Good morning,

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Dozens of Illegal Aliens Accused in Border Riot Released into the US

• Dozens of illegal aliens who were accused of violently storming the border in El Paso have now been released into the United States, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Emily Medeiros has the details.
       
• On March 21, hundreds of illegal border crossers rioted in an attempt to get around the Texas National Guard. The foreign nationals used a break in the fencing—that the Texas National Guard was attempting to put back up—to push past the guardsmen. The incident was captured on video by a reporter at the scene.
      
• As a result, 214 illegal aliens were charged by the Texas Department of Public Safety with a state Class B misdemeanor, while another nine were charged with felony rioting and/or criminal mischief and assault charges.
     
• In May, a Democrat state district judge dismissed the criminal charges against all the illegal aliens. The illegal aliens were released from state custody and handed over to ICE, which has now allowed 43 of them to be released into the country. 

After SCOTUS Ruling, Attorney General Paxton Vows to Keep Fighting Big Tech Censorship

• Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court sent back to the New Orleans-based Fifth Circuit a challenge to a law protecting Texans from corporate censorship. As Will Biagini reports, at issue is a 2021 law prohibiting social media companies from engaging in viewpoint discrimination against Texans.
           
• The law had been blocked by the Fifth Circuit. Now, with SCOTUS refusing to overturn the lower court's order, the measure goes back to New Orleans for further litigation.
        
• Despite the setback, Attorney General Ken Paxton and the law's author—State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park)—say they will keep fighting.
      
•  “Big Tech censorship is one of the biggest threats to free public discourse and election integrity.” – Attorney General Ken Paxton

Local Officials Urge Lawmaker to Oppose DEM-Backed Speaker Candidate

• A coalition of more than 90 local elected officials and activists is urging their state representative to oppose any Speaker candidate who supports appointing Democrats to leadership positions in the Texas House. Brandon Waltens has the story.
      
• The letter to State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) includes signatures from the mayors of Keller, Colleyville, and Southlake, and many city council members from the three cities. In addition, members of the Keller ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, and Carroll ISD have signed on, along with a slate of Republican precinct chairs inside the district.
        
• The letter was organized by Southlake Families, led by local businesswoman Leigh Wambsganss. 
      
• The move is a rebuke of current Speaker Dade Phelan, who has repeatedly defended the practice of placing Democrats as chairs of committees and has stated he will “not waver” from the practice if elected as Speaker again. 
      
• Last month, 46 current and incoming Republican House members signed a similar statement saying they would only support a Speaker in the Republican caucus who opposes Democrat chairs. Capriglione is currently not among those members.

Houston Teacher Accused of Assaulting Student

• A 63-year-old Houston middle school teacher has been arrested for the assault of a 14-year-old student after exchanging explicit video calls with her. Erin Anderson reports the incident allegedly occurred in May.
      
• The teacher, identified as Dale Lamar Vanwright, had already been suspended by Houston ISD on allegations of hugging and kissing another student. He now faces three second-degree felonies.
       
• Vanwright taught design at Tanglewood Middle School in Houston Independent School District when the alleged crimes occurred. An HISD official told Texas Scorecard the man's employment was terminated on June 7.

State Board of Education Approves Four New Charter Schools

• Four new charter schools will be allowed to open following action by the State Board of Education. As Debra McClure reports, the new schools will begin serving students in Arlington, Big Spring, Austin, and Manor during the 2025-2026 school year.
      
• A spokesman for the Texas State Teacher's Association blasted the idea of a charter school in Manor, saying the district is "struggling" and should not have to deal with competition.
        
• Sounds like a school district struggling to educate the students is precisely one that needs competition. 

Support Texas Scorecard!

We need your support! Make a special, tax-deductible contribution to expand the work of Texas Scorecard. We don’t take government grants or corporate sponsorships, and we don’t put our content behind a paywall. Your contributions make Texas Scorecard possible!

Quote-Unquote

"O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!"

– Katharine Lee Bates​

Directory of Your Current U.S. & Texas Lawmakers

This information is automatically inserted based on the mailing address you provide to us. If you'd like to update your contact information, please visit our subscriber portal.