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Good morning,

Gov. Greg Abbott declared teacher pay an "emergency" in his State of the State address earlier this month. In today's One Click Survey, we'd like to know how you would handle pay for government school teachers.

This is the Texas Minute for Presidents' Day, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Ken Paxton Launches Investigation Into Chinese AI App

• Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Sydnie Henry has the story.
   
• The investigation focuses on DeepSeek’s privacy practices and its claims of rivaling advanced AI models like OpenAI’s Model o1. Paxton notified DeepSeek that its platform violates the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act. As part of his probe, the attorney general issued Civil Investigative Demands to Google and Apple, requesting their analyses of the DeepSeek application and related documentation.
     
• Paxton also expressed concerns about DeepSeek’s potential to act on behalf of the CCP. Last month, he banned DeepSeek’s platform from all Office of the Attorney General devices due to security concerns.
      
• "DeepSeek appears to be no more than a proxy for the CCP to undermine American AI dominance and steal the data of our citizens." – Ken Paxton

New York Stock Exchange Announces Expansion Into Texas

• Last week, the New York Stock Exchange announced plans to launch NYSE Texas, a fully electronic stock exchange based in Dallas. As Will Biagini reports, this will be a rebranding and reincorporation of NYSE Chicago.
     
• According to the Tax Foundation, Texas currently ranks seventh in how well states’ tax policies encourage economic growth by lifting cumbersome regulations on businesses.
     
• NYSE Group President Lynn Martin called Texas the market leader in creating a pro-business atmosphere and said that the Lone Star State would drive the U.S. economy forward.

New York Doctor Blocked From Prescribing Abortion Drugs to Texans

• A Collin County court has found Dr. Margaret Carpenter of New York guilty of violating Texas law by practicing medicine without a license. She has been ordered to pay a civil penalty of $100,000. 
      
• Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Dr. Margaret Carpenter in December for prescribing abortion pills to a Collin County resident. The mother suffered serious medical complications, and the life of the child was ended.
      
• Carpenter is the founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, an organization that aims to provide “telemedicine abortion care” in all 50 states. Neither Carpenter nor her organization responded to requests for comment.

Law Would Expand Protections Against Explicit Books in Schools

• Legislation proposed by State Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney) would expand parental rights and existing protections against explicit books in the state’s public school system. Luca Cacciatore reports this legislation is one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's priorities for 2025.
   
• The measure would create “library advisory councils” consisting of at least five members appointed by the school district’s board of trustees to oversee the procurement of new books. A majority of the council’s members must be parents of district students and cannot be employed by the district.  
     
• Paxton's proposal expands the definition of what constitutes harmful material. She would also require school district trustees to publicize the list of newly proposed library materials for at least 30 days before final approval.
      
• "Parents across Texas are rightly concerned about some of the materials available to their children in school libraries. While progress was made last session, more must be done to create clear standards and strengthen safeguards. Senate Bill 13 enhances transparency and accountability, ensuring that school libraries are a safe and appropriate environment for students." – Angela Paxton

'Security Council' Proposed for Research Universities

• Texas now leads the nation with 16 "Tier 1" research institutions, which has led State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) to push for the creation of a Higher Education Research Security Council. As Valerie Muñoz reports, the council would exist to secure research and mitigate espionage.
      
• If the legislation is enacted, the council would be charged with creating an accreditation process to recognize Tier 1 institutions with excellent security and develop an annual security training program.
      
• With these institutions each spending in excess of $50 million per year, Hughes wants the council to oversee background checks for researchers and develop tools that will prevent intellectual property theft.

Today In History

On Feb. 17, 1801, Thomas Jefferson was elected as the third president of the United States. A tied vote in the Electoral College had resulted in the contest being decided by the House of Representatives. 

Quote-Unquote I

"To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

– Thomas Jefferson

Quote-Unquote II

"The primary goal of real education is not to deliver facts but to guide students to the truths that will allow them to take responsibility for their lives."

– John Taylor Gatto​

One Click Survey

During his State of the State address, Gov. Greg Abbott said he wanted lawmakers to "increase teachers’ average salary" but also to "reward the best teachers" by expanding the "merit program."

If you were in charge, would you increase teacher pay:

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!