Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

We salute the Texas U.S. House Representatives who voted against GOP efforts to overturn President Biden's pause on new liquid natural gas approvals: ⁠https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-vote-bill-reverse-bidens-lng-pause-2024-02-15/⁠

A federal judge in Austin, hearing the State's argument for the new migrant crackdown law SB-4, expresses skepticism: ⁠https://www.kut.org/politics/2024-02-15/texas-senate-bill-4-invasion-claim-immigration-law-hearing⁠

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, under Governor Abbott's direction, are considering a pardon for Daniel Perry, convicted last year of murder in the death of Black Lives Matter protestor Garrett Foster: ⁠https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2024/02/15/daniel-perry-pardon-review-murder-black-lives-matter-protester-garrett-foster-austin-texas/72611557007/⁠

Democrat-turned-Republican Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson's wife, amidst their divorce, alleges an affair by Johnson with a Dallas City staffer: ⁠https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-mayor-eric-johnson-confirms-divorce-amid-affair-allegations-report/287-f9dcb725-1ce0-4523-b3a4-eb637e7063c6⁠

Progress Texas endorses Lauren Ashley Simmons in her primary challenge to sitting Democratic Texas House Rep. Shawn Thierry, and here's why: ⁠https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/15/shawn-thierry-houston-democratic-primary-lgbtq-vote/⁠

Progress Texas endorses Sam Eppler in his run to take on MAGA darling U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, and here's a small part of why: ⁠https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4469939-texas-republican-says-cnn-anchor-wanted-to-lecture-her/⁠

Houston's homeless outreach Food Not Bombs gets permission to keep operating on public property, but now faces steep sanitation bonds - Houston progressives, learn how to help here: ⁠https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-texas-feeding-homeless-food-not-bombs-ruling/285-94152347-2de8-43ac-8100-407be7b4c379#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17080842588652&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.khou.com%2Farticle%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fhouston-texas-feeding-homeless-food-not-bombs-ruling%2F285-94152347-2de8-43ac-8100-407be7b4c379⁠

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate