Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Congressional Democrats are railing against the abdication by the Congress of their control of federal purse strings to the unelected Elon Musk, including Austin Congressman Greg Casar:https://www.reddit.com/r/QuiverQuantitative/s/gNFR33sfZS

...And Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett:https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/02/12/first-doge-committee-hearing-showcases-partisan-divide-over-elon-musks-role/

Big money is very much running the show lately not only in D.C., but also back here in Texas, where the push to Christianize our public schools is in full swing at the Lege:https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-speaker-race-house-tim-dunn-dustin-burrows/

...Texas Republicans have filed multiple House and Senate bills that would criminalize the teaching of basic reproductive biology via sex-ed lessons in our public schools, including the arrest of teachers:https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-02-14/texas-gop-gets-creative-in-crusade-against-sex-education/

...Freshman State Rep. Andy Hopper wants to eliminate the Texas Education Agency altogether:https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-lawmaker-files-bill-abolish-texas-education-agency/

The Gaines County measles outbreak has grown to 24 cases, all unvaccinated:https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/science/measles-vaccination-texas.html

...And all 100% preventable:https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/02/13/west-texas-measles-outbreak-spreads-among-unvaccinated-residents/

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Check out a terrific essay for Black History Month by Progress Texas Institute Board Chair Louis Bedford:⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/trickle-down-diversity-doesn%E2%80%99t-work⁠⁠

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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