... The Texas Minute ...

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Good morning,

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, April 23, 2026.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan [[link removed]]

Under Pressure, Houston Council Walks Back ICE Ordinance By a vote of 13 to 4 yesterday, the Houston City Council amended its newly adopted immigration ordinance. As Michael Wilson reports [[link removed]], the action was taken after a standoff with the state over $114 million in frozen public safety funding.

The dispute traces back to April 8, when the council voted 12-5 to pass an ordinance severely limiting the Houston Police Department's cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Gov. Greg Abbott's office responded by freezing the city's grant funding and giving Houston a deadline to reverse course. Likewise, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the city for violating a state law requiring cities and counties to cooperate with federal officials on immigration matters.

The city's attorney said that the revised language was negotiated directly between the mayor’s office and the governor’s Public Safety Office. Appearing on Fox News' The Will Cain Show yesterday afternoon, the governor said [[link removed]] the Houston Police Department "has not fully agreed to fully comply" with its contractual responsibilities. He warned the city could still lose funding if police don't detain illegal aliens and notify immigration officials.

Meanwhile, Austin and Dallas are still looking to lose millions of dollars in state funding over similar recent actions taken by those cities' officials in restricting police engagement with federal immigration authorities. On Third Anniversary of Rigged Texas Lottery Jackpot, Still No Justice Three years ago, an international gambling ring, aided by online lottery ticket resellers and the Texas Lottery Commission, rigged a $95 million jackpot. As Daniel Greer reports [[link removed]], the scandal entered mainstream consciousness in the early days of the 2025 legislative session and led to the demise of the Texas Lottery Commission.

Multiple sources tell Texas Scorecard that state investigators have failed to follow up on even low-hanging leads. Families Fleeing Big School Districts Drive School Choice Demand Thousands of families in Texas’ largest public school districts are seeking to leave—or supplement—their local campuses through the state’s new school choice program, according to newly released data from the Texas Education Freedom Accounts rollout. Brandon Waltens has the details [[link removed]].

Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced yesterday that more than 42,600 students will receive award notices in the first round of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, with priority given to students with disabilities and their siblings. According to a fact sheet released by the comptroller’s office, 63 percent of applicants in the initial group are students with qualifying disabilities, while 37 percent are siblings.

About 74 percent of participating students are expected to enroll in private schools, while 26 percent selected homeschool or other options. The comptroller’s office noted that approximately half of the students in this first round previously attended public schools, while the remainder came from private or homeschool settings.

The data also reveals that demand for the program is concentrated in the state’s largest school districts, despite those districts often offering more programs for special-needs students.MORE EDUCATION HEADLINES East Texas Educator Accused of Misconduct With Former Student [[link removed]]

by Erin Anderson

TEA Finds Plano Complaints of Antisemitism ‘Unsubstantiated’ [[link removed]]

by Sydnie Henry

UT-Austin Gets First Billion-Dollar Donors

Technology entrepreneur Michael Dell and his wife will become the University of Texas at Austin’s first billion-dollar donor. Adam Cahn has the story [[link removed]].

Mr. Dell attended UT-Austin in the 1980s, but dropped out to start his eponymous computer company. He has made a series of donations to UT-Austin over the years, primarily focused on information technology.

He and his wife, Susan, have this week pledged $750 million toward the construction of a research facility as part of the medical school's expansion, which had previously been named after them. Leading School Construction Companies Back Proposed Debt Package In the May 2 municipal elections, voters in Ponder Independent School District are being asked to approve a $305 million debt package to fund construction of two new schools, expand a school stadium, and make technology purchases. Addie Hovland details the proposal [[link removed]].

Documents published by the district reveal that, including interest, the debt package would cost taxpayers $587 million if approved.

Financial records show the political action committee supporting the package has received contributions from construction firms, engineering firms, and a flooring company. These are vendors likely to financially benefit from the bonds being approved.

Two of the firms donating to the PAC, CORE Construction and Lee Lewis Construction, are among the largest school building firms in the nation.

New Episode

Texas Tomorrow The County Judge Might Have More Power Than You Think [[link removed]]

New Episode

Luke Macias Show Virginia Democrats One‑Up Texas Republicans [[link removed]] Today in History

On April 23, 1564, William Shakespeare is believed to have been born in Stratford-upon-Avon, based on church baptismal records.

Quote-Unquote

"No legacy is so rich as honesty."

– William Shakespeare​

Number of the Day

1,700

The number of words in the English language that were first introduced in writing by William Shakespeare, many of which are believed to have been invented by him.

[Source: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust [[link removed]]]

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