The decision to crowdfund the free bus trips for migrants is a new development since his initial announcement on April 6 that the rides would be paid for by Texas taxpayers.
April 2022
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Jessica Cisneros saw a fundraising boost after an FBI raid on U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s home
Cisneros raised about $700,000 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 9. Cuellar, whose office was raided Jan. 19, raised $146,000 — about $100,000 less than what he raised during the same reporting period before the 2020 primary.
Posted in
Immigration
Judge orders Biden administration to send Central American migrants to Mexico rather than their home countries
The federal judge in Louisiana said he’ll hold a hearing in May to decide whether to block the administration from halting Title 42, the Trump-era health order that quickly sends all migrants back to Mexico.
Posted in
Operation Lone Star
Texas soldier who drowned trying to help migrants wasn’t equipped with flotation device
Spc. Bishop Evans died after jumping into the Rio Grande to save migrants. He and other members of Operation Lone Star were not provided safety equipment. Texas Military Department said an order for buoys and ropes was made but has not been fulfilled.
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Congress
Trevor Reed, former Marine from Texas, freed from Russia in prisoner swap
Reed traveled to Russia in the summer of 2019 with his Russian girlfriend to learn the language. That August, Russian police arrested him for intoxication and took him to a jail to sober up.
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The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit
Fact-checking Texas leaders’ claims about Operation Lone Star
As reporters investigated Gov. Greg Abbott’s border initiative, they repeatedly found situations in which Abbott and Department of Public Safety officials cited accomplishments that lacked crucial context or did not match reality. Here are a few examples.
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Unconventional Wisdom
Analysis: The case for big ideas in Texas government
Texas political leaders usually settle for caution. The big stuff is risky, but it’s also possible — and even inspiring — to see leaders ignoring the small stuff and aiming higher.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Here’s how two Texas constitutional amendments could lower some property taxes
The propositions on the May 7 ballot would lower property taxes by shifting more public school costs to the state. But the measures’ language can be hard to understand.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
In Democratic runoff for South Texas congressional seat, nonprofit backing a candidate is accused of campaign finance violations
Michelle Vallejo faces Ruben Ramirez in a runoff for the Democratic nomination in the 15th Congressional District. A nonprofit that supports Vallejo is accused of breaking campaign finance rules.
Posted in
Environment
New “resiliency center” at Houston Community College aims to prepare Texas’ largest city for disasters
After back-to-back major flooding events devastated Houston, the community college is launching a new program to ensure that citizens, businesses and emergency responders are better equipped to respond to catastrophic events.