Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The winter blast inbound for MLK weekend is thought NOT to be on par with conditions we saw during Winter Storm Uri: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2024/01/worried-about-the-texas-power-grid-heres-what-to-expect-from-the-incoming-arctic-blast/

...Should be mostly dry, with possible exceptions in northeast Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/article/how-texas-freeze-next-week-compares-february-2021-18600817.php

...A handy checklist by which to prepare for the cold: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/texas-winter-weather-checklist-how-to-prepare-ahead-of-storms-freezes/

Governor Abbott says on a radio show that the main thing keeping him from ordering the shooting of migrants is the fact that murder is illegal: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/greg-abbott-murder-charges-shooting-migrants-1234945121/

...While Operation Lone Star troopers seize a public park in Eagle Pass without permission from the city: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/migrants-eagle-pass-park-18602608.php

...Setting up a clash between federal Border Patrol agents and state officers: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-blocks-federal-border-agents-processing-migrants-eagle-pass-shelby-park/

A mass of wild animals are found to have been burned alive after being trapped against a border wall in a federally-protected area last summer: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/11/texas-border-wall-wildfire-trapped-wild-animals-dead

It's official: 2023 was the hottest year on record in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/11/texas-2023-hottest-year/

...And it came with a record number of heat-related deaths in the state: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/12/texas-heat-deaths-2023-record-climate-change/

Ken Paxton has asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to allow Texas' ban on drag shows to take effect: https://www.kxan.com/lgbtq/ken-paxton-appeals-texas-drag-performance-law-injunction/

...While a New Braunfels campsite refuses to allow a gay couple to hold their wedding on their property: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/new-braunfels-refuse-gay-marriage-18598901.php

With all that negativity today, a chance for a lift: a national blood shortage makes today and this weekend a great time to give blood: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/red-cross-declares-emergency-blood-shortage-urges-donations/

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