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Gearing up for the Fourth of July, we want to know what your favorite modern patriotic song is... Check out the One Click Survey below.

This is today's Texas Minute for Monday, July 1, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Patrick Pushes For Bail Reform Following Murder of 12-Year-Old

• Following the brutal murder of a 12-year-old girl in Houston, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he will ensure the Texas Senate passes new bail reform legislation. Will Biagini reports “Jocelyn’s Law” would seek to amend the state constitution so that bail is automatically denied for those facing capital murder charges. 
             
• The proposed law is named for Jocelyn Nungaray, who was assaulted and murdered. Two illegal aliens from Venezuela are suspected of having committed the crime.
        
• Legislation reforming the state's bail rules passed the Texas Senate but was killed by House Speaker Dade Phelan's leadership team.

Texas Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Sterilizing Gender-confused Children

• Texas can enforce its ban on drugging and mutilating gender-confused children, according to a ruling issued Friday by the state’s Supreme Court. As Erin Anderon reports, the new law prohibits medical personnel from giving minors life-altering medical interventions that purport to treat the psychological condition of gender dysphoria.
         
• The banned treatments include harmful drugs and surgeries to remove healthy body parts if they are prescribed for “transitioning” a child’s biological sex or “affirming” a child’s mental misperception of their sex.
      
• Only one justice—Debra Lehrmann—objected to the new law. Lehrmann, whose career has been strongly supported by Texans for Lawsuit Reform, is widely recognized as the most liberal member of the court.

Texas Democrat Chairman Alleges Election Fraud in South Texas

• According to the chairman of the Texas Democrat Party, election fraud is taking place in South Texas. Brandon Waltens has the story.
      
• Gilberto Hinojosa's claim of election fraud is based on a lawsuit filed in Hidalgo County contesting the election for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Place 1. The certified vote showed Sonia Trevino winning the Democrat primary runoff last month with 4,233 votes, while Ramon Segovia finished second with 4,202 votes.
     
• Segovia is suing to have the election overturned. Hinojosa is his lawyer in that action. Their case makes numerous allegations of voter fraud. Ironically, Hinojosa’s claims of voter fraud in this case run counter to the talking points of many Texas Democrats.

Teachers Union Urges Districts to Support Biden’s Title IX Changes

• In an open letter to school districts, the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers is urging support for the Biden administration’s radical rewrite of Title IX. Debra McClure has the details.
         
• Title IX’s original role was to prevent sex discrimination in federally funded school programs. The Biden administration altered the definition of “sex” in Title IX to include “gender identity” and “sexual orientation.”
      
• In response to the new Title IX guidelines, Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter in May directing public universities and community colleges to disregard the rule’s revisions. A half-dozen school districts have passed resolutions condemning the Biden rewrite.
       
• Now, Texas AFT union is demanding support for “transgender and gender expansive individuals.”

Chip Roy Demands Answers from DOJ About Targeting Texas Surgeon

• After a doctor at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy is demanding answers. Emily Medeiros explains that the whistleblower doctor had exposed the hospital for conducting sterilizing "gender" procedures on children.
       
• Dr. Eithan Haim, a surgeon working at the hospital, has alleged that gender mutilation procedures on minors were being performed by the hospital despite the institution's claims to the contrary.
     
• Haim now faces a four-count indictment for allegedly obtaining personal patient information through the institution’s electronic system without authorization as part of his efforts to expose the hospital's activities.
     
• Roy wants U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to explain why the Biden administration targeted Haim. He wants all documents and communication related to the DOJ’s investigation of Haim and the decision to bring charges.
       
• “The circumstances of the Department’s actions toward Dr. Haim raise concerns that it is misusing its law-enforcement authority to advance left-wing policy goals,” wrote Roy. “This prosecution is just the latest example of how the Biden-Garland Justice Department is using the law to target ideological adversaries instead of equally enforcing the law.”

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Denies Challenge to Daniel Perry’s Pardon

• An attempt by the Travis County District Attorney to overturn Gov. Abbott’s pardon of Army Sergeant Daniel Perry has been thwarted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
     
• In 2023, Perry was convicted of murder after shooting and killing Garrett Foster, an armed Black Lives Matter protester, in downtown Austin during the 2020 riots. During his trial, Perry’s defense team stated that Foster raised a firearm at Perry, leading Perry to use his handgun in self-defense. 
     
• A Travis County jury found Perry guilty, and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. After an intensive investigation, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended that Abbott grant Perry a full pardon and restore his Second Amendment rights.
      
• Attacks on Perry are not over. Democrat attorneys general from 13 states are asking the Biden administration to look into the matter.

Today In History

On July 1, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg began. It lasted three days, resulting in more than 51,000 combined casualties—including the deaths of 7,000 men.

Quote-Unquote

"You're a grand old flag,
You're a high-flying flag,
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave."

– George M. Cohen​

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