INSIDER
“It’s time for big change”: Texas Republicans seeking to oust Speaker Dade Phelan present united front
Read full article: “It’s time for big change”: Texas Republicans seeking to oust Speaker Dade Phelan present united frontReps. Tom Oliverson and Shelby Slawson, both members of House Republican leadership, became the first two candidates to challenge Phelan’s speakership.
‘Do not take out your anger on them’: Local officials condemn threats towards CenterPoint workers
Read full article: ‘Do not take out your anger on them’: Local officials condemn threats towards CenterPoint workersSeveral city and state officials spoke up recently to address an issue they say is becoming a larger pattern: CenterPoint workers being attacked or threatened while working to restore power to the Houston area.
Texas Ethics Commission will require influencers to disclose when they’re paid for advertisement
Read full article: Texas Ethics Commission will require influencers to disclose when they’re paid for advertisementThe action comes after The Texas Tribune reported that influencers were being paid to defend impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton.
State Rep. Shelby Slawson says she’s running for House speaker in letter condemning Phelan
Read full article: State Rep. Shelby Slawson says she’s running for House speaker in letter condemning PhelanThe announcement came two days after Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, narrowly survived a runoff challenge from the GOP’s hard right.
Gen Z influencers, quietly recruited by a company with deep GOP ties, rally to impeached Ken Paxton’s aid
Read full article: Gen Z influencers, quietly recruited by a company with deep GOP ties, rally to impeached Ken Paxton’s aidAfter a June gathering in Fort Worth sponsored by a new company, Influenceable, social media leaders began backing the suspended Texas attorney general and a controversial human trafficking film. Those who favor transparency in political advocacy are concerned.
In a political era of “parental rights,” Texans raising trans kids say new law strips them of choice
Read full article: In a political era of “parental rights,” Texans raising trans kids say new law strips them of choiceSenate Bill 14, which is set to take effect on Sept. 1, bans transition-related care for minors. Parents of transgender kids say it blocks their ability to support their children.
Lawmakers passed a bill to stop insurers from considering ESG criteria in setting rates
Read full article: Lawmakers passed a bill to stop insurers from considering ESG criteria in setting ratesSo-called environmental, social and governance policies are often adopted by companies to reduce their carbon footprints. The new Texas bill aims to stop insurers doing business in Texas from using ESG criteria, but it doesn’t include penalties for violations.
Pivotal House vote moves Texas closer to banning puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kids
Read full article: Pivotal House vote moves Texas closer to banning puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kidsThe House approved a bill Monday that would ban doctors from providing transition-related care to children. It now heads back to the Senate, which can accept the changes or ask for a committee to iron out the chambers’ differences.
Protesters evicted from Texas Capitol as clash between LGBTQ residents and GOP leaders escalates
Read full article: Protesters evicted from Texas Capitol as clash between LGBTQ residents and GOP leaders escalatesTexas state police detained and handcuffed people protesting legislation that would prohibit transgender kids from getting puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The House separately delayed a vote on Senate Bill 14 until later this week.
“A death sentence”: Trans Texas teen plots his future as proposed ban on hormone therapy progresses
Read full article: “A death sentence”: Trans Texas teen plots his future as proposed ban on hormone therapy progressesAs Texas House members could soon vote to ban transition-related care for minors, many lives are in limbo, and trans kids like 16-year-old Randell are grappling with difficult decisions.
The battle to legalize fentanyl testing strips continues in Austin
Read full article: The battle to legalize fentanyl testing strips continues in AustinIn Austin on Thursday, Governor Greg Abbott announced immediate emergency actions to combat the rising number of fentanyl deaths in Texas. The governor making the announcement at a fentanyl summit consisting of more than 250 people where the governor announced his One Pill Kills campaign.
Texas Republicans have filed dozens of bills affecting LGBTQ people. Here’s what they’d do.
Read full article: Texas Republicans have filed dozens of bills affecting LGBTQ people. Here’s what they’d do.Texas lawmakers this year are debating whether to block transgender kids’ access to transition-related health care, classify businesses that host drag shows as sexually oriented establishments and limit public school lessons on sexuality and gender identity.
Texas GOP lawmakers warming to opioid harm-reduction policies they once opposed
Read full article: Texas GOP lawmakers warming to opioid harm-reduction policies they once opposedGov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans have expressed support for legalizing fentanyl test strips, which help users identify whether the drugs they are planning on taking contain the deadly synthetic opioid.
Texas bill to block COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employers failed in Legislature after business groups rallied against it
Read full article: Texas bill to block COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employers failed in Legislature after business groups rallied against itA prohibition on vaccine mandates was one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities for the special session, but it did not have enough support in the Legislature.
As Texas GOP wages war on COVID-19 mandates, lawmakers OK bill that would make companies requiring the shot vulnerable to lawsuits
Read full article: As Texas GOP wages war on COVID-19 mandates, lawmakers OK bill that would make companies requiring the shot vulnerable to lawsuitsSenate Bill 51 would make any entity, including hospitals, vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits if they mandate vaccinations for all employees.
Texas House OKs Senate bill to require voter approval before cutting law enforcement funds — but only for large counties
Read full article: Texas House OKs Senate bill to require voter approval before cutting law enforcement funds — but only for large countiesThe Senate bill originally applied to all local Texas jurisdictions, but was changed in a House committee. A House bill that is in the Senate would financially punish the state’s larger cities if they cut police funds.
Texas House lifts its mask requirement for chamber and committees
Read full article: Texas House lifts its mask requirement for chamber and committeesThe Texas House removed a requirement Thursday that people wear face masks on the House floor and during House committee meetings for the remainder of the legislative session that ends May 31.
Has coronavirus surge impacted contact tracing efforts?
Read full article: Has coronavirus surge impacted contact tracing efforts?In the initial chapters of the pandemic, there was much written and learned about contact tracing. Channel 2 Investigates spoke with State Rep. Tom Oliverson on Monday about contact tracing and it’s relevance with significantly higher case numbers. “I think contact tracing is still very relevant especially where you have discreet outbreaks in sort of a more closed environment,” Oliverson said. Oliverson points to nursing homes, camps, organized team practices and indoor environments as examples where contact tracing now works best. However, if outside those kinds of areas contact tracing doesn’t have the same impact.