Inside the Legal Strategy Behind Texas’ Newly Filed Anti-Abortion Bill

The measure members of the Texas anti-abortion lobby are calling “the most important pro-life bill of the session” is officially on the books ahead of the 2017 Texas Legislative session. Late last week, state Representative Stephanie Klick and state Senator Charles Perry officially filed the Texas Right to Life-designed ban…

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Rolls Out Texas’ Gender Bathroom Bill

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is going to do this, apparently. Patrick formally announced Wednesday his plans to shepherd a so-called bathroom bill through the Texas legislature. If passed the bill would require visitors and workers at Texas’ public schools, government buildings and public universities to use the restroom consistent with the…

Dallas Homeless Commission’s Answer? Another Commission.

In the end, it seems that the only concrete solution that will come out of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings’ Commission on Homelessness is another committee. Acting Tuesday afternoon on the commission’s final recommendations, the Dallas City Council’s Housing Committee agreed that the best way to pursue the commissions recommendations is forming…

Old Park Cities Dudes May Not Make Off With Fair Park After All

Oh, thank goodness. It looks like we won’t have take Fair Park, our neglected and benighted 277-acre exposition park at the center of our city, and marry her off to the Park Cities after all. As The Dallas Morning News reported last week, national corporate interests, some with international experience managing public attractions…

Just in Time for Christmas, Abbott Versus the Atheists Heats Up Again

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is not done with the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Late Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks ruled that the organization’s lawsuit against Abbott, filed last December after the governor had the FFRF’s secular nativity removed from the capitol, can proceed to trial. In his ruling, Sparks said…

Two Texas Electors Go Rogue As Trump Coasts to Electoral College Win

In the end, there wasn’t much drama in Monday’s electoral college vote. Electors across the United States, despite showing a bit more independence than they usually do, ratified the coming presidency of Donald Trump, confirming that the New York real estate developer will take the oath of office on Jan…

Kingston Breaks With Tradition and Makes Endorsement of Council Challenger

Dallas City Council member Philip Kingston is back at it. In an attempt to build on the anti-Trinity toll road council coalition, Kingston is violating a longstanding council tradition and openly campaigning against one of his fellow sitting council members. Kingston’s target is District 6 council representative and Mayor Pro…

Judge Temporarily Blocks Texas Fetal Burial Requirement

Late Thursday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the state of Texas from requiring burial or cremation for any tissue stemming from a miscarriage or abortion that takes place outside of a woman’s home. Without Sparks’ order, the burial requirement would’ve gone into effect…