Good morning,

The attitude expressed by our Texas forefathers 189 years ago today should continue to drive our response to dictators, tyrants, and those who work for them: "Come And Take It."

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Paxton Sues Travis County Over Secretive Security Expenditures

• Texas' attorney general has sued Travis County over an alleged "secret meeting" where more than $100,000 was allocated to cover undisclosed "security improvements" at the district attorney’s home after his address was disclosed on social media. Adam Cahn has the details.
          
• According to the A.G.'s office, the Travis County commissioners failed to provide proper notice or allow the public to comment on the proposal benefiting Jose Garza. 
           
• "Travis County has illegally abused procedure to conceal self-serving decision-making, to hide from scrutiny, and to prevent citizens from knowing exactly what is being done with their money," said Attorney General Ken Paxton. "After the Travis County DA’s pro-crime policies have created such dangerous conditions for Austin residents, it is especially ironic that he secretly sought taxpayer-funded security measures for his home."

Illegal Immigration Top Issue for Voters

• Nationwide, 61 percent of voters have said immigration is very important in determining how they will vote this November. Will Biagini reports this represents a 13 percent increase in voter sentiment since 2022.
     
• The research was conducted by the Pew Research Center.
     
• Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith told Texas Scorecard that how Americans vote in November will be the difference between four more years of crisis or taking steps to secure the border and end violent cartel activity.

Texas Stock Exchange Takes Step Forward

• The Lone Star State’s own stock exchange is set to begin operations next year, reports Brandon Waltens. The announcement was made by the exchange leadership alongside Gov. Greg Abbott in Austin.
        
• The Texas Stock Exchange, or TXSE (pronounced "Tex-see"), will be based in Dallas. TXSE Chairman James Lee announced that the effort has already raised $135 million, making it "the most well-capitalized national securities exchange applicant to ever file a registration" with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission.
       
• Lee hopes to execute the exchange's first trades by the end of 2025 and begin launching listings in early 2026.

Houston Mayor Joins Picket Line in Longshoremen’s Strike

• Yesterday, Houston Mayor John Whitmire joined the International Longshoremen’s Association at the Bayport Container Terminal on the first day of the dock worker’s strike. Charles Blain has the story.
      
• Nearly 50,000 longshoremen went on strike Tuesday in the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports over stalled contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), representing the majority of shipping lines.
        
• Despite USMX saying it offered a 50 percent wage increase over the proposed 6-year contract and tripling pension contributions, the union is demanding a 77 percent pay increase.
       
• The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that $2.1 billion in trade is at risk every day the strike continues. The Port of Houston is the nation’s largest port for waterborne tonnage and contributes more than $10 billion in state and local tax revenue and $62 billion in national tax revenue.

Tarrant County Public Health Director Advises Schools to Remove Smartphones from Classrooms

• Emily Medeiros reports that Tarrant County’s public health director has released a letter to parents and teachers explaining the dangers and harms of children overusing social media. Brian Byrd is recommending that school districts remove smartphones from classrooms. 
          
• Byrd's letter cites emerging research that suggests social media causes a rise in anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and suicide. He recommends parents delay children’s access to social media until they reach the age of 16. 
              
• Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath recently appeared before the Texas Senate's Committee on Education to share his concerns about smartphones in schools. He called the devices a distraction that is "extremely harmful for student learning."

Quote-Unquote

– The People of Gonzales, Texas​

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