- Local officials lie when they blame property tax increases on anything but the tax rate they set each summer
- Siding with Gov. Abbott in fight over freezing property values, Texas REALTORS launch new education initiative
- Highest-paying jobs across Texas’ state agencies
- Contact Tracing Contract Draws Criticism, Concern From State Lawmakers
- Lt. Gov. Patrick apparently unhappy with $295 million contact tracing contract Gov. Abbott has been defending
- Rep. Jared Patterson to File Bill Banning Government Tracking through Mobile Devices – good
- Texas high-court rules against wider provisions for mail-in voting sought by Democratic Party, but there’s a catch
- AG Paxton Applauds Texas Supreme Court; Disability Claims on Mail-In Ballots Reserved for Texans With Actual Illness or Disability
- Texas Supreme Court: Mail-in voting can’t expand due to lack of coronavirus immunity, more
- SCOTX Bounces Bum Legal Arguments, more, more
- Surprise, surprise, Texas is on the wrong side of another controversy about making it easier to vote – or How Liberals See Texas, On Everything. Ridiculous to say it is limiting voting rights to have rules limiting mail-in balloting.
- Federal judge says Texas owes $6.8 million in attorney’s fees for voter ID case
- Updated July 14, 2020 Primary Runoff Calendar
- Ten thousand Texas prisoners approved for parole sit behind bars amid coronavirus pandemic
- Federal Judge Who Denied Dallas Inmate Release Explains Rationale
- Open Carry Texas plans rally to teach Ector sheriff ‘a lesson’
- TxDOT virtual meetings set for Amarillo, Lubbock
- Suit Seeking More Urban Representation on Edwards Aquifer Board Fizzles Out
- ERCOT Projects Record Energy Usage for 2020 Summer
- RIP: Sam Johnson, Ex-Texas GOP Congressman and Vietnam POW, Dies
- Sam Johnson, Vietnam POW who became longtime Texas congressman, dies at age 89
- Governor Abbott Statement On Death Of Former Texas Congressman Sam Johnson
- Sam Johnson, Namesake Of Texas Tech Vietnam Archive, Dies At Age 89
- AG Paxton Issues Statement as Texans Mourn the Loss of Congressman Sam Johnson
- Sen. Cruz Issues Statement on Passing of Former Texas Congressman Sam Johnson
- Center for Public Policy Priorities, nonprofit progressive think tank, rebrands
- Beto, Biden to close out Democratic State Convention
- Joe Biden to Headline Texas Democrats’ Virtual Convention – a near virtual candidate for what is essentially a virtual political party.
- TX4: Precinct and County Chairs to Choose Ratcliffe Replacement
- TX2: Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s bestselling new book got boost from purchases by House GOP campaign arm
- Are Sen. John Cornyn’s attacks against Royce West designed to sink Dallas Democrat or boost MJ Hegar?
- Democratic group led by former AG Holder endorses nearly 30 Texas House candidates, will invest more than $100,000
- ——————————————–
- Coronavirus related
- Not admitting mistakes is subverting freedom
- Let’s Not Pretend This Is Constitutional
- Game on: Texas to allow pro sports fans at outdoor events, more
- Abbott to allow fans attend outdoor pro sporting events at 25% capacity – screw the 25% bull bleep.
- Abbott waives late fees on a variety of occupational licenses amid pandemic
- Governor Says Texas Panhandle Hot Spot Has ‘Turned a Corner’
- “Amarillo Has Turned a Corner,” Abbott Touts the City’s Coronavirus Recovery
- Map of Texas COVID-19 Test Collection Sites
- Texas COVID-19 situation report for 5/28/2020 (pdf) – 1562 deaths in Q1 plus almost 2/3rds of Q2. Official Texas 2018/19 flu season P&I deaths were 9249 by end of July last year, over 10,095 for the annual season.
- CDC confirms COVID-19 tiny death rate, comparable to flu, more
- Health officials wasted time on the speculative, didn’t harden the known
- This is not a natural disaster, but a manmade one – beware the contextual numbers, those numbers will trigger those cowering under their beds.
- Some businesses pledge to keep out customers who cover their faces – places I’ll not spend money.
- Texas Bar Says Patrons Wearing Masks Will Not Be Allowed Inside – fair enough
- Ezekiel Emanuel Wants to Force You to Wear a Mask
- Nicaragua reports significant rise in COVID-19 cases – but interestingly their case and fatality numbers are not terribly different from neighbors who instigated severe lockdowns and remain under strict rules.
- Houston, we have a re-opening problem: Complaints versus citations
- Webb County receives only $37K in coronavirus relief funds from state government – fine, the cities in the county got a lot as they managed the issue
- 103-year-old woman celebrates coronavirus recovery with a cold beer
- George Strait teams with Gov. Greg Abbott’s office for COVID-19 hygiene PSA
- TTU Economist Highlights COVID-19’s Indirect Effects
- Businesses need protection from COVID-19 lawsuits but states not Congress is where the decisions should be made
- Fauci: Hydroxychloroquine ineffective as COVID-19 treatment – more from Dr. Faulty who seems to have occupied every side of the virus issues.
- Court orders defiant Michigan barber to close his shop – to arms!
- Bexar County Hits Record Hospitalizations for COVID-19 – 92 out of a population of 2,003,554
- With three generations under one roof, pandemic risks multiply
- Texans Rally to Restore Liberty
- Only 1 in 5 American voters want to expand government control over the economy after coronavirus
- I think or know I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms
- Frisco Restaurant Files Lawsuit Claiming Coronavirus Shutdown Unconstitutional
- ———————————
- Federal/DC related to Texas
- Texas Representatives Divided Along Party Lines on Unprecedented House Proxy Voting – it’s an awful attack on the Constitution.
- Some Texans in Congress vote through proxies for the first time in American history
- McCarthy wonders if the 70 Democrats who voted ‘by proxy’ Wednesday ‘will still take their check’ VIDEO
- Charlie Crist requests proxy vote due to the ‘ongoing health emergency,’ goes to the SpaceX launch instead – it’s ALL a fraud on us.
- US: Transgender sports inclusion violates others’ rights, more
- House OKs bill by Austin Rep. Chip Roy to give small businesses flexibility in coronavirus aid program
- Barr asks federal attorney from Texas to lead review of ‘unmasking’ in FBI’s Russia collusion probe, more
- Justice says it will recommend Trump veto FISA bill
- Pelosi again cancels FISA bill vote, after Trump vows veto
- Sen. Cruz Urges HHS, FDA, CDC to Anticipate Increased Demand of Flu Vaccines
- Sen. Cruz Applauds Appointment of Stephen J. Cox as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas
- ACLU Sues the FDA to Loosen Safety Restrictions on Chemical Abortion
- ———————————————
- Presidential race / national politics
- The Castros say they’ll work to beat Donald Trump, but they haven’t made their support for Joe Biden official yet – so self-important are these two radicals
- Data: Biden is underperforming with black voters, especially younger black voters
- Biden Gets Confused Again in His Basement: Mixes up D-Day With Pearl Harbor Day
- Biden won’t name a vice presidential pick until early August
- Ex-Never Trumper Erick Erickson explains how he came to support Trump, what elites fear
- Never Trump Grifters Fully Expose Themselves With Latest Gambit
- Kathy Griffin Tweets About Killing Trump With Syringe Full of Air, Trump, Jr Lets Her (and Twitter) Have It
- Kathy Griffin FLIPS OUT when DC Examiner editor shares they have reached out to Secret Service for comment on her ‘threat’
- WaPo Reporters Accuse White House of Covering Up Recession – laughably ridiculous.
- Dems Paying ‘Non-Political’ Social Media Influencers to Covertly Push Anti-Trump, Anti-GOP Agenda
- CNN Host Insists Voter Fraud is ‘Basically Nonexistent’, Gets Schooled by Alabama Sec of State
- ——————————————–
- Border / immigration
- Border Patrol Finds Tractor Trailer with 12 Migrants Inside
- 23 Migrants Rescued from Box Trucks at Texas Immigration Checkpoints
- Gunmen Kidnap Man in Texas for Mexican Cartel Debt, Say Police
- Mexican Border State Outlines Coronavirus Restrictions on Travelers from Texas
- Mexican Judge Orders Narco-Terrorist Be Tested for Coronavirus amid Extradition Fight
- House Democrats demand Trump administration stop rushing through deportations of migrant children
- ——————————————–
- Business
- Commerce Department says Q1 GDP contraction was 5%, worse than initially thought – caused by politicians, not a virus!
- 41 million have lost jobs since virus hit, but layoffs slow
- 128,000 more Texans file for unemployment as state economy continues to reopen
- 250,000 Texans haven’t requested unemployment payment
- American Airlines plans 30% reduction of management, administrative staff
- Chevron plans sweeping job cuts with 6,000 employees at risk
- Forbes’ top 20 best employers in Texas in 2019
- Rooftop Cinema Club announced second drive-in location opening in Spring
- Houston favorite Bernie’s Burger Bus to close all locations permanently
- Tuesday Morning files bankruptcy, to close some stores
- Numerous major U.S. companies declare bankruptcy as coronavirus lockdowns drag on
- CVS Health Tests Self-Driving Vehicle Prescription Delivery
- OSHA: 3 Willful Violations Led to TPC Group Plant Blasts in Port Neches
- Covercraft pivots to PPE, returns to core mission amid pandemic
- MSU economists explain Wichita Falls paradox
- Abilene housing market strong despite virus
- Ranchers report sharp dip in livestock prices VIDEO
- Cheniere, Freeport receive cancel orders for shipments of LNG
- Apache, Parsley, 3 other Texas drillers stop filing for permits
- Revenues Per Lawyer Grew in Texas in 2019
- Austin housing market in good shape to bounce back from downturn, experts say
- ———————————————
- Crime & general news of Texas
- Dixie Chicken: Partial roof collapse at College Station’s iconic bar
- Clean-up efforts continue in Bowie after EF1 tornado
- Woman tells visiting Hispanic couple to ‘get out of my country’, Woman Arrested for Confronting Couple With Hammer
- Woman Gives Birth in Fort Worth Jail, Guards Unaware
- Man Charged in Mennonite Woman’s Death Grew up in the Faith
- Houston Businessman Gets Probation for for Illegal Donations
- Body of Dallas-Area Man, 19, Recovered From Lake Texoma
- City of Midland holding ‘community conversation’ following Tye Anders incident, City releases footage of Tye Anders’ arrest VIDEO
- Odessa woman charged with pointing gun at sister
- 7 injured in Lake Brownwood crash, more
- Two Abilene men accused of committing child sex crimes online, more
- Cash rewards offered 7 of Abilene’s ‘Most Wanted Criminals’
- Lubbock Pursuit Leads to Crash; One Arrested
- Murder suspect, Owens, out of jail must stay at parents’ home in Shallowater
- Lubbock man accused of sexually abusing boy indicted
- Man followed to Whataburger, shot after argument in Humble
- Abilene police: High-speed pursuit ended in man’s arrest while covering car with tarp
- Wichita Falls man indicted on charges of sexual assault, prohibited conduct with relative
- Man accused of Austin shooting rampage deemed competent to stand trial
- Man shot in Cedar Park now charged with burglary, police say
- Small Airplane Makes Emergency Landing on Highway Near Laredo; None Hurt
- ———————————————
- Local government
- Local officials lie when they blame property tax increases on anything but the tax rate they set each summer
- Houston, we have a re-opening problem: Complaints versus citations
- Webb County receives only $37K in coronavirus relief funds from state government – fine, the cities in the county got a lot as they managed the issue
- Wilbarger Co. SO swears in first female deputy
- New Abilene Animal Adoption Center proposal postponed due to COVID-19 VIDEO
- Firm, selection committee to help Abilene city manager in search for new police chief
- Plainview approves agreement with YMCA to operate new aquatic center
- Lubbock organizations asking City Council to reject plan including water and wastewater impact fees on developers VIDEO, more It is a tax on economic growth and housing straight out of the Leftwing’s global playbook. What you’d expect in Austin and to never see in Lubbock.
- Dallas City Council delays plan for soccer fields under I-345 in Deep Ellum
- Dallas to expand policy that gives priority to local businesses seeking city contracts – these are always popular but can lead to corruption and higher prices for taxpayers.
- Dallas city, county to split $20 million costs for coronavirus testing
- Dallas City Council rejects formally looking at 8% property tax hike
- VIA Metropolitan Transit May Be $126 Million Short Over Next 5 Years
- Training for 10,000 unemployed, childcare for 5,000 kids part of San Antonio’s $191 million plan to deal with fallout from coronavirus pandemic – everything becomes a reason to grow government and spend
- ———————————————
- Colleges & universities
- Dr. Robert Tucker Named Dean of the HSU Kelley College of Business & Professional Studies
- UTPB to offer three new computer science tracks
- Midland College to offer virtual summer camps
- Texas Tech Microbial, Food Safety Expert Joins School Of Veterinary Medicine
- Department of Energy Picks UTSA for $111 Million Cybersecurity Institute
- As UTSA Plans Budget Cuts, Some Faculty Worry About Impact
- Community colleges trying to help students who are losing jobs, child care
- Former Texas Southern leader chosen by Southern Illinois as chancellor
Pratt’s post for 5/28/2020
May 28, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Speak Your Mind