Bummed to be saying this with fundraising deadlines and a #txlege special session right around the corner, but Friday was my last day covering politics at The Dallas Morning News. I’ll have more to say on what’s next later. For now, I’m leaving Texas soon and have a lot of packing to do

Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred says he’ll campaign differently this time: “I’m a football player. I think in football, we sometimes learn more from a loss than we do from a win, and so I’ve analyzed the tape.”

Dallas Democrat Colin Allred launches Senate campaign for seat held by John Cornyn

Dallas Democrat Colin Allred is running for Senate for the second time since 2024. His 2026 campaign is for the seat held by Republican John Cornyn. There...

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Starting today, college sports will never be the same. Universities can begin paying athletes directly as a result of a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement approved last month. I spoke with ADs across Texas about how they’ve prepared for this change ⤵️ www.dallasnews.com/s...

How Texas schools are handling the House settlement, preparing to pay players directly

Athletic directors from SMU, TCU and North Texas spoke with The Dallas Morning News about the NCAA’s $2.8 billion settlement that will allow universities to...

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Texas Republicans, who control both chambers of the Legislature and all statewide offices, quickly flooded social media with praise for the president’s leadership and the U.S. military www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...

‘I stand with Donald Trump.’ Texas GOP leaders back attack on Iranian nuclear sites

Texas Democrats say the president violated the law by not seeking congressional approval.

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Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock proposes his own legislative text to help resolve an impasse between the House and Senate over a bill that includes a salary increase for judges #txlege

ACLU of Texas and other civil liberties groups say they will sue Texas if its Ten Commandments bill becomes law

‘We will file suit’: Groups threaten to sue if Gov. Abbott signs Ten Commandments bill

Classroom displays of the Ten Commandments in public schools would be required under a bill the Legislature approved this week. It’s “blatantly...

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While you were sleeping, the Texas Senate passed a pair of bills in the wee hours Wednesday that would protect parents who misgender their children and require state government data to reflect people’s biological sex #txlege

Bills would protect parents who misgender their kids, require biological sex in state data

The Texas Senate worked past midnight to send the governor bills that would impact transgender kids and adults.

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The House amended the bill Sunday to add a provision saying the state AG will defend schools in lawsuits arising from the legislation. It returns to the Senate now

Bill requiring classroom displays of Ten Commandments passes Texas House

The bill was amended Sunday, meaning it will return to the Senate before going to Gov. Greg Abbott.

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Nolan D. McCaskill@nolandmccaskill.bsky.social · last yr.

The Texas House advanced a bill Saturday requiring classroom displays of the Ten Commandments in public schools, setting up a Sunday vote to send the proposal to Gov. Greg Abbott #txlege

The Texas House advanced a bill Saturday requiring classroom displays of the Ten Commandments in public schools, setting up a Sunday vote to send the proposal to Gov. Greg Abbott #txlege

Bill requiring classroom displays of Ten Commandments nears passage in Texas House

Saturday’s vote to advance the bill sets up a Sunday vote to send the proposal to Gov. Greg Abbott.

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“This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed,” said José Castañeda, a Google spokesperson. “We are pleased to put them behind us.” dallasnews.com/news/politic...

Google, Texas reach $1.4 billion settlement, AG Ken Paxton says

The state’s top legal officer says the Big Tech company covertly tracked Texans’ movements and searches.

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It's already illegal for foreign nationals to donate or spend money in U.S. elections under federal law. But Rep. Dennis Paul says “enforcement is rare and often focused on national races.” #txlege

Texas lawmakers hear proposal to fine, jail noncitizen donors

It’s already illegal under federal law for foreign nationals to donate or spend money in U.S. elections, but Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Houston, says it’s rarely...

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Critics said HB 5510 amounts to a bounty because it would allow anyone to sue to recover six-figure damages against someone who participated in the distribution of an abortion pill. #txlege www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...

$100K abortion pill ‘bounty’ bill divides Texans, lawmakers

Violators of House Bill 5510, which seeks to restrict in-state access to abortion-inducing drugs, would be subject to six-figure damages.

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Remember that it is the opinion of the Texas AG's office that affirming and supporting a trans child constitutes child abuse - but under HB 1106, doing the opposite would not be considered child abuse.

Nolan D. McCaskill@nolandmccaskill.bsky.social · last yr.

“That’s exactly why I have this piece of legislation, because there’s people out there that think it’s abusive if I tell my son that he’s a boy, and it’s not abusive,” state Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano, said. “I would argue that it is abusive if I tell my boy he’s a girl.” #txlege

“That’s exactly why I have this piece of legislation, because there’s people out there that think it’s abusive if I tell my son that he’s a boy, and it’s not abusive,” state Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano, said. “I would argue that it is abusive if I tell my boy he’s a girl.” #txlege

Truth or abuse? LGBTQ advocates, Texas lawmakers debate bill protecting misgendering kids

Is misgendering or not acknowledging a child’s sexual orientation child abuse or parents exercising their rights?

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“I think that it is important to understand that those who think that their oath of office is to the president of the United States and not to the Constitution need to rethink and reread their oath of office and the oath they took,” said Judge David Ezra, a Reagan appointee

Texas federal judge dares ‘MAGA Republican congressman’ to impeach him

Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra criticized the politicization of the Justice Department, saying officials swore an oath to the Constitution, not the...

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A Frisco man was charged with harassing Texas Supreme Court justices after sending them too many emails. Now he's suing, alleging the statute used to charge him — and another like it — violates constitutionally protected free speech dallasnews.com/news/politic...

Persistent or harassment? Frisco man fights laws against frequent messages to Texans

Jacob White was charged with harassing state Supreme Court justices after ignoring a request to stop emailing them directly.

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Crockett raised $1.68 million from January through March, marking the best fundraising quarter of her young career as a federal candidate

Dallas Rep. Jasmine Crockett raises nearly $1.7M, posting best fundraising quarter

Her campaign entered April with more than $2.5 million in the bank.

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New story: I was among the few reporters present for the roundtable discussion with Nico Harrison & Rick Welts. Harrison stands behind the Luka Doncic trade despite fan discontent. He also believes the Mavs, when healthy, are the most versatile team in the NBA. www.dallasnews.com/sports/maver...

As backlash continues, Mavs GM Nico Harrison has ‘no regrets’ regarding Luka Doncic trade

The Mavericks general manager repeated his mantra of ‘defense wins championships’ while speaking to a small group of reporters Tuesday.

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A federal judge sentenced Austin real estate developer Nate Paul to five years of supervised release, four months of home confinement (from 7p-7a) and a $1 million fine to be paid within two years. He will not have to wear an ankle monitor, the judge said dallasnews.com/news/politic...

Nate Paul fined $1 million, sentenced to home confinement

Paul pleaded guilty in January to making a false statement to a financial institution.

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Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra, a Reagan appointee, said DOJ's firing of an AUSA for being candid in court was a "slap in the face" to people who believe in justice. Ezra said his comments may cause a MAGA Republican congressman from Texas to try to impeach him. "Bring it on!" he said

“If pride flags are political, then so are the values of respect and belonging. Our students deserve better than a false neutrality,” Sen. Molly Cook, D-Houston, said. #txlege

Bill banning LGBTQ, other advocacy flags in public schools clears Texas Senate

Flags representing pride, Confederacy, Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter and others would be prohibited in classes under the legislation.

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Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has a bill that would cap out-of-state contributions in Texas elections at $5,000 for statewide candidates, $2,500 for district office candidates and $1,000 for county office candidates #txlege

A Texas Republican benefited from out-of-state donors. Now he wants to limit their impact

With school choice as a top issue last year, millions of dollars flowed into the state’s GOP primaries from outside of Texas.

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The CEO of a private health insurance company who admitted in a legislative hearing Wednesday to hiring private investigators to spy on customers has been fired #txlege

Health care CEO fired after Texas House DOGE hearing

Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation Thursday into allegations that the company’s chief executive hired private investigators to spy on...

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TX GOP lawmakers filed a range of bills to ban teaching about sexual orientation/gender identity, limit the ability of teachers/students to discuss sex/gender outside the classroom, outlaw support for gender transitions and protect employees who refer to transgender students by their biological sex

More than 80 bills filed on LGBTQ issues in Texas Legislature reveal lawmakers' focus

Sex education and gender identity are prominent topics among more than 80 bills centered on LGBTQ issues.

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Paxton opinion says court orders to change sex markers on driver's licenses and birth certificates ask DPS and DSHS “to violate the very laws they are bound to obey.” He says agencies should correct docs that were altered for transgender Texans dallasnews.com/news/politic...

Ken Paxton opinion says state IDs cannot be changed to accommodate transgender Texans

State agencies had already been ignoring court-ordered changes to driver’s licenses and birth certificates.

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“I think it should set off alarm bells for a lot of people, especially allies or those who have been saying this is only restricted to kids.” A freshman lawmaker has filed a bill to expand the state's ban on gender-affirming care to include adults #txlege

North Texas Republican’s bill would ban gender-affirming care for all Texans, even adults

Rep. Brent Money proposes expanding the scope of a 2023 law that banned gender care for minors.

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NEWS: The whistleblower case against Texas AG Ken Paxton is still ongoing. Now, they're making the case that they're owed $6.7M in damages, @nolandmccaskill.bsky.social reports. www.dallasnews.com/news/politic... #txlege

Paxton whistleblowers make case for $6.7 million in damages

The four former officials said they were fired from the attorney general’s office in 2020 in retaliation for reporting Ken Paxton to law enforcement.

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Senior officials who were fired after reporting Attorney General Ken Paxton to law enforcement for alleged criminal conduct in 2020 asked a Travis County judge Thursday to award them $6.7 million in damages.

Paxton whistleblowers make case for $6.7 million in damages

The four former officials said they were fired from the attorney general’s office in 2020 in retaliation for reporting Ken Paxton to law enforcement.

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Citing President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, AG Paxton floated the elimination of the State Bar of Texas. The state Supreme Court this morning dismissed an ethics case against Paxton from the bar's Commission for Lawyer Discipline

Texas Supreme Court dismisses state bar ethics complaint against AG Ken Paxton

The action, requested by the state bar and Paxton, ended a lawsuit alleging the attorney general dishonestly tried to overturn the 2020 election.

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NEW: @club4growth is launching a six-figure ad campaign in Texas to pressure House Republicans to back SB 2, the school choice bill. I'm told the campaign could grow to seven figures. The Senate passed SB 2 last night #txlege

Club for Growth launches ‘six-figure’ Texas campaign to boost school choice

TV, digital and print ads seek to build support after the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 2’s voucher-style plan.

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