Page 236 – Texas Weekly Online

High housing costs, inflation bite into Texas sales tax growth

Officials said the state’s higher cost of living means less state sales tax revenue, which makes up more than half of the state budget.

U.S. Rep. August Pfluger benefits from fund drive promoting third Trump term

A Trump official says the president did not approve the fundraising message connected to the Republican Study Committee.

Texas wants the NCAA to start “sex-screening” its student athletes

The state lawsuit comes as more women athletes are being physically scrutinized to determine if they are transgender.

GOPers press for the release of JFK, Epstein files: Here’s why they’re not out

Republicans are mounting pressure on the Justice Department to advance the release of classified documents and records related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and other federal secrets. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January for agencies to create plans to distribute the files, as well as documents pertaining to the assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who is leading the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, is pushing the Department of Justice for answers on when that will happen — and so far, says she has faced silence. “On Feb 11 & Feb 19, house oversight sent a letter to the DOJ asking for status on releasing the Epstein files as well as JFK etc.,” Luna said in a post on X Monday. “The DOJ has not responded. Reaching out on X because we can’t seem to get a response from the AG. @AGPamBondi what is the status of the documents? These documents were ordered to be declassified.” ANNA PAULINA LUNA TO LEAD TASK FORCE ON DECLASSIFICATION OF JFK ASSASSINATION RECORDS, EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST Luna sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and White House Counsel David Warrington requesting a briefing by Thursday on plans for the release of the documents. The letter also requests details on when the declassified documents will become available to the task force and the public. Trump’s executive order instructed the Department of Justice to coordinate with Gabbard, Waltz and Warrington to establish a plan by Feb. 7 for the release of the JFK files, and to create a plan for the release of the MLK and Robert F. Kennedy files by March 9. Additionally, Luna is pushing the Justice Department to share details regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. The American financier died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Meanwhile, Bondi said Friday that Epstein’s client list was awaiting review, and that she was looking over the Kennedy and King files. “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review,” Bondi told “America Reports” host John Roberts Friday about the Epstein files. “That’s been a directive by President Trump.” TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO DECLASSIFY FILES ON JFK, RFK AND MLK ASSASSINATIONS A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Luna’s office did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital in response to Bondi’s statements. Luna isn’t the only Republican lawmaker pushing for the release of these documents. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., also said Monday Democrats have undercut her efforts to “crack the Epstein trafficking ring wide open,” and vowed that she would receive answers under newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel. “The time for transparency is now,” Blackburn said in a Monday post on X. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also said in a Monday X post that the documents belong to the American people, and “it’s about damn time they be given access to it!” The Office for the Director of National Intelligence also did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, but told the Associated Press that a plan has been submitted regarding the Kennedy files. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. However, Trump vowed on the campaign trail that he would declassify all JFK-related documents if he won the 2024 election. The House’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets is scheduled to hold its first public hearing on March 26. Fox News’ Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.

GOPers press for the release of JFK, Epstein files: Here’s why they’re not released yet

Federal judge in major blue city blocks key Trump move on refugees: ‘Not limitless’

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s move to suspend refugee admissions into the United States in response to a lawsuit from refugee aid groups. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office suspending refugee resettlement and ordering the Department of Homeland Security to report back in 90 days on whether resuming resettlement would be in the interests of the U.S. But District Judge Jamal Whitehead, a Biden appointee, said Trump’s actions were an “effective nullification of congressional will” in setting up the nation’s refugee admissions program. HOMAN ISSUES STARK WARNING FOR ILLEGALS AMID CLASH WITH SANCTUARY CITY OFFICIALS: ‘WE’RE COMING’ “The president has substantial discretion … to suspend refugee admissions,” Whitehead told the parties, according to The Associated Press. “But that authority is not limitless.” The case had been brought by refugee groups, including International Refugee Assistance Project, HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and individual refugees. The groups argued their ability to provide services to refugees had been damaged by the Trump order. The order was one of a number of orders attempting to limit both illegal and legal immigration, including the use of parole to allow in migrants by the Biden administration. Trump had limited refugee resettlement in his first term, but President Joe Biden made moves to take in more refugees, including by increasing the refugee cap. NOEM ENDS BIDEN-ERA USE OF CONTROVERSIAL APP TO ALLOW MIGRANTS TO BOARD FLIGHTS, EXCEPT TO SELF-DEPORT “The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees,” Trump said in his Jan 20 order. “This order suspends the USRAP until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE The plaintiffs argued that the suspension is in violation of federal law, and any such change should have been subject to the notice-and-comment period as laid out in the Administrative Procedures Act. They also argued that the suspension, as well as a suspension of funding, was “arbitrary and capricious.” The ruling marks a blow for the Trump administration after a federal judge last week declined to block the suspension in a similar case brought by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The conflicting rulings could mean the case ultimately ends up before the Supreme Court. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Southern border state governor takes on cartels and security with signing of executive order

Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs plans to expand border security operations along the state’s four border counties, placing added focus on disrupting transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). Hobbs signed an executive order Tuesday to establish Operation Desert Guardian, a joint task force in which the state partners with local law enforcement, sheriffs and the federal government to disrupt TCO operations in the counties of Yuma, Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise. “I’m proud to launch Operation Desert Guardian to combat the cartels, stop drug smuggling and human trafficking and secure Arizona’s border,” Hobbs said. “My administration has been in contact with the federal government and local sheriffs about the Operation, its critical objectives and our shared commitment to keeping criminals and drugs out of Arizona’s communities.” Hobbs added that the operation’s objectives will include identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities along Arizona’s southern border, which stretches about 370 miles, while also combating border-related crimes committed by TCOs. To do so, Hobbs said, the joint task force plans to dismantle TCO supply chains and operating networks. BORDER STATE GOVERNOR VOWS TO DEFY TRUMP’S ‘MISGUIDED’ MASS DEPORTATION PLAN Operation Desert Guardian’s funding will come from a portion of the state’s Border Security Fund, which has a balance of $28 million. The operation will also build on the efforts of Task Force SAFE (Stopping Arizona’s Fentanyl Epidemic), a joint operation between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Arizona National Guard to stop drugs from entering Arizona at ports of entry. Since its launch in July 2024, Task Force SAFE has intercepted 19 million fentanyl pills, 6,598 pounds of illicit drugs and 237 weapons at the border. ‘LOUD AND CLEAR’: BORDER STATE’S LEGISLATURE MOVES TO BACK TRUMP’S ICE ON DEPORTATION “I have worked productively with the federal government on Task Force SAFE and partnered with local law enforcement to deliver critical border security support, and I look forward to continued partnership on our shared border security priorities,” Hobbs said. “With Operation Desert Guardian, I’m confident we can take an important next step in our ongoing work to secure the border.” After President Donald Trump was re-elected to a second term in November, Hobbs said Arizona would not be aiding the incoming administration with its “misguided” plan to launch a mass deportation operation. She was asked by ABC News whether the Trump administration would bring a reset on the border, and she responded by focusing on current partnerships with the federal government to secure the border. ‘NATIONAL EMERGENCY’: TRUMP DECLARES AMBITIOUS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS “I am very hopeful that that partnership can continue, and that the incoming administration will listen to, not only my administration, but the experts here on the ground, the people that are doing the work, about what is most needed, and what we can continue to do that will be most helpful in securing our border,” she said. “What I will unequivocally say is that, as governor, I will not tolerate efforts that are part of misguided policies that harm our communities, that threaten our communities, that terrorize our communities, and Arizona will not take part in those.” State Republicans have a different plan, and, in January, state Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican, introduced the “AZ ICE Act,” which would require sheriff’s departments and the Arizona Department of Corrections to enter into cooperative agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE The agreements are based on 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers certain immigration functions, including identifying and detaining suspected illegal immigrants. Petersen’s bill would also require law enforcement to comply with ICE detainers, which are requests that ICE be notified when an illegal immigrant is being released from state or local custody. “Sanctuary” jurisdictions do not comply with detainers. After Trump was sworn into office Jan. 20, he immediately signed a number of executive orders to tackle border security and illegal immigration. Some local jurisdictions have pledged their support for the measures, but other officials have promised to either resist or not comply with any planned deportation operations. Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report.

Jayapal slammed for telling Americans to ‘think about who picked’ their food in anti-deportation remarks

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., is going viral for her remarks against the deportation of illegal immigrants and her urging Americans to “think about who picked” the food on their tables. “If you look at the food that’s on your table, think about who picked it. If you look at your homes, think about who built them. If you look at your vulnerable elders and your kids, think about who’s taking care of them,” Jayapal told the crowd. HOMAN ISSUES STARK WARNING FOR ILLEGALS AMID CLASH WITH SANCTUARY CITY OFFICIALS Jayapal made the controversial remarks during the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ Tax the Greedy Billionaires Press Conference, and critics quickly slammed Jayapal. Some even compared her remarks to advocating for slave labor or indentured servitude, pointing out the mistreatment that illegal immigrants face. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., took to X to criticize Jayapal, calling the remarks a “MEGA WTF moment.” “Rep. Pramila Jayapal just sang praises for illegal immigration – gushing over cheap labor and glorifying indentured servitude,” Mace tweeted. This is not the first time Jayapal has made remarks about the U.S. relying on illegal immigrant labor. In 2023, she was criticized for saying that illegal immigrants were needed to “pick the food we eat,” “clean our homes” and “rebuild our communities after climate disasters.” JAYAPAL CRITICIZED FOR SAYING IMMIGRANTS ‘NEEDED’ IN AMERICA TO ‘PICK THE FOOD WE EAT’ AND ‘CLEAN OUR HOMES’ Jayapal also took a swipe at Elon Musk, saying that he “conveniently seems to have forgotten that he was an undocumented immigrant.” The lawmaker was likely referring to a Washington Post report from October 2024 that purported that Musk briefly worked in the U.S. illegally in the 1990s. The billionaire denied the report in a post on X, saying he held a “J-1 visa that transitioned to an H1-B.” In a recent interview, Jayapal slammed President Donald Trump for claiming that “everyone who’s undocumented is a criminal.” The lawmaker insisted that the statement “is just not true.” The White House has made it clear that it is going in a different direction than the Biden administration when it comes to illegal immigration. In January, when asked about the criminal status of illegal immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said “all of them” were criminals because they “illegally broke our nation’s laws.” “If they broke our nation’s laws, yes, they are a criminal,” Leavitt said when pressed on the issue again.

Multimillion-dollar Biden-era COVID-19 vax project halted by Trump’s HHS

FIRST ON FOX: Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has paused a multimillion-dollar contract from the Biden administration to create a new COVID-19 vaccine, Fox News Digital has learned. “While it is crucial that the Department [of] Health and Human Services (HHS) support pandemic preparedness, four years of the Biden administration’s failed oversight have made it necessary to review agreements for vaccine production, including Vaxart’s,” Kennedy said in comments provided to Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “I look forward to working with Vaxart and medical experts to ensure this work produces safe, effective, and fiscal-minded vaccine technology.” Kennedy issued a 90-day stop-work order on Friday related to the HHS contract with American biotech company Vaxart Inc., which is working to develop a new COVID-19 vaccine that can be taken orally. The stop-work order comes as 10,000 individuals were slated to begin clinical trials on Monday. The trial is only paused, not terminated, with Kennedy and other health officials set to examine the study’s initial findings over the next 90 days before deciding on next steps. TRUMP’S ‘MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN’ COMMISSION TO TARGET AUTISM, CHRONIC DISEASES The creation of a new COVID-19 vaccine was part of the Biden administration’s $4.7 billion Project NextGen initiative, which was launched in 2023 and works to streamline the development of new vaccines. The Vaxart vaccine was specifically funded through an agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which is a department within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response under the HHS umbrella. BARDA obligated roughly $460 million to Vaxart’s development of the new vaccine, with a total of $240 million already authorized for the preliminary study, Fox Digital learned. RFK JR VOWS HE WON’T TAKE CHEESEBURGERS AWAY, JUST HIGHLIGHT HEALTH ISSUES: ‘MY BOSS LOVES’ THEM A recent modification to the contract would have allowed Vaxart to invoice BARDA for the remaining roughly $230 million for clinical trials, but the stop-work order prevents the biotech company from invoicing BARDA until further notice. Vaxart, however, can still invoice HHS related to medical monitoring of individuals who took part in an initial round of trials, Fox Digital learned. The announcement comes just under two weeks after Kennedy was confirmed and sworn in as the nation’s 26th chief of HHS. The same day he was sworn in, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which is led by Kennedy to investigate and address “the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis.” RFK JR’S TOP HEALTH AND WELLNESS PRIORITIES AS DOCTORS SHARE INPUT The commission initially will focus its investigations on chronic childhood diseases, such as autism. Kennedy, who ran for president as a Democrat in the 2024 cycle before ultimately dropping out and endorsing Trump, has come under fire from critics for an alleged anti-vaccine stance, which he has repeatedly denied, including during his recent Senate confirmation hearings. “I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish,” Kennedy said of his vaccine stance during his hearing before the Senate Finance Committee in January. “And nobody called me anti-fish. And I believe that … that vaccines play a critical role in healthcare. All of my kids are vaccinated. I’ve read many books on vaccines. My first book in 2014, a first line of it is, ‘I am not anti-vaccine,’ and [the] last line is, ‘I am not anti-vaccine’; nor am I the enemy of food producers. American farms are the bedrock of our culture, of our politics, of our national security.” COVID-19 vaccines were mandated across the federal government under the Biden administration, while many businesses in the private sector also required employees to get the vaccine, which sparked widespread backlash and protests as some employees lost their jobs for bucking the orders. Trump signed a few executive orders related to the previous administration’s mandates upon his return to the Oval Office in January, including reinstating military members who were fired for refusing the vaccine and another order to prohibit federal funding for vaccine mandates in schools.

Fox News Politics Newsletter: Soros Static

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Noem reveals major milestone on border crossings amid Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrants -Deadline for Musk’s ultimatum to federal workers hits, but OPM reportedly says it’s voluntary -Meet the far-left groups funding anti-DOGE protests at GOP offices across the country EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans are getting an update on the Trump administration’s probe of billionaire George Soros’ influence on local radio, a source familiar with planning told Fox News Digital. The Republican Study Committee (RSC), the 175-strong caucus led by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, is hosting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr at its annual closed-door lunch on Wednesday. The source familiar with the planning said Carr is expected to brief GOP lawmakers on the FCC’s investigation into Soros, including an investment firm he’s linked to purchasing over 200 Audacy radio stations nationwide…Read more ‘MAXIMUM MOMENTUM’: New bill threatens to cripple ‘judicial tyranny’ from derailing Trump’s agenda at every turn ‘WARRIOR ETHOS’: Trump Pentagon leadership shakeup aims to change culture from top down, expert says HERITAGE HEARTLAND: Lawmakers pressure Trump to recognize West Bank as Israeli territory RIFT AT THE UN: US votes against condemning Russia for Ukraine war as Trump admin chases peace deal ‘GREY ZONE’ ACTION: Taiwan coast guard detains Chinese-crewed vessel suspected of cutting undersea cable ON THE TABLE: Putin says Russia is open to economic cooperation with US on rare earth minerals $17B MORE: ‘Trump effect’ on display as UK’s Starmer boosts defense spending on eve of US visit HOUSE OF CARDS: Trump tax cut plan heads for House-wide vote despite GOP rebel threats, Medicaid anxiety. BAD DOGE: Frustration at Elon Musk spills over after closed-door House GOP meeting: ‘Fed to the wolves’ RAISING KAINE: Trump warns major Dem against move that could cost voters trillions ‘NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH IT’: Judicial pushback on Trump ‘hurting American people,’ says GOP rep leading impeachment charge ‘GOOD START’: NYC migrant shelter closure highlights Trump’s success rooting out illegal crossings ‘SOROS-BACKED AGENDA’: Liberal judge recruits sanctuary sheriffs who defied ICE in ad touting crime record in pivotal race SOCIAL INFLUENCES: LGBT Americans reach record number, mostly Democrats and Gen Z: Gallup poll ‘WE’RE COMING’: Homan issues stark warning for illegals amid clash with sanctuary city officials ‘TARGETED’: Texas governor announces crackdown on massive illegal immigrant community near major city MILLIONS IN $AVING$: Department of Veterans Affairs cutting more than 1,400 employees in another round of dismissals IS CAINE ABLE?: Who is Daniel ‘Razin’ Caine? Air Force general tapped for top advisor role in Pentagon upheaval TOSSES CONVICTION: Supreme Court tosses conviction and death sentence of Oklahoma inmate, orders new trial ‘ILLEGAL’ FUNDING FREEZE: Blue state governor says $2.1B in federal funding restored after suing Trump admin ‘NO-BRAINER’: NASA should dump D.C. for the Sunshine State, DeSantis and other Florida Republicans suggest ‘DISGUSTING’: NSA investigates ‘secret sex chats’ under guise of DEI on internal agency message board ‘COMMON SENSE VICTORY’: Ohio transgender bathroom law takes effect Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

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