Progress Texas Podcasts Progress Texas

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Two former consultants for Laredo U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar appear ready to testify against him and his wife on federal corruption charges: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/09/henry-cuellar-political-consultants-plea-deal-guilty/

Republican U.S. Reps Ronny Jackson of Amarillo and Wesley Hunt of Houston are both under investigation by the House Ethics Committee: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/09/ethics-committee-investigating-us-reps-ronny-jackson-wesley-hunt-from-texas/

The law does not appear to back new efforts by anti-abortion crusading lawyer Jonathan Mitchell's new targeting of women who have terminated pregnancies out of state - for now: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/10/texas-courts-abortion-jonathan-mitchell/

The Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education is set to discuss campus free speech, DEI and alleged anti-Semitism during recent pro-Palestinian protests on Tuesday: https://cbsaustin.com/news/alexa/texas-senate-panel-to-discuss-campus-free-speech-following-ut-protests

ERCOT predicts that new power demands will require a doubling of the capacity of the already-stressed Texas power grid over the next decade: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/texas-needs-energy-for-evs-crypto-datamining/3536718/

A public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Governor Greg Abbott has extended his orders to the TEA to defy new Federal guidelines on Title IX protecting LGBTQ students to administrators of state universities: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/greg-abbott-texas-universities-ignore-title-ix-revisions/3536397/

...As Carroll ISD is asked by the U.S. Department of Education to address four claims by students about racial and homophobic harrassment endured in its schools: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/southlake-texas-carroll-isd-civil-rights-investigation-rcna151009

That "weather watch" from ERCOT yesterday helped spur a massive spike in power prices last night: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2024-05-08/summer-power-prices-seen-surging-for-texas-falling-in-california

The GOP runoff between incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales and his primary challenger "The A.K. Guy" presents possible headaches for Republican leadership: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/07/tony-gonzales-inter-gop-fight-texas-00156073

Steven Monacelli at the Texas Observer writes on the "Remnant Alliance", a new effort by Christian Nationalist groups to take over Texas school boards: https://www.texasobserver.org/christian-schoolboards-education-k12/

Joe Jaworski writes in the Dallas Morning News on the near-complete takeover of Texas' state government by a small group of billionaires: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/05/09/billionaires-are-running-texas-now/

TODAY! Thursday May 9 at 12 noon, join us for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-hosts-climate-justice-town-hall

Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New legal tactics allowing people who have sought abortion care out of state to be dragged into court increase the risks of engaging in sexual activity: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/7/2239233/-Texas-finds-new-way-to-punish-and-humiliate-anyone-who-tries-to-get-an-abortion

ERCOT issues a "weather watch" due to hot weather and their own apparant failure to plan for ever hotter springs and summers: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/ercot-issues-weather-watch-for-wednesday-expects-unseasonably-high-temperatures/

...While renewable energy passes 30% of global electricity generation for the first time: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/08/renewable-energy-passes-30-of-worlds-electricity-supply

A new federal investigation of Katy ISD over their transgender policies has been announced: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/08/katy-isd-lgbtq-policy-investigation/

...While Ken Paxton threatens Austin over a new City policy deprioritizing pursuit of cases involving transgender care for young Austinites: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2024/05/07/texas-attorney-general-threatens-legal-action-against-city-of-austin

UT Dallas professor Ben Wright writes on his experience after being arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest on that campus last week: https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2024/05/what-my-students-and-i-learned-in-jail-after-protesting-on-the-ut-dallas-campus/

Tomorrow! Thursday May 9 at 12 noon, join us for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-hosts-climate-justice-town-hall

Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A new attempt to legally target a Texas woman who sought abortion care in Colorado represents a new effort by abortion rights opponents to frighten Texans away from exercising their reproductive rights: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/05/us/texas-abortion-collin-davis-colorado/index.html

...It remains LEGAL to seek abortion care out of state: https://www.jezebel.com/texas-man-is-trying-to-sue-ex-partner-for-wrongful-death-over-alleged-abortion

...Colorado in particular has its own shield law protecting people who seek reproductive care there: https://www.cpr.org/2024/05/07/texas-woman-abortion-in-colorado-ex-legal-battle-state-shield-might-stand-in-way/

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's current legal troubles frustrate progressives who've opposed him for years: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/03/henry-cuellar-indictment-political-impact/

...Donald Trump sees a common cause in Cuellar's dilemma: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13388247/Trump-Texas-Henry-Cuellar-bribes-FBI.html

The current oil and gas boom has proven a windfall for GOP officeholders friendly to polluters: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/07/texas-oil-gas-political-donations-august-pfluger/

Renewable sources, in contrast, tend to support Democrats - and a major new solar installation has just come online near Del Rio: https://solarquarter.com/2024/05/07/cypress-creek-renewables-completes-texas-largest-hybrid-solar-facility/

Congratulations to the Texas Tribune, who have been named a Pulitzer finalist for the first time: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/06/texas-tribune-pulitzer-prize-finalist/

Mark your calendar for May 9 at 12 noon for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-hosts-climate-justice-town-hall

Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Democratically-backed candidates for newly-created oversight positions with county tax appraisal did well in Saturday's election in Dallas County: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/texas-voters-elect-appraisal-board-members-denton-dallas-tarrant/3533277/

...And in Travis County: https://www.kut.org/politics/2024-05-05/austin-travis-county-property-taxes-tcad-may-4-2024-election-results

...Molly Cook, featured on our podcast recorded at March's Unified Jam in Austin, won Saturday's special election to serve out the rest of John Whitmire's term, becoming the first openly LGBTQ Texas Senator: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/houston-whitmire-senate-seat-19437490.php

Another pro-Palestinian protest at UT Austin on Sunday sees a heavy police presence but no arrests: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/ut-austin-palestine-protest-19432066.php

...While at the Texas State Capitol, the Central Texas Jewish community rallied for Jewish college students nationwide: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2024/05/05/shalom-austin-iac-walk-texas-capitol-jewish-israel-palestine-conflict-protest/73579217007/

Fort Worth's Opal Lee, the 97-year-old "Grandmother of Juneteenth", received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/biden-opal-lee-presidential-medal-of-freedom-ceremony-grandmother-of-juneteenth/

Mark your calendar for May 9 at 12 noon for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/townhall_24

Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Tomorrow, Saturday May 4, is Election Day for important municipal ballot items:

Our bigger cities and counties have new oversight positions over tax appraisal districts to vote on: https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections

...In Lubbock, local cannabis decriminalization is on the ballot: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/02/lubbock-texas-marijuana-election/

A UT Arlington lecturer was arrested yesterday after testing the rules against tents: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/pro-palestinian-protestors-set-up-encampment-university-of-texas-arlington/287-72249ae5-2b52-45a2-bbae-7b74ad5aad95

...At UT Austin, claims by administrators of weapons and violence on the part of protestors is found highly doubtful by Travis County Judge Delia Garza: https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2024-05-02/ut-says-pro-palestinian-demonstrators-carried-guns-and-assaulted-people-prosecutors-beg-to-differ

...Over 600 UT Austin faculty members have signed a letter expressing no confidence in president Jay Hartzell: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/university-of-texas/ut-no-confidence-president-hartzell/269-b1b50674-33ad-4db7-ab85-6ef47322aa59

Mark your calendar for May 9 at 12 noon for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/townhall_24

Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

Early voting in the May 4 municipal elections ends today! https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections

...And it will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.