Latest Contributions

• Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office calls Gov. Greg Abbott’s migrant busing strategy “racist”

  By William Melhado Updated: Sept. 1, 2022

  Abbott late Wednesday announced Chicago would be a new destination for migrants bused from Texas in his strategy to draw attention to the influx of people at the southern border. Chicago leadership welcomed the migrants “with dignity and respect.” Full Story 

• A conservative school district and Texas lawmaker try to outmaneuver efforts to subvert “In God We Trust” law

  By William Melhado Aug. 31, 2022

  After protesters solicited donations to distribute posters to schools across the state in Arabic, state Sen. Bryan Hughes sent a letter to the Texas Education Agency clarifying his legislation requiring schools to display signs with the national motto. Full Story 

• After a decade of hype, Dallas-Houston bullet train developer faces a leadership exodus as land acquisition slows

  By William Melhado Aug. 30, 2022

  Texas Central has made little visible progress financing the high-speed rail project and acquiring property for the route in recent years. The company maintains that the bullet train is still being developed but declined to provide details about the path forward. Full Story 

• Families of the Uvalde shooting victims denounce Gov. Greg Abbott’s inaction on gun reform

  By William Melhado Updated: Aug. 30, 2022

  The governor has made a vocal enemy in the families of Robb Elementary shooting victims. They are demanding a special legislative session to reach a compromise on the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic rifles. Full Story 

• Federal judge says Texas can’t ban 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying handguns

  By William Melhado Updated: Aug. 25, 2022

  U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who cited the Second Amendment in his decision, stayed the ruling pending appeal. Full Story 

• Uvalde school board fires Chief Pete Arredondo over shooting response, after he calls vote a “public lynching”

  By Brian Lopez and William Melhado Updated: Aug. 25, 2022

  Uvalde school officials have faced mounting pressure to fire Arredondo, who received much of the blame for the delay in confronting the shooter during the May 24 massacre at Robb Elementary. Full Story 

• Uvalde school district and a litany of law enforcement agencies could face $27 billion class-action lawsuit over shooting

  By William Melhado Aug. 23, 2022

  A lawyer for shooting victims is seeking compensation for victims and families, citing the Texas House committee’s investigative report that found “systemic failures” in response to the tragedy. Full Story 

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott joins other key Republicans in supporting repealing the “tampon tax”

  By William Melhado Updated: Aug. 19, 2022

  Advocates have previously called for repealing the sales tax on products like tampons, sanitary pads and pantyliners. Menstrual products are already tax-free in 24 states. Full Story 

• Vanessa Guillen’s family seeks $35 million in the Army specialist’s 2020 wrongful death at Fort Hood

  By William Melhado Aug. 13, 2022

  Armed with a new federal court ruling that allows a former Army colonel to pursue a sexual assault lawsuit, the family of Vanessa Guillén has filed a wrongful death and assault case against the federal government. Full Story 

• Texas anti-abortion protesters set sights on New Mexico, where the procedure is still protected

  By William Melhado Aug. 10, 2022

  As Texans seek abortions in the only neighboring state to allow them, opponents of the procedure follow them across the border, hoping to create more “sanctuary cities for the unborn.” Full Story