Texas

The back and forth began shortly before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, when Abbott issued a written statement saying that he welcomed Trump's plan to deploy National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border -- a step he hadn't publicly requested before Trump made the surprise announcement.Divergent views of 2014Nearly two hours later, Valdez indirectly commented on a "caravan" of Central Americans now traveling in central Mexico. They have attracted much attention on Fox News - and hence, from Trump, who's been irritated that Congress in a recent omnibus spending bill didn't give him much money for a new wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2014, Valdez said, Texas Republicans had a panicked reaction, sending the National Guard to the border to respond to the emigration of "Central American refugees, women and children," who she said were fleeing violence and extreme poverty."But Texans, their businesses, and local non-profits met them with open arms. This is who we are," Valdez … [Read more...] about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, nettled by Valdez jibe about ‘boys and their toys,’ predicts she’ll be his November foe

POLITICS 04/04/2018 05:36 pm ET People who tried to register to vote while renewing driver's licenses online had to print out and mail in another form. By Sam Levine 850 In June 2015, Texas resident John Woods moved from Travis County to Harris County. That fall, he went online to change the address on his driver’s license. Woods had been registered to vote at his old Travis County address. When he was updating his driver’s license, he also checked a box indicating that he wanted to register to vote in Harris County. Election Day arrived about two months later and Woods called Harris County election officials to find out where his new polling place was. Even though he had checked that box online, they told him he wasn’t registered in the county. He decided to vote anyway by casting a provisional ballot, which ultimately was not counted. It turns out that when Woods checked the box online, he hadn’t actually registered to vote. … [Read more...] about Judge Finds A Voter Registration Process In Texas Violates Federal Law

From 2006 to 2008, the Guard fixed vehicles, maintained roads, repaired fences and performed ground surveillance. Its second mission in 2010 and 2011 involved more aerial surveillance and intelligence work.  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, now Trump's energy secretary, also sent about 1,000 Guard members to the border in 2014 in response to a surge in the number of unaccompanied immigrant children crossing the Rio Grande, the river that separates the U.S. and Mexico in the state. About 100 Guardsmen remain deployed as part of that existing state mission.The Associated Press … [Read more...] about Texas National Guard preparing to deploy troops to the border

This is a developing story. HOUSTON — A federal jury has convicted a former Texas congressman of fraud and conspiracy for misusing charitable donations to pay for personal and political expenses. Republican Steve Stockman was found guilty Thursday following a three-week trial in Houston. Federal prosecutors said Stockman conspired with two staffers to bilk conservative foundations out of at least $775,000 that was meant for charitable purposes and voter education. A campaign worker and an aide both previously pleaded guilty to various charges. Stockman's attorney has said Stockman committed no crime. Following his arrest in March 2017, Stockman said a "deep state" shadow government was targeting him. Stockman served in the U.S. House from 1995 until 1997, and again from 2013 to 2015, in a district covering an area east of Houston. He unsuccessfully challenged Sen. John Cornyn for his Senate seat in the 2014 Republican primary.The Associated Press … [Read more...] about Former GOP congressman from Texas convicted of fraud, conspiracy

NEW ORLEANS -- A panel of three judges appeared divided Monday on whether Texas has breached the U.S. Constitution in how it treats foster children -- and if so, what should be done about it. A top assistant to Attorney General Ken Paxton and a Houston lawyer who's been the lead counsel in a long-running class action suit on behalf of nearly 11,000 children in long-term foster care clashed for an hour at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.Their argument was over whether judges should embrace or reject U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack's 2015 ruling that the state's system is "broken" because it subjects already unfortunate youths to mayhem and harm.By luck of the draw, the panel included three jurists appointed by Republican presidents.Judges' questions at oral arguments don't necessarily signal how they'll eventually rule.Still, the oral arguments seemed to leave the state's prospects for outright victory -- meaning, complete rejection of Jack's findings and … [Read more...] about Judges wrestle over whether Texas mistreats foster kids so badly, it tramples their rights