Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants Texas to replicate 'Don't Say Gay' law, per campaign email

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants Texas to replicate the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” Florida law and regulate school libraries during the next session.

In a campaign email as part of his reelection bid, Patrick said such legislation will be a priority for his office. The email came late Monday after he laid out roughly 80 priorities that he wants lawmakers to study before the next legislative session.

In the email, which begins with a tirade against Disney, Patrick wrote he was angry with the company because it pushed back against the Florida law, which he characterized as mandating “schools cannot sexualize children in elementary school.”

“I will make this law a top priority in the next session,” Patrick, a Republican, wrote. “This issue will be addressed in our interim Education Committee hearings under Parental Rights.”

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2022/04/04/lt-gov-dan-patrick-wants-texas-senate-to-regulate-school-libraries-books/

Kimmel: Trump Rips Off White House Photographer, Palin Runs for Congress & Jimmy's Freaky Friday

3 more protesters sue city, one alleges long-term brain damage from Austin police use of force

Three more protesters who were injured in the May 2020 protests against police brutality are suing the city of Austin, including one woman whose doctors confirmed she suffered long-term brain damage from the force police used against the demonstrators.

"Her life will never be the same," her lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs are:

• Alyssa Sanders, 27, who was shot in the head by Austin police with a so-called less-lethal projectile on Cesar Chavez Street, her lawsuit alleges.

• Taylor Ellis was participating in a protest on Interstate 35 near Austin Police Department headquarters when officers struck him with a projectile from a less-lethal shotgun, according to his suit.

• Cesar Fuentez was shot moments after he jumped over the highway barrier toward the I-35 access road, his suit says.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/04/04/protesters-sue-austin-allege-brain-damage-police-response-may-2020/9464315002/

Beau of the Fifth Column: Let's talk about crime and peacekeepers in Ukraine....

Beau of the Fifth Column: Let's talk about pirates and emperors on the roadsides of Ukraine....

Texas HBCUs hold statewide conference at Huston-Tillotson to address funding inequities

Texas students and campus leaders held the state’s first Texas Historically Black Colleges and Universities Conference in Austin over the weekend to discuss the need for increased investments in HBCUs.

The event, held at Huston-Tillotson University, featured speeches from campus leaders, a conversation with state lawmakers who represent HBCUs in their districts and a roundtable discussion with students who spoke about the experience and challenges of attending HBCUs.

Archie Vanderpuye, Huston-Tillotson University provost, said organizers developed the conference to create opportunities for students to learn and shed light on the need for more resources and support for HBCUs in Texas. He said he hopes the conference leads to more support for HBCU's in the state and across the country.

“While we focus on Texas, we are definitely aware that our sister institutions in other states share this common goal, and it is our hope that we're going to share what we learn here with them so that we can build a shared future together,” Vanderpuye said.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/04/02/texas-hbcu-colleges-host-huston-tillotson-conference-funding-inequities/7202963001/

Beto O'Rourke touts education, jobs and health care, vows to forcefully hammer GOP Gov. Greg Abbott

GRAND PRAIRIE — With the uproar over last year’s winter storm in a holding pattern, Democratic nominee for governor Beto O’Rourke is trying to sell Texas voters on bread-and-butter issues that he hopes will compel them to fire incumbent Greg Abbott.

In varied events across the state, O’Rourke is pounding three topics — jobs, education and health care — as critical reasons to elect him governor.

It’s a transition of sorts. O’Rourke is coming off of a 20-city tour designed to highlight the state officials’ failure in securing the Texas power grid, which resulted in sweeping power outages and more than 240 deaths. While he still discusses the grid issue, O’Rourke hopes to better connect with Texas voters by discussing basic -- but sometimes elusive --government services.

“I want to make sure that we always begin with and focus on the big important things. And so I keep coming back to jobs, schools and the ability to see a doctor, because almost all of us can agree on those things,” O’Rourke said during a recent campaign stop in Grand Prairie.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/04/02/beto-orourke-touts-education-jobs-and-health-care-vows-to-forcefully-hammer-gop-gov-greg-abbott/

Ukrainian MP Reacts To Bucha Massacre: "I Cannot Get Those Images Out Of My Head." - Velshi

At Least Six Dead, Ten Hurt in Sacramento Mass Shooting - MSNBC

To Recuse Or Not To Recuse? A Question Only The Supreme Court Can Answer - Capehart