It’s largely symbolic, but the Texas Senate is nearing the end of its work on Republican priorities for the special legislative session after passing bills limiting “critical race theory” and abortion access Friday.
Heidi Pérez-Moreno
Heidi Pérez-Moreno was a reporting fellow in 2021. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has worked as a production assistant for The California Report at the NPR and PBS affiliate KQED. She was also a reporter for The Daily Tar Heel, where she served as a diversity, equity and inclusion officer and assistant audience engagement editor this year. Before transferring to UNC last August, Perez-Moreno was editor-in-chief and social media director for The Reporter at Miami Dade College. Pérez-Moreno was also a member of UNC’s chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Posted in
Texas Abortion Restrictions
Twenty abortion providers sue Texas officials over law that bans abortions as early as six weeks
The law is set to take effect Sept. 1.
Posted in
Economy
Texas educators of color say law limiting how America’s history of racism is taught further silences marginalized voices
Texas teacher Juan Carmona says it’s important to talk about the experiences of marginalized groups with students of color because they should see themselves represented in history books.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
2,100 state workers caught in the crosshairs of Gov. Greg Abbott’s veto of Legislature funding
The legislative branch budget includes funding for House and Senate lawmakers, their staffers and those working in nonpartisan legislative agencies. In total, there was more than $410 million allocated in the 2022-23 fiscal budget.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
State Rep. Jessica González defends Democrats’ walkout on Texas voting bill
González, of Dallas, and fellow state Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, discussed Senate Bill 7, which failed to pass during the regular legislative session, and what’s next for legislators.
Posted inEconomy
Immigration and border security remain top concerns of Texas voters, UT/TT Poll finds
Immigration and border security continue to top Texas voters’ list of most important problems facing the state. It is a particular concern of Republican voters.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes criminal justice bills, legislation to protect dogs, teach kids about domestic violence
Abbott vetoed 13 bills authored by Democrats and seven by Republicans. Twelve of the vetoes targeted bills that originated in the House, and eight were from the Senate.
Posted in
Politics
Critics denounce Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick’s “invasion” rhetoric on immigration, saying it will incite violence
“If people die again, blood will be on your hands,” U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, wrote in a tweet.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
After Austin shooting, advocates and Texas Democrats renew calls for action on gun violence
State Rep. Joe Moody, a Democrat from El Paso, said a special legislative session already planned for later this year should also address gun violence.
Posted in
Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott wants to build a border wall, but does Texas have the ability — or money — to do so?
Critics have denounced Abbott’s proposal as “political theater” that won’t pass legal muster. But the two-term Republican governor says it’s time to secure the border.
