Faculty, advocacy groups fear Texas A&M firing threatens academic freedom

The firing happened over two years after Texas A&M stressed its support for academic freedom and amid a changing higher education landscape.
Roughly 180 complaints filed against Texas teachers for alleged comments on killing of Charlie Kirk

Several school districts have already taken disciplinary action against staff for comments made about the Christian conservative activist’s death.
ICE seeks to deport DACA recipient after arrest at El Paso airport

An immigration judge ruled ICE can’t deport Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago, who has permission to be in the country, unless the agency can provide evidence that her legal status was revoked.
Federal loopholes may have opened the door for sports betting alternatives that skirt Texas’ gambling ban

While the state’s strict ban on gambling hasn’t changed, fast-growing daily fantasy sports and prediction market apps are giving Texans new ways to wager without leaving home.
Longtime GOP Rep. Michael McCaul says he will not seek reelection to Congress

The Austin lawmaker, first elected in 2004, chaired the influential House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security committees. He is the second Texas Republican this week to bow out of Congress.
“Operation Lone Star 2.0”: DPS arresting thousands of undocumented immigrants across Texas to aid Trump’s mass deportation

The Department of Public Safety has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country, a job once exclusively done by federal authorities.
Democratic voters favor undeclared candidates O’Rourke and Crockett in hypothetical Senate primary, poll finds

The survey found many Texas voters are either undecided or would support candidates who haven’t actually entered the race. It also showed GOP Sen. John Cornyn leading Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Texas bill to restrict abortion pills beefs up an existing legal tool for a new fight
HB 7, which passed the Legislature this month, allows private citizens to sue abortion pill providers and manufacturers, mirroring a 2021 law that allows private enforcement of abortion bans.
Texas legislative committees will study freedom of speech on college campuses in wake of Charlie Kirk killing

The committees were made to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk and come as university faculty have come under online scrutiny.
State Board of Education OKs Texas-heavy social studies plan, setting stage for clash over history lessons

Educators worry the plan will deemphasize topics like world geography, history and cultures. The board aims to vote on what specific content social studies lessons will include by next summer.