Texas Children’s Hospital’s detransition clinic to launch this year, will include mental health and endocrinology services
The Houston hospital must set up the facility within 90 days of signing a settlement agreement with the Texas attorney general and and create a list of potential gender affirming patients, according to a document obtained by The Texas Tribune.
Announcing our next round of can’t-miss speakers for September’s TribFest
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Amy Webb, Pete Sessions and Annette Gordon-Reed among newly announced TribFest voices helping us navigate a world in flux.
Screwworms are closer than ever to Texas, but not 1 mile away as lawmaker claims
On Monday, state Rep. Don McLaughlin said the parasitic fly that threatens the state’s cattle industry was 1 mile away. U.S. officials said that was not yet true.
Victorious Paxton goes to Washington as former GOP foes open their doors — and wallets
The attorney general fundraised with Republican senators and met with rival-turned-ally John Thune, the Senate majority leader who had backed Sen. John Cornyn.
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson stepping down
Nelson’s office oversees elections. Abbott appointed her to the role in 2023 after she became the longest-serving Republican woman in Texas Senate history.
Texas lifts commercial drivers license ban for temporary agricultural workers
The policy change was announced hours after the Department of Public Safety removed the Spanish language option for commercial driver’s license tests to align with federal guidance.
TribCast: Can Austin’s Project Connect get back on track?
What Texans can learn from the past and future of Austin’s multi-billion dollar public transit overhaul.
Sid Miller to join Democratic nominee for agriculture commissioner at data center forum
The Republican said he agreed to speak at the event prior to Clayton Tucker’s involvement because it was “the right thing to do.” Both are critics of data center construction in Texas.
DOJ expands indictment against SPLC, alleging $4M secretly funneled to KKK and extremist groups
The Department of Justice last month announced an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), alleging that the civil rights nonprofit defrauded donors by secretly paying informants associated with extremist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan. A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama returned an 11-count indictment in April charging the SPLC with six counts of wire fraud, four counts of making false statements to a federally insured bank and one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, according to the Justice Department. The superseding indictment retains those charges while expanding on the alleged misconduct. According to the DOJ, the SPLC “secretly funneled” more than $3 million in donor funds between 2014 and 2023 to numerous individuals associated with extremist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan, United Klans of America, the National Socialist Movement, participants in the Unite the Right rally and the Aryan Nations-affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club. NEO-NAZIS, ‘SADISTIC’ BIKERS AND CHARLOTTESVILLE ORGANIZER: 5 OF THE MOST SHOCKING SPLC INFORMANTS The original indictment alleged approximately $3 million in payments between 2014 and 2023. “The SPLC’s paid informants (‘field sources’) engaged in the active promotion of racist groups at the same time that the SPLC was denouncing the same groups on its website,” the indictment states. Prosecutors further allege the SPLC opened bank accounts tied to fictitious entities in order to conceal donor funds that were allegedly routed to confidential sources. MIKE DAVIS: SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: A TALE OF A RACISM SCAM According to the indictment, the SPLC began operating a covert informant network in the 1980s, and between 2014 and 2023 allegedly paid those sources in a clandestine manner. The DOJ alleges an SPLC employee instead encouraged the pair to remain involved and offered them a monthly salary of $1,200. The two subsequently agreed to remain in the organization, according to the indictment. DR. BEN CARSON: I KNOW HOW BAD THE SPLC WAS, IT CAME AFTER ME AND PUT ME AT RISK Prosecutors allege an SPLC employee instructed the individuals to claim they worked for a company called Rare Books and helped college students with research and writing assignments if anyone questioned the source of their income. The indictment alleges donor funds were used to pay both individuals through SPLC accounts. According to prosecutors, the pair were also reimbursed for expenses related to Ku Klux Klan activities, including cross-burning events and associated costs such as wood and fuel. One of the individuals is also accused of recruiting new members using donor-funded payments. The indictment further alleges the SPLC knew donor funds were used to purchase materials for Ku Klux Klan garments. In a statement to Fox News Digital, attorney Abbe Lowell, who represents the SPLC, denied the allegations. “This apparent superseding indictment attempts to shore up the flaws in the initial charges, but it changes nothing,” Lowell said. “The SPLC did not lie to its donors, it did not mislead banks it did business with, and its informant program prevented violence and saved lives,” he continued. “It appears the Justice Department shared the indictment with media before it was unsealed by the court – another example of the government’s troubling handling of this case.” “We will be addressing these irregularities with the court and look forward to presenting the truth at trial,” he added. NONPROFIT REVENUE TOTALS SURGE AMID GROWING SCRUTINY AFTER MAJOR FRAUD CASES The superseding indictment also notes that the SPLC’s reported revenue increased from roughly $38.7 million in 2010 to more than $129 million in 2023, an increase of approximately 233%. According to the filing, the organization’s net assets grew from approximately $238 million to nearly $787 million during the same period. The SPLC is a longtime nonprofit organization that says it combats white supremacy and extremism through research, reporting and monitoring efforts intended to assist law enforcement and the public. During a news conference announcing the original indictment, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche alleged the SPLC paid members of extremist groups so it could generate “work product” documenting their activities. “To that end, [SPLC] was doing the exact opposite of what it told its donors it was doing – not dismantling extremism but funding it,” Blanche said. Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch, David Spunt, Jake Gibson and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
Missing GOP congressman reveals he’s ‘more energized than ever’ to return to Washington
Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., said Tuesday he is “more energized than ever” and plans to return to in-person work “within a matter of weeks,” issuing a new statement after months away from Capitol Hill because of an undisclosed medical issue. Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, has been absent from Congress for months while dealing with undisclosed health issues keeping him away from Washington and the campaign trail. Kean said in April that he was addressing a “personal medical issue,” but he has not publicly disclosed the nature of the issue. “Serving the people of this district is the honor of my life. Every day, I wake up determined to build on the results I have delivered for New Jersey families such as lowering costs, restoring the SALT deduction, funding our law enforcement, helping veterans, standing with Israel, strengthening our economy, and making government work better,” Kean said in a statement Tuesday, amid growing scrutiny over his absence. REP. TOM KEAN JR. SAYS HE EXPECTS TO RETURN TO CONGRESS ‘IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS’ AFTER MISSING 100 VOTES Kean has not cast a vote since March 5, according to The New York Times. House voting records also listed Kean as “Not Voting” on a May 21 roll call vote. “I am optimistic about the road ahead, and ready to earn the support of voters in every corner of the district,” Kean continued. “I am more energized then ever to keep fighting for the people of New Jersey’s 7th District. Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition.” Kean added that he “understand[s] the need for transparency on this matter” and looks forward to sharing his experience with the public. DEMOCRAT TINA SHAH CALLS TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN A ‘NO-BRAINER’ IN COMPETITIVE NJ HOUSE RACE Ahead of Kean’s Tuesday primary election, during which he ran unopposed, President Donald Trump endorsed the New Jersey Republican. Trump praised Kean in a Truth Social post Monday night, describing him as a strong supporter of the president’s “America First Agenda,” adding the New Jersey Republican is “working tirelessly” on border security, crime, the economy, taxes, energy, veterans and Second Amendment issues. “Tom Kean has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election,” Trump concluded, telling people to get out and vote. Trump’s support remains one of the most powerful forces in Republican primaries, with candidates across several states openly competing for his backing ahead of key contests. His endorsement of Kean signals the White House and GOP leaders are still lining up behind the incumbent as Republicans fight to defend their narrow House majority this fall. Four Democrats — Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah and Brian Varela — were competing for the nomination to face Kean in November, but Bennett edged them out Tuesday night during the Democratic primary. The Associated Press described Bennett as a former Navy helicopter pilot, Roth as a former Small Business Administration official, Shah as an intensive care doctor and Varela as a businessman, with each candidate raising seven figures as Democrats target Kean’s battleground seat.