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Good morning, This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
Islamic Groups in Texas Public Universities Tied to Iran and China
- Several groups with ties to Iran and the Chinese Communist Party have begun to voice support for the Iranian regime at Texas’ public universities. Grant Halk has the details.
- An investigation by the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Sam Westrop finds an "Islamist network working to radicalize Shia Muslim students at educational institutions across the state."
- For example, earlier this year, protests were organized by the DFW Shias for Justice and the Ahlul-Bayt Student Association at the University of Texas at Dallas. ABSA frequently invokes anti-American rhetoric, including calls for Muslims across the globe to "reject American Imperialism" and "unify against our common enemy."
- Other Texas-based groups, such as Camp Arafah, have begun collecting money from supporters of the former Ayatollah Khamenei.
Pro-Landowner Nonprofit Seeks Pause on Determining Need for Transmission Line
- American Stewards of Liberty is asking the Public Utility Commission of Texas to delay deciding whether four segments of proposed extra-high-voltage transmission lines are needed until the administrative law hearing on the fifth segment is completed. As Robert Montoya reports, the five segments that make up three proposed lines are designed to move large amounts of power from Central, North, and South Texas into West Texas and the energy-rich Permian Basin.
- Hundreds of landowners are asking an administrative law court to either oppose certain proposed routes or the entire project.
- The PUCT approved the Permian Basin Reliability Plan in April 2025. Critics have said state lawmakers originally authorized it as a limited fix for a specific region, but that the commission—along with the grid operator ERCOT and electricity delivery company Oncor—expanded it into a broader buildout of these 765-kV transmission lines with minimum public input and no legislative authorization.
Sexually Explicit Books Stocked in Talarico’s Church Library
- Brandon Waltens reports that the library of the Austin church where Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico both attends and preaches is stocked with sexually explicit content targeting children.
- An online catalog for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church includes titles such as “Gender Queer” and others that critics have argued contain graphic sexual content inappropriate for minors. The discovery is drawing criticism as Talarico continues to present himself as a Christian leader.
- The catalog also includes titles like “The Courage to Be Queer,” which, among other things, argues that “God is queer.” Talarico himself has made such claims on the floor of the Texas House and in campaign settings.
Texas Educator Misconduct
Llano County Accepts Ten Commandments Display for Courthouse Lawn
- Mary Berg reports that the Llano County Commissioners Court voted 5-0 this week to approve the installation of a Ten Commandments monument at the county’s historic 1893 courthouse. It is being donated by the American History & Heritage Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to informing the public about American history.
- The installation will come at no cost to the county.
- Llano County is not alone in its choice to install the Ten Commandments. AHHF has been helping to design and install monuments at courthouses across the state, including an upcoming dedication in Waller County.
Harris County Flood Control Shifts Grant Funds
- Harris County officials are working to restructure how more than $800 million in federal Hurricane Harvey flood recovery funds are spent, reports Michael Wilson. Officials say a “phased approach” could preserve $322 million in disaster recovery grants that are at risk of missing a February 2027 spending deadline.
- The Harris County Flood Control District unveiled the plan, shifting eligible disaster recovery projects facing the looming deadline into a mitigation funding program with a later April 2028 cutoff.
- According to an internal presentation, six of the 11 disaster recovery projects are expected to miss the February deadline, and those projects account for roughly $90 million that the district is now seeking to move into the later program.
"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me."
It was 31 years ago today that I got to marry the most amazing woman I have ever known! Numerous moves, two daughters, a son, two sons-in-law, a pending daughter-in-law, a dog, and countless adventures later ... I'm even more excited for what God has in store for us next!
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