the Army assumed oversight of a 170-mile (274-kilometer) strip that is treated as an extension of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca, Arizona. A press release from the military didn’t say how large the second zone in Texas was and officials were unavailable to comment on its dimensions Thursday night. Border crossers in the military zones face potential prosecutions on two federal crimes — entering the U.S. illegally and trespassing on military property. The moves come as President Donald Trump’s administration has deployed thousands of troops to the border and arrests have plunged to the lowest levels since the mid-1960s. The military zones have allow the federal government to escape the reach of an 1878 law that prohibits military involvement in civilian law enforcement. “Any illegal attempting to enter that zone is entering a military base, a federally protected area,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on a recent visit to New Mexico. “You will be interdicted by U.S. troops and Border Patrol.”
Read this article at Associated Press - Subscribers Only
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State Stories
Donald Trump taps Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to lead new commission on religious liberty
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will lead a new commission on religious liberty, President Donald Trump announced Thursday during a Rose Garden event celebrating the National Day of Prayer. “The last administration attacked people of faith for four years,” Patrick said during the event. “There’s a saying that no one should get between a doctor and a patient. I think we would say no one should get between God and a believer. No one should get between God and those seeking him.” Trump described the commission as Patrick’s idea and called him “an amazing politician” and a “man of great religion.” The commission will include up to 14 members appointed by the president, including representatives of the private sector, educational institutions, religious communities and the states.
Trump’s order establishing the commission said policies adopted in recent years have sought to infringe on religious liberty. The order tasks the commission with producing a comprehensive report on religious liberty and its impact on society. That report is to include “strategies to preserve and enhance religious liberty protections for future generations, and programs to increase awareness of and celebrate America’s peaceful religious pluralism.” The order lists specific topics for the commission to examine, including the First Amendment rights of religious leaders, conscience protections in health care — such as those concerning vaccine mandates — and parental authority in education. Commission members won’t receive compensation but may be allowed travel expenses. Trump said the commission will be able to use space at the White House. Patrick predicted the commission will prove to be one of the most important in history. “Mr. President, on this day, you are restoring the hopes and the prayers of millions upon millions of believers of all faiths,” he said.
Read this article at Dallas Morning News - Subscribers Only
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How Texas' 'disability penalty' has stripped billions from schools
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Texas students with disabilities leave their classrooms to receive specialized help, from weekly speech therapy to daily, hours-long one-on-one tutoring. State education officials are required by law to scale back regular classroom funding they send districts for the amount of time a student receives special services, reducing school funding by more than $1 billion. But for decades, the Texas Education Agency has sidestepped the law, instead implementing across-the-board cuts that strip districts of an extra $342 million each year, according to an analysis provided by TEA in response to questions from Hearst Newspapers.
While the so-called “disability penalty” has existed for decades, it has faced fresh scrutiny this year after the state mandated special education services for students with dyslexia. Most dyslexic children leave the classroom for only brief stints during the school day, but their districts are still docked for half of the funding they would have normally received for educating them. Critics say the penalty is exacerbating budget shortfalls that have led districts across the state to close schools, forgo staff raises and cut back on programs. They argue that it either should not exist at all — special education should entirely be add-on services and funding — or it should be administered proportionately, as the law says. “While in theory it makes sense how it came about, it really is penalizing regular ed classrooms,” said Karen Garza, the chief financial officer at Conroe ISD. “We all know when they leave that classroom, the costs don’t go down. We can’t pay the teacher 92% of her salary because that special ed student isn’t there 8% of the day.”
Read this article at Houston Chronicle - Subscribers Only
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Turkey Leg Hut sold hundreds of pounds of marijuana using bags branded with restaurant logo, FBI says
Before it closed last year, the Turkey Leg Hut was famous for its oversized and smothered turkey drumsticks, and for the crowds and celebrities to its Third Ward location. But amid new criminal charges against one of the restaurant's co-owners, federal authorities said they believed more than just meat was being sold out of the Almeda Road eatery. An FBI agent testified Thursday that the restaurant was also used to store and sell large amounts of marijuana.
On Thursday, lawyers representing former Turkey Leg Hut owner Lynn Price and the Justice Department argued over whether he could be released on bond until his criminal trial. As part of the detention hearing, FBI special Agent Deborah Cline testified about evidence collected by investigators during the course of the agency's yearslong investigation into an arson at Bar 5015. Lynn Price is accused of hiring four men to set fire to the bar, which is owned by his former business partner. The hearing revealed new details about the alleged arson, but also allowed prosecutors to air other allegations in an attempt to sway a magistrate judge to keep Price behind bars. One of the allegations: that Price had California-grown marijuana brought to Houston and then sold it out of Turkey Leg Hut and the Daquiri Hut, another now-closed establishment at the same address. Cline testified that the information about the drug sales came from John Lee Price, one of the other men charged in the Bar 5015 arson. John Lee Price allegedly told FBI agents that he worked for Lynn Price, and that one of this jobs was moving marijuana from California to Houston.
Read this article at Houston Chronicle - Subscribers Only
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'Perfect rainless storm': North Texas water planning faces climate, growth challenges
With a changing climate that can swing from torrential rains to scorching, dry skies, regional water planners face growing pressures to meet increased water demands in Texas. Now they're asking residents to weigh in on plans to improve future supplies, including a controversial proposed reservoir project that has been part of a decades-long debate over water demands and property rights. But experts say statewide planners must take into account both a changing climate and explosive population growth as part of their plans. “The combination of rapidly increasing population and these warming temperatures and what it means for increasing drought in Texas, it's like the perfect rainless storm of challenges that we're facing,” said Robert Mace, executive director the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University.
Mace said those challenges include more frequent "droughts of record" that surpass the length of previously recorded droughts. Water planning in Texas has typically been based on the drought of record, which was a severe drought that lasted for seven years in the 1950s. Currently, nearly 30% of Texas is experiencing "extreme drought," according to the U.S. drought monitor. Another 16% is under an "exceptional drought." "If the warming continues, the expectation is that we're going to see less water coming into our rivers, which means less water coming into our reservoirs," Mace said. He added that with some cities and counties in the state expected to triple or quadruple in population over the next 50 years, the "easy water" is gone. "So to ... meet this increased growth, you know, there's going to have to be some big water," Mace said. That includes reservoirs, which Mace said is one option to meet those needs.
Read this article at KERA - Subscribers Only
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Will San Antonio follow Texas' big-city mayors in moving rightward?
Mayors in Texas’ five largest urban centers — home to many of the state’s most loyal Democratic voters — have been steadily shifting to the right as longtime incumbents term out and new leaders are elected in their place. As voters gear up to choose a candidate to replace longtime San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg from the 27 candidates running, San Antonio could soon be a crown jewel in Republicans’ urban power shift — or hold onto its position as one of the state’s last Democratic strongholds. Mayoral races are nonpartisan, but most big city mayors are open about their political leanings, and Republicans and Democrats have spent big in recent years trying to influence who voters choose.
Fort Worth has long been held up as one of the country’s only Republican-led large cities, but two years ago it was joined by Dallas, when Mayor Eric Johnson, a longtime Democrat, switched parties to join the GOP. Austin and Houston, meanwhile, each recently chose old-school, centrist Democratic lawmakers to fill the shoes of traditional liberal Democrats who reached the end of their term limits. Austin’s Kirk Watson, who previously led the city in the late 1990s, defeated a Democratic state lawmaker who positioned herself as the more progressive candidate in the race. Houston’s John Whitmire ran vowing to restore relationships with state leaders, and in a nod to Republicans’ vested interest in the matter, a pro-law enforcement PAC with leadership that included some longtime GOP operatives even pitched in to help him defeat the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. In interviews with both Republican and Democratic strategists who’ve worked on big city mayoral races, both say voters in progressive-minded urban centers grew frustrated with their local leaders’ handling of problems that stemmed from Covid-19 pandemic and balked at cities’ efforts to reform law enforcement after the death of George Floyd in 2020.
Read this article at San Antonio Report - Subscribers Only
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Harris County Sheriff's Office to look for Texas jails to house inmates outsourced out of state
Texas commissioners overseeing jail standards questioned an apparent lack of effort by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to bring home more than a thousand inmates outsourced to Louisiana and Mississippi. During a Thursday meeting in Austin, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards directed the sheriff’s office to begin seeking contracts with jails in Texas to accommodate the 1,215 people awaiting trial who are being housed out of state. To help with overcrowding, the sheriff's office is spending $50 million to send local inmates to privately operated jails in Garza and Jefferson counties, as well as two facilities in Louisiana and two facilities in Mississippi. “What I’d like to see next quarter is at least some effort put forth to try to bring these inmates back to Texas,” Commissioner Duane Lock said.
Phillip Bosquez, assistant chief of detention operations command, said the sheriff’s office is trying to bring outsourced inmates back to Harris County, namely by asking the Commissioners Court in March for $3 million to hire 150 detention officers and 25 deputies. Overcrowding in the jail is in part due to chronic understaffing, as state law requires one detention officer for every 48 people being held at a jail. The jail was issued a non-compliant report in January for failing to complete face-to-face observations of inmates. "We've been aggressive in hiring those folks ... so we're going to meet that benchmark, and then at that point, once we meet the benchmark, then we go back and say, 'to bring these people back to Harris County Jail we need this many more (staffers),'" he said. Lock said he isn't asking the sheriff's office to bring out-of-state inmates back to Harris County Jail, but simply back to Texas, where commissioners set the standards. He also questioned whether a lack of jail staff had affected medical services available to inmates, such as medical distribution and response time to a medical emergency. Three of the five in-custody deaths that have occurred so far in 2025 were attributed to a medical emergency, according to the sheriff's office.
Read this article at Houston Chronicle - Subscribers Only
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Chris Wallace: Texas Senate must vote to boost funding of public schools
(Chris Wallace is president and CEO of the North Texas Commission, a public-private partnership that promotes and advocates for the region.) The Texas House has delivered on its promise to public schools. Now, it’s time for the Senate to do the same. House members took a significant step forward this session by passing a timely school finance bill. The measure recognizes the real financial pressures facing Texas school districts and takes meaningful action to address them. We applaud Speaker Dustin Burrows for his leadership and for honoring his commitment to move school funding quickly and responsibly through the House. Crucially, the House bill increases the state’s basic allotment — the foundational per-student funding amount sent to school districts — and gives districts the flexibility they need to make decisions locally, including much-needed raises for teachers. It’s a straightforward and smart response to the challenges that school leaders across Texas have raised for months.
This moment comes at a critical time. Inflation has strained local budgets. Districts are navigating growing expectations with flat funding, and many have had to make difficult decisions just to keep the doors open. A strong state investment is essential not only to stabilize our public schools, but also to ensure they can continue to offer high-quality education to the more than five million Texas students who rely on them. The creation of Education Savings Accounts in a bill that Gov. Greg Abbott planned to sign into law May 3, signals a new chapter in Texas education policy. But it is critical that we not leave our public schools and the millions of students they will continue to serve behind. The overwhelming majority of Texas students will remain in their local public schools. These campuses are the bedrock of our communities and the training ground for our future workforce. Investing in their success should remain a top priority — and we appreciate House Public Education Committee Chairman Brad Buckley and his fellow lawmakers for passing an increase in funding and for their commitment to investing in public schools. Now, we implore senators to act. While several versions of school finance legislation are being considered, we believe the House plan offers the most direct and effective path forward. It provides the resources schools need without adding layers of complexity that could limit their ability to respond to local needs.
Read this article at Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Subscribers Only
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UTSA loses over $8M in federal research grants amid DEI crackdown
University of Texas at San Antonio professor Crystal Kalinec-Craig has devoted much of her research to improving math education for students from historically marginalized backgrounds. In August 2023, the National Science Foundation awarded Kalinec-Craig and her colleague a $345,000 grant for a project focused on equity in math instruction. The federal funding was to be allocated over the next four years and used to pay student researchers, develop new technologies and disseminate information. But Kalinec-Craig was informed last week that NSF had terminated the grant two years early because it no longer aligns with “the program goals or agency priorities.”
She’s not alone. Nearly four years after being reclassified as a Tier One research institution — a status that makes universities more competitive for federal grants — UTSA was informed this month that it has lost over $8.2 million in NSF funding, according to university officials. Kalinec-Craig’s grant was one of nine active awards at UTSA and over 1,000 nationwide canceled to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The terminations came after billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency pressured the federal agency to slash its $9 billion budget and potentially lay off half of its staff, according to the magazine Science. A UTSA spokesperson said the university was notified about the terminations late on Friday, April 18. On Monday, impacted researchers were notified. “Each award was carefully and individually reviewed, and the agency has determined that the termination of certain awards is necessary because they are not in alignment with current NSF priorities,” NSF wrote in the memo, which was provided to the San Antonio Express-News. Kalinec-Craig, an associate professor of interdisciplinary learning and teaching at UTSA’s College of Education and Human Development, said NSF typically only terminates grants when there’s misconduct, misuse of funds or failure to meet agency requirements.
Read this article at San Antonio Express-News - Subscribers Only
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New Texas water bill threatens already battered Jacob's Well
When wrestling legend Kevin Von Erich and his brothers used to travel into the Texas Hill Country, they wouldn't wait 'til they got to the venue to change into their wrestling gear. They'd hop over to the nearest body of water for a dip before gearing up for the squared circle. Their favorite was Jacob's Well Natural Area, the "crystal clear" swim spot that drove visitors to Wimberley for decades. Jacob's Well is more of a puddle compared to its former glory, a consequence of drought that has devastated the region, along with the increase in neighboring developments. Still, a new piece of legislature in the Texas House could threaten the Hill Country landmark even more.
State Representative Carrie Isaac, who represents Comal and Hays counties, filed HB 2812 on February 13 and although it remains to be discussed in the House Natural Resources Committee, its filing has raised concerns for residents in the drought-stricken area. HB 2812 proposes exemptions of public water supply wells from regulation, permitting, or metering by the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, the body responsible for water supplies from Dripping Springs to Wimberley and everywhere in between. It reads "Groundwater withdrawals from the following wells may not be regulated, permitted, or metered by the district: 1) a well used for domestic use by a single private residential household and incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons per day; 2) a well used for conventional farming and ranching activities, including such intense operations and aquaculture, livestock feedlots, or poultry operations; and 3) a public water supply well."
Read this article at MySA - Subscribers Only
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‘Opening the floodgates’: Dallas’ Prop S could be blocked by state with new bill
A bill considered Monday by a state Senate committee could block the effects of Proposition S, the Dallas HERO-backed city charter amendment that voters approved in November. The ordinance makes it easier for residents to sue the city of Dallas for failing to enforce local or state ordinances. This threat has already been leveled several times since election day. The bill’s author, Sen. Nathan Johnson, represents parts of Dallas, Mesquite, Irving and Grand Prairie. He told the committee that Senate Bill 2299 is necessary to help stymie the effects of Prop. S, which he said has “opened the floodgates to frivolous lawsuits.” In SB 299, Johnson asks the Texas Legislature to codify governmental sovereign immunity — the legal protection that keeps government entities from being held liable for enacting laws or regulations — as a regulation granted by the state, rather than something municipalities can vote on through charter amendments like Prop. S.
“There are many people who believe that [Prop. S] is unconstitutional and illegal. I happen to be one of those people,” Johnson told the Senate’s Local Government Committee. “This could absolutely lock up city government. This Legislature needs to take the same action it has in other instances, and make it explicitly clear that [cities] cannot waive sovereign immunity.” Dallas voters passed Prop. S with 55% of the vote. The entire Dallas City Council and Mayor Eric Johnson opposed the charter amendment. SB 2299 was left pending in committee. Dallas City Council member Paula Blackmon and former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings testified in favor of Johnson’s bill. Blackmon told the committee that since the passage of Prop. S, residents have threatened to sue the city over a litany of issues, stalling, in some cases, the city’s ability to make progress on a process or policy. Since November, Dallas media outlets have written about various community organizations threatening to initiate lawsuits against the City of Dallas over encampment enforcement, termed-out board appointees and an understaffed police department. Blackmon added that within her East Dallas district, residents have threatened to sue Dallas over a proposed Conservation District expansion and the type of pesticides used at White Rock Lake.
Read this article at Dallas Observer - Subscribers Only
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DFW’s Terminal F will be twice as big as originally planned
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport’s sixth terminal will be double the size originally planned, the airport announced Thursday morning. Terminal F will now add 31 gates to the airport and will have its own security checkpoint, baggage facilities and parking. The project’s expansion comes after American Airlines and DFW agreed to increase investment in the terminal to $4 billion. American also extended its lease and use agreement with DFW to 2043 as part of the deal. The Fort Worth-based airline will occupy all of Terminal F.
“By far, this is the most consequential project at DFW in over 20 years, since we opened Terminal D,” said DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue, who is retiring on May 19. Construction of Terminal F, DFW’s sixth terminal, began in November. The project was originally slated to cost $1.6 billion and add 15 gates to the airport. Terminal F is expected to open in 2027, though a timeline for when all 31 gates will be operational has not been announced. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said the company is focused on making its DFW operation an example for the airline industry. “I’m here to tell you today that with the investment in these gates and with the infrastructure that we already have here, this gives American and the DFW a clear path to building the largest single airline hub in the world,” Isom said. Isom said American serves about 82% of passengers who fly through DFW. American Airlines’ Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said the new terminal will add more wide-body gates for American at DFW, paving the way for the airline to add routes to new destinations in the coming years.
Read this article at Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Subscribers Only
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Bud Kennedy: Wild times in TX politics: furries, John Cornyn, Ken Paxton
You probably wonder what your lawmakers are doing in Austin. They must wonder, too. With a month left to fix everything that needs fixing in Texas, the Legislature has sunk into comedy relief. One Texas House member with a compulsive X.com habit was busted the other day for being distracted on his smartphone at the microphone in the middle of introducing his bill to a committee. Another defended his bill against students wearing animal tails or ears and becoming costumed “furries” in Texas schools — even though he could not cite a single specific example of it anywhere in Texas. Generally, it was another week when lawmakers waged political battles against everybody who is Not Like Them, a list that seems to include (1) American Muslims, (2) college professors, (3) those selecting the bathroom matching their gender identity and (4) Democrats.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn took to X.com to troll challenger Ken Paxton, setting the stage for a Senate primary in which Cornyn will prosecute Paxton in political ads over every ethics breach in his long and shady career. That primary election is next March. But Paxton, the state attorney general, has such a rich history of malfeasance, Cornyn had to get started now. Inside the Texas Capitol, the House rose up on its boot heels and voted to ban absolutely anyone younger than 18 from getting social media accounts, which should work about as well as banning them from shooting firecrackers or drinking hooch. Sadly, the ban would not apply to babyfaced and fast-fingered state Rep. Brian Harrison. R-Midlothian. Harrison was called out stridently by a committee chairman, Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen, for typing on his smartphone while presenting a bill in a meeting. “Representative Harrison, can I ask?...” Leach began. “I’ve never had a member actively on his cell phone while he is laying out a bill and answering questions from a fellow member. ... You’re not paying attention to him. Every time the camera goes back to him, you’re on your phone.”
Read this article at Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Subscribers Only
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Ambulance chasing is rampant in Texas. Now the Dallas County judge’s law firm is accused
The calls began two days after a driver crashed into Barry Marshall’s Dodge Ram, totaling the truck but sparing his life. His wife, Susan Gray-Frank, said the stranger offered to help wrangle more money from their insurance company before she hung up. Then Marshall said his phone began ringing and stopped only when he picked up the sixth call from a spoof number. He agreed to be transferred to a law firm, and about 20 minutes later, an email arrived asking him to sign a contract with one of the most prominent personal injury firms in Texas: Loncar Lyon Jenkins, owned by former state Sen. Ted Lyon and Dallas County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins.
Instead of hiring the firm, the couple sued Loncar Lyon Jenkins for illegal solicitation, or barratry, alleging case runners contacted them out of the blue to drum up business for the attorneys. Ambulance chasing is rampant in Texas but can be difficult to prove with degrees of separation between lawyers and intermediaries used to engage with crash victims. While it’s illegal for attorneys or their proxies to initiate contact with potential clients within 30 days of an accident, state disciplinary rules allow lawyers to pay online services to refer clients seeking help. With no direct oversight by the state bar, tactics of lead generators can become tangled in allegations of barratry. Loncar Lyon Jenkins denies the firm solicited the couple but how the calls originated is unclear in the ongoing case filed in Erath County in June.
Read this article at Dallas Morning News - Subscribers Only
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City Stories
Scott Gertner, Houston nightlife icon and owner of SkyBar and Rhythm Room, has died
Scott Gertner, whose name and presence were synonymous with live music in Houston, has died. The announcement was made Thursday night by his family through a publicist. "We are deeply saddened today to share the news of the unexpected passing of Houston entertainment icon Scott Gertner. Our family is heartbroken and still processing this sudden loss," it read. "We appreciate your expressions of love and kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this difficult time. Funeral details will be shared soon." Gertner was best-known for his series of popular Houston clubs, most notably SkyBar, along with Scott Gertner's Sports Bar Live and Scott Gertner's at Houston Pavilions. His current venue, Scott Gertner's Rhythm Room, remains open on Memorial. Gertner was beloved by much of the city's music community and always had a smile for everyone.
Read this article at Houston Chronicle - Subscribers Only
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New details emerge around Houston philanthropist Jessica Rossman's sudden death in Mexico
The body of Houston attorney and philanthropist Jessica Rossman was cremated and returned to her longtime partner, Gordon Bethune, last week, his lawyer said Wednesday. Her brother, Lucho Rossman, said her body was cremated without informing her family and that he still doesn't understand what led to her death or exactly where she died. He said he didn’t know where his sister’s body was before Wednesday. Jessica Rossman, 56, died on the evening of March 31 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, according to a death certificate produced by Mexican officials and obtained by the Chronicle. The confirmation her body was already cremated leaves unanswered questions for Lucho Rossman, who identified himself as her only next of kin and said he’s frustrated because he’d hoped to arrange an autopsy to learn more about what caused his sister’s death. Despite the family’s desire for an American autopsy, Jessica Rossman’s body was cremated on April 23 in compliance with Mexican law and her remains were returned to Bethune on April 25, his lawyer Billy Shepherd said.
Read this article at Houston Chronicle - Subscribers Only
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National Stories
Trump's pick for top prosecutor in DC is testing Republican loyalty
Most of President Donald Trump’s top nominees have sailed through the Senate with little resistance. His pick to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital could be an exception. Ed Martin Jr., a conservative activist with modest legal experience who has defended rioters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is testing Republican party loyalties as a deadline approaches for the Senate to decide whether to extend or end his brief but tumultuous tenure as leader of the country’s largest U.S. Attorney’s office. Martin’s nomination faces vocal opposition from hundreds of veterans of the office that he is leading on an interim basis. Democrats are trying to tie up his confirmation vote. And Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have said they need more time to review his record.
There were signs of trouble at a Judiciary meeting on Thursday as Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the panel, said it was his understanding that committee chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was going to announce “that we are not going to move forward on the Martin nomination.” Grassley demurred, saying he would wait to talk about Martin until the committee scheduled a vote. But he said he was still going through hundreds of questions that the committee had posed to Martin, adding that some of his staff “had more questions” and wanted to meet with him in person. It was hardly a ringing endorsement of Martin, who hasn’t spent much time in courtrooms but has been a devoted loyalist to Trump. Within days of taking office in January, Martin fired or demoted veteran attorneys who prosecuted Trump supporters for storming the U.S. Capitol. Before his appointment, he represented and helped raise money for Capitol riot defendants. He frequently appeared on Russian state media to parrot Trump talking points. He even published coloring books glorifying Trump’s tweets.
Read this article at Associated Press - Subscribers Only
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Marco Rubio is now serving as Secretary of State, National Security Adviser, U.S. Archivist and head of USAID — all at once
President Donald Trump may have passed over Marco Rubio to be his vice president in 2024, but he’s had no problem giving him several major jobs within the White House. On May 1, Trump announced that he would be removing Mike Waltz as his embattled national security adviser and instead nominating him to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, effectively removing him from the White House's inner circle. In Waltz's absence, the president shared on Truth Social, Rubio will serve as the acting national security adviser.
Serving as national security adviser is a significant undertaking, even as a primary focus area. And for Rubio, it's one of multiple high-profile titles that have been slapped onto his name since Trump took office in January. The former Florida senator has already been serving as the secretary of state, the acting administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the acting archivist of the United States. Trump nominated Rubio to be his secretary of state shortly after winning the presidential election in November 2024, giving him the most coveted spot in any president's Cabinet. "Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility, and I am honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me," Rubio said in a statement at the time. "As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda. Under the leadership of President Trump, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else."
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May Day demonstrations in US and around the globe protest Trump agenda
Hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. and around the world rallied Thursday in May Day protests that united many in anger over President Donald Trump’s agenda from aggressive tariffs that are stoking fears of global economic turmoil to his administration’s immigration crackdowns. In the United States, organizers framed this year’s International Workers’ Day protests as a pushback against what they see as the administration’s sweeping assault on labor protections, diversity initiatives and federal employees. Protesters lined streets in many cities from New York to Philadelphia to Los Angeles and held a boisterous rally outside the White House in Washington.
In Chicago, thousands of people rallied in a West Side park before marching through downtown to the lakefront. Some played drums and danced while others chanted “No justice, no peace!” The crowd included union workers, immigrant rights advocates, pro-Palestinian activists and students calling for better-funded public schools. “We need to stand up and fight back,” said Latrina Barnes, a 48-year-old certified nurses assistant, adding that worries Medicaid and Medicare might be affected under the Trump administration inspired her to protest in a May Day rally for the first time. Some rallygoers used humor to protest, displaying a Trump puppet, an inflatable Trump baby chicken and a Trump pinata shaped like a bull. Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke outside Philadelphia’s City Hall during a rally after which the crowd marched in the streets. Dozens sat in an intersection wearing signs reading “Workers over billionaires,” and police began taking some of them into custody, leading them to nearby buses.
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The key Republican warning about a megabill Medicaid fallout
The House Republican working behind the scenes to rein in his party’s ambitions to cut Medicaid spending is a California dairy farmer who represents more Medicaid beneficiaries than any of his GOP colleagues. Rep. David Valadao, who runs the centrist-oriented Republican Governance Group, has spent the last several weeks in near-constant communication with his leadership, including in weekly meetings with the chairs of key ideological caucuses across the GOP conference. He led a letter signed by a dozen vulnerable Republican members urging House leadership not to make steep cuts to Medicaid earlier this month. He also has an active text chat running throughout the day with a dozen or so other lawmakers who are also concerned about cuts to Medicaid to pay for the Republican megabill of taxes, border investments, energy policy and more.
“We’ve got our little group chats and try to make sure that we’re keeping each other abreast of what we’re seeing, what we’re hearing, and trying to at least do our best to stick together,” Valadao said in an interview. Many of those members on the text chain are, like him, at-risk Republican incumbents who fear the political blowback of financing the party-line package with reductions to a safety-net program relied upon by nearly 70 million Americans. They are relying on Valadao for leadership and advice. “He’s got a very good sense of what Americans need out of their health care. I appreciate his leadership,” said Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), in an interview, adding that the two are in constant touch. “He’s been clear in his communications: We shouldn’t be throwing people off Medicaid who are designed to be on the program.” Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), who also has a large percentage of Medicaid recipients in his district, said in an interview that Valadao was a “total pillar … He’s someone I immediately gravitated to. Just a great sounding board.”
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GOP balks at approving a fraction of Musk’s DOGE cuts
White House officials have in recent weeks brainstormed strategies for enshrining into law the government cuts implemented by billionaire Elon Musk’s team, aiming to turn the U.S. DOGE Service’s moves into lasting policy shifts. So far, however, administration officials are running into resistance not just from Democrats, but also from congressional Republicans, who have in private conversations made clear that it would be difficult to codify even a small fraction of the measures that Musk’s team unilaterally implemented, according to lawmakers and several other people familiar with the discussions. GOP members of Congress have also raised concerns about tackling cuts as Republicans are trying to corral their rowdy and tiny majorities into extending tax cuts in one “big, beautiful bill” that President Donald Trump has demanded. As the White House prepares to release its budget proposal Friday, the impasse over DOGE reflects a looming challenge for the administration’s vision of a sprawling overhaul of federal agencies.
With both the courts and Congress refusing to provide legal cover to spending cuts that Musk forced through, the administration is running out of options for ensuring that its unilateral reductions take effect — potentially limiting DOGE’s lasting impact despite the disruption it brought to the government. “None of the activities of the DOGE have heretofore had any impact on the budget, the debt or the deficit. Until Congress acts, those savings don’t really become real,” said Robert Shea, a Republican who served in senior political roles at the White House budget office. The White House has to choose between implementing the funding Congress approved or violating federal budget law, triggering a constitutional crisis, according to Shea and several other budget experts. The administration initially floated sending $9.3 billion of DOGE cuts to the Hill, which would encompass DOGE’s elimination of the main agency providing foreign aid, the U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as zeroing out some money for public broadcasting. The cuts would take just 51 votes in the Senate to pass, which means lawmakers would not need to worry about a Democratic filibuster to make the cuts permanent, under a provision in the 1974 budget law that allows requests for rescinded funding to be expedited. Musk has claimed $160 billion in savings so far.
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Trump wants voters to prove citizenship. Arizona tried that and bungled it.
For 30 years, no one questioned Danny Dobosz’s citizenship when the lifelong Republican cast his ballot. So when a letter arrived from a local election official last month asking him to send back a copy of his birth certificate to prove he was an American citizen who was eligible to vote, he tossed it in the trash at his home in Yuma, Arizona. Dobosz, an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump who was born in New Mexico, said he had “no real ambition” to verify his legal status to anyone — even if his ability to vote is jeopardized. “It’s their duty to prove I’m not,” said the 48-year-old owner of a water-softening business. “I know I’m a citizen. I pay my taxes,” he said. “Obviously we’re citizens — it’s on their end to fix it, not our end.”
If Dobosz and about 200,000 other Arizona voters don’t provide citizenship documentation, they will not get to vote in next year’s race for governor. State officials last year discovered they had failed to keep records confirming whether about 4 percent of the state’s 4.4 million registered voters were citizens, and they’ve been hustling to fix the problem ever since. They have set off on a scramble that has prompted incredulity, hostility and suspicion from longtime voters like Dobosz who are now learning they are among those caught in the state-caused voter registration blunder. Trump and Republicans, who have claimed without proof that large numbers of noncitizens are illegally casting ballots, are pushing for similar policies nationally. It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and the glitches with Arizona’s registration system illustrate the risks of enacting policies that may keep eligible voters from participating in the democratic process. The unfolding situation here in Arizona foretells the challenges GOP-led efforts in other states could soon face and shows the perils of a broader push by Trump and other Republicans to tighten regulations that force voters to demonstrate they are citizens. Three states in recent years — New Hampshire, Louisiana and Wyoming — have adopted proof-of-citizenship laws, and others plan to join their ranks this year. The U.S. House recently passed legislation that would extend documentary proof of citizenship requirements to all states, but its prospects in the Senate are unclear.
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Trump orders end to federal funding for NPR and PBS
President Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's board of directors to "cease federal funding for NPR and PBS," the nation's primary public broadcasters. Trump contends that news coverage by NPR and PBS contains a left-wing bias. The federal funding for NPR and PBS is appropriated by Congress. The executive order, like many that have been signed by the president, could be challenged in court. "Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter," the executive order says. "What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to tax-paying citizens."
On social media platforms, Trump recently blasted the two primary public broadcasting networks, posting in all caps: "REPUBLICANS MUST DEFUND AND TOTALLY DISASSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM NPR & PBS, THE RADICAL LEFT 'MONSTERS' THAT SO BADLY HURT OUR COUNTRY!" In the executive order, Trump instructs the CPB and executive branch departments and agencies to cease direct and indirect funding of NPR and PBS. "The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding," the order says. NPR's President and CEO Katherine Maher defended coverage and addressed the need for funding in a recent interview on All Things Considered. "I think that it's important for public media to be able to continue to be relevant in a time where there is a lot of coverage of different issues and areas of interest," she said. NPR did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the executive order.
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Who are the American cardinals who will be voting for the next pope?
Representing a little over 4% of the globe’s Catholics but nearly 8% of those who will participate in the papal conclave, the 10 American cardinals in Rome this week already have outsized numerical influence in choosing the next pope. They boast deep, if painfully gained, experience in handling clergy sexual abuse, an issue that has bedeviled the church for decades, and are considered able financial administrators. Not least, the U.S. contingent, who number 17 including the cardinals too old to vote, have the deepest pockets of any national church, which is the largest contributor by a wide margin to the pope’s charitable fund, called Peter’s Pence. “While America may no longer be the superpower it was, U.S. Catholicism is still a superpower,” said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology at Villanova University and leading Vatican expert.
What the American cardinals don’t bring is unity. “?It’s impossible to view them as one single voting bloc,” said Dan Cosacchi, vice president for mission and ministry at the University of Scranton. While not neatly matching U.S. political ideology, the cardinals can be categorized as favoring “continuity with” or “rupture from” Pope Francis’ papacy. Francis made six of the voting cardinals and offered them important positions in the Vatican bureaucracy known as the Curia. That makes them capable of articulating the late pope’s message and vision for the future of the church. Among the most outspoken is Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, 76, a member of the Vatican’s department overseeing the appointment of bishops since 2016. He has used this position to guide his selections to important posts, sending two of his current or former auxiliary bishops to higher positions in the past four months alone, even as Francis gave him five more auxiliaries in December, an unusually high number.
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Newsclips - May 1, 2025 |
Lead Stories
The U.S. economy shrinks as Trump's tariffs spark recession fears
As President Trump marks his 100th day in office this week, there's not much to celebrate about the U.S. economy. Economic output is shrinking. The stock market has dropped sharply. And consumer confidence has tumbled to its lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That hardly looks like the new "golden age" the president promised on Inauguration Day just over three months ago. Figures released by the Commerce Department Wednesday show that the United States' gross domestic product contracted at an annual rate of 0.3% in the first quarter of the year, after growing at a solid pace of 2.4% in the final months of 2024.
The quarterly GDP report covers the final weeks of the Biden administration and the early months of Trump's term, including the first rumblings of the president's new trade war. Growth was dragged down in part by a surge of imports, as businesses and consumers raced to stock up before Trump's sweeping tariffs took effect in early April. Imports are a net negative for GDP. Government spending was also down. Personal spending, which is the biggest driver of the U.S. economy, also slowed during the first quarter, after robust growth at the end of last year. Personal spending grew at an annual rate of just 1.8% in January, February and March — less than half the pace of the previous quarter. "Consumers continued driving the train but with much less gusto than they have been up until now," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. An index of consumer confidence, compiled by the nonprofit Conference Board, has fallen for five straight months, and tariffs have now eclipsed inflation as a top concern. Many of those surveyed say they're worried that Trump's import taxes will raise prices and possibly drag the economy into a recession. The forward-looking elements of the confidence index are already well below the level that typically signals a looming recession.
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John Cornyn trailing Senate primary challenger Ken Paxton, says new internal polls
New internal polls by both major parties show U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is in big trouble as he faces the toughest GOP primary opponent of his political career in 2026. A Republican poll obtained exclusively by the Houston Chronicle show Cornyn is down against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton among likely GOP primary voters by 17 percentage points. A Democratic poll shows him down more than 20 percentage points. The numbers have some Republicans worried that Cornyn is in a race he can’t win, and instead could force a primary fight that costs millions of dollars and ends up bruising the eventual GOP nominee ahead of the general election. And they come as other key Republicans are weighing whether to join the race. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston, in particular, has emerged as a possible contender.
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said it’s time for someone to have a serious talk with Cornyn about whether he really wants to go through with another campaign that could quickly turn negative and costly. “If I was an incumbent senator with these types of polling numbers, I probably wouldn’t run because you can’t win,” Bettencourt said. Cornyn has said he's not afraid of a primary against Paxton or anyone else. His campaign issued a similar statement Wednesday touting his easy primary victories over the decades and said he is “110% committed to running a vigorous reelection campaign.” So far, his campaign has heavily targeted Paxton, using social media to call the third-term Republican “a fraud” and alluding to Paxton having an affair that was confirmed during his impeachment trial in the Texas Senate. The new polling follows another survey earlier this spring, by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, a firm used by the Trump campaign, that found Paxton up more than 20 percentage points in a head-to-head battle with Cornyn. Paxton said during a recent radio interview just over a week ago on KSEV-AM 700 in Houston that he later commissioned other polls that showed entering the race with a big advantage over Cornyn with likely GOP primary voters.
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Greg Abbott calls for automatic denial of bonds during Houston visit pushing constitutional amendment
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday demanded state legislators approve a constitutional amendment that — if passed by voters — would require courts to automatically deny bail to people accused of murder and other violent crimes in the state. Surrounded by crime victim families at Crime Stoppers of Houston, Abbott called on lawmakers to start a process that could put even more stringent requirements on judges and magistrates, who decide if a person can go free in between their arrest and trial. “Judges have far too much discretion to set easy bail on dangerous criminals,” Abbott said. The state constitution, which requires that bail be set in most criminal cases, has created a “broken” system, Abbott said.
Abbott’s called-for reform was quickly called unconstitutional by groups already skeptical of other bail-related bills moving through the legislature. The Texas Senate passed a bill in February, known as SJR 5, that proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would give judges discretion to deny bail to people accused of violent crimes and some sex-related offenses. The current bill requires judges to find evidence that a defendant won’t appear in court and is a danger. In his remarks, Abbott indicated the legislation should make the denial automatic – “unless there's clear and convincing evidence that the defendant will appear in court and not endanger the community.” The burden should be on repeat violent criminals “to prove that they are not a danger to the community,” Abbott said. Judges who don’t deny bail should be required to explain their decisions in writing and prosecutors should be able to appeal bail decisions to a higher courts, he said
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Tesla board opened search for a CEO to succeed Elon Musk
About a month ago, with Tesla’s stock sinking and some investors irritated about Elon Musk’s White House focus, Tesla’s board got serious about looking for Musk’s successor. Board members reached out to several executive search firms to work on a formal process for finding Tesla’s next chief executive, according to people familiar with the discussions. Tensions had been mounting at the company. Sales and profits were deteriorating rapidly. Musk was spending much of his time in Washington. Around that time, Tesla’s board met with Musk for an update. Board members told him he needed to spend more time on Tesla, according to people familiar with the meeting. And he needed to say so publicly. Musk didn’t push back.
Tesla has been on a losing streak in the months since Musk, its visionary chief executive, began spending much of his time helping President Trump slash federal spending. Last week, after the company said its first-quarter profit had plunged 71%, Musk told investors he would soon pivot back to his job at Tesla. “Starting next month,” he said on a conference call about earnings, “I’ll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla.” The board narrowed its focus to a major search firm, according to the people familiar with the discussions. The current status of the succession planning couldn’t be determined. It is also unclear if Musk, himself a Tesla board member, was aware of the effort, or if his pledge to spend more time at Tesla has affected succession planning. Musk didn’t respond to requests for comment. During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump thanked Musk for his government work. “You know you’re invited to stay as long as you want,” Trump said. “I guess he wants to get back home to his cars.”
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State Stories
Elon Musk’s lawyer drops out of Texas attorney general race
A lawyer for Elon Musk is dropping out of the race for Texas attorney general. John Bash, also a former federal prosecutor, said Wednesday that he had a family health scare that caused him to reconsider his plan to run for the post being vacated by Ken Paxton. “We’ve been deeply moved by the encouragement and support we’ve received over the past several weeks,” Bash said in a social media post announcing his decision. “I launched this campaign because I believe Texas must continue to lead the national fight to protect our prosperity, safety, and constitutional freedoms.” Attorney general is a high-profile job in Texas. Paxton is vacating the seat to run in a Republican Senate primary against Sen. John Cornyn, a former attorney general. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also previously served as the state’s top lawyer. Bash applauded the other candidate in the race, state Sen. Mayes Middleton. “I will be rooting for the next AG to represent our great State with distinction and to continue the impactful work of General @KenPaxtonTX,” he wrote. Bash recently represented Musk in a defamation case in Texas.
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Trump tariffs are putting even more pressure on Texas' soaring homeowner insurance premiums. Here's why.
President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs could cause homeowners insurance premiums in Texas to rise even faster this year than they otherwise would have, a new study finds. Even without tariffs, average premiums in Texas will rise by about $500 this year, according to projections from Insurify, an insurance comparison shopping website. But tariffs on imports such as Canadian lumber and Mexican lime — used in concrete — would push that to $713 a year, Insurify projects, bringing the average annual cost of homeowners insurance in Texas to $6,718 by the end of 2025 — an increase of 12% over last year. Texas homeowners already pay some of the highest home insurance rates in the nation, especially in regions such as Houston and coastal Texas. Average homeowners and auto insurance rates have seen double-digit increases in recent years, according to data from the Texas Department of Insurance, due largely to costly natural disasters as well as overall inflation.
"In the last five years, 68 billion-dollar disasters have impacted Texas, the most of any state, causing about $108 billion in damages," wrote Chase Gardner, data insights manager for Insurify, in an email. "Texas is one of the most at-risk states for hurricanes, coastal flooding, drought, hail, lightning, tornadoes, wildfires, ice storms, strong winds, heat waves, and cold waves." "All of these severe weather events increase risk for insurers," he added. "The substantial climate related losses Texas home insurers face force them to pass more risk onto homeowners in the form of higher premiums." If Trump's tariffs take effect and remain in effect, Gardner explained, claims will become even costlier, which will translate into higher premiums. "Tariffs will fuel rate increases even more, because tariffs increase the cost of home repairs," Gardner wrote. "Since rates are based largely on the cost to rebuild or repair a home, the added costs of tariffs will have to be passed on to the consumer through higher premiums." Over the past month, Trump has gone back and forth on his tariff proposals. Even so, the Insurify report noted, Trump's tariffs are already having an impact nationwide. In an April 2025 survey from the National Association of Homebuilders, 60% of respondents reported their suppliers have already increased material prices, or announced plans to do so, as a result of Trump's tariffs. The builders estimated that the overall impact of the tariffs would raise the cost of building a home by about $11,000.
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Former Sen. Phil Gramm warns that Trump tariff uncertainty could lead to recession
Former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm voted for President Donald Trump three times and remains a fiercely loyal Republican. But that isn’t stopping him at age 82 from ringing alarm bells over Trump’s tariff policies, which he says are setting up the nation for an economic recession and political pain for Republicans in next year’s midterm elections. “They are not going to work and they are going to prove to be political poison,” Gramm, a professional economist who was known as one of the nation’s biggest budget hawks when he was in the Senate from 1985 to 2002.
Trump has placed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, prompting China to hit back with a 125% tax on U.S. products. He’s also introduced a 10% tax on goods from most other countries, while threatening to add on much higher rates for dozens of those nations after 90 days. In celebrating the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on Monday that Trump is using tariffs as leverage to force other countries into negotiating with the United States, though no major deals have been announced. Gramm, who has lived in the Texas Hill Country for more than 20 years, said Trump is leaning into a series of “verifiably false grievances” that make it sound like free trade has been bad for the American economy when the opposite is true.
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Harris County leaders slam toll road bill as 'cash bailout' for Houston as it passes Texas Senate
A controversial bill that would take millions of dollars generated through toll roads in Harris County and reallocate them to the City of Houston was passed this week by the Texas Senate. The legislation would divert as much as $80 million from the county's coffers to Houston, and has been labeled a "cash bailout" for the city's budget deficit by its opponents. County commissioners and officials in cities such as Katy and Pearland have voiced vehement opposition to the bill, which they said will take funding from critical infrastructure projects and use it to plug Houston's budget gap. “I am not in favor the largest bailout for a city in the history of the state — at the expense of transportation infrastructure across the county and how it will hurt our economy," Commissioner Adrian Garcia said in a Wednesday statement to the Chronicle. "Nothing last night changed that. This is a matter that should and can be resolved locally."
Garcia said county officials reached out to the City of Houston with an offer to have a discussion. "So far, we’ve gotten no response” State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who represents parts of northwest Harris County, introduced Senate Bill 2722. A companion bill is also under consideration in the Texas House. The bill mandates a 70/30 split between the county and city for revenue generated through the Harris County Toll Road Authority, Bettencourt said in a Wednesday news release. He said the legislation requires the county prioritize "actual road needs." "Since 2019, toll revenues in Harris County have been distributed based on political formulas rather than actual road needs," Bettencourt said. "If drivers are paying tolls, then drivers should see those funds reinvested into roads they actually use to help pay down the debt, prioritize county owned roads and split 70/30 with the City of Houston to cover expenses." Although Bettencourt alleged the county distributed HCTRA funds using a "political formula," county officials, including Republican Commissioner Tom Ramsey, unanimously approved a toll road funding redistribution April 21. A spokesperson from Ramsey's office also spoke against the bill at a House Committee Hearing Thursday.
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Matt Thomas, award-winning radio journalist and News 88.7 anchor, dies at 41
Matt Thomas, a longtime Texas radio newsman and midday anchor at News 88.7, died on Wednesday after a brief illness. He was 41. Known for his steady, professional delivery and excellent news judgement, Thomas was a key part of Houston Public Media's news operation starting in July 2022. He helped lead local listeners through many important stories, including Hurricane Beryl last summer, the 2024 presidential election and the Houston snowstorm in January. "Matt was a calm, reassuring voice in a fast-paced world of news," said Laurie Ramirez, longtime friend and Houston Public Media Executive Director of Content Operations. "He was a news guy through and through – he loved jumping on the big story of the day and considered anchoring the news a privilege and honor."
Thomas, a North Texas native, had a career that included ABC Radio News in New York City, KTRH in Houston, KRLD in Dallas and WFAA-TV in Dallas. He was also heard on public radio stations across Texas, anchoring statewide newscasts for The Texas Newsroom from Houston Public Media's studios. As a young reporter, Thomas was assigned to some of the biggest stories in Houston and elsewhere. He spent several weeks sleeping in a news vehicle while covering Hurricane Katrina for KTRH in 2005, was part of the coverage of Enron's collapse and aftermath and reported live from the scene of the tragic downtown Dallas police shootings in 2016. Thomas won numerous awards during his career, including regional Edward R. Murrow awards, a national Murrow for his work on a radio series and recognition from Texas Associated Press Broadcasters for other stories he produced. "I was always a big fan of Matt over the years and was thrilled when we finally got to work together," said Jack Williams, Senior Director of Content at Houston Public Media. "Matt was such a solid addition to our newsroom and was always a great resource for our coverage. He will be greatly missed."
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Former Miss Venezuela: Why Texas must keep protecting citizens from meritless lawsuits
(Carmen MarÃa Montiel is a real estate professional, journalist, author of “Stolen Identity: A Story of Love, Violence and Liberation,” and a domestic violence survivor who has experienced the impact of SLAPP lawsuits.) Leaving my native Venezuela in 1988 to further my education and pursue the American dream began a journey that was often as difficult as it was rewarding. As a former Miss Venezuela and television journalist, I overcame countless obstacles building a new life — learning English, becoming a proud American citizen, earning my degree, and establishing a career at Telemundo. But none of these challenges prepared me for the day my ex-husband filed a defamation lawsuit against me after I filed for divorce and described in court documents instances of verbal and physical abuse. His lawsuit wasn’t about seeking justice. It was about silencing me. The problem with domestic violence is silence. Too many don’t talk, because we’re afraid that people won’t believe us. Afraid they will label us. Afraid for our lives and for the lives of our children.
While I was afraid of the consequences, I decided I had to speak out. And what I experienced was a surprise to me — I got sued for speaking the truth. It was a classic SLAPP — a strategic lawsuit against public participation. SLAPPs usually take the form of meritless defamation suits. These aren’t legitimate legal actions seeking remedies for actual wrongs. They’re weapons wielded by those with resources to silence, intimidate, and financially drain those who dare to speak out. Even when a defendant ultimately wins one of these meritless lawsuits, the cost and stress of defending the suit exacts a heavy toll on the victim. And that’s the point. SLAPP plaintiffs want these suits to shut down criticism or inconvenient truths. The Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), our state’s anti-SLAPP law, saved me from years of stressful and expensive litigation. It allowed my attorneys to quickly file a TCPA motion to dismiss this frivolous lawsuit designed solely to punish and silence me.
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Dallas Morning News Editorial: Evictions are already easy in Texas, so why target tenants?
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick instructed a Senate committee to find ways to protect property owners from squatters, people who never had permission to enter and occupy a building. What Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, produced is a bill, Senate Bill 38, that makes it easier and faster for Texas landlords to evict tenants. It was an odd response to Patrick’s charge. Squatting involves multiple crimes, such as trespassing and vandalism. Eviction is a civil matter. The existing eviction process already is faster here than in many states. One analysis of Travis County eviction court records found that, last year, 84% of eviction cases concluded within 30 days. Texas landlords successfully turn out thousands of tenants every year. In Harris County, property owners filed more than 80,000 eviction cases in 2023 and won at least 54% of them. Another 42% were dismissed. Renters won 0.62% of the time. The current eviction process works.
Lawmakers who want to combat squatters, versus targeting tenants facing eviction, have a better alternative. Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, introduced a bill that specifically targets squatting and related usurping-of-property rights problems. SB 1333 defines a range of criminal offenses and attaches penalties. The bill’s supporters range from police departments to associations of apartment and campground owners, to Realtors and builders, to the Texas Farm Bureau and local government officials. True squatting cases are rare but significantly more complicated than a typical tenant-landlord dispute. If a property owner calls police to help remove a squatter — a trespasser — the squatter may claim to own the property. The officer can’t be sure who is telling the truth at that moment. Real hustlers can even victimize two people at once. These con artists will rent a vacant property — without the owner’s permission — to an innocent person who never suspects the purported landlord has no rights to the property. Both the real owner and the swindled tenant lose in such cases.
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Baylor College of Medicine lays off 122 employees as Trump funding cuts loom
Baylor College of Medicine is laying off 122 employees as it prepares for major federal funding cuts from the Trump administration, the school announced Wednesday. While the layoffs affect less than 1% of Baylor's roughly 13,000-member workforce, they speak to the vulnerability of academic medical centers nationwide amid the proposed cuts to a range of federal health care services. Baylor leaders previously told the Houston Chronicle that they are cutting back the graduate school class size and pausing new construction projects in preparation of a major reduction in National Institutes of Health grant funding, which makes up about half of their $800 million research budget.
As Congress considers dramatically cutting Medicaid funding over the next decade, and the Department of Education slashes training grants, the Houston medical school needed to take further action, said Dr. Paul Klotman, Baylor's president and CEO. "We can't be waiting around for the shoe to drop, because we won't be able to buffer it," Klotman told the Chronicle. The affected employees work in administrative positions and did not treat patients, Klotman said. Additional programs and activities will be eliminated, but Klotman said those haven't been finalized. Baylor has also implemented a hiring freeze for all "college-funded" faculty and staff, according to the announcement, and divisions across the medical school are cutting budgets for nonessential expenses. Baylor is in an especially vulnerable position when it comes to federal funding cuts. The school typically operates with tight margins, commonly reporting annual losses of around $30 million to $40 million, according to audited financial statements. Last year, they drew $326 million in NIH funding – more than any other Texas university. The Trump administration has sought to dramatically reduce a portion of that grant funding that pays for research infrastructure and equipment, describing that spending as "administrative bloat." The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
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Gov. Abbott threatens to pull San Marcos funding over 'antisemitic' Israel ceasefire resolution
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to cut off state funding to the city of San Marcos after its leaders agreed to put an Israel-Hamas war ceasefire resolution to a vote next week. San Marcos City Council voted April 15 to advance a ceasefire resolution, with a formal vote scheduled for its May 6 meeting. That resolution includes support for ending U.S. military funding of Israel with federal and local tax dollars. Abbott on Tuesday said there would be consequences if the resolution passes in a letter sent to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson. The letter states that no governmental entity in Texas “may enter into a contract worth $100,000 or more unless it includes a ‘written verification’ that the contracting entity ‘does not boycott Israel’ and ‘will not boycott Israel during the term of the contract.’”
Abbott added that the city’s proposed resolution “seems calculated to violate this law by calling for San Marcos to limit its commercial relations with Israel.” The city’s resolution states more than $4.4 million in San Marcos residents' tax dollars went to Israel. Abbott refuted that statement, calling it “hard to believe.” Abbott added that the resolution’s call to reallocate those dollars away from Israel’s military and toward essential domestic priorities are “unacceptable” and a public expression of a desire to do what state law prohibits. Despite Abbott’s claims, San Marcos' resolution states that it's attempting to curb antisemitism rather than promote it. The resolution ends with the City Council condemning any “anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, antisemitic, and all xenophobic rhetoric and attacks.” San Marcos officials declined to comment on Abbott’s letter, saying they do not provide comment on items that are scheduled for consideration by the full city council. They said the resolution is still expected to be considered at the May 6 council meeting.
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Bill that would save THC retailers from total ban advances in Texas House panel
Legislation that could save the state’s consumable hemp market from a total ban – while reducing it to edibles and non-synthetic, smokable low-dose flower buds, grown only in Texas – passed unanimously in a Texas House committee late Wednesday. Counties could opt out and elect to go entirely “dry” with no hemp sales at all through elections similar to those allowed for alcohol sales, and the entire hemp program would be moved from state health officials’ purview and under the direction of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Even with local option, however, the plan is in direct opposition to demands by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and a vast majority of the Texas Senate that the state enact a total ban on gummies, vapes, drinks and other retail products made with hemp-derived synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol — or THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
The products have proliferated through more than 8,500 license holders throughout the state since they became legal through a loophole in a 2019 farm bill. But while Patrick visits smoke shops hoping to find underage customers and vowing to accept nothing less than Senate Bill 3’s ban on the retail consumable hemp market in its original form, the bipartisan House State Affairs Committee didn’t hesitate to rewrite the legislation before sending it to the House floor on a 15-0 vote. The new legislation, sponsored by House State Affairs Chairman Ken King, R-Canadian, comes three weeks after veterans, police, doctors, pediatricians, parents, scientists, and business owners testified past 3 a.m. at a contentious House hearing over the merits and risks of allowing the $8 billion industry to continue. The House version of the bill could still wipe out half of the value of products on the market today. But it stops short of killing the industry altogether, allowing hemp specialty stores but banning the products from being sold in gas stations and vape shops. The bill bans all forms of smokable hemp except low-dose hemp flower – not high enough to be psychoactive – that’s grown naturally in Texas. It also bans hemp vapes, including those made with THCA and other derivatives.
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Texas Senate approves bill aimed at ending State Fair’s gun ban
The Texas Senate approved a bill Wednesday that takes aim at the State Fair of Texas’ gun ban. The policy was put in place last year after a gunman shot three fairgoers in 2023. Only elected, appointed or employed peace officers are allowed to bring firearms. But the bill’s author, state Sen. Bob Hall, R-Rockwall, said the move denied “citizens their right to self-defense.” “This bill simply ensures that a lease on or other temporary control of government property cannot be used as a back door means to deny Texans their lawful right, to their God given right, to carry a self-defense weapon,” he said on the Senate floor. The legislation, headed to the Texas House of Representatives, would prevent contractors from banning guns in government-owned public spaces, unless state law says otherwise.
The State Fair contracts with Dallas annually to use Fair Park. There’s also language in the bill that allows residents or licensed gunholders to file complaints with the attorney general if they suspect a contractor is violating the law. Moreover, an entity found in violation could get a civil penalty between $1,000 and $1,500 for the first violation, and between $10,000 and $10,500 for the subsequent violation. The bill’s advancement to the House comes on the heels of lawsuits filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued the city of Dallas and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert last year to prevent the policy from going into effect. Paxton, like Hall, argued the fair’s policies infringed on residents’ gun rights. But he did not prevail. Despite multiple attempts, the Texas Supreme Court sided with the fair. “Unfortunately, the liberal, woke, anti-gun lobby convinced the court to side with them,” Hall said Wednesday. But that hasn’t deterred the state’s top legal officer. Earlier this month, Paxton sued the city of Dallas once again, and this time he went after gun restrictions at the Majestic Theater and Music Hall at Fair Park. The two properties are also city-owned, but they’re managed by contractors.
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Over 1M Texans are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, report says
Over a million people in Texas are caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to recent data. The Alzheimer’s Association released its 2025 report this week, outlining the prevalence and impact of the disease across the country ? with caregivers providing 1.9 billion hours of unpaid care in 2024. Estimates from 2020 show that nearly 12% of Texas seniors have Alzheimer’s, which is a progressive disease marked by loss of memory and cognitive function. The disease is the most common cause of dementia, which is the more general term for cognitive decline. Using 2020 data, the association estimates more than 450,000 seniors in Texas have Alzheimer’s disease. Those people also often need extra care and support, the majority of which is provided by family, friends and other unpaid workers.
Nearly 1.1 million Texans serve as caregivers for a person with dementia, according to 2024 figures, with the aggregate value of that uncompensated work exceeding $33 billion. Those caregivers may supply a range of support, including help with bathing, paying bills and communicating with health care providers. Nationwide, the study estimates, two-thirds of dementia caregivers are women. The need for caregivers is projected to increase over the coming decades, as the United States population ages and more people live with Alzheimer’s. As of this year, an estimated 7.2 million people in the country have Alzheimer’s, according to the report. That number could grow to 8.5 million by 2030, and to 11.2 million by 2040, data shows. That increase will require states, including Texas, to significantly boost the number of people working to support seniors with dementia, including doctors and home health aides. Experts say early intervention is the key to providing the best possible care for people with dementia. For loved ones, that may mean keeping an eye on the early warning signs of dementia and encouraging medical visits if those signs appear.
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First Denton County measles case reported amid outbreak
Denton County Public Health officials have reported the county’s first case of measles this year amid a growing statewide outbreak, according to a statement. The infected individual is an adult Denton County resident with an unknown vaccination status, officials said. The person visited several locations while contagious on April 19, including a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Field and Texas Live! in Arlington, and three Flower Mound restaurants, officials said. On April 20, the person attended church at Flower Mound United Methodist Church and visited a Walmart store in Lewisville, according to the statement.
Measles spreads through the air when a person infected with the virus coughs or sneezes and can stay airborne for up to two hours, officials said. Those most at risk for contracting measles are the unvaccinated and those who are receiving treatment or have conditions that impact the immune system. Anyone who was at the locations on the dates listed should monitor for symptoms of measles until May 13, officials said. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and flat red spots that begin forming on the face before traveling downward.
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County Stories
Partisanship debated in Tarrant County College board race
The race for the District 7 Tarrant County College board position is pitting a far right candidate against two contenders who don’t want partisan politics to interfere with educating students. Veronica Chavez Law, Hunter Crow and Cary Cheshire are vying for the District 7 seat after Kenneth Barr chose not to seek reelection. Cheshire did not respond to messages from the Star-Telegram requesting an interview, and he did not complete the Star-Telegram’s voters guide questionnaire. Election Day is Saturday with polls open from 7 am. to 7 p.m.
Kenneth Barr, a former mayor of Fort Worth who has served on the TCC board since 2019, is not seeking reelection, saying it is time for someone younger to take on the challenges of overseeing one of the largest higher education institutions in the U.S. Founded in 1965, Tarrant County College offers five types of degrees and an array of technical programs across its six campuses. The college estimates about 1 in 22 Tarrant County residents take a class at TCC every year. TCC is one of the country’s 20 largest institutions of higher education. Barr isn’t shy about expressing his views about his concerns that partisan politics will affect trustees’ decisions about what is best for the students who are seeking degrees and finding career paths, stating that he supports Chavez Law to succeed him. “This is a nonpartisan election for a nonpartisan board,” Barr said. “We need someone who’s committed to education, not politics.”
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National Stories
Supreme Court has heated exchange in blockbuster religious charter school case
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on April 30 seemed sympathetic to the Catholic Church’s bid to create the nation’s first religious charter school in Oklahoma, a potentially major expansion of the use of taxpayer money for religious education. However, the chief justice's relative silence makes it possible the case could end in a 4-4 tie, since one of the six conservative justices, Amy Coney Barrett, recused herself from the case. Apart from Chief Justice John Roberts, the other conservative justices involved in the case appeared swayed by the argument that barring the church’s participation would be discriminatory. “All the religious school is saying is don’t exclude us on account of our religion,” said Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
The court’s liberal justices, meanwhile, raised concerns about how religious charter schools could favor one religion over another and entangle the government in religious issues. "Really, what you're saying is the free exercise clause trumps the essence of the establishment clause," Justice Sonia Sotomayor told the attorney for the state’s charter school board. "The essence of the establishment clause was, 'We're not going to pay religious leaders to teach their religion.'" The Oklahoma case presents a major test of the separation of church and state. The U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from establishing a religion, but also says the government cannot prohibit people from freely exercising religion. In some recent cases where those portions of the Constitution have been in tension, the Supreme Court came down on the side of protecting religious exercise, expanding the role of religion in public life.
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Takeaways from Trump NewsNation town hall
President Trump on Wednesday called in to NewsNation for a town hall program marking the first 100-day milestone of his second term in the Oval Office. Rounding out a media blitz to celebrate the benchmark, Trump brushed off concerns about his polling and policies as he talked with moderators Chris Cuomo, Bill O’Reilly and Stephen A. Smith. After Trump appeared for a little under half an hour, other guests, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former White House adviser Steve Bannon, appeared during the two-hour program.
Trump swatted away concerns about some of the moves that have stoked controversy throughout his first 100-day stretch. Asked to name the biggest mistake he’s made so far, Trump said he didn’t think he’d made any. “I’ll tell you, that’s the toughest question I can have because I don’t really believe I’ve made mistakes,” he said, arguing that the country is in a “transition period” and will see “tremendous economic victories” ahead. And as his dramatic tariff moves heighten economic anxieties, Trump contended that he knows his stuff “perfectly.” “We have to have fair trade. We’re losing billions and billions of dollars, hundreds of billions of dollars. And it’s not fair, and it’s time for the American people to be properly protected by somebody that knows what he’s doing,” Trump said. “And I know what I’m doing perfectly,” he asserted. He added that “it’s a little complicated subject” and “I’ve got to explain it.” The president has been celebrating his 100-day mark amid sagging approval numbers, but he brushed those off, too, lambasting “fake polls” and touting his November win as a sign of his enduring success. Trump and Smith were cordial to each other and shared kind words even as Smith has been critical of many of Trump’s policies.
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President Trump reveals what he told Zelenskyy during viral meeting at the Vatican
President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday evening what he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed during their viral meeting at the Vatican when both were in attendance for the late Pope Francis' funeral. "I was telling him that it's a very good thing if we can produce a deal, that you sign it, because Russia is much bigger and much stronger," Trump said Tuesday evening during a town hall hosted by NewsNation, which he participated in by phone. The pair met face-to-face for the first time since their contentious Oval Office meeting in February, while both attended the papal funeral. Neither White House or Ukrainian officials gave many details on the nature or content of the talk, other than that it was "productive" and "symbolic."
"We discussed a lot one on one," Zelenskyy posted on X following the viral meeting. "Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results." Despite few details being released about the meeting, Trump did tell reporters over the weekend that part of the pair's discussion revolved around the U.S. sending more weapons to Ukraine. "He told me that he needs more weapons, but he's been saying that for three years," Trump said. "We're going to see what happens – I want to see what happens with respect to Russia. Because Russia, I've been surprised and disappointed – very disappointed – that they did the bombing of those places after discussions."
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Home builders are piling on discounts as they struggle to entice buyers
Would a $5,000-off voucher entice you into buying a new home? Builder Taylor Morrison launched an email campaign this spring sending this offer to prospective house hunters. The discount is meant to offset President Trump’s tariffs, which are expected to push up prices for new homes soon. It is the latest profit-sapping endeavor that American home builders have resorted to in a sluggish market. The spring buying season, when builders make close to 40% of their annual sales, is halfway over. Based on earnings released by listed builders, demand has been disappointing. America’s biggest builder, D.R. Horton, said revenue fell 15% in its latest quarter compared with a year ago, while PulteGroup’s sales dropped 2%.
This is before the pain of tariffs is really felt. Builder LGI Homes said this week that its suppliers sent notice that they plan to raise prices soon for some components imported from China. Builders rely on Chinese manufacturers for white goods, parts for heating and ventilation systems and porcelain fittings. D.R. Horton and Lennar told investors that their building-materials providers are holding fire for now, but they expect import levies to push up construction costs later this year. Builders think new-home prices will rise by anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 as a result of the trade war. The timing is terrible. Affordability is already so stretched that builders have been offering sweeteners including mortgage-rate buydowns, price cuts and design upgrades to get deals over the line. The number of completed but unsold new homes sitting on their lots has reached the highest levels since 2009. In a “completely abnormal” trend, home builders have increased their use of incentives this spring, according to Rick Palacios, head of research at John Burns Research & Consulting. They offered sweeteners equivalent to 7.2% of the home purchase price in the first two weeks of April, up from 6.1% in January, data from John Burns show. Usually, they dial back incentives and raise prices this time of year.
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The Senate votes down resolution to block Trump's global tariffs amid economic turmoil
Senate Republicans narrowly voted down a Democratic resolution Wednesday that would have blocked global tariffs announced by Donald Trump earlier this month, giving the president a modest win as lawmakers in both parties have remained skeptical of his trade agenda. Trump announced the far-reaching tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners April 2 and then reversed himself a few days later after a market meltdown, suspending the import taxes for 90 days. Amid the uncertainty for both U.S. consumers and businesses, the Commerce Department said Wednesday that the U.S. economy shrank 0.3% from January through March, the first drop in three years. The 49-49 vote came weeks after the Senate approved a resolution that would have have thwarted Trump’s ability to impose tariffs on Canada.
That measure passed 51-48 with the votes of four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky. But McConnell — who has been sharply critical of the tariffs but had not said how he would vote — and Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse were absent Wednesday, denying Democrats the votes for passage. Democrats said their primary aim was to put Republicans on the record either way and to try to reassert congressional powers. “The Senate cannot be an idle spectator in the tariff madness,” said Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, a lead sponsor of the resolution. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the dismal economic numbers should be a “wakeup call” to Republicans.
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Florida leads as state and local governments sign on for Trump's mass deportations
The roster of local police departments and state agencies that have joined President Donald Trump’s drive for mass deportations has soared to more than 500, with nearly half from Florida. That cooperation will be on display Thursday when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joins officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to tout an operation that authorities say netted about 800 immigration arrests in less than a week. Local police can make immigration arrests and detain people for immigration violations under specific agreements. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had 135 agreements across 21 states in December. That number has jumped to 506 deals across 38 states, with an additional 74 agencies pending approval.
As the Trump administration ramps up cooperation with state and local agencies, it is moving to retaliate against those that limit helping immigration authorities. On Monday, the president signed an executive order to publish a list of “sanctuary” jurisdictions and reiterated threats of criminal charges against state or local officials who thwart federal policy. Advocates who oppose local officials getting into immigration enforcement say the practice violates a clause in the U.S. Constitution that makes federal, not state, authorities responsible for it. “This is finding methods to terrorize communities,” said Katie Blankenship, an immigration attorney and co-founder of Sanctuary of the South, adding that local law enforcement officers aren’t trained to handle immigration issues “in any sort of just manner.” ICE, which has about 6,000 deportation officers, needs help achieving Trump’s goal of deporting many of the roughly 11 million people in the country illegally, a conservative estimate. Texas, whose Republican governor, Greg Abbott, has closely allied himself with Trump on immigration, has 76 enforcement agreements on record, the second-largest number of any state. They include one inked April 10 with the state National Guard. Texas has also signed an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its National Guard to arrest people at the border.
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Harris accuses Trump of abandoning American ideals in first major speech since leaving office
Former Vice President Kamala Harris rebuked President Donald Trump in her first major speech since leaving office, accusing her former rival of setting off the “greatest man-made economic crisis” in modern history through his across-the-board tariffs, and warning that his conflicts with the courts were moving the nation toward a constitutional crisis. Harris spoke Wednesday evening at the Emerge Gala in San Francisco, benefitting an organization that supports women interested in entering politics. The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee marked the first 100 days of the second Trump administration during her address, saying that “instead of an administration working to advance America’s highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals.” “And what we are also seeing in these last 14 weeks is Americans using their voice and showing their courage,” Harris added.
The former vice president delivered a series of attacks on the administration, blaming Trump for the economic turbulence caused by the tariffs he has imposed on goods imported from major trading partners. Harris called Trump’s tariffs “reckless” and said, “as I predicted,” they are “clearly inviting a recession.” Harris said those import taxes will “hurt workers and families by raising the cost of everyday essentials, devastate their retirement accounts that people spent a lifetime paying into, and paralyze American businesses, large and small, forcing them to lay off people.” Trump has said the across-the-board tariffs are meant to correct a trade imbalance with other countries and restore US manufacturing jobs. However, the administration’s policy changes have rocked global markets and added to mounting economic pressure on the US economy. Official data released Wednesday showed the economy contracted in the first quarter by 0.3%. Harris told Democrats there is a method behind the break-neck pace of policy rollouts of the Trump administration, calling the president a “vessel” of a much larger conservative project.
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Newsclips - April 30, 2025 |
Lead Stories
US consumer confidence plummets to Covid-era low as trade war stokes anxiety
Americans’ confidence in the economy slumped for the fifth straight month to the lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as anxiety over the impact of tariffs takes a heavy toll. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell 7.9 points in April to 86, its lowest reading since May 2020. Nearly one-third of consumers expect hiring to slow in the coming months, nearly matching the level reached in April 2009, when the economy was mired in the Great Recession. The figures reflect a rapidly souring mood among Americans, most of whom expect prices to rise because of the widespread tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. About half of Americans are also worried about the potential for a recession, according to a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center.
“Rattled consumers spend less than confident consumers,” said Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, in an email. “If confidence sags and consumers retrench, growth will go down.” A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market plunged 12.5 points to 54.4, the lowest level in more than 13 years. The reading is well below 80, which typically signals a recession ahead. How this gloomy mood translates into spending, hiring, and growth will become clearer in the coming days and weeks. On Wednesday, the government will report on U.S. economic growth during the first three months of the year, and economists are expecting a sharp slowdown as Americans pulled back on spending after a strong winter holiday shopping season. And on Friday the Labor Department will release its latest report on hiring and the unemployment rate. Overall, economists expect it should still show steady job gains, though some forecast it could report sharply reduced hiring.
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How Miriam Adelson went from big MAGA Winner to casino loser in Trump’s first 100 days
One hundred days ago, Miriam Adelson was on top of the world. The billionaire and far-right mega-donor was in the Capitol Rotunda, dressed in an all-white version of a Sgt. Pepper’s coat and her signature round sunglasses, standing next to Laura Bush and Barack Obama, watching her chosen candidate, the man she had spent more than $100 million on, be sworn in as president. Her basketball team, the Dallas Mavericks, was fresh off of a run to the NBA finals, thanks to Luka Doncic, the league’s most talented young superstar. Las Vegas Sands, the gambling company founded by her late husband and fellow kingmaker Sheldon Adelson, was making slow progress toward its long-term goal of building a casino about 20 minutes’ drive from the squad’s home court. Perhaps most exciting, at least from a pure profit perspective, was the firm’s potential to land a license to operate a casino on Long Island, just outside of New York City, widely believed to be the one of the most lucrative untapped gambling markets on the planet. If Sands could secure it, the MAGA queen would have a cash register that would never stop ringing. Of course she was happy. But that was 100 days ago.
In the three months or so since, Trump’s approval rating has tanked as he declared a trade war on the entire world—even on Israel, where Adelson was born, and where she remains an influential figure. Under the leadership of Adelson’s son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, the Mavericks gave away their superstar in what was instantly panned as the worst trade in NBA history. The Adelsons’ family-controlled company, Las Vegas Sands, dropped its plans to build the Dallas-area gambling house for now. And now there’s New York, where Sands spent about $400 million and hired a squad of lawyers, lobbyists, architects, engineers, and image makers, all for a chance at that jackpot in Nassau County. On Wednesday, Sands president Dumont announced to investors that the Adeslon family was ending its East Coast pursuit, after more than a decade of trying. Miriam’s winning streak was over. Dumont, in an investor call, blamed Sands’ change of heart on the rise of online gambling as a competitor to real-world action. (A company spokesperson declined to comment on the record for this story, and pointed to Sands’ statement on the topic.) Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell Vanity Fair that’s only a partial answer. Politics was one of several other factors. Adelson wasn’t the only Trump superfan trying to bid in this cobalt blue state. But she was the most visible.
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Lottery Commission formally bans third-party courier companies from selling tickets online
The Texas Lottery Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to ban third-party "courier companies" that broker game ticket sales through smartphone apps, a practice that has been in place for years but only recently gained political attention. Tuesday's action came with little discussion, a far cry from the stinging criticism lawmakers heaped on the recently resigned former executive director of the state-run gaming operation during a series of legislative hearings. Several lawmakers expressed concern that the couriers are effectively a work-around to the 1991 state law that established the Texas Lottery, which expressly forbids using a telephone to buy and sell tickets. Others warned that faceless transactions can invite money launderers or those underage to illegally play the lottery in Texas.
Ryan Mindell, the director who resigned this month, and his predecessor Gary Grief, who resigned in February 2024, each told legislative committees that they were powerless under state law to regulate couriers. However, after forceful pushback from lawmakers and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick earlier this year, Mindell reversed course. He said the law permits him to revoke the licenses of lottery retailers who do business with couriers, which the commission affirmed with its vote Tuesday. Commissioner Mark Franz said that initially he was skeptical of imposing a ban on courier companies, noting the Legislature is considering action to either regulate the way they operate in Texas or to outlaw them outright. However, he said, his mind changed once he took a closer look over the weeks since Mindell made his recommendation. "I have during this 30-day period weighed all evidence, and I am persuaded that this is the right move to go forward, and that we should do the maximum amount allowable under our current statute, which is what this does my in understanding," he said during the meeting. The measure will promote and ensure integrity, security, honesty and fairness in the operation and administration of the lottery, the rule states.
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Bill clarifying when doctors can perform abortion unanimously passes Texas Senate
A bill that would clarify when Texas physicians can legally perform an abortion to save a mother’s life unanimously passed the state Senate on Tuesday. Senate Bill 31, also known as the Life of the Mother Act, would allow doctors to intervene and provide abortion care to pregnant women who are experiencing medical emergencies. Current law includes an exception for patients with a “life-threatening physical condition” but requires the doctor performing the procedure to provide “the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive.” Doctors have said that language is vague and confusing, making many hesitant to perform an abortion to save a mother’s life. Violating the state’s near total abortion ban is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine — in addition to a $100,000 civil penalty.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, thanked Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, for his work crafting a proposal that garnered “universal support from all sides.” In a statement issued after the final vote, Patrick credited Texas for leading the way “in protecting life,” noting the Life of the Mother Act “is only designed to provide legal clarity for doctors in rare cases when a mother’s life is threatened.” Despite how divisive abortion is politically, Hughes said, the entire legislative body agreed that a pregnant woman’s life must be protected. “These are difficult matters to grapple with,” he said. “We can all agree — we can all agree — that when the life of the mother is at risk, she should be protected. That’s what this bill is about.”
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State Stories
Why legislation to protect mothers’ lives in Texas went from bipartisan to belligerent
In the annals of the Texas Legislature, it may be that no bill has suffered the kind of instant whiplash as the one Republican Senator Bryan Hughes christened the “Life of the Mother Act.” Senate Bill 31, which Hughes filed exactly one hour before the deadline on March 14, was presented as one that would free Texas doctors to provide abortions when their pregnant patients were suffering from medical emergencies—without fear of the career-killing, prison sentence-inducing penalties for violating Texas law. “The intent of this bill is to remove any excuse, when a mom is in danger . . . that’s always been an exception we have recognized,” Hughes said. “We want to love them both. There’s a mom and a baby. We want to love and respect and protect them both.” The bill was championed by fervent abortion opponents, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who named its passage one of his top priorities. Also supporting the Life of the Mother Act: notable reproductive rights advocates. Its coauthors in the Senate and joint authors of the companion House Bill 44, including three of the most liberal surviving Democrats, Senator Carol Alvarado and Representative Ann Johnson of Houston and Representative Donna Howard of Austin, got to savor the rarest of bipartisan triumphs.
All in all, March 14 seemed like the happiest of days in the capital, when legislators across the political spectrum could feel good about doing good. Republican Representative Charlie Geren from Fort Worth, another abortion foe who is cosponsoring the bill in the House, put it best when he declared, “Too many women have suffered. Too many women have died.” Well, yeah. In hospitals and doctors’ offices across the state, chaos and tragedy have ensued since the Legislature enacted a series of restrictive laws including 2021’s Senate Bill 8, which allows anyone to sue individuals who “aid or abet” an abortion after about six weeks of gestation, and the “trigger law,” which outlawed most abortions after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. In combination, these laws made virtually all abortions illegal, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or fetal abnormalities and included only a vague passage referring to “medical emergencies” that place “a woman in danger of death or serious risk of substantial impairment of a bodily function.” Doctors who didn’t follow the law could be charged with a felony, fined $100,000, lose their medical license, and be sentenced to life in prison. Meanwhile, those who reported doctors and others who assisted with abortions—anyone from nurses to neighbors to Uber drivers—could reap a $10,000 “bounty,” as the cash reward came to be known. The Life of the Mother Act would, in the words of its proponents, save women’s lives—in a state where the government seems only marginally interested in doing so. But the bill isn’t far reaching. For instance, it excludes exemptions for abortions in the case of fatal birth defects or complications that damage a woman’s future fertility. It doesn’t address pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Democratic leaders know that trying to get such changes through the GOP-dominated Legislature would be counter-productive. So, to mix metaphors, those working to even slightly to expand reproductive rights here have to crawl over glass to grab what crumbs they can.
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Texas lawmakers have the lottery on the chopping block
It is a real possibility that the Texas lottery can go away in the wake of two major payout scandals. The Texas Lottery Commission is up for its every-12-year review known as the Sunset Commission. Last week, Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Ryan Mindell was the latest to resign. This came after a public grilling earlier this Spring in a Texas Senate committee hearing. The Texas Rangers, the Texas Attorney General, and select lawmakers continue to investigate whether large electronic lottery courier companies improperly had their thumb on the scale for two huge payouts: one for $95 million and another for $83 million. They're also investigating whether state regulators looked the other way. Courier services are companies like Lotto.com and Jackpocket, which sell lottery tickets online or through mobile apps.
In April, the Texas House zeroed out the budget for the Lottery Commission, killing the program if they don't make a different decision while negotiating with the Texas Senate. The legislative session ends in early June. “It’s a hard thing even for someone like me to comprehend," said Rob Kohler, a longtime anti-gambling lobbyist for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. According to state data, lottery sales have plummeted since the legislature began to scrutinize the industry. Earlier this Spring, the commission abruptly reversed its years-long course and decided that it could ban third-party lottery courier services. Sales in both scratch-offs and draw games have decreased. Lotto.com filed a lawsuit against the state for its quick backpedal to ban the courier services. Kohler told NBC 5 on Monday that it may be because people heard of the scandal and lost faith that it was fair. “They’ve lost players. There’s no doubt. You can look on social media. There’s folks they care enough that they bother to write down several sentences, you know I used to do this and I’m not going to do it anymore because it’s fixed," said Kohler.
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Latinx organizations, supporters advocate on behalf of undocumented students at state Capitol
Abigail Holguin, a government and Mexican American studies junior, reads from a piece of paper to a staffer in state Rep. John Lujan’s office. Speaking the words written by a friend, who is an undocumented student, Holguin rattled off the bevy of adjectives used to describe immigrant communities: “lazy,” “criminals,” “we come to steal jobs.” “While it might be convenient for these negative outliers to define all undocumented persons, the students would be significantly impacted by (Texas) House Bill 160 or law-abiding, morally conscious and hard-working people,” Holguin said. A group of students led by the UT chapter of predominantly Latino fraternity Sigma Lambda Beta lobbied lawmakers and testified before the Texas Senate Education Committee on April 22. They spoke against Texas Senate Bill 1798 and Texas House Bill 160, which would neutralize the Texas Dream Act, which is a law granting in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students.
Marco Julian Gonzalez, a member of the Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity, led the advocacy planning efforts over multiple months, bringing together 15 students from his organization and advocates across UT. Holguin was one of those students. She and two other students met with staffers from the office of state Sen. Donna Campbell, along with representatives from the offices of John Lujan and Terry Wilson. Those offices are where she read her friend’s statement. “It’s a lot to tell someone this, especially when you’re so used to not talking about it, especially in the very political climate we live in,” Holguin said. “Being one of the trusted friends to not only know your story, but also be one of your trusted friends to tell the story for you really puts into perspective how important it is knowing about this (and) talking about this.” The organization split into smaller groups and spoke to representatives and senators across the political spectrum. Interpersonal communications sophomore Samuel Lawrence Brainard said lawmakers should not treat the issue with as much partisanship. “Speaking as someone who voted for Donald Trump and I’m sure that plenty of people in this office probably did as well, being concerned about immigration is not mutually exclusive from offering the students who are not here of their own volition, basic opportunities and economic mobility and being able to climb the social ladder,” Brainard said.
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Noem takes look at cross-border tunnel during El Paso visit
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited El Paso on Monday. The trip included meeting with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and a walk along the border wall near the spot where federal officials a few months ago discovered a cross-border tunnel believed to have been used by Mexican cartels to bring across drugs and “high value” migrants. Noem’s visit followed that of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week to highlight El Paso’s importance in the Trump administration’s border security strategy even as migrant encounters have plummeted. Noem’s trip came unannounced and wasn’t open to local news media. It came a little more than a month after DHS announced a series of international ads telling migrants not to come to America and warning they would be hunted down if they commit crimes. The president of Mexico called the ads “discriminatory” and vowed to change her country’s laws so they wouldn’t run in the future. Noem later countered saying the ads are working.
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State ethics panel to review allegations of ‘dark money’ in Prosper ISD trustee race
The Texas Ethics Commission has agreed to review allegations that a political action committee broke election laws when it spent $50,000 supporting two challengers running for the Prosper Independent School District school board. The PAC, known as the Accountable Leadership Committee, received $50,000 from a Washington, D.C., fund to support candidates in the trustee races, campaign finance records filed with the school district show. The money supported two candidates trying to unseat incumbents: Scott Bray, who is challenging incumbent Kelly Cavender for the Place 3 trustee seat, and Janette Church, who is challenging incumbent Garrett Linker for Place 6.
Bray and Church have said they are not involved with the committee, which has sent out advertisements supporting them. The committee’s website doesn’t give information on its mission or origins apart from the statement that it is “fighting for accountability and transparency.” The complaint was filed by Doug Charles, who founded a now-inactive political action committee that supported Linker in Prosper ISD’s 2022 trustee race. In an interview, Charles called the $50,000 contribution “dark money” — donations that can’t be traced because the source isn’t disclosed. The committee lists Dustin McIntyre as its treasurer on campaign finance records and includes a Nevada phone number and an address with a Frisco mailbox. Calls made to McIntyre’s listed number were not returned Monday. The ethics commission will review Charles’ complaint at 9 a.m. on Sept. 17 in Austin. The commission accepted jurisdiction on the complaint this month, which does not mean the commission found that a violation occurred. “It is scary. … $50,000 just didn’t randomly show up from Washington, D.C., into Prosper ISD,” Charles said in an interview. “There’s an agenda. It’s deep, it’s dark, and it’s ugly, and we need to know why.”
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Simplifying Texas child vaccine exemptions sparks partisan tensions amid measles outbreak
Legislation designed to make it easier for parents to exempt school children from vaccine requirements is fueling tensions over declining vaccination rates amid the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas. Currently, to exempt a child from school vaccine requirements, a parent must request the required form from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The department then mails the form to a parent, who must then fill it out and have it notarized before taking it to the school. State Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, wants the form available on the department’s website, cutting days or weeks from the process as parents wait to receive the required paperwork. During a debate that went late into Monday night, Hull said her House Bill 1586 was a “DOGE-like” proposal solely about government efficiency.
However, several testified before lawmakers that the proposal would undermine public health, expose children to diseases and further erode vaccination rates that have been declining in schools. “By making it easier for parents to opt out of routine childhood vaccinations required for school entry, this bill threatens the protection of vulnerable children who cannot be vaccinated,” said Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The partisan divide was evident during the House Public Health committee’s debate as a Democratic lawmaker questioned an advocate representing an organization dedicated to banning vaccine mandates. Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, said taking sides on the issue based solely on political party affiliation will hurt public health at large. “If we make this purely Republican and Democrats, guess who suffers? All of us,” said Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston.
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Texas House gives initial passage to antisemitism bill
The Texas House gave initial approval to legislation Tuesday designed to tamp down on antisemitism in Texas’ public schools and universities. The 134-2 vote gives the proposal a clear path for it to become law. The bill comes as President Donald Trump has taken a strong stance against pro-Palestine protests that many on the right view as anti-Jewish hate. Trump has threatened to cancel international student visas and deport any students found to have committed a hate crime. Texas has taken up the mantle as well. A groundswell of conservative support for legislation like the bill passed Tuesday came after pro-Palestine protests erupted at some public universities in 2024. State troopers arrested dozens of protesters at University of Texas campuses in Dallas and Austin last March.
In response to the demonstrations, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order that directed schools to update free speech guidelines to address what he described as rising antisemitism on campuses. Opponents of the bill said they fear it will chill free speech on campuses, especially related to protests of Israeli military action in Gaza. The bill adds the definition of antisemitism to bullying statutes and requires public schools and colleges to consider if antisemitism was involved in any disciplinary action. Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, who said he is the House’s lone “fully Jewish member,” initially opposed the bill. Rosenthal said the Jewish community is divided on the bill. He expressed his own personal reservations over the use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition in state law — a definition that was not intended to be used in laws or legal documents.
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Texas man charged with failing to register as an undocumented migrant
The Justice Department charged a migrant man in a West Texas federal court for failing to register his undocumented status with the federal government. The charge comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January requiring migrants to register based on a rarely used provision from a 1952 law. The executive order directed the Homeland Security secretary to “announce and publicize information about the legal obligation of all previously unregistered aliens in the United States to comply.” The Texas case follows one of an Arizona man charged earlier this month for failing to register. The Justice Department charged Hugo Moreno-Mendez with two misdemeanors. One was for refusing to provide DNA and the other was for willful failure to register. The second charge confused Moreno-Mendez’s attorney.
“This is not a charge I’ve ever seen before,” said Lauren McLeod, who has practiced law for 17 years, the last eight as a criminal defense attorney in Waco. Moreno-Mendez is accused of illegally entering the United States more than two decades ago and failing to register with the federal government. It’s unclear if his case is related to Trump’s executive order. In February, Department of Homeland Security officials announced they would create a registry for people who were in the U.S. illegally. DHS set a deadline of April 11 for people to comply with the new rule. Anyone who did not register with the federal government could be criminally prosecuted or fined. Moreno-Mendez reported to the McLennan County Probation Department on March 13 according to court records, and was arrested that day. Moreno-Mendez was on a 12-month probation after a September conviction on unlawfully installing a tracking device, local court records show. Justice Department officials noted in court filings that he entered the country illegally in 2004 “and willfully failed or refused to make such application or to be fingerprinted after thirty days.” Failing to register is punishable by up to six months in prison.
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Tilman Fertitta confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Italy by Senate
Houston's Tilman Fertitta has been confirmed as United States ambassador to Italy and San Marino. The billionaire businessman, who was nominated to the post by then President-elect Donald Trump in December, was approved by the Senate on Tuesday evening by a vote of 83-14. Fertitta, who was born in Galveston and is of Sicilian descent, described himself as a longtime admirer of Italy's culture, food and patriotic spirit in his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations committee earlier this month. "If confirmed, I take the responsibility of being an ambassador at this crucial moment in history as the most important job of my life," Fertitta said. "You have my commitment, and America has my commitment, to always represent the United States and President Trump with dignity, pride, friendship and strength."
The confirmation will mean changes for many Houston institutions, given the scope of Fertitta's business and civic activities since he launched his entertainment empire with a single restaurant, Landry's Seafood in Katy, in 1986. He is the wealthiest person in Houston according to Forbes magazine. In a letter to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Fertitta said that, if confirmed, he would resign as CEO of Landry's, Inc., which has grown to include about 600 dining, gaming and entertainment locations. He is also expected to step down as chair of the University of Houston System Board of Regents. However, Fertitta will retain his role as owner of the Houston Rockets, he said in the letter.
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Texas lawmakers propose scrapping the STAAR test in favor of three much shorter exams
House lawmakers are proposing to replace the state’s annual STAAR exams with a series of tests given throughout the year under a plan they say would reduce the exams’ high-stakes nature and relieve pressure on students. The widely-criticized State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness tests would be scrapped in favor of three much shorter tests given at the start, middle, and end of each school year, according to draft legislation released on Tuesday. The plan would mark the most dramatic redesign of the state’s tests since STAAR was established for public and charter school students in 2011.
State Rep. Diego Bernal, a San Antonio Democrat who authored the bill, said having multiple short tests makes the purpose less about grading a student’s learning each year, and more about diagnosing any problem areas and improving them over time. It also means teachers and schools can be better evaluated on student improvement in between tests, he said, rather than just raw performance scores. “We’re not just teaching to the test anymore, we’re allowing teachers to shift and give individualized calibration and attention to students,” Bernal said. “You see the starting point, what kind of progress they’ve made, and how they are doing at the end.” House Bill 4 is up for its first public hearing Tuesday afternoon in the House education committee, whose chair, Republican state Rep. Brad Buckley, is the bill’s primary author. It is a priority bill for House Speaker Dustin Burrows and comes as part of a wider education package that includes vouchers for private schools and a boost in funding for public schools.
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Keller ISD split bill debated in Texas House committee
Local control, voter participation and the Keller school district were front and center at an April 29 House committee hearing in Austin, as lawmakers considered a bill that would put the splitting of a school district up to a public vote. The proposal at the center of the discussion — House Bill 5089 — comes after news broke in January that some Keller school trustees were considering a plan to divide the district in half along U.S. 377 through a process called detachment. The move would have separated Keller, Southlake, Watauga and Colleyville from district residents west of 377 in Fort Worth. The district ultimately didn’t go through with the idea, but different interpretations of state law over whether the splitting of a district must be approved by voters became apparent amid public outcry.
“Over the last four months, I’ve learned more about the Education Code than I have in the past three decades, and frankly, I’m embarrassed to to admit that, but I had to learn because we discovered a confusing and dangerous loophole that our board of trustees attempted to exploit,” said Angela Hall, a parent in the Keller school district who testified at the House Public Education Committee hearing. As a split was debated in Keller, there was debate over whether it could be done unilaterally if proposed through a resolution by the board or if a split must be taken to residents for a vote. House Bill 5089 by Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican, clarifies that the process of detachment must go through voters. The bill as filed says a petition signed by 20% of registered voters in the existing district would be presented to the Texas State Board of Education. The state board would then determine if the petition is valid. If it is, an election would be held.
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North Texas lawmakers want transparency around jail deaths
Tarrant County lawmakers and advocates for those incarcerated in Texas jails called for more transparency surrounding in-custody deaths during an April 28 subcommittee hearing. The legislation comes as the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office faces scrutiny over recent jail deaths, with family members and advocates demanding more information about the circumstances surrounding people’s deaths while in jail custody. “Government must be accountable to the people it serves,” said Rep. Nicole Collier, a Fort Worth Democrat, during the subcommittee hearing. “When oversight laws are ignored or transparency is lacking, it sends the wrong message that accountability is optional. That’s unacceptable.”
House Bill 3841 by Collier and Rep. David Lowe, a North Richland Hills Republican, says a jail death investigation would begin “as soon as practicable” after an outside law enforcement agency is appointed to investigate. If a conflict of interest arises, the appointed investigative agency must notify the Texas Commission on Jail Standards so a new agency can be tapped to investigate, Collier said during the hearing. For each county jail death, the commission would need to publish on its website monthly: The county where the death occurred. The date the death occurred. The name of the law enforcement agency investigating the death and the date they were appointed. This information would also be required for any new law enforcement agency appointed to investigate due to a conflict of interest. Whether the investigation is pending or complete. The information would stay on the website until at least the second anniversary of the inmate’s death.
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Communities In Schools of Houston highlights mental health initiative during Mental Health Awareness Month in May
Communities In Schools of Houston (CIS), a leading educational nonprofit, proudly joins the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month this May. This year’s national campaign, “In Every Story, There’s Strength,” highlights the power of personal stories to foster connection, understanding, and hope. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI’s campaign celebrates the power of storytelling to fuel connection, understanding, and hope for those navigating their own mental health path. For 46 years, CIS has championed student well-being, placing mental health at the core of its mission. Since launching the CIS Mental Health Initiative (MHI) 13 years ago, CIS has grown to become the largest school-based provider of mental health services in Harris County.
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National Stories
Trump, back in rally mode, marks 100 days in office with boisterous Michigan speech
Donald Trump's Michigan rally celebrating the 100th day of his second term wasn't a campaign rally, but it resembled one in many ways. He spoke for almost an hour and a half, falsely claimed to have won the 2020 presidential election, danced to "YMCA," and acknowledged the regulars that have shown up to his rallies for years. "I miss you guys," he said to the Front Row Joes, one group of Trump faithful. "I miss the campaign." While the Tuesday night rally had been billed as a way to celebrate his 100-day record, it served many more purposes. Trump also used his time on stage to luxuriate in the crowd's adoration, blame Joe Biden for various national problems, and insist that he, as president, is not getting the credit he deserves for his accomplishments.
Among the policies Trump celebrated was his deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador — a move that courts have challenged. In recent days, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked new deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, the law the Trump administration has used to deport more than 200 people to El Salvador. "Now the courts are trying to say that, you know, that doesn't matter. I don't think it's going to be allowed to stand," he said. "We are delivering mass deportation, and it's happening very fast. And the worst of the worst are being sent to a no-nonsense prison in El Salvador." He then presented a video of prisoners being flown to El Salvador and treated roughly — having their heads shaved and being marched, bent-over, into prison cells — while the crowd cheered.
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Secret deals, foreign investments, presidential policy changes: The rise of Trump’s crypto firm
The pitch from “ZMoney” arrived on the encrypted messaging app Signal just days before Donald J. Trump’s presidential inauguration. “ZMoney” was Zachary Folkman, an entrepreneur who once ran a company called Date Hotter Girls and was now representing World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency firm that Mr. Trump and his sons had recently unveiled. Mr. Folkman was writing to a crypto startup in the Cayman Islands, offering a “partnership” in which the firms would buy each other’s digital coins, a deal that would bolster the startup’s public profile. But there was a catch, The New York Times found. For the privilege of associating with the Trumps, the startup would have to make, in effect, a secret multimillion dollar payment to World Liberty. “Everything we do gets a lot of exposure and credibility,” Mr. Folkman wrote, asserting that other business partners had committed between $10 million and $30 million to World Liberty.
The Cayman startup rejected the offer, as did several other firms that received a similar pitch from World Liberty, executives said. They considered the deal unethical, concluding that World Liberty was essentially selling an endorsement — and hiding the arrangement from the public. World Liberty’s executives, who have maintained that they did nothing improper, were undeterred. They successfully pitched similar deals to other firms while also marketing their coin to buyers around the world, reaping more than $550 million in sales, with a large cut earmarked for the president’s family. Mr. Trump’s return to the White House has opened lucrative new pathways for him to cash in on his power, whether through his social media company or new overseas real estate deals. But none of the Trump family’s other business endeavors pose conflicts of interest that compare to those that have emerged since the birth of World Liberty. The firm, largely owned by a Trump family corporate entity, has erased centuries-old presidential norms, eviscerating the boundary between private enterprise and government policy in a manner without precedent in modern American history.
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Jennifer Hegseth holds unorthodox role shaping Pentagon affairs
Hours after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon on his first full day in office, his wife, Jennifer, made a request. Would the defense secretary’s staff, she asked, edit and post a video to the Defense Department’s social media accounts of his initial remarks to reporters? The ask felt to some like a directive, according to people familiar with the matter and messages reviewed by The Washington Post. Though defense officials were aware of Jennifer Hegseth’s quiet yet omnipresent role in her husband’s bruising Senate confirmation process and her background — like his — at Fox News, she had no experience working in government and — importantly, these people said — had not been appointed to any official role in the Trump administration. “We would always hear that she was saying what kind of videos he should be doing, and what kind of statements he should be doing, and how the press should be handled,” recalled one person, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a dynamic viewed inside the Pentagon as unorthodox and sometimes problematic.
The role of Jennifer Hegseth, 40, throughout her husband’s budding tenure in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet has snapped into focus in recent weeks, after damaging news reports about Pete Hegseth’s stumbles as his on-the-job training plays out in public view — including the revelation that she was among a group of people with whom he shared advance notice of a U.S. military operation in Yemen. Others in the unclassified group chat, created by the defense secretary using the commercially available Signal app, included his brother and personal lawyer. It’s one of at least two such group chats established by her husband that Jennifer Hegseth has been included in along with other political appointees at the Pentagon, said two people familiar with the matter. The other group chat includes Sean Parnell, a senior adviser and spokesman, and Tami Radabaugh, a former Fox News producer overseeing how Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon engage with the media, these people said. It was not immediately clear whether that group chat, which has not been previously reported, also has included highly sensitive information. Jennifer Hegseth on multiple occasions has informed her husband’s staff of media interviews he planned to do, underscoring a belief among some officials that she wields outsize influence over certain Pentagon operations. Typically, such responsibilities fall to dedicated media-engagement professionals employed by the Defense Department, not the secretary’s wife.
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The big decision that could shape AOC’s future
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is at a crossroads — again. Five months ago, she chose to play the inside game with her fellow House Democrats, running for her party’s top post on the high-profile Oversight Committee. She came up short to a more senior lawmaker, Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, and left the committee entirely. Now she has a second chance. Connolly unexpectedly announced Monday he will soon step aside for health reasons, leaving her with another critical choice — one made even more momentous by how much has changed inside the Democratic Party since she last chose to try and move up the House ranks.
Faced with the stresses of President Donald Trump’s second term, Democratic voters are yearning for younger and more assertive leadership. Many see exactly what they are looking for in Ocasio-Cortez, 35, who has traveled the country in recent months, packing rally after rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and fueling speculation about a potential White House run. In other words, the stage afforded as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee is suddenly looking a whole lot smaller, and Ocasio-Cortez is remaining publicly and privately noncommittal as speculation swirls about Connolly’s successor. Even colleagues who enthusiastically backed her Oversight bid last year have been left guessing about her final decision. “The group of us who were her whip team have asked for her plans, and she’s still sorting out what she wants to do,” said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.). “I think, to the person, we’ve all said, ‘Just let us know what you want to do, and we’ll work on your behalf.’”
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‘There’s no playbook for this': Trump allies press SEC on businesses
Paul Atkins took over as Wall Street’s chief regulator just a week ago, but he’s already staring at what could become a political headache: all the president’s friends. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s new chair is facing a battery of decisions that directly involve some of President Donald Trump’s closest connections. Crypto firms, whose donations helped catapult Republicans to power, want the SEC to green-light a wave of novel products for everyday investors. The agency must decide how to proceed with a lawsuit against Elon Musk, whom it sued just before Inauguration Day. Trump Media & Technology Group, whose largest shareholder is the president, has called for an investigation of a London-based hedge fund’s bet against its stock. And Trump Media, Truth Social’s parent, is poised to launch a series of investment products of its own, likely needing SEC approval.
On top of all that, Atkins’ agency is running into MAGA world just as the White House pushes for more control over historically independent regulators like the SEC — setting up a potential challenge for the new chair, who was a member of the commission until 2008. “He already has a hard job, and now that job will include managing a relationship with the White House that will be more robust than any chair previously would have had to manage,” said Jennifer Schulp, director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute, the libertarian-leaning think tank. “It’s going to be a lot of feeling in the dark.” The rush of activity underlines a broader concern over the close ties that businesses have with the Trump administration, which has already begun shepherding major regulatory changes in corporate America’s favor. It comes as the president’s own business empire shows little hesitation about striking new deals or ventures, even if the optics raise alarms. Last week, a website for a memecoin that Trump launched right before his inauguration unveiled plans to host an “intimate, private” dinner with him for its biggest holders.
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New York bans smartphones in schools, joining national movement
New York will require schools statewide to ban smartphone use during school hours, joining a national movement aimed at preventing compulsive social media use and distractions that interfere with school work, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week. In more than 700 districts including New York City, school leaders will be required to create plans to store students’ smartphones “from bell to bell” and prevent their “unsanctioned use” during class, lunch and other parts of the school day. The ban, which applies to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, will also restrict other “internet-enabled personal devices” such as smartwatches. The ban will not apply to basic cellphones that lack internet access, state officials said.
New York will join roughly a dozen other states including California, Florida, Louisiana and Virginia that have moved in recent years to require districts to limit phone use, though the policies vary. Some states have banned devices only during classes; others have ordered districts to create their own restrictions. The bipartisan movement to crack down on phones has been fueled by anxiety over the consequences of an “always online” youth culture. Today, about 90 percent of U.S. teenagers own a smartphone, surveys show. Nearly one in three 8-year-olds have a smartphone. These bans come as policymakers are searching for solutions to soaring rates of depression, anxiety and self-harm among adolescents in the past decade. The U.S. surgeon general in the Biden administration warned last year that the addictive nature of social media could be part of the crisis, especially for young girls, though research on the issue is nuanced and mixed.
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Whitmer, Michigan’s Democratic Governor, appears with Trump again
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan didn’t hide her face when she appeared Tuesday with President Trump in her state as he marked his 100th day in office and announced new jet fighters for a National Guard base there. Their joint appearance stood in contrast to an awkward one when Whitmer found herself inside the Oval Office earlier this month while Trump signed a set of executive orders and held a question-and-answer session with reporters. She proceeded to try to hide herself—she was photographed holding blue folders in front of her face—and the fact that she was in such proximity to a Republican president many in her party try to avoid. This time at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, where the president announced that A-10 fighter planes would be replaced with new F-15 jet fighters, Trump gestured for her to come to the microphone and stand behind his presidential seal.
“I hadn’t planned to speak,” Whitmer said. “But on behalf of all the military men and women who serve our country and serve so honorably on behalf of the state of Michigan, I am really damn happy we are here.” During her White House visit earlier in the month, Whitmer had been trying to secure funding for an expansion of the base near Detroit and warn the president about the impact of his tariffs on her state’s auto industry. “I’m so grateful this announcement was made today,” Whitmer, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said of the expansion of the base’s assets, before shaking Trump’s hand. Trump said Whitmer had “done a very good job” and noted that she had visited him at the White House to lobby for the base. “She was very effective,” he added. The Michigan governor has shown a greater willingness to try to work with Trump than some other Democratic governors. Their meeting at the National Guard base was held before Trump appeared at a rally in Macomb County, a suburban battleground area north of Detroit in a swing state that Trump won in November. Away from Trump, Whitmer has expressed concern about what his trade war will mean for her state’s large auto and manufacturing industries.
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