Fully Vaxxed, Boosted O'Rourke Tests Positive For Covid-19

[#TexasPolitics365]

Despite being fully vaccinated and boosted, Texas candidate for governor Beto O’Rourke has tested positive for COVID-19, and is showing mild symptoms.

“In addition to being fully vaccinated and boosted, I regularly test for COVID-19 while traveling the state for town hall meetings,” he wrote. He said he tested negative Sunday but positive Monday.

(Full story HERE.)
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Williamson County Commissioners Cave, Send Federal Aid To School Districts

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Williamson County commissioners voted to distribute extra federal funds to the Round Rock and Leander school districts on Tuesday, despite a recent controversy over books in schools.

Last week, county commissioners decided they'd hold onto about $9 million in leftover CARES Act money, pending discussions with the school districts, which they said allow books with questionable sexual content in their schools.

But commissioners relented yesterday, sending the funds to the Leander and Round Rock school districts, with the stipulation that 11 books under review by the districts be removed.

(Full story here.)
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Williamson County Denies School Districts Federal Funds Over Curriculum Concerns

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Williamson County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 to allocate additional federal coronavirus relief funds to school districts in the county except for Leander ISD and Round Rock ISD during its Dec. 14 meeting.

The districts in Williamson County, which is located just north of Austin, have been embroiled in controversy since this summer, when parents discovered books with explicit sexual content being assigned to students or available in libraries

LISD and RRISD were excluded from this round of funding—the second batch of funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy Security Act the county has distributed to schools—over concerns commissioners voiced both about inappropriate books in school libraries, and critical race theory being part of the school curriculum.

(Full story here.)
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Huffines Accuses Abbott Of Discrimination Against Whites, Asians In Covid Treatments

[#TexasPolitics365]

Republican candidate for governor Don Huffines is accusing state agencies of actively discriminating against White and Asian Texans attempting to receive monoclonal antibodies, and is calling on Gov. Abbott to end the practice immediately.

Huffines Twitter account and website posted videos of patients being denied the antibody treatment by nurses who explained that minority patients were at higher risk and were being prioritized above Whites and Asians.

Huffines demanded Abbott end the practice and fire the employees responsible. 

“It is outrageous that Greg Abbott’s state agencies are actively discriminating against White and Asian Texans—denying them monoclonal antibodies, which is potentially lifesaving treatment. This is a horrendous example of Critical Race Theory in action and a gross violation of Texas values. Greg Abbott must immediately stop this practice, fire the employees responsible, and apologize to Texans for this repugnant behavior.” 

(Full story here.)
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Abbott Orders No Forced Vaccinations "By Any Entity"

[#TexasPolitics365]

Gov. Greg Abbott yesterday issued an executive order stating that "no entity in Texas" can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19. 

Abbott also sent a message to the the Chief Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate adding this issue as an item to the Third Special Session agenda. The executive order will be rescinded upon the passage of such legislation. 

"The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," said Governor Abbott. 

(Full story here.)
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West Takes Abbott To Task For Allowing Vax Mandate In TX Nat'l Guard

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Col. Allen West is taking Gov. Greg Abbott to task for not ending a vaccine mandate among National Guardsmen in Texas.

In a press release Tuesday, West, who will face Abbott in next year's Republican primary, said that Abbott,  who is commander of the Texas National Guard, "is allowing vaccine mandates to take effect this October. He is kowtowing to federal overreach and not standing up for liberties of Texans who have stood up to serve the Lone Star State."

"The Governor cannot blame President Biden for this mandate. As Governor of Texas, he is well within his authority to stop the medical overreach from occurring. Since the Texas National Guard is not currently under neither Title 10 nor 32 orders, it is not under federal authority. The buck, instead, stops at the Governor’s office. Blaming the Biden administration for the mandate and wringing one’s hands is not a policy decision that a principled leader would take.

Lt. Col. West went on to say:

“It is highly disturbing that our Texas National Guard members are being ordered — mandated — to take a COVID shot. Unless on active-duty orders, the Commander-in-Chief of the Texas National Guard is the Governor, not Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin."

(Full story here
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Gov. Abbott Tests Negative For Coronavirus

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he has now tested negative for COVID-19, four days after testing positive for the virus.

“I am told that my infection was brief and mild because of the vaccination I received,” Abbott said in a video he posted on Twitter Saturday afternoon. “So, I encourage others who have not yet received the vaccination to consider getting one."

(Full story here.)
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Gov. Abbott Tests Positive For Covid-19, Is Fully Vaccinated

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, the governor’s office announced in a release.

“Governor Abbott is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, in good health, and currently experiencing no symptoms. Everyone that the Governor has been in close contact with today has been notified. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott tested negative,” the release says.

Gov. Abbott is tested daily for COVID-19, the release says.

(Full story here.)
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#Texas Supreme Court Upholds Governor's School Mask Ban

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

The Texas Supreme Court on Sunday ruled in favor of upholding Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) order prohibiting mask mandates, a win for the governor after local entities across the state attempted to defy him.

The state Supreme Court action blocked temporary restraining orders that came from district judges. The orders, upheld Friday by intermediate appellate courts, made it possible for local authorities to temporarily override the state mask requirement ban, the Austin American-Statesman reports.

(Full story here.)
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Schools Pushing Mask Mandates Despite Governor's Ban

[#TexasPolitics365]

A Texas judge on Tuesday approved a temporary restraining order preventing the enforcement of Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on mask mandates in schools, just hours after leaders from San Antonio and Bexar County filed a challenge.

A spokesman for the governor's office said they are confident the judge's decision will be overturned on appeal.

Some local school districts across the state are pushing back against Abbott's May executive order that Texas schools can’t require masks for students, with one advocacy group suing to block the order and some of the state’s biggest districts issuing mask mandates anyway or indicating they want to.

Dallas Independent School District officials announced Monday morning that they will require students and teachers to wear masks on campus. Austin ISD’s superintendent also announced late Monday that masks would be required, according to KXAN-TV. 

(Full story here.)
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Galveston GOP Official Who Mocked Covid Dies Of Covid; Democrats Ridicule

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A Texas GOP official whose social media posts include anti-mask and anti-vaccine rhetoric has died from COVID-19.

H. Scott Apley, who according to the Galveston News was a member of the Galveston County Republican Party andG Dickinson City council, was 45 years old.

In his last Facebook post July 30, Apley shared a Twitter post mocking COVID-19.

Media and Democrats widely ridiculed Apley's death online.

(Full story here.)
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Justice Dept. Sues Texas Over Transportation Of Illegal Aliens

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

US Attorney General Merrick Garland made good on a threat to sue the state of Texas, filing a lawsuit Friday challenging an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott that limits nongovernmental organizations from transporting illegal aliens from the southern border.

The Wednesday order from Abbott effectively made it illegal to transport undocumented immigrants in a car, citing the need to prevent the pandemic's spread. Many, of not most, undocumented migrants are unvaccinated.

It bars anyone other than federal, state or local law enforcement from transporting migrants back to the border - something Garland warned in a Thursday letter would impede border officials' ability to contract with various groups, while civil rights groups claimed it would lead to racial profiling.

Meanwhile, Politico reported that the Biden administration on Friday resumed fast-track deportation flights to Central America following another spike in families crossing the border into the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, responding to building pressure on the White House to increase enforcement at the Southern border.

(Full story here.)
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San Antonio Mayor Criticices Abbott's Covid-19 Executive Order

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest executive order, has been sharply criticized by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Under the executive order, governmental entities cannot “compel any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine administered under an emergency use authorization.”

It also removes the ability of local officials to reduce business capacity even if COVID-19 hospitalizations exceeded 15% of total hospital capacity in the region for seven consecutive days. The governor afforded county judges that power in a previous executive order.

He called it a, "callous disregard for life." 

“The governor has shown a callous disregard for life and safety in defiance of clear medical guidance and is risking the safety of our children and the recovery of our economy.”

(Full story here.)

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VP Harris, Who Met With Infected Democrats, Visits Walter Reed Hospital

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday made an unscheduled "surprise" visit to Walter Reed medical center in Washington after her exposure to Texas Democrats last week. Three of them later tested positive for Covid-19.

White House aides described the visit as "a routine doctor's appointment."

(Full story here.)
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Three Fleeing Democrats Have Covid-19

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Three Texas House Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C., to block the passage of a sweeping elections overhaul bill have tested positive for COVID-19. 

The caucus said in a statement that one member tested positive for COVID-19 late Friday evening.

That member immediately informed the rest of the caucus, and members and staff then took rapid tests, confirming two other cases.

House Democrats were pictured late last week on a chartered flight to DC, not wearing face masks.

(Full story here
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McConaughey Questions Motivation Of Anti-Maskers

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Actor Matthew McConaughey has questioned the true motivations of anti-maskers.

During a recent radio interview, the actor, who is actively considering a run for Texas governor, suggested that people who vehemently oppose wearing masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic were being disingenuous about their reasoning for doing so.

McConaughey argued that the issue had become too politicized and advocated for masks as small sacrifices that would eventually pay dividends. He downplayed conservatives concerns about masks.

"I'm like, come on man, I'm not believing you're really scared of this little cotton thing," he continued. "And I'm not believing you really feel that takes away your identity and your freedom. This is a short-term inconvenience for long-term freedom."

It's unclear whether McConaughey will run as a Republican against Governor Abbott or as an independent, if he chooses to run.

(Full story here.)
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Gov. Abbott Orders End To Mask Mandates In Schools, Public Facilities

[#TexasPolitics365]

Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday issued an executive order prohibiting mask mandates by government entities.

Abbott tweeted: 

"Starting May 21, local govts attempting to impose mask mandates can be fined up to $1K. We're also prohibiting public schools from mandating masks after June 4. Texans, not gov’t, should decide their best health practices."

conservative Republicans have been extremely critical of Abbott for imposing a mask mandate at all, although he lifted it on March 2, 2021. However, many local governments and school districts have continue to require masks. This prompted the governor's latest executive order.

Abbott cited the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, the legislature charged the governor with the responsibility “for meeting … the dangers to the state and people presented by disasters” under Section 418.011 of the Texas Government Code, and expressly granted the governor broad authority to fulfill that responsibility.

(Full story here)
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Judge Rejects Miller's Suit Against Senate Testing Rule

[#TexasPolitics365]

A state judge has tossed out a lawsuit by state Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, who argued that his constitutional rights were violated by a Texas Senate rule that requires visitors to take a COVID-19 test before gaining access to the Senate gallery and committee hearing rooms.

Miller, who may run for governor against Gov. Abbott next year, argued that his constitutional rights were violated by a Texas Senate rule that requires visitors to take a COVID-19 test before gaining access to the Senate gallery and committee hearing rooms.

But state District Judge Jan Soifer of Travis County ruled that her court lacked jurisdiction to order the Senate to change its policies.

(Full story here)
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Bill To Halt Gov't Closure Of Churches Passes #Texas House

[#TexasPolitics365]

A bill designed to protect religious freedom and ensure that no governmental entity has the power to close a house of worship has passed the House of Representatives, in a vote of 117 to 29. 

House Bill 1239, sponsored by Rep. Scott Sanford, had over 50 co-sponsors, and was among the priority issues outlined in Governor Greg Abbott’s State of State Address in February. 

The bill prohibits any governmental entity from issuing an order or passing an ordinance that would close houses of worship. In addition to adding a prohibition on closures, the bill also creates a defense against prosecution under the protection of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Backers argued that the unprecedented closure of churches, mosques, and synagogues in 2020 negatively impacted many who were struggling with isolation and stress during the pandemic. 

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Judge Upholds Austin's Continued Mask Mandate Order

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Rejecting arguments by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Travis County state judge declined Friday to block Austin and Travis County pandemic orders requiring employees and customers to wear a face covering in local businesses.

State District Judge Lora Livingston announced her ruling in a short order Friday afternoon after a three-hour hearing held remotely via Zoom.

"I cannot find that (the state) met its burden to demonstrate the right to the relief it seeks," Livingston said, adding that a signed order will follow with additional details.

Full story here.

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