Texas officials announced that SNAP benefits for the state’s most vulnerable residents are at risk due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. If the shutdown continues past October 27th, more than $614 million in food assistance will be halted, impacting approximately 3.5 million Texans, including 1.7 million children. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that November SNAP payments may cease. The Texas Health and Human Services is directing Lone Star Card users to their website for more information, while other assistance programs remain unaffected.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced plans to target university professors accused of promoting “leftist ideologies,” signaling a shift towards increased scrutiny of educational content. This move follows an audit of courses within the University of Texas System focusing on transgender and identity-related topics. Furthermore, these actions are taking place against a backdrop of incidents where educators have faced repercussions for discussing gender and sexual orientation. While the state currently lacks specific legislation prohibiting such discussions at the university level, there is a “Don’t Say Gay” law in place for grades K-12, causing trans and nonbinary students in Texas to report increased intolerance and harassment.
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Interviews with Latino participants at the Austin No Kings protest revealed strong emotions, contrasted by a New Braunfels protestor expressing similar concerns while wearing a dinosaur costume. This Texan city, located between Austin and San Antonio, has experienced significant population growth, yet remains politically conservative. Despite the area’s conservative leanings, a recent protest saw over a hundred participants gather, demonstrating local support for the No Kings movement.
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The agricultural industry is facing financial hardship, and farmers are seeking government assistance. Despite President Trump’s earlier statements about using tariff money to subsidize soybean farmers, the details of aid remain unclear. Agriculture experts emphasize the urgency of a commitment in the coming weeks, however, the administration has yet to finalize the aid amount, its funding source, or its distribution method.
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Elon Musk’s attempt to move an SEC lawsuit regarding his late disclosure of a Twitter stake from Washington, D.C., to Texas was denied by a federal judge. Despite claiming an “incredibly busy” schedule and arguing the D.C. location was burdensome, the judge cited his considerable resources and time spent outside of Texas as reasons to deny the move. The SEC sued Musk in January for allegedly allowing him to buy shares at artificially low prices. Musk is seeking to dismiss the case, while the SEC wants a civil fine and the disgorgement of $150 million.
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The court witnessed Robert Morris, the founder of the megachurch Gateway, accept responsibility for the molestation of Cindy Clemishire, a moment she had sought for decades. The admission marked a significant fall for Morris, whose career included international broadcasts, best-selling books, and a role as a faith advisor. Clemishire, who came forward in June 2024 with allegations of sexual abuse beginning in 1982 when she was 12 years old, prompted Morris’s immediate resignation from Gateway. Though Clemishire initially told her parents and church leaders, she was unable to get restitution from Morris, after he suggested she was responsible for the interactions.
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Texas’ Department of Public Safety has ceased issuing commercial driver licenses (CDLs) and commercial learner permits (CLPs) to DACA recipients, refugees, and individuals granted asylum, effective immediately. This decision follows a new federal rule tightening CDL eligibility for non-citizens and stems from audits revealing ineligible CDL issuance nationwide. Applicants in these categories will be unable to proceed with testing until services are reinstated. The state’s action goes further than the federal rule, which only limits eligibility to non-citizens with employment-based visas.
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An ICE detention facility in Texas is under scrutiny for allegedly inhumane conditions, according to a recent court filing. The filing details accounts of children experiencing shortages of clean water, sleep deprivation, inadequate medical care, and a lack of hygiene products, mirroring a “prison-like environment.” Legal groups monitoring child detention assert that the facility’s conditions violate basic detention standards. The facility is run by CoreCivic on behalf of ICE, and the filing comes as part of a court-ordered compliance report under the Flores settlement agreement.
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A 42-year-old Texas man, Joshua Cole, has been arrested and charged with threatening to shoot up the Abilene Pride Parade. According to the FBI, Cole made specific threats on Facebook, motivated by the recent assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Cole was arrested a day later and admitted to operating the Facebook account but claimed he did not intend to carry out the threats. He is currently being held before trial and faces a potential five-year prison sentence if found guilty.
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Multiple people shot at the Dallas ICE field office, according to a law enforcement source, and the details are starting to come into sharper focus. It appears this is a tragic event with a very specific target: detainees held at the facility. Initial reports indicated at least three people were injured, and sadly, one has been confirmed dead. The shooter, described as a white male, appears to have used a rifle and positioned himself as a sniper, raising concerns about the premeditated nature of this attack. The reports suggest that the suspect, after carrying out the shooting, took his own life as law enforcement closed in.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood