Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Only today, tomorrow and Tuesday remain to vote in the 2024 primary: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

...Crossover voting is not the clever idea you might think it is, for several reasons: https://progresstexas.org/blog/elephant-room-crossover-voting

...While U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez may have done some meddling with his GOP opposition: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/vicente-gonzalez-mayra-flores-primary-election/

President Biden speaks in Brownsville today, as Donald Trump visits the stage set in Eagle Pass: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/vicente-gonzalez-mayra-flores-primary-election/

...While SB-4 is set to take effect on Tuesday: https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2024/0228/Tough-Texas-immigration-law-nears.-Residents-have-questions

Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw testified before a Uvalde grand jury yesterday on potential charges against police officers who botched the Robb Elementary response: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/28/texas-uvalde-shooting-grand-jury-steve-mccraw/

With Mitch McConnell stepping down as U.S. Senate GOP Leader, John Cornyn appears set to try for the post: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/28/texas-john-cornyn-mitch-mcconnell/

The wildfires in the Panhandle have ballooned into the second-worst in Texas history: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/29/us/texas-panhandle-smokehouse-creek-fire-thursday/index.html

As Texas executes a man whose guilt was in doubt, capital punishment supporters must consider that they either have 100% faith in our justice system, or they're okay with the State occasionally killing innocent people: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/convicted-murderer-ivan-cantu-executed-in-texas/

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Republicans continue to outdistance Democrats in primary early voting turnout: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

Progressives need to understand the threat posed by "Project 25": https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/27/trump-second-term-cpac-democracy-threat-extremism

...While Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett points out that Christian Nationalism is inconsistent with traditional Christianity: https://x.com/RepJasmine/status/1762540717140779152?t=660LLiAZJXPZv6pGh-l2wA&s=03

...And a Houston megachurch pastor goes on an anti-migrant tear: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/ed-young-anti-immigration-sermon-18692233.php

...And while most Americans reject Christian Nationalism, those numbers are weaker in Red states: https://www.axios.com/2024/02/28/poll-christian-nationalism-americans-reject

At Ken Paxton's bidding, a federal judge in Lubbock undermines new protections for pregnant workers: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/federal-judge-texas-rules-congressional-passage-2022-spending-bill-unc-rcna140829

The policies leading to Darryl George's plight at Barbers Hill ISD are based on the marginalization of non-white students: https://theconversation.com/a-texas-court-ruling-on-a-black-student-wearing-hair-in-long-locs-reflects-history-of-racism-in-schools-223250

A new produced water processing site has been approved by the Texas Railroad Commission - right next to a church camp: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/26/texas-permian-basin-oilfield-waste-ponds-baptist-camp/

The Pantex facility - the country's primary development and maintenance location for nuclear weapons - is threatened by Panhandle wildfires: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/02/28/key-nuclear-weapons-plant-forced-to-pause-operations-due-to-texas-wildfires/

Three Texas filmmakers contribute to a new HBO documentary series on Huntsville, Houston and El Paso: https://slate.com/culture/2024/02/god-save-texas-hbo-documentary-hometown-prison-richard-linklater.html

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

In the Crane County oil patch, a recent catastrophic spill of produced water, a toxic byproduct of the petroleum extraction process, has brought to the forefront the threat this stuff poses to groundwater across Texas. In this election year, it also highlights the worsening of that threat resulting from the chronic mismanagement and public obfuscation regarding produced water by the Texas Railroad Commission, the elected, three-member body supposedly in charge of keeping Texas' environment safe in the midst of our all-time high petroleum production, but in reality known as largely a rubber stamp for whatever policy and procedure our state's energy sector finds most expedient and profitable.

On this episode, we talk to Bill Burch, petroleum expert and Progress Texas-endorsed candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, as well as Alex Ortiz, Water Resources Chair of the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter on the Crane County produced water spill, the ramifications this gross stuff and its management have for our environmental future, and how the Commission should be held accountable.

Learn more about Bill Burch and his campaign at https://burch4trrc.com/, and learn more about the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club at https://www.sierraclub.org/texas.

Find the Houston Chronicle's editorial endorsement of President Biden's pause of new LNG approvals at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/biden-lng-export-trump-election-18680419.php.

Thanks for listening! Please consider becoming one of our 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Primary early voting turnout continues to trickle, with Republican turnout still doubling that of Texas Democrats:

...Republicans are voting for or against notorious anti-abortion activist judge John Devine of the Texas Supreme Court: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/john-devine-texas-supreme-court-conservatives/

President Biden and Donald Trump will stage competing Texas border appearances on Thursday: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/26/donald-trump-joe-biden-texas-border-eagle-pass/

...While the border fiasco can largely be attributed to Governor Greg Abbott's ego and ambition: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/human-toll-greg-abbott-border-war-eagle-pass-1234975140/

The Houston Chronicle's editorial board endorses President Biden's pause on LNG approvals: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/biden-lng-export-trump-election-18680419.php

...While on Sunday, over 80% of the electricity on the Texas grid came from non-carbon-emitting sources: https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2024-02-26/more-than-80-of-electricity-on-the-texas-grid-was-carbon-free-at-one-point-sunday

...And our friends at Environment Texas are hiring: https://jobs.publicinterestnetwork.org/en/postings/0fca1554-3310-4154-945b-ea334b3de46b

The U.S. Supreme Court seems likely to send a lawsuit over supposed censorship of conservative propaganda by social media platforms back to lower courts: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/us/politics/supreme-court-social-media-takeaways.html

U.S. Rep Colin Allred has invited Dallas OB/GYN Dr. Austin Dennard, a Texas mother forced to flee the state for vital abortion care, to attend the State Of The Union address as his guest: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/02/25/rep-colin-allred-invites-dallas-doctor-who-fled-state-for-abortion-to-state-of-the-union/

On the cusp of Women's History Month in March, Texas ranks very low on a new ranking of quality of life for women: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-among-top-5-worst-states-for-women-in-2024-report-finds/3471845/

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Early voting primary turnout still skews 2-1 Republican - and over 80% voters over 50 on both sides: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/columns/2024/02/25/texas-primary-election-young-voters-voices-older-the-voter-the-louder-the-voice/72684410007/

Ken Paxton's crusade against three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges isn't just about his desire to prosecute election fraud cases - it's also about the court that's likely to finally decide his own felony securities fraud case: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/podcasts/texas-take/

...Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is bullish that Governor Abbott's crusade against anti-voucher GOP lawmakers will be successful: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/texas-school-voucher-dan-patrick-lieutenant-governor-thinks-pro-voucher-republicans-will-win-texas/287-622cd1df-ad72-4cc7-8a69-b0def2a004a5

...And State Board of Education races threaten to drag that body further to the right, just in time for important social studies decisions: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2024/02/25/texas-primary-election-state-board-of-education-races-to-watch-district-10-11-12/72682107007/

Governor Abbott admits he knows little about in-vitro fertilization, even as that procedure is threatened by his own abortion bans: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/abbott-texas-ivf-1234975280/

...The Governor also won't pledge to protect IVF in Texas: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/25/politics/texas-ivf-alabama-law-abbott/index.html

...While GOP candidates are doing all they can to avoid talking about abortion: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/abortion-republicans-primaries-18651768.php

...And Jim Hightower draws a parallel between anti-abortion "extraterritoriality" in Texas to laws designed to protect slavery: https://www.juancole.com/2024/02/abortion-extremists-slavery.html

Progress for renewable energy in Texas as huge amounts of battery storage are set to come online this year: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/energy-storage/texas-will-add-more-grid-batteries-than-any-other-state-in-2024

We congratulate Salem United Methodist Church in Orange, one of the largest Black churches in Southeast Texas, as they mark their 159th anniversary: https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/one-of-southeast-texas-oldest-black-churches-celebrates-159-anniversary/502-88e0f240-dbb1-4095-b9a7-d0e4168a98fb

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Democratic turnout in early primary voting continues to lag, especially in Harris and Bexar counties: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

Alabama's Supreme Court ruling that embryos are to be considered children has hopeful moms like Amanda Zurawski taking pre-emptive action with their frozen embryos: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/woman-suing-texas-abortion-ban-plans-move-embryos-state-rcna140134

A Republican judge sides with Barbers Hill ISD, allowing it to continue punishing student Darryl George over his traditional hairstyle, in spite of the CROWN Act: https://newrepublic.com/post/179217/texas-judge-school-punish-black-student-hair-race

Several law enforcement officers who failed to react quickly during the Robb Elementary mass shooting in Uvalde have been called before a grand jury next week: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/22/us/uvalde-school-shooting-texas-police/index.html

Citing a packed schedule, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services has passed on $450 million in federal aid to help feed kids at risk of hunger during the summer: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/22/texas-federal-summer-lunch-program/

The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a fight between the major social media platforms and the AG's of Texas and Florida over the platforms' right to remove misinformation: https://www.npr.org/2024/02/22/1197962135/first-amendment-scotus-social-media

The hard-hitting Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel has blasted Governor Abbott over his "lies and half-truths" in his campaign to replace House GOP members refusing his school voucher efforts: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-newspaper-turns-greg-abbott-spewing-lies-1872430

Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has invited to the upcoming State Of The Union Address the widow of a Dallas mail carrier who died on the job during last summer's heat wave: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/02/22/widow-of-dallas-postal-worker-who-died-in-2023-heat-wave-to-attend-state-of-the-union/

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Republican turnout doubled that of Democrats in Texas on the first day of early primary voting: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

...While officials in Tarrant County end a years-long program providing free rides to the polls on Election Day: https://www.fox4news.com/news/tarrant-county-free-bus-rides-election-day

Governor Abbott and AG Paxton's campaign against GOP incumbents continues inflaming vitriol within the party: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/glenn-rogers-texas-gop-primary/

...Donald Trump continues meddling as well: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/trumps-join-paxtons-push-to-defeat-some-of-texas-top-conservative-judges/

A trial on the school suspension of Darryl George over his cultural hairstyle, seemingly in defiance of the CROWN Act, is scheduled for today: https://apnews.com/article/hair-discrimination-school-locs-texas-trial-4a1c3ec2ff85da27ffb2118f9fc55007

...Protestors demonstrated in favor of George near the home of Barbers Hill ISD's superintendent in Baytown yesterday: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/protesters-gather-texas-superintendent-darryl-george-hair-trial-rcna139640

Another gun incident in a Texas school sees police fire off 19 rounds, but luckily no deaths: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2024/02/20/officers-fired-19-shots-at-student-who-brought-gun-to-mesquite-school-student-didnt-fire/?sailthru_id=62680c814f757f64bada988b&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BreakingAlert_02202024&utm_term=Breaking%20News

Austin Congressman Greg Casar was in Austin yesterday touting his Connect The Grid Act: https://progresstexas.org/blog/power-people-connecting-texas-grid

Bell County declares an emergency in advance of huge crowds expected for April's eclipse: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-county-issues-state-of-emergency-over-solar-eclipse/

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

As primary voting begins, a review for progressives of why gun safety reform is so bogged down in Texas: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/mass-shootings-in-texas-have-shaped-the-democratic-primaries-18642421

In the Republican primary, Collin County will serve as a test of Ken Paxton's ability to sway voters: https://www.nbcdfw.com/decision-2024/collin-county-is-frontline-for-emotional-texas-house-primary-elections/3467634/

...That said, Governor Abbott is backing incumbents Paxton has targeted: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/in-n-texas-governor-abbott-ag-paxton-back-different-candidates-in-gop-primaries/

...And Donald Trump has his greasy hands in the soup too: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/02/20/trump-throws-weight-behind-rivals-of-four-texas-republicans-who-crossed-abbott-and-paxton/

...The picture of an even-more-radical GOP House majority is none too pretty: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-house-radical-republican/

...While a majority of Texas voters expect a violent election outcome this fall: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-20/most-texas-voters-think-violence-will-erupt-after-2024-election

Ken Paxton has targeted an NGO that has operated migrant shelters in El Paso for decades: https://kvia.com/news/border/2024/02/20/texas-attorney-general-sues-el-pasos-annunciation-house-for-efforts-to-facilitate-illegal-immigration/

...While the private prison industry is booming amidst a new crackdown on migrants: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-border-immigration-surge-geo-group-profits-detention-ethics-reform-bill-opposition-1871731

Texas anti-abortion activists, apparently bored, are targeting a new art installation at the University of Houston: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/university-houston-satanic-statue-18677691.php

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New polling results as primary voting opens from UT Austin: https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/new-uttexas-politics-project-poll-primary-voting-begins-texans-see-crisis-border

A pro-voucher campaign stop in Cleburne by Governor Greg Abbott is under-attended compared to an event the same day for the anti-voucher incumbent: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/state/texas-news/gov-greg-abbott-north-texas-campaign-against-fellow-republican-voted-no-voucher-proposal/287-ae6a0aa9-0915-4f75-8643-55c1eda032bf

The Houston Chronicle endorses President Biden for re-election, somehow surprising MAGA types: https://www.newsweek.com/houston-chronicle-endorse-biden-texas-trump-maga-1871423

Public school supporters are reminded of the importance of primary voting: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/education-public-voting-ballot-primaries-18667618.php

Moderate San Antonio Republican Tony Gonzales is beset this primary round from his right: https://sanantonioreport.org/tony-gonzales-texas-gop-primary/

Also important in the primary, a vote for Bill Burch for Texas Railroad Commission: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/texas-railroad-commission-election-2024-18676066.php

Heartbreaking video covers a Texas woman's forced trip out of state to locate vitally-needed abortion care: https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/pregnant-texas-woman-travels-cross-country-abortion-care-107357968

A coalition of civil rights groups are spreading the word and organizing protests in regard to SB-4, the new immigration law set to take effect next month: https://www.ktep.org/ktep-news/2024-02-16/civil-rights-organizations-launch-statewide-know-your-rights-campaign-to-prepare-for-texas-immigration-law-sb4

A political veteran who has worked with both George W. Bush and Ann Richards writes on the Texas GOP's descent into the "MAGA abyss": https://www.vanityfair.com/news/how-did-texas-slip-into-the-maga-abyss

Texas secessionist blowhards see attempts to connect the Texas power grid to national grids as an attack on their independence efforts: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-nationalists-rage-power-grid-plans-1871202

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New interviews with U.S. Representative Colin Allred and State Senator Roland Gutierrez, plus the guy both want to take on, Ted Cruz: https://www.kxan.com/state-of-texas/state-of-texas-questions-for-candidates-hoping-to-challenge-cruz/

South Houston Democratic State House Rep. Shawn Thierry, under fire for her votes inconsistent with Democratic priorities, drops a homophobic bomb on her chances for an endorsement from the Houston Chronicle: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-thierry-simmons-endorsement-18672516.php

Another hot Democratic primary in the race for Harris County District Attorney: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/16/harris-county-district-attorney-primary-2024/

Ken Paxton fails to delay or derail his felony securities trial - it will begin in Houston on April 15: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/16/attorney-general-ken-paxton-securities-fraud-indictment-trial/

...While Paxton targets three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges who dared oppose his plan to single-handedly challenge Texas election results: https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2024-02-15/attorney-general-ken-paxton-texas-court-of-criminal-appeals

Governor Abbott is laying plans for a permanent 80-acre Texas National Guard base near Eagle Pass: https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2024/02/18/texas-gov-abbott-eagle-pass-base-ctmwknd-vpx.cnn

...While a Democratic win in suburban NYC may indicate that the border may not be the slam-dunk issue that Republicans are banking on: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/02/18/us-mexico-border-will-be-democrats-death-knell-in-2024-right-perhaps-not/72632584007/

A series of earthquakes southeast of San Antonio appears to be strengthening: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/17/texas-earthquake-san-antonio

A Carrolton high school chemistry teacher sees a positive public rally of support after his school district removed him from the classroom over videos of him wearing women's clothing: https://nypost.com/2024/02/17/us-news/texas-teacher-on-leave-after-cross-dressing-video-goes-viral/

A new state law, designed to ensure professional credentials on the bench, is being weaponized against two Black female judge candidates: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/seo-new-texas-law-brings-new-hurdles-black-women-18667868.php

Texas' DEI bans at state university campuses is being seen as a preview of what's to come nationally, should Republicans do well in November: https://apnews.com/article/texas-university-diversity-ban-dei-46e4b6193abe27b6abbdffcd1945cf38

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