- Greg Abbott’s drift from conservatism easy to track, appears he’s betting on a Trump loss
- Abbott Addresses Advisor’s Trump Comments, Paxton Chairs Lawyers for Trump, Allen West Names Party Officers
- TWC: State Unemployment Benefits to Continue But $600 Federal Payment Ends July 25
- Analysis: Texas in a state of financial uncertainty
- Lawmakers ask for visitations at health facilities
- Thousands of Texans and Dozens of Legislators Call on Governor for Access to Nursing Homes
- Rep. Oliverson Named Chairman of the NCOIL Committee on Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- AG Paxton Files Amicus Brief in Defense of Minnesota’s Ballot Order Statute
- Texas AG Ken Paxton named co-chair of national Lawyers for Trump coalition
- Watchdog group sues Railroad Commission over oil storage crisis orders
- Abbott Appoints 23 To Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
- Texas Comptroller’s Office Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Passage of ADA, Spotlights Texas ABLE Program
- Justice Paul Green’s Legacy on the Texas Supreme Court
- Texas Records First West Nile Virus Death of Year – on no! Shutdown, shutdown! West Nile is going to get us all! Mandatory mosquito nets.
- New State GOP Chair Challenges His Democratic Counterpart to Debates
- Tilove: New GOP chairman wants to drive the narrative on race and politics
- Garcia: Democrats see hope for flipping U.S. District 21
- Bexar County Republican Chair Cynthia Brehm Refuses to Certify Her Defeat in July Runoff – she’s a disaster
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- Federal/DC related to Texas
- China’s Consulate in Houston Cleared Out Ahead of Eviction
- China Tells US to Close Chengdu Consulate in Growing Spat
- President Trump expected to sign executive orders on drug pricing & health care
- Senate GOP leaves town without proposal for coronavirus recovery package
- Cornyn on Senate COVID relief package, Texas Tech achievements in telehealth VIDEO
- Democratic Rep: It’s ‘racially discriminatory’ not to extend $600 weekly federal jobless benefit
- Sen. Cruz Champions Texas Military Communities & Advances America’s Defense Capabilities in 60th National Defense Authorization Act
- Defense bill calls for renaming bases, excludes Romney amendment
- IPI Opposes IPI: Problems with a Prescription Drug Pricing Index
- Don’t Mourn for the Payroll Tax Cut
- Trump again suggests he’d pardon those he thinks unfairly punished in feds’ Russia collusion probe
- Rep. Gohmert: ‘Democrats must change name or be barred from House due to racist past’
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- Presidential race / national politics
- Nolte: Draft DNC Platform Declares White Americans Too Rich, Too Privileged, and Too Evil
- Trump’s new campaign manager scoffs at idea that Texas is a battleground
- Texas Presidential Polling…The Devil Is In The Crosstabs – but all of the analysis of the analysis has little value because the base data is a poll of “self-identified registered voters” not likely voters.
- President Trump to visit Double Eagle Energy rig during Midland visit
- Pelosi: Trump’s Language About Women Gives Rep. Yoho ‘License’ to Attack AOC – who then gave her “license” to say the gross and stupid things she does?
- All Hell Breaks Loose When Trump Suddenly Cancels GOP Convention in Florida Over COVID-19
- These Texans worked under George W. Bush. Now they’re backing Democrat Joe Biden for president – why Bushies are no reliable Americans.
- Turning Point USA takes on the Academy
- Study: Heaviest social media users enjoy hurting others
- Socialism vs. the American Constitution
- Washington Post settles defamation lawsuit with Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann
- Watch: Don Lemon Takes Cognitive Test On Air to Own the Orange Man, Screws It Up
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- Border / immigration
- Migrant Train Jumpers Arrested in Texas 50 Miles from Border
- Cartel Leaves Headless Body in Mexico near Texas Border
- ——————————————–
- Coronavirus related (while I hold over some stories for a while this is not a collection that grows each day. You must go to previous days’ posts.)
- Texas COVID-19 situation report for 7/24/2020 (pdf) [TDEM is no longer posting this until late in the day] – 4,521 deaths. Official Texas 2018/19 flu season P&I deaths were 9249 by end of July last year, over 10,095 for the annual season. The # tested in Texas is now 3,465,070.
- Texas COVID-19 Deaths Drop Slightly Below Latest Record High
- Texas has reached a coronavirus plateau. Is that good enough?
- Let’s Not Pretend This Is Constitutional
- Individual Liberty in a Pandemic: Government’s Power to Restrict Your Freedoms in a Crisis
- Texas bar owners suing Abbott over booze ban: ‘Bar Lives Matter’
- Facts About COVID-19, CDC says virus close to losing epidemic status
- Thousands of scientists and doctors condemn COVID-19 panic, more
- Shutdowns Are Not a Serious Solution to the Coronavirus Threat
- Unemployment in Costa Rica reaches 20.1%, the highest in its history, in midst of pandemic – the cost of ill-advised “shutdowns”
- Pandemic tensions revive protests in Latin America
- Time is Running Out for Coronavirus Course Correction
- Country-by-country data on mortality risk of the COVID-19 pandemic
- A Phony “Pandemic” of Stats and Symbolism
- Odessa Doctor Sees Improvement in Coronavirus Patients Using Inhaled Steroid Treatment
- Amid coronavirus pandemic, 2nd South Texas county judge tells residents to stay at home – not enforceable and stupid.
- GOP Governors Lose Support as Virus Spreads
- 11 Dead, 100 Infected As Coronavirus Sweeps Through Ohio Nursing Home
- Lawmakers ask for visitations at health facilities
- Thousands of Texans and Dozens of Legislators Call on Governor for Access to Nursing Homes
- Mask mandate appears to be helping in Texas, but experts ask Gov. Greg Abbott not to rule out a shutdown – absolute bull bleep
- Governor Abbott, HHSC Encourage Medicaid, CHIP Providers To Apply For Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds
- ‘This is not a solution.’ Sacramento nail salon owners rebel against operating outdoors
- Attention hog: Fauci throws wild pitch at Nationals-Yankee game
- Fauci Badly Flubs Opening Day Pitch — Then Gets Brutally Roasted by Don Jr.
- Anthony Fauci defends not wearing mask while watching Nationals game
- Fauci on Shift on Masks from March: ‘You Can Always Second-Guess Yourself’ — ‘We Would Be Somewhat Better Off’ Had We Worn Masks Back Then
- Is Newsom readying another shutdown for California?
- Houston-Area Elected Officials Disagree on Need for New Shut Down
- American can’t even agree about resuming professional sports
- Mike Rowe Answers a Fan Letter About COVID-19 — It Probably Wasn’t the Answer They Expected – his points about risk in life are quite good.
- Palm Beach County Ups the Game On Falsely Reported COVID Deaths, Some Will Blow Your Mind
- Webb County Detention Center placed under quarantine due to COVID-19 outbreak
- Governor Abbott, TMD Announce Texas National Guard Partnership With Active Duty, Reservists In Support Of COVID-19 Response
- Governor Abbott, HHSC Announce Extension of Automatic SNAP Renewals During COVID-19 Pandemic
- COVID & masks
- CDC: Considerations for Wearing Cloth Face Coverings
- How much do face masks actually help?
- Now Abbott’s chief wants you to wear masks inside your homes!
- Sen. Bob Hall Criticizes Abbott’s Face Mask Order Shift: ‘We Are Expected to Live As If We Have a Monarchy’
- Some “experts” claim we need to wear masks “for several years.”
- MASKS – manners, manipulation and maths – what are your odds of getting or dying from COVID-19? Healthy People Should Not Wear Masks
- Republican activist sues Gov. Abbott, challenging mask order
- Sheriffs Across Texas Say Governor Abbott’s Mask Order is Unenforceable – things I pointed out the day the decree was issued from King Abbott
- Woman takes Lefty talking points about how ‘it’s just a mask’ apart
- SRI finds ‘counterfeit’ masks among hospital supplies of coronavirus gear
- In an age of science, why are face masks a matter of opinion?
- Port Neches-Groves ISD administrators slammed on social media for photo that shows only one person masked at staff retreat – ha, ha, ha! Abbott didn’t have one on either in his photo with Tesla’s Musk!
- American Airlines passenger allegedly removed over refusing to wear a mask, others cheer – “F” ‘em
- University of North Texas study: mask orders help slow spread of COVID-19 – another completely worthless correlative “study” that does nothing to change the scientific data that masks do not stop virus particles.
- Dallas woman blames Gov. Abbott for her mother’s death and not mandating masks sooner – typical scapegoating moron.
- Britain mandates masks in shops after coronavirus peak
- Mask study Gov. Abbott cites as reason for no COVID-19 shutdown has limits, author says – ha, ha, ha. All of these so-called “studies” are not even studies much less anything approaching scientific method. They are just very surface correlative looks that ignore all types of other causation and instances where the same massive virus case increase happened in places with mask orders already in-place.
- COVID & schools
- CDC director says closed schools pose larger public health risk for kids than reopening, U.S. Pediatricians Call For In-Person School This Fall
- Dr. Scott Atlas: There Is No Risk To Children From Covid-19, I Don’t Know Why People Deny This. AUDIO
- Dr. Scott Atlas: Too much hysteria over school reopenings VIDEO
- Virus Spread, Not Politics Should Guide Schools, Doctors Say
- UIL announces plan for high school sports
- Amid calls for school shutdowns, U.K. scientist says student-teacher infections ‘incredibly rare’
- Texas school districts to discipline students who cough on others – oh, that will work out well and uniformly with no capricious action!
- CDC to release new resources to support reopening schools
- Disability Rights Group Calls Out Discriminatory Coronavirus School Policies
- School Reopenings Debated, Less than 0.1% of Coronavirus Deaths Among Minors
- Harris County Shuts Down Schools Due to COVID19
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- Business
- Baker Hughers rotarty drilling rig report, Rig count falls in 20th straight week
- Schlumberger Slashes 21,000 Jobs Amid Pandemic Oil Rout
- Oil fluctuates near $41 amid demand uncertainty, European growth
- A tiny Houston oil company went to war with ex-Soviet state
- Job losses continue to mount in Texas oil patch
- Kinder Morgan posts $637 million loss in second quarter
- F1 United States Grand Prix canceled; COTA chairman calls 2020 ‘a complete loss’ – liberal wussies are killing our economy and country.
- Brewery owners say continued closures are affecting more than just their own families – Abbott is fine with it.
- American, Southwest Add to US Airline Industry’s 2Q Losses
- Southwest Airlines backtracks on a full schedule by year-end as recovery stalls
- New solar/battery storage slated near Dallas
- NRG buying Direct Energy in $3.6B cash deal
- Rangers debut new stadium on Friday to begin shortened 2020 season VIDEO
- Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant owner files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- First Financial Bankshares posts revenue jumps
- Amid COVID-19 spike, Valero requires its employees to work at San Antonio headquarters – good for Valero
- Demand, Price for Plastics Increase, Causing Supply Chain Woes for San Antonio Manufacturers
- Tesla’s new Travis County factory will serve as a new ‘enormous anchor’ for tech sector
- Tesla’s Texas sales to come from outside state despite Austin factory
- Austin biotech companies get emergency approval for coronavirus antibody tests
- ———————————————
- Protest, rioting, looting & more
- Rep. Gohmert: ‘Democrats must change name or be barred from House due to racist past’
- The Victorians were much better at cancel culture than us
- Hundreds warn City Council to slash Austin police’s budget or ‘we will show you out’
- Chicago removes Columbus statue in Grant Park that protesters tried to topple – letting the fascists win.
- About a Thousand BLM Activists March on Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s House
- Chicago Mayor Deploys Dozens of Police to Protect Home from Protesters
- Giants reliever Sam Coonrod explains why he didn’t kneel for Black Lives Matter moment before opener – shame upon all the others.
- Baseball, Hot Dogs, and BLM
- Ohio man in custody after kneeling on crying toddler’s neck, praising Black Lives Matter
- Black driver charged with running down Black Lives Matter protesters in Seattle pleads not guilty
- Obama Judge bars federal police from arresting reporters, observers in Portland
- Judge rules Seattle news outlets must give police images, videos of destructive May protest
- Historical Ignorance and Confederate Generals
- Defense bill calls for renaming bases, excludes Romney amendment
- Blue State Blues: What ‘Peaceful Protest’ Really Is — and What It Is Not
- A&E’s Viewership Plummets 49 Percent After Canceling ‘Live PD’
- BLM Leader Wants Bexar County DA to Reopen Cases of Police Killings
- From Rebels to Royals: A Texas high school breaks ties with Confederate imagery – so royals is not objectionable?!
- My Dear Wormwood, on the Matter of ‘Racists’ and ‘Debate’
- Baltimore, Philly state attorneys vow to prosecute if Trump sends federal officers to their cities – such B.S. as federal officers are already there, full-time at federal installations as well as Homeland Security officers.
- Here’s Fox News’ explanation for why they cut away from WH presser when Kayleigh McEnany was showing video of Portland rioting
- ———————————————
- Crime & general news of Texas
- Governor Abbott, TDEM Move Resources Into Position As Tropical Storm Hanna Approaches Texas
- First storm of hurricane season may ‘test’ curve along Bolivar Peninsula coastline
- Tropical Storm Hanna Strengthens Slightly; Gonzalo Looms
- Man shot multiple times in Orange County Wednesday
- Police say 2 teens shot in drive-by shooting at Port Arthur apartments were innocent bystanders
- Beaumont man walking along railroad tracks dies after being struck by train VIDEO
- Midland police investigating murder after man found covered in blood in the street
- Odessa man accused of planting explosive device at Lowe’s indicted on federal charge
- Police: Man assaults newly wedded wife, goes to jail
- Police: Man arrested for DWI in Wichita Falls Taco Bell drive-thru
- Police: Thieves targeting fleet vehicles at churches, other businesses in Abilene
- Abilene parents arrested after death of 22-month-old child found ’emaciated’ with ‘bruises under his eyes’
- Lamesa: Arson investigator lost his possessions in fire
- San Antonio attorney fraudulently billed millions to client, arbitrator finds
- Man killed in SW Houston shooting, police say
- Man claims he broke into San Antonio West Side church to pray VIDEO
- Mourners in cars say final goodbyes to Bexar County emergency management coordinator VIDEO
- Man ripped engagement ring from woman’s finger during botched OfferUp exchange, police say
- Wichita Falls mom pleads guilty to exposing newborn and young son to illegal drugs
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- Local government
- In a first, Bexar County will attempt to seat a jury via Zoom video conference – dangerously wrong
- San Antonio will leverage traffic lights to expand fiber network for students
- Deadline nears for Levelland mayor recall petition after controversial post
- Midland County judge asking for budget cuts, won’t support pay raises
- Police Advisory Committee created in Midland to improve relationship between police and the community
- 6 cadets graduate from Abilene police academy
- Abilene City Council gives guidance on COVID-19 reporting, difference between COVID, non-COVID death
- Early looks to add paid firefighters
- Lynn County Sheriff Abraham Vega Denied ‘Line of Duty Death’
- Amid Economic Suffering, Central Texas Officials Consider Raising Taxes
- Harris County Clerk’s Drive-Thru Voting Pilot Is Highly Successful VIDEO
- Amidst Calls for Defunding Police Houston PD Dedicates More Dollars to Mental Health Unit
- ———————————————
- Colleges & universities
- Ronnie Hawkins Jr. Named Sole Finalist for Angelo State University President
- Tim Dodd named Dean of Texas Tech College of Human Sciences
- Dukes Named Dean Of Texas Tech University Libraries
- Cornyn on Senate COVID relief package, Texas Tech achievements in telehealth VIDEO
- TTU: Book by Architecture, Business Grad Explores University’s Construction History
- LCU names new Vice President of Enrollment Management
- UT classics professor accused of advocating for pedophilia sues student, others for libel, slander
- UT: Reenact, expand pass/fail
- UT should mitigate housing shortage
- Turning Point USA takes on the Academy
- Former Midland College president Dr. David Daniel has died
- Baylor requires negative COVID-19 test results
- Opinion: International students faced senseless discrimination from ICE
Pratt’s post for 7/24/2020
July 24, 2020 by Leave a Comment
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