Good morning, 

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, August 15, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Paxton Challenges Dallas Over State Fair’s Firearms Ban

• After the State Fair of Texas announced a ban on firearms this year, Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning the City of Dallas about what he describes as an "unlawful infringement on Second Amendment rights." Brandon Waltens has the details.
       
• Earlier this week, a group of 70 state lawmakers wrote a letter urging the state fair to reconsider the policy. In response, fair officials stated that the ban was "a measure to create a more family-friendly atmosphere" and argued that, as a private organization, they have the right to set their own firearm policies.
       
• Now, Attorney General Ken Paxton has notified the City of Dallas that the state fair’s argument is flawed. According to his office, the City of Dallas entered into an agreement with the State Fair organization to manage the governmental function of Fair Park. State law permits licensed gun owners to carry firearms in places owned or leased by governmental entities unless otherwise restricted by state law.
          
• Paxton has given the city two weeks to fix the problem, "or I will see them in court."

Texas A&M Offers 'Social Justice Leadership Certificate'

• A program at Texas A&M University is offering students a certificate in Social Justice Leadership this fall. Erin Anderson and Robert Montoya report on this latest offering from Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government & Public Service.
      
• The certificate has a "focus on understanding the basics of social justice and its dimensions" in government and non-profit entities.
         
• According to Texas A&M, the coursework is designed to create "social change by utilizing learnings to take action."
       
• Texas A&M is overseen by a Board of Regents, each of whom has been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
       
• No joke: Aggieland is rapidly becoming the woke capital of Texas higher ed.

Roy Wants Answers About Illegal Alien Who Shot at Officers

• U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R) has sent a letter to the San Antonio Police Department about an illegal alien recently charged with shooting at three officers. Debra McClure has the story.
      
• Responding to a domestic violence call in late July, three SAPD officers found the suspect lying in bed with a rifle by his side. He began shooting at the officers, one of whom was struck multiple times and required surgery at a local hospital.
       
• The alleged shooter, 25-year-old Jorge Chacon-Guiterrez, an illegal alien from Venezuela, reportedly entered the U.S. through Eagle Pass in November 2023.
      
• Roy wants SAPD to provide crime data about illegal alien-related calls to SAPD from the San Antonio Migrant Resource Center, which is not far from where the incident occurred.

Denton ISD Admins Admit Guilt to Avoid Court in Criminal Electioneering Case

• Husband and wife administrators in Denton Independent School District have admitted they are guilty of criminal electioneering after urging their staff to vote for anti-school choice candidates in the Republican primary. Erin Anderson reports a deal with local prosecutors will see the couple avoid a conviction and jail through a "pre-trial diversion."
       
• Jesus and Lindsay Lujan urged staff at their schools to vote in the March Republican primary for candidates who opposed school choice. They sent their political messages using the district’s taxpayer-funded email system. A grand jury indicted the Lujans, who were both charged in April with a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
      
• Since her indictment, Lindsay Lujan has been promoted in the district from principal of an elementary school to now director of special services.

'Open Concept' Restrooms for Elementary Students

• Valerie Muñoz reports two open-concept bathrooms built as part of a new extension in a Round Rock Independent School District elementary school is causing concern among parents. They got their first look at the change just one day before their children began school. The restrooms serve third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students.

• One Roundrock ISD mom told Texas Scorecard she asked why the open-concept bathrooms were used. Teachers told her it was to embrace "Inclusivity."

Sylvester Turner Wins Democrat Nomination for Open Congressional Seat

• In a close race, former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner won the Democrat nomination to replace the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on the upcoming November ballot. Charles Blain explains the contest was decided by Democrat precinct chairs in the Harris County congressional district.
       
• Of the 88 eligible precinct chairs, 78 participated in the balloting that initially saw six candidates seeking the nomination. In the first round, Turner had a plurality but did not secure a majority until the second round of voting.
      
• Turner will face Republican Lana Centonze in the November General Election.

Quote-Unquote

"Govern wisely and as little as possible!"

– Sam Houston​

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