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Texas Removes Razor Wire Along The Border, Here’s Why
Razor wire along the Rio Grande placed to discourage migrant entrance from Mexico has been removed by state officials. Border Report captured images of several large piles of worn barbed wire along the river, evidencing that the wire has been removed. The cameras also captured DPS vehicles and unmarked pickup trucks going up and down the stretch of the border without razor wire.
Hurricane Beryl Claims Seven Lives In Houston Area
At least seven people have died in Texas after Hurricane Beryl slammed the state with strong winds and unleashing flooding. According to the Houston Chronicle, all seven deaths are in the Houston area. Officials reported three deaths in Montgomery County, where a man in his 40s died after a tree...
Abbott Flew To Asia Despite Knowing Hurricane Beryl Would Hit Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott proudly tweeted about his trip to Asia on Monday as Hurricane Beryl killed two people and left more than 2 million Texans without power. Abbott left Friday for a trip to South Korea, Taiwan and Japan to meet with Asian business leaders and “to drive forward progress in industries critical to the future of the global economy,” according to his office.
Republicans Slam Trump’s Attempt To Disassociate From Project 2025
After Donald Trump distanced himself from project 2025, a far-right plan to transform the U.S. into an authoritarian regime, Republicans are saying his efforts are “preposterous,” because the people who wrote the plan worked for him. The project includes plans to fire 50,000 federal employees and replace them...
Fitness for Office
Colin Allred Seeks Distance From Biden To Secure Senate Seat Republicans Slam Trump’s Attempt To Disassociate From Project 2025. Writer, editor, photographer and editorial cartoonist Nick Anderson has joined the Reform Austin newsroom, where he will employ the artistic skill and political insights that earned a Pulitzer Prize to drive coverage of Texas government. As managing editor, Anderson is responsible for guiding Reform Austin’s efforts to give readers the unfiltered facts they need to hold Texas leaders accountable. Anderson’s original cartoons will be a regular feature on RA News. “Reform Austin readers understand the consequences of electing politicians who use ideological agendas to divide us, when they should be doing the hard work necessary to make our state government work for everyone,” Anderson said. “As a veteran journalist, I’m excited about Reform Austin’s potential to re-focus conversations on the issues that matter to common-sense Texans – like protecting our neighborhoods from increasingly common disasters, healthcare, just to name a few.” Anderson worked for the Houston Chronicle, the largest newspaper in Texas, from 2006 until 2017. In addition to the Pulitzer, Anderson earned the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award. He’s also a two-time winner of Columbia College’s Fischetti Award, and the National Press Foundation’s Berryman Award. Anderson’s cartoons have been published in Newsweek, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune and other papers. In 2005, Anderson won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning while working for the Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky. The judges complimented his “unusual graphic style that produced extraordinarily thoughtful and powerful messages.”
Colin Allred Seeks Distance From Biden To Secure Senate Seat
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred is distancing himself from President Joe Biden after his disastrous presidential debate performance, hoping the event won’t affect his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. After the debate, many questioned Biden’s mental and physical fitness to serve another term due to his age, with...
Beryl Leaves 2 Million Texas Homes In The Dark, Officials Expect More
More than 2 million homes around the Houston area were left without power on Monday as tropical storm Beryl crossed the state, bringing widespread destruction. Beryl made landfall near Matagorda town earlier today as a category 1 Hurricane. According to Reuters, so far, 2.3 million homes and businesses in the...
U.S. Army Will No Longer Sponsor SXSW After Pro-Palestinian Protests
Austin music, film and innovation festival South by Southwest (SXSW) announced it would stop taking sponsorship money from the U.S. Army after pro-Palestinian protests. “After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model,” said SXSW in a statement. “As a result, the U.S. Army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”
“Misogynist Influencer” Andrew Tate Granted EU Travel Permission Amidst Human Trafficking Trial
Andrew Tate, the controversial “misogynist influencer” has been granted permission to leave Romania while awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking and rape. A Romanian court ruled that Tate, 37, can travel freely within the EU without restrictions until his trial commences. “It was a good decision,” an...
Is Zuckerberg Cooler Than Musk? Jealousy Sparks
Mark Zuckerberg posted an impressive video of himself hydrofoiling in a tuxedo, and Elon Musk seems unable to admit that another tech billionaire is cooler than he is. “May he continue to have fun on his yachts. I prefer to work,” Musk wrote in an X/Twitter post. Zuckerberg posted...
You Can Legally Buy Marijuana In Texas, Here’s How
Marijuana could be practically legal in Texas, according to a new Texas Monthly investigation, which found that most hemp shops in the state legally sell marijuana, not hemp. Thousands of hemp dispensaries sell highly potent cannabis strains with minimal oversight. The result is a sprawling, unregulated market. Texas Monthly tested...
Texas Republican Culture War Bill: $100 Billion And Climbing
A new analysis shows that laws passed by Texas Republicans will likely cost the state $100 billion in economic activity, and the number will almost certainly grow. In 2021, Governor Greg Abbott signed a bizarre law that prohibits the state from doing business with companies that “discriminate” against the gun industry. If, say, a financial company has made a vow not to invest in gun manufacturers, then they will not be eligible to bid for Texas state contracts and services. A similar law also protects the fossil fuel industry as more companies try to move their resources into clean energy amidst the ingoing climate crises.
Fourth Of July Shark Attack In Texas: How Rare Are These Attacks?
At least two people were bitten by a shark this Fourth of July in South Padre Island, Texas, but how common is it to be bitten by a shark in the state?. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, two people were bitten in the attack and two others encountered the shark but were not seriously injured. Officials said the attack was linked to a single shark, but attacks like this are not common in Texas.
Will Hurricane Beryl Hit Texas? Here Are The Latest Updates
Hurricane Beryl will most likely make a landfall in the southern Texas Gulf Coast, near Corpus Christi, according to a new model. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the storm. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Beryl made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula this morning, with maximum...
Amarillo To Vote On Controversial Abortion Travel Ban
In November, Amarillo residents will vote on an abortion travel ban ordinance that would design the city as a “Sanctuary for the Unborn.”. According to the Texas Tribune, supporters of the abortion travel ban gathered 6,300 verified signatures to petition for the ordinance to be placed on the November 5 ballot. This move came after the Amarillo City Council rejected the proposal last month, adhering to local procedural rules that allow citizens to petition for a ballot measure if the council does not approve it.
Your Guide To The Best Fourth Of July Celebrations In Austin And Houston
As the sweltering summer sun rises over the vast plains and bustling cities of Texas, the Lone Star State prepares for one of its most cherished holidays: the Fourth of July. If you still don’t know what to do today, keep reading our guide of the best Independence Day celebrations in Austin and Houston.
Biden’s Heat Protection Rules Challenge Texas’ ‘Death Star’ Law
The Biden administration has proposed new federal rules requiring employers to provide water and rest breaks for workers during extreme heat. This move could counteract a Texas law preventing cities from passing their own workplace-safety rules. The rules, proposed through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates water and...
AG Office Not Collecting Fines Paxton Owes
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton owes $11,000 in fines to the Texas Ethics Commission. Unfortunately, the state agency in charge of collecting those fines is the Attorney General’s office, and it has failed to do so despite receiving the notice of the fines in April. It’s the latest in...
San Antonio Schools Face Budget Crisis Amid State Funding Failures
San Antonio school districts, like those across Texas, are bearing the burden of the state legislature’s failure to pass a comprehensive education funding bill in the last session. As a result, they are being forced to cut programs and reduce positions to maintain operating costs and offer small raises to a limited pool of staff.
GOP Skepticism Grows Over Abbott’s $20 Billion Border Wall
Gov. Greg Abbott’s border wall could take more than 30 years and cost more than $20 billion, and some Republicans are beginning to express concerns that the plan is simply not feasible. The plan began three years ago, and only 34 miles of steel bollards have been erected, costing...
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Reform Austin (RA) was created to inform Texans about politics and politicians. We produce high-quality investigative reporting and news analysis from a network of local correspondents to engage readers about what goes on behind the doors of our state Capitol through our daily news site, Reform Austin News. Reform Austin is dedicated to increasing public awareness regarding the use of tax dollars and the policies that shape everyday life in Texas. We provide independent reporting for a better Texas and are focused on long-form, investigative and enterprise stories. We believe that a story doesn’t always have to be written to be effective. We embrace a multi-platform, digital-first, engagement-driven approach to journalism for all audiences. From social matters to politics, we’re breaking down the issues that are important to you, and delivering investigative stories straight to your social feeds. We make it easier to be part of a smarter Texas.
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