MRT 10/27/25 (free) (sponsored by TX Flyover): HOU, ATX Differ on Deficits // TEA Takes Over FWISD // Schatzline to Retire // Hunt Absenteeism Challenged // Hawkins Appointed to TX Supreme Court

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MONDAY || 10/27/2025

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• TOP NEWS

“Alamo Trust president resigns after Dan Patrick calls for her removal,” Texas Tribune’s Kayla Guo and Alejandro Serrano -- “The president of the Alamo Trust, which manages the historic site, resigned after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on her to do as much over views she expressed in a doctoral dissertation in 2023 suggesting she disagrees with Republican leaders.

Kate Rogers said Friday that she had submitted her resignation Thursday with “mixed emotions” following a letter that Patrick sent the Alamo Trust’s board of directors about Rogers’ writings that he said were “incompatible with the telling of the history of the battle of the Alamo.”

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“It became evident through recent events that it was time for me to move on. I am incredibly proud of the team we built and the work we did together over the past 4 and a half years,” Rogers said. “I remain grateful to the board for this incredible opportunity that enabled me to grow both personally and professionally and to our state’s leadership and the Legislature for their generous support.”

Later Friday the Alamo Trust board announced former Secretary of State Hope Andrade would be the organization’s next president and chief executive. Neither Alamo Trust officials or a spokesperson returned requests for comment sent Friday via email and text.

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In the excerpt of her dissertation that Patrick posted on social media, Rogers described the competing politics of Republican state leaders, who want the 1836 battle to be the primary focus of the Alamo’s redevelopment, and of local officials from Bexar County and the City of San Antonio, who have pushed for the project to “tell the full story of the site including its beginning as a home to Indigenous people.”

“Personally, I would love to see the Alamo become a beacon for historical reconciliation and a place that brings people together versus tearing them apart,” wrote Rogers, who was serving as the Alamo Trust’s executive director at the time, “but politically that may not be possible at this time.”

She added, “for all these reasons, I had to be very careful with my study and its implications as it could have negative consequences” for the Alamo project, “as well as my job.”

In her EdD dissertation, which examined the role of historic sites and museums in supporting social studies instruction in K-12 classrooms, Rogers also described the “conservative agenda” of the 2023 legislative session. She noted bills that “ban educators from teaching Critical Race Theory,” and “prohibited the discussion of slavery.” And she discussed the book, “Forget the Alamo,” which argued that maintaining chattel slavery was a primary motivator in the Texas fight for independence.

“Perhaps the biggest dilemma for me as a researcher … had to do with my own political views and my current environment,” Rogers wrote. “Philosophically, I do not believe it is the role of politicians to determine what professional educators can or should teach in the classroom. Instead, teachers should be afforded the autonomy to make those decisions based on their own expertise as well as the needs of their students.”

Patrick’s successful call for Rogers’ ouster was just the latest flashpoint in a long-running debate over how the story of the Alamo should be presented. Republican state leaders have largely demanded the site remain focused on the 13-day siege and legendary 1836 Battle of the Alamo, rejecting broader narratives that address the Indigenous people of the area and consider the role slavery played in the Texas Revolution.

Patrick’s urging was also the most recent instance of Republican state leaders moving to oust people from their jobs over perceived differences in political ideology. A handful of professors, administrators and students at public universities in Texas have been fired or expelled over the past few months after conservative lawmakers seized on evidence that they had mocked the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk or discussed LGBTQ issues in classroom settings.

In a statement Thursday, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, urged the board of the Alamo Trust to give Rogers “all due consideration and the full opportunity to contextualize her writings.”

“Alamo Trust President and CEO Dr. Kate Rogers has done the unimaginable: As recently as yesterday, indicators have shown the Alamo Plan is on time and on budget, all with Dr. Rogers at the helm,” Martinez Fischer said.

The roughly $500 million restoration and expansion of the Alamo includes a new museum and visitor center, which is slated to open in 2027 and include eight galleries that cover the history of the Alamo from its Indigenous context through the Battle of the Alamo and its legacy in Texas.

In 2015, the General Land Office — which oversees the Alamo — Bexar County and the City of San Antonio agreed to a set of “guiding principles” that include telling “the entire history of the Alamo area” and embracing “the continuum of history to foster understanding and healing.”

In his letter to the board, Patrick wrote that, “of course the entire story of the Alamo will be told, but the overriding emphasis must be on the ‘13 Days of Glory,’ as nearly 200 men gave their lives to defend liberty and freedom for Texas.”

He added that he would “continue to defend the Alamo today against a rewrite of history.”” Texas Tribune

“Here’s what parents need to know about the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD,” Fort Worth Report’s Jacob Sanchez and Matthew Sgroi -- “Texas is now in control of Fort Worth ISD.

But what does that mean for FWISD’s 65,700 students, their families and 10,000 district employees?

Here are answers to a few questions parents and community members have about Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath’s decision to take over Fort Worth schools.

FWISD takeover questions

What is a takeover of schools?

A takeover is an intervention by the Texas Education Agency commissioner who replaces an elected school board with a slate of appointed members.

Those appointed members form a board of managers, which exercises the power and duties previously assigned to trustees in overseeing the management of a public school district.

Who makes the decision about a takeover?

The Texas education commissioner decides whether the state takes over a school district.

The current education commissioner is Morath.

Who is Mike Morath?

He is the state’s education commissioner and leads the Texas Education Agency, which oversees public schools.

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Morath to the position in January 2016. Morath previously served as a Dallas school trustee for four years.

How long is a takeover?

The short answer: At least two years — and possibly longer.

A state-appointed board of managers must stay in place for a minimum of two years.

Just before that two-year mark, the education commissioner must decide whether to begin returning control to Fort Worth voters or extend the board’s authority.

If the commissioner decides the district hasn’t made enough academic or financial progress, he can extend the takeover for up to two more years at a time. The law allows the process to continue in two-year increments until the district shows sustained improvement.

FWISD school board elections will continue as normal. Trustees will still be chosen by Fort Worth voters on the regular election cycle. But while the board of managers is in power, those elected trustees do not have governing authority.

When the commissioner determines Fort Worth ISD is ready to transition back to local control, trustees will be reintroduced gradually: One-third of the state-appointed managers will be replaced each year by local trustees, until an entirely elected board resumes full power and responsibility.

Even after the board of managers steps down, the law requires leadership training for the returning elected trustees to ensure a stable handoff.

What triggers the state taking control?

Persistent low academic performance — largely determined by STAAR results — can lead to a takeover. The commissioner intervenes when either a school or a district receives a failing grade in the state’s A-F academic accountability ratings for five consecutive years.

State law requires the commissioner to either close the failing campus or appoint a new board of managers.

Other reasons can lead to intervention.

Why did the state intervene in Fort Worth ISD?

Five years of failing academic accountability grades at the now-closed Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade triggered the Texas law.

The school board closed the campus in 2024 with trustees and district leaders saying then that they took a proactive approach to meet TEA requirements.

Meanwhile, Morath has cited the district’s “chronically low levels of support given to students and very low levels of academic performance.” FWISD has lagged behind the state, Dallas and Houston on STAAR results and other measures. Houston schools are currently under a state takeover.

Roughly a third of FWISD students currently read on grade level, while slightly more than a quarter are on track in math.

Are there any immediate changes in FWISD for students and teachers?

Nothing will change immediately in Fort Worth ISD, Morath said.

When will changes occur?

Morath expects substantive changes emphasizing academic rigor for students and stronger support for teachers in the next year.

What happens to FWISD’s nine elected trustees?

They still hold office but without any power. The state-appointed board of managers holds governing authority.

Elections will continue as scheduled during the takeover.

How is a board of managers appointed?

The education commissioner will appoint FWISD residents to the board of managers. The Texas Education Agency is seeking applicants from the district. The deadline to apply is Nov. 21.

TEA officials will screen applications, train candidates in school board governance and interview contenders.

A majority of the board of managers must be residents of the district. Managers will serve for two years unless the education commissioner extends a takeover.

When will Fort Worth’s board of managers be appointed?

Morath expects to appoint them in the spring, he said during an Oct. 23 news conference. Alongside the appointed board, he will announce his selection of superintendent.

The commissioner plans to appoint a conservator before he appoints the board of managers and superintendent.” FW Report

“Tesla recalls more than 63,000 Cybertrucks because the front lights are too bright,” AP’s Michelle Chapman -- “Tesla is recalling more than 63,000 Cybertrucks in the U.S. because the front lights are too bright, which may cause a distraction to other drivers and increase the risk of a collision.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the recall includes certain Cybertrucks with a model year between 2024 and 2026. The vehicles were made between Nov. 13, 2023, and Oct. 11, 2025, with operating software versions prior to 2025.38.3.

The agency said that Tesla is not aware of any collisions, injuries, or fatalities related to the condition.

Tesla, which is run by billionaire Elon Musk, is issuing a free software update to correct the issue.

Earlier this month, federal regulators opened yet another investigation into Tesla’s self-driving feature after dozens of incidents in which the cars ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road, sometimes crashing into other vehicles and causing injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a filing that it was looking into 58 incidents in which Teslas reportedly violated traffic safety laws while using the company’s so-called Full Self-Driving mode, leading to more than a dozen crashes and fires and nearly two dozen injuries. The new probe adds to several other open investigations into Tesla technology that could upend Musk’s plans to turn millions of his cars already on the road into completely driverless vehicles with a over-the-air update to their software.

In March U.S. safety regulators recalled virtually all Cybertrucks on the road. The NHTSA’s recall, which covered more than 46,000 Cybertrucks, warned that an exterior panel that runs along the left and right side of the windshield can detach while driving, creating a dangerous road hazard for other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

On Wednesday Tesla reported a fourth straight decline in quarterly profit, even as sales rose. The automaker reported third-quarter earnings plunged 37% to $1.4 billion, or 39 cents a share, from $2.2 billion, or 62 cents a share, a year earlier. That marked the fourth quarter in a row that profit dropped. And even the revenue rise, a welcome relief from a sales plunge earlier in the year due to anti-Musk boycotts, came with a significant caveat: Customers rushed to take advantage of a $7,500 federal EV tax credit before it expired on Oct. 1, possibly stealing sales from the current quarter.” AP

• 2025  

“A tale of two broke cities: How Austin and Houston take radically different approaches to taxes,” Austin American-Statesman’s Chaya Tony and Abby Church -- “In August, Austin City Council member Marc Duchen found himself alone on the dais as the only “no” vote on a $6.3 billion budget.

The vote wasn’t close, but it was consequential. The budget relied on a record 20% property tax increase — the largest in Austin’s history — pending voter approval of Proposition Q this November. City leaders hailed the plan as a bold investment in housing, homelessness programs and public safety amid a projected deficit.

Duchen saw it differently.

“I think the culture is, ‘We don’t need to worry too much about money and spending,’” he said. “It’s so much easier to spend money. It’s so much easier to go out and ask people for more.”

That conviction led him to look 165 miles to the east, where another big, blue Texas city is taking a vastly different approach to its own financial crisis.

In Houston, Mayor John Whitmire has been on a no-new-taxes crusade – a move that carries its own risks.

Two cities, two systems

By many measures, Austin and Houston could not be more different.

Austin is smaller, wealthier and more homogenous; Houston is twice the size, far more diverse and working-class. It also operates under a strong-mayor system, giving Whitmire sweeping authority over the budget and city operations.

Austin, by contrast, has a council–city manager form of government, meaning City Manager T.C. Broadnax — rather than Mayor Kirk Watson — has significant control over Austin’s financial approach. While Watson can champion policy goals, it’s Broadnax who translates them into fiscal reality.

“Austin and Houston are very different cities,” Broadnax said in a statement sent in response to questions about the different fiscal approaches.

Still, one could argue the cities are mirror images: fast-growing, left-leaning metropolises grappling with affordability and infrastructure strain.

Both are led by longtime Democratic politicians who know each other well: Whitmire and Watson served for years together in the Texas Senate before retiring to govern their respective hometowns, where they’ve struggled to balance progressive ideals with financial and political realities.

Both cities are perpetually in the crosshairs of the Republican-dominated Legislature, which has in recent years taken extraordinary measures to both rein in local property taxes and curb the influence of the state’s Democratic-leaning cities.

One of the most consequential moves came in 2019 in the form of a cap on local property tax revenues – a measure that now defines local budget debates across Texas. The policy says that cities can’t raise property tax revenue more than 3.5% a year without going directly to voters, turning each tax election into a political minefield.

For Austin, the cap is in large part what made Prop Q necessary. For Houston, it’s one reason Whitmire has resisted revenue hikes, knowing he’d need voter consent to exceed the cap anyway.

“Over the last several years, Austin has focused on managing rising costs as we deal with the impacts of the state-imposed 3.5% revenue cap,” Broadnax said in his statement.

Houston’s Gamble: Efficiency Over Revenue

When Whitmire became Houston’s mayor in January 2024, he inherited a city with the lowest property tax rates among major Texas metros — and one of the strictest local revenue caps. Those limits, combined with hefty union pay raises, left Houston with a $330 million budget shortfall a year into his term.

Whitmire has insisted he can steer Houston toward solvency without new revenue, launching a citywide efficiency study to cut costs and eliminate waste. The review by mega-firm Ernst & Young identified $122 million in potential savings and led to hiring freezes, early retirements, and departmental consolidations.

To help pay for major fire and police pay raises — including $650 million in back pay and nearly $1 billion in long-term increases — he slashed budgets for parks, libraries, and housing.

The decision earned Whitmire praise for fiscal discipline, but also criticism for deep service cuts.

Council Member Sallie Alcorn, chair of Houston’s budget committee, cried foul at a council meeting earlier this month ahead of the vote to set the city’s tax rate. She was on the losing end of a vote to keep the tax rate flat.

Houston had the option to increase its tax rate by 2 cents without an election, which would have generated $50 million in revenue for city services.

“It’s a swing and a miss to not bring in the revenue we need to cover our budget,” Alcorn said. “What I know with certainty is that dipping further into our fund balance by $53 million weakens the city’s financial position, and it deepens future deficits.”

Whitmire remains adamant. “We’ll do it without raising taxes,” he said at the meeting. “I understand the pain our residents have over affordability. Taxes harm affordability.”

That message resonates with voters weary of rising costs. But analysts warn that, without new revenue, Houston could face a $227 million deficit by 2027 and a $463 million deficit by 2030 — a gap too deep to close through efficiency alone. The city’s efficiency study is projected to save just $65 million over the next two to four years.

Houston, like Austin, will “almost certainly” need to ask voters for more revenue, whether through property taxes or new fees, said Rita Jefferson, a local analyst with the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.–based think tank.

Austin’s Gamble: Taxing to Preserve

Texas law requires cities to have balanced budgets.

In late July, Broadnax’s office presented a $6.3 billion spending plan to the Austin City Council – the largest in city history. It was balanced on a 3.5% property tax increase but also millions of dollars in cuts and reserve money to balance a projected shortfall of $33.4 million.

While the plan included some controversial cuts like reducing overtime pay for police and firefighters, it also gave raises to other city employees – and increased the food and travel budgets of city council offices, which each received 4.5% more money overall than the prior year.

Still, a majority of the council wasn’t pleased. Weeks later, it voted 10-1 to increase the city property tax rate by more than 20% – well beyond the 3.5% cap, thus triggering a tax rate election.

Proposition Q will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot with early voting ongoing.

Austin leaders are betting that voters will approve the hike to sustain and expand city services many residents see as central to Austin’s identity. Council members like Ryan Alter have described the possible failure of Prop Q as an existential threat to the city’s quality of life.

“If people want to have a city where you don’t see people sleeping on the street, or where someone’s having a mental health crisis on the corner, we’ve got to make those investments and without Prop Q, that doesn’t happen,” Alter said in an interview.

He also pointed out that Houston had to dip into its reserves to balance its budget, a move he said Austin ultimately decided was too risky. (Houston ultimately decided to withdraw $107 million from its savings.)

Still, there’s a looming question as to how critical Prop Q really is.

Kerri Lang, the city budget director, described the $110 million measure as funding only “enhanced” – rather than critical – services. Even Alter acknowledged it would pay for some new expenses, such as an extra $6 million toward park maintenance.

The city’s big ask of voters also comes amid growing scrutiny of its spending habits and lack of transparency.

Over the past five years, the city has spent more than $400 million on homelessness programs, yet an audit last year found that some provider contracts lacked clear goals or accountability.

In 2022, the City Council quietly approved a roughly 40% pay raise for its members, boosting council salaries from about $83,000 to $116,000 and the mayor’s salary from $97,000 to $134,000 — a move that drew sharp criticism for its lack of transparency. By contrast, Houston City Council members make just under $63,000 per year, even though they serve far more constituents.

The American-Statesman recently reported on questionable discretionary spending by city leaders. Alter and Broadnax agreed to reimburse taxpayers for thousands of dollars in working lunches as a result. The city also has come under fire for a $1.1 million rebranding effort, centered on a new logo that many found lacking.

To Duchen, these decisions point to a deeper cultural problem.

“We can’t afford to do what we’ve been doing for the last 10 years,” he said. “If Prop Q fails, we’ll have an unprecedented opportunity to figure out if there are aspects of Houston’s study that we can take for ourselves.”

Prop Q stands in contrast to other tax increases Austin has sought in the recent past because it is not tied to a specific project, such as expanding light rail, but rather a long list of priorities across city departments.

Michael H. Granof, a professor emeritus in accounting at the University of Texas, called the approach “very risky.”

Austinites have historically been “willing to vote for tax increases but usually those tax increases are for specific projects,” he said. This time around, city leaders have opted to present Prop Q to voters as a more general measure necessary to cover a variety of important priorities.

“We’ll know in another two weeks whether their gamble paid off,” he said.” AAS ($)

“Gov. Greg Abbott could gain new leverage over Democratic judges under ballot measure,” Houston Chronicle’s Benjamin Wermund and Taylor Goldenstein -- “Gov. Greg Abbott could soon have a powerful new tool to go after Democratic judges he’s deemed too lenient under a proposal on the November ballot.

The constitutional amendment would let the governor appoint a majority of the members on the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, effectively giving him control over the panel that reviews complaints against judges and can reprimand them or even recommend their removal.

Prop 12 changes the commission makeup

Right now, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct is made up of six judges appointed by the Texas Supreme Court, five citizen members who aren’t attorneys or public employees appointed by the governor and two attorneys appointed by the State Bar of Texas.

If Proposition 12 passes, the governor would appoint seven members of the commission, who could include citizens and lawyers, and the state supreme court would name six judges. The commission would also be allowed to discipline judges who “willfully or persistently” violate bail rules.

Proponents of Proposition 12, including state Sen. Joan Huffman, a Houston Republican who authored the proposal, say it is aimed at boosting public participation in the commission by allowing the governor two additional citizen appointments. It would also get rid of the panel’s ability to issue private reprimands, which supporters say is meant to make the commission’s decisions more transparent.

But critics contend the changes would effectively convert what is now a minority of citizen representatives into a majority of political appointees.

Abbott would name seven of the 13 members and no longer face restrictions barring him from picking lawyers and state employees. The state supreme court would still appoint six judges to the panel, but the State Bar Association, a group that Abbott and other Republicans have clashed with in recent years, would lose its two lawyer appointees.

“The governor would unilaterally control that commission now,” said Jesse Hoffman, a Dallas lawyer and former assistant attorney general. “If any judge disrupts the governor, or anybody who the governor is willing to take marching orders from, he would now have a powerful tool to get that judge back in line or get him or her out of the way entirely.”

Abbott has vocally criticized Democratic judges, sometimes calling them out by name, as he pushed for new bail restrictions this year, which are also on the ballot this November. If the amendment passes, the commission would be allowed to discipline judges who “willfully or persistently” violate bail rules.

“Activist judges have too much discretion to let repeat offenders out on bail, only to see them harm more Texans,” Abbott’s office said in a statement Friday. “Proposition 12 ensures that Judges who fail to uphold their duties will face stricter consequences, and the Governor encourages Texans to support this critical item.”” Texas Tribune

• 2026  

“North Texas Rep. Nate Schatzline won’t run for reelection,” Texas Tribune’s Alejandro Serrano -- “State Rep. Nate Schatzline, a Fort Worth Republican, said on Monday that he will not seek reelection and instead join a group of faith leaders that encourages churches to speak out about Christian conservative values.

Schatzline is one of the most conservative members of the Legislature’s lower chamber. In a social media post, he said that in his new role at the National Faith Advisory Board he will work to “equip pastors to step up and speak out about religious freedom, to fight for life at all stages, to stand for family values, and to promote a strong America that puts God first.”

“It has never been more clear that the battle for our nation is not political, it is spiritual,” Schatzline wrote. He said he will continue to be a pastor at Mercy Culture Church.

In June, Schatzline briefly sought an open seat in the state Senate but dropped his bid when another hardline conservative, activist Leigh Wambsganss, entered the race with an endorsement from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the chamber’s powerful president.

The National Faith Advisory Board was founded by Paula White, a Florida televangelist who has advised President Donald Trump. White also currently serves on Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, a group that offers counsel to Trump on religious liberty policies. Patrick serves as the commission’s chair.

After Schatzline announced he would not seek reelection Monday, Fort Worth City Council member Alan Blaylock said he would seek the vacant seat representing north Fort Worth.” Texas Tribune

“Wesley Hunt clashes with John Cornyn over claims he constantly misses votes,” Houston Chronicle’s James Osborne — “U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s attacks on Houston congressman Wesley Hunt’s attendance record are ratcheting up tension between the campaigns ahead of the March 3 GOP primary.

Since Hunt announced his candidacy for Cornyn’s seat earlier this month, the incumbent’s campaign has accused Hunt of having one of the worst attendance records in Congress.

Now, Hunt is shooting back at Cornyn’s “incessant criticism of his missed votes,” saying it’s partly the result of having to be at home while his wife and now two-year-old son recovered from a difficult birth in January 2023.

“My first son, Willie Hunt II, named after my father, spent the first months of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit fighting for his life,” he said in a statement last week. “During this extreme hardship, I made the decision to prioritize my children and my wife, who was also admitted into the (Intensive Care Unit) after giving birth, by staying home and taking care of my family.”

Hunt has missed 18.5% of votes since being elected to the House in 2022 — compared to the average 2% for sitting congressman — according to the website GovTrack.

Asked about Hunt’s explanation, Cornyn’s campaign questioned why Hunt was still missing votes more than two years after his son’s birth.

“Why did he miss every vote on a Monday from Jan. 3 until mid-September (2025)? Why did he miss every vote the first week of September after a month-long August recess?” said Matt Mackowiak, senior advisor to Cornyn’s campaign.

Cornyn and Hunt are competing against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the high-profile GOP primary race for U.S. Senate. Cornyn and Paxton are in a virtual tie with 33% and 34% respectively, while Hunt trails with 22%, according to a poll by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University released earlier this month.

Hunt’s attendance record in Congress has been drawing increasing scrutiny since rumors of his senate campaign began.

In September, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which campaigns on behalf of GOP incumbents, posted a story from the National Review with the headline, “Wesley Hunt’s Roll-Call Vote Absences Tick Up As He Weighs 2026 Senate Run.”

Earlier this month, Hunt’s absenteeism came up in an interview with CBS News Texas, in which he said many of his missed votes came in 2024, when he was campaigning for President Donald Trump.

“I was traveling all over the county with the president to make sure that in the most consequential election that I have seen in my lifetime, President Trump got over the finish line,” he said.

Asked about Cornyn’s focus on his attendance record, Hunt’s campaign said the four-term senator was attempting to “distract voters” from his record.

In a statement, the campaign pointed to Cornyn’s criticism of Trump after the president’s supporters stormed the Capitol and his work with Democrats on gun legislation following the Uvalde school shooting.

“If anyone should be missing votes it’s him, because every time he shows up, he sides with Democrats, undermines President and votes against the will of Texas conservatives,” the statement said.” AP

Phil Gramm & Kay Bailey Hutchison guest column: “We served Texas in the Senate. Now we’re backing John Cornyn,” via Houston Chronicle — “Together we served 38 years in the Senate representing the greatest state in the greatest country in the history of the world. So we know something about getting things done in Washington to make life better for people in Texas and America. We also know Sen. John Cornyn and have worked with him and followed his leadership in the Senate. He is a workhorse and not a show horse. He knows he is in the Senate to lead and not to protest.

We are proud to endorse Sen. Cornyn for reelection and we urge Texas voters to give him a strong mandate in the primary and general election. If you look closely at Cornyn’s record in the U.S. Senate, you’ll find fidelity to conservative principles, effective problem-solving that produces results and a solid voting record in support of Texas and American interests.

Cornyn has supported President Donald Trump’s legislative program. He provided key leadership in passing and reauthorizing the president’s tax cuts, supporting regulatory relief, bolstering energy independence and strengthening national defense. In our eyes, he has always put Texas first and, based on his record, we are confident he always will.

No issue has mattered more to Texans than border security; not because it’s a good political talking point, but because it is about our safety, sovereignty and the rule of law. Under President Joe Biden’s failure at the border, Texas stepped up with Operation Lone Star to protect our families and our communities. The state has spent billions out of its own pocket to protect our southern border when the federal government abdicated that responsibility.

Cornyn led the fight in Washington to reimburse Texas for that cost. He didn’t just give a speech or hold a press conference, he provided the leadership in assuring that the “One Big Beautiful Bill” offered more than $13 billion in state reimbursement grants, with the lion’s share going to Texas. This federal reimbursement was not guaranteed. It required a heavy lift by Cornyn, whose strategic mind, work ethic, strong relationships and legislative experience all combined to get this job done.

Texas has prospered under leaders who believe that the role of government is to protect freedom and guarantee justice, not to micromanage our lives. When many in Washington, in both parties, seemed committed to spending the nation into bankruptcy, Cornyn fought to bring federal spending under control. Few in American government have been more supportive of Trump’s deregulatory effort than Texas’ senior senator. He has fought for deregulation because he knows the business of Texas and the business of America is business.

Because of good government, Texas continues to attract investment, create jobs and lead the nation in creating a stronger economy. Energy production is up. Business is moving to Texas. Texas workers are making better wages. That prosperity is no accident; it’s the result of consistent, conservative leadership in Congress and at the state level. Cornyn has provided that leadership.

When Republicans talk instead of lead, we lose the voters’ trust and we lose elections. Results matter far more than TV interviews and social media posts. Cornyn has a proven record of effectiveness, and polls show Democrats have little chance of defeating him in the general election. No wonder they oppose him in the Republican primary.

We live in a moment when border security is being tested, when unsustainable debt is growing, when Washington is threatening to overreach. We need representatives who defend the Constitution, who defend our communities, who protect your pocketbook. Cornyn has done just that. We can trust that he will do so again.

In our years in Washington, we have seen many senators who promised much, but too few who got the job done. Cornyn’s record proves that he is one of the rare senators who actually has made things better in Texas and America.

We know what it takes to be effective in the U.S. Senate and we know John Cornyn has the right stuff. He is also a good man and the kind of person you would want your children to grow up to be. He will never embarrass us or let us down. That is why he deserves to be re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

Phil Gramm represented Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1984-2002. Kay Bailey Hutchison represented Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1993-2013.” Hou Chron ($)

“State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt announces run for Michael McCaul’s seat in Congress,” Texas Tribune’s Marijke Friedman -- “State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt launched her campaign for Texas’ 10th Congressional District on Monday, saying voters in the district, long held by Republicans, deserve choices.

The Austin Democrat’s announcement comes a month and a half after Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, said he is vacating the Republican-leaning district after more than 20 years in office.

In her launch video, Eckhardt compared the spirit of her campaign to the efforts to build large-scale infrastructure projects in the district, like Lake Livingston and the Mansfield Dam, and the level of cooperation it took the Founding Fathers to create the country.

“We’re not going to agree on everything, but just like those original 13 colonies, we can work together to build things that last as long as Mansfield Dam — not just until the next election cycle,” Eckhardt said.

Eckhardt was elected to the Texas Senate in 2020. She is now serving her second term, which ends in early 2029. This means she won’t have to give up her seat to run for Congress.

Eckhardt has deep roots in Austin, having previously served as a Travis County Commissioner and Travis County Judge. She’s also the daughter of the late Rep. Bob Eckhardt, who represented Texas’ 8th District in Congress from 1967 until 1981.

As a state senator, Eckhardt’s campaign website touts her focus on strengthening climate resiliency, expanding health care, and criminal and social justice.

The district was redrawn this summer to include more Democratic areas of Austin, but is still likely to remain under Republican control. If the new boundaries had existed during the 2024 election, Donald Trump would have won the district with 60.5% of the vote.

The district includes Texas A&M University in College Station and stretches from parts of Austin into East Texas.

So far, 10 candidates have filed to run in the Republican primary, including lawyer Chris Gober, who has represented Elon Musk, and lobbyist Jessica Karlsruher. Two other Democrats, college professor Dawn Marshall and voting rights advocate Tayhlor Coleman, have filed for the race.

Candidates have until Dec. 8 to jump into the race.” Texas Tribune

• STATE GOVERNMENT  

“Former Texas Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins appointed to Texas Supreme Court,” Texas Tribune’s Eleanor Klibanoff — “Former Texas Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins has been appointed to the Texas Supreme Court by Gov. Greg Abbott. He will replace Justice Jeff Boyd, who retired in June.

Hawkins served as Texas’ top appellate attorney for two and a half years, representing the state in high-profile cases at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Texas Supreme Court.

He resigned from that role in 2021, soon after Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the results of the 2020 election, which notably lacked Hawkins’ signature. That case was swiftly dismissed by the Supreme Court.

But that doesn’t seem to have slowed his ascent, as he joined former Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller in arguing high-profile cases in private practice. Earlier this year, he served in the solicitor general’s office at the U.S. Department of Justice for a three-month period, according to his LinkedIn. While there, he argued at the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the federal government that states should be allowed to remove Planned Parenthood from their Medicaid programs.

“Hawkins’ tremendous experience will be an asset to the highest court in Texas as he remains steadfast in his dedication to the rule of law and the preservation of the liberties granted by God and enshrined by our founders,” Abbott said in a statement.

The Texas Supreme Court is the state’s highest civil court, hearing cases involving a range of issues, including challenges to state law. While the court has long been all-Republican, Abbott has reshaped it in recent years, appointing seven of the nine justices, including Hawkins. Hawkins will have to run for a full term next year, when Boyd’s original term was set to expire.

Abbott has frequently mined alumni of his office, most recently promoting his former general counsel, Jimmy Blacklock, to chief justice, and selecting another former general counsel, James Sullivan, to replace him.

While the Texas Office of the Solicitor General has historically been a springboard to success in the conservative legal movement, Hawkins is the first former member of Paxton’s administration that Abbott has appointed to the high court.” Texas Tribune

“Abbott spooks academia after declaring Texas will go after professors for ‘ideological differences’,” The Hill’s Lexi Lonas Cochran — “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has rattled academia and legal experts with his open declaration that his state is “targeting professors” over their personal beliefs.

While Republican governors have increasingly seen classrooms as ideological battlegrounds, Abbott’s stated position that a Texas educator should have lost his job over “ideological differences” is raising greater concern among experts, especially those who say concerning trends on First Amendment rights at universities in the state have been compounding for years and accelerated under the Trump administration.

Abbott’s post on social media was inspired by the ouster of Art Markman, a tenured psychology professor at the University of Texas, from his administrative role in academic affairs, though not apparently his teaching position.

Markman posted on LinkedIn the dismissal was due to “ideological differences” but did not further elaborate. The Hill has reached out to the university for comment.

“Univ. of Texas professor was dismissed from an administrative post overseeing university academic affairs because of ideological differences,” Abbott wrote, echoing the language of an Axios article he shared.

“Texas is targeting professors who are more focused on pushing leftist ideologies rather than preparing students to lead our nation. We must end indoctrination and return to education fundamentals at all levels of education,” he added.

Academics say they no longer know what will be permissible on Texas campuses.

“We’re losing faculty that are leaving, moving to other states because they’ve lost shared governance, or they’ve lost academic freedom, or they feel intimidated — can’t speak truth to what their knowledge is in their field. Members are joining advocacy groups left and right because they’re afraid. They’re afraid in the classroom,” said Pat Heintzelman, president of the Texas Faculty Association.

Texas has been at the forefront of efforts to revamp higher education institutions and root out topics Republicans oppose nationwide.

Diversity, equity and inclusion offices have been banned at state universities, and a law was passed to crackdown on campus protests.” The Hill

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT  

“Austin flights delayed after FAA staffing shortage triggers ground stop,” Austin American-Statesman’s Alex Driggars — “Austin-Bergstrom International Airport hit another snag Monday as the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop, halting departures and delaying arrivals amid a nationwide squeeze on air traffic control staffing caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The order, lifted around 4 p.m., gave way to a ground delay program expected to continue until 7 p.m., with inbound flights averaging 39-minute delays and some waiting up to 90 minutes before takeoff.

It’s at least the third time in two weeks Austin travelers have felt the pinch. Similar slowdowns snarled flights on Oct. 13 and again Oct. 19, when Formula 1 race crowds flooded the city.

Austin’s control tower, already operating with fewer than half the controllers the FAA says it needs, is not alone. Airports across the country have been hit by rolling slowdowns as unpaid controllers—required to report for duty but now weeks without paychecks—struggle to keep the system running safely.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News on Saturday that “things will only get worse” if the shutdown continues, warning that controller fatigue and financial strain are compounding delays coast to coast.

The FAA acknowledged the ongoing issues in an out-of-office auto-reply email the American-Statesman received in response to a request for comment.

“There have been increased staffing shortages across the system,” the message said. “When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations. For real-time flight impacts at U.S. airports due to staffing, weather, or other factors, please visit www.fly.faa.gov.”

Local officials tried to keep things upbeat. The Austin airport told the Statesman the facility “has not experienced significant delays to the customer experience since the government shutdown began,” but urged travelers to arrive early and “keep an eye on flight status” as holiday season chaos looms.” AAS ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> EP TIMES: “UTEP gets $5 million boost for El Paso law school plan“ EP TIMES

> SAEN: Mayor Ortiz Jones guest column: “Put the community back in the game by voting against Spurs arena“ SAEN

> HOU CHRON: “Family of slain Conroe doctor hopes case will gain momentum after two years of waiting for justice“ HOU CHRON

> DMN: “After beating LSU, can Mike Elko take Texas A&M where it hasn’t been in nearly 90 years?“ DMN

> FWST: “Buddhist monks embark on walk of peace from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C.“ FWST

> HOU CHRON: “Texas college football rankings: Texas A&M chasing 12-0 start of 1992 team“ HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: “How Texans stand in AFC playoff race after beating 49ers“ HOU CHRON

> DMN: “Texas Tech QB3 Mitch Griffis returns after thinking he’d ‘never put on the pads again’“ DMN

> HOU CHRON: “Playing with heavy hearts, UH tops Arizona State to earn statement victory“ HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: “Major hurricane Melissa projected to hit Jamaica on Tuesday“ HOU CHRON

> TPR: “H-E-B Donates $6 million to Meals on Wheels and Texas food banks“ TPR

> DMN: “Woman killed in Fort Worth domestic violence shooting identified“ DMN

> FWST: “Stabbing at Fort Worth home critically injures 3 in likely domestic incident: police“ FWST

> HOU CHRON: “How C.J. Stroud had ‘one of his best games ever’ despite not having Nico Collins“ HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: “UH football strength coach Kurt Hester dies at 61 after battle with cancer“ HOU CHRON

> DMN: “At Tatsu Dallas, it’s business as usual — but with Michelin jitters“ DMN

> FWST: “Quick trip to buy lottery tickets before work ends in huge win in Missouri“ FWST

> FWST: “Two men shot, wounded during attempted robbery Sunday in Fort Worth, police say“ FWST

> DMN: “Five immediate takeaways from Cowboys-Broncos: Defense reverts to old ways in blowout loss“ DMN

> DMN: “National reaction from Cowboys-Broncos: ‘An indictment’ on Schottenheimer, Dallas defense“ DMN

> DMN: “Cowboys’ Jerry Jones reiterates Matt Eberflus support while emphasizing need to adjust“ DMN

> SA REPORT: “Charlie’s Place offers stability and hope for young San Antonians experiencing homelessness“ SA REPORT

> SA REPORT: “There are more bilingual students in San Antonio schools, but not enough certified teachers“ SA REPORT

• EXTRA POINTS 

This past weekend’s Texas sports scores:
Sat
> NCAAF: #3 Texas A&M 49, LSU 25
> NCAAF: #14 Texas Tech 42, Oklahoma St. 0
> NCAAF: #21 Cincinnati 41, Baylor 20
> NCAAF: #22 Houston 24, Arizona St. 16
> NCAAF: #22 Texas 45, Mississippi St. 38 (OT)
> NCAAF: TCU 23, West Virginia 17
> NCAAF: Wake Forest 13, SMU 12
> NHL: Dallas 3, Carolina 2
Sun
> NFL: Denver 44, Dallas 24
> NFL: Houston 26, San Francisco 15
> NBA: San Antonio 118, Brooklyn 107
> NBA: Dallas 139, Toronto 129
> MLS: Vancouver 3, Dallas 0

Tonight’s Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: NBA: Brooklyn at Houston at Oklahoma City
> 7pm: NBA: Toronto at San Antonio
> 7:30pm: NBA: Oklahoma City at Dallas

Tomorrow’s Texas sports schedule:
> 7:30pm: NHL: Washington at Dallas (ESPN)

TEXAS SPORTS HEADLINES / LINKS:

HOUSTON TEXANS: “Texans’ C.J. Stroud bounces back with stellar game against San Francisco” AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: “Broncos’ blowout win over Cowboys marred by injuries to 2 All-Pros” AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: “Jerry Jones says erratic Cowboys simply must be better after blowout by Broncos” AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: Cowlishaw: “After hitting George Pickens jackpot, it’s time for Cowboys to trade him away” DMN ($)

TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL: “Texas Tech backup QB Will Hammond is out for the season with a torn ACL” AP

TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: “Texas A&M vs LSU football: 4 takeaways as Aggies’ offense shines again” AAS ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: “Arch Manning in concussion protocol for No. 20 Texas ahead of game vs. No. 9 Vanderbilt” AP

TEXAS FOOTBALL: “Texas feels comfortable with backup QB Matthew Caldwell if Arch Manning is unable to go” DMN ($)

NORTH TEXAS FOOTBALL: “AP Player of the Week: North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker set conference record with 608 yards passing” AP

DALLAS MAVERICKS: “Cooper Flagg scores 22 points as Mavs beat Raptors 139-129 for 1st win with No. 1 overall pick” AP

DALLAS STARS: “Rantanen gets tiebreaking goal in 3rd period as Stars rally from two goals down, beat Predators 3-2” AP

FC DALLAS: “Whitecaps overwhelm Dallas 3-0 in first-round opener of MLS Cup playoffs” AP

DALLAS WINGS: “WNBA’s Dallas Wings name Jose Fernandez as new coach” AP

PBR: “Austin Gamblers’ bid to repeat as PBR champs ends quickly in series championship in Las Vegas” AAS ($)