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But first, here is the news of Texas for Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

House Passes Senate's Border Security Legislation Two pieces of border security legislation received approval from the Texas House on Tuesday, reports Sydnie Henry [[link removed]]. One will provide new funding for border barrier infrastructure, while the other will create a criminal penalty for illegal entry into the state.

Slight changes made by the House to the funding package mean senators must choose to either concur or send the legislation to a conference committee where the differences can be addressed.

The Texas House is expected to take up legislation on school choice and education funding on Friday.

Border Encounters With Illegal Aliens Top 240,000 in October

Although October’s encounters with illegal border crossers are lower than September’s all-time record-breaking high, there are still nearly 10,000 more encounters than last October [[link removed]].

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that the “total encounters along the southwest border in October were 240,988, a decrease of 11% from September 2023.”

However, September’s numbers were the highest ever recorded since the federal government began tracking the data in 2000, with 269,735 total encounters.

For year-to-year comparison, there were 231,529 in October 2022 and 164,827 for the same month in 2021. Tony Gonzales Pushes to Impeach Alejandro Mayorkas After being censured by the Republican Party of Texas earlier this year, in part over part on border security issues, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales is leading an effort to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

In an interview with Brandon Waltens [[link removed]], Gonzales said he teamed up with Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia after he got news of an incident in Zavala County last week where eight people were killed as a suspected human smuggler attempted to evade police. Two of the victims killed in the head-on collision were from Greene’s district in Georgia.

Gonzales denied changing his position in the face of a party censure and challenges in the 2024 primary.

“I don’t view it as I having changed my position one bit,” said Gonzales [[link removed]]. “Now, maybe the narrative or some of the way it’s spawned is a different story. But I’m of the mindset of this is Americans are dying. Now’s the time. No more talk. No more fancy speeches, no more sternly written letters." Texas A&M to Name Pro-DEI Obama-Appointee as President The Texas A&M Board of Regents is reportedly set to name pro-DEI Obama appointee Mark Welsh [[link removed]] as the sole finalist for the position of university president. "DEI" refers to the leftist indoctrination program known as "diversity, equity, and inclusion."

Welsh previously served as the dean of TAMU’s Bush School of Government and Public Service from 2016 until he was appointed [[link removed]] as interim president this summer.

The former Obama administration official expressed pro-DEI viewpoints multiple times, most recently to the A&M Faculty Senate in August. Welsh previously ran DEI programs for the Bush School.

Texas A&M is overseen by a board of regents, who are appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Fallon Reverses Course, Will Run for Re-Election in Congress

Less than 24 hours after announcing he would leave his seat in Congress to return to the Texas Senate, U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon has reversed his decision and will instead run for re-election [[link removed]].

On Monday evening, Fallon created political shockwaves when he filed for Senate District 30, the seat he held previously. The seat was made open last week when State Sen. Drew Springer (R–Muenster) announced he would not seek re-election.

Less than one day later, however, Fallon has changed his mind [[link removed]] and will seek re-election to his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Fallon had already earned the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for his planned return to the Texas Senate.

This is not Fallon's first about-face. In 2019, Fallon said he would challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, before backing out weeks later.

Spring Branch ISD Board Meeting Shut Down as Hundreds Protest A Spring Branch Independent School District board of trustees meeting was shut down after hundreds of community members gathered to oppose closing down charter schools in the district. Emily Medeiros has the story [[link removed]].

The Houston Fire Marshal’s Office closed the meeting after the room reached capacity, allegedly causing a fire hazard.

Faced with a $35 million deficit, the district believes it would save approximately $6.2 million by closing the charter schools. Parents and students want officials to find a different way to save money, citing the positive academic effect the schools have had on them.

In August, the board voted to stop sending “Robin Hood” recapture payments to the state in an attempt to keep more money in the district.

🚨 Tell Someone You Know! 🚨 We’re now taking applications [[link removed]] for our Spring, Summer, and Fall 2024 Texas Scorecard Fellowships. The program is designed for 18 to 25-year-olds interested in public policy, political accountability, and Texas history. Learn more on our website [[link removed]]. 🔒 Donate to Texas Scorecard 🔒 [[link removed]] Number of the Day

1,254

Miles of the border between Texas and Mexico, stretching from the Gulf Coast to El Paso. That represents more than half of the total border between the United States and Mexico.

[Source: State of Texas; Library of Congress]

Quote-Unquote

"Shame on the men who can court exemption from present trouble and expense at the price of their own posterity's liberty!"

– Samuel Adams​

Today in History

On November 15, 1864, Union General William Sherman began his march across Georgia by setting the industrial section of Atlanta on fire.

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