Texas

Lee Cullum: The Legislature is messing with Texas universities

Published

9 months ago

March 31, 2025

Lee Cullum: The Legislature is messing with Texas universities

The Texas Legislature can’t resist getting in on the action. While the administration in Washington has bludgeoned Columbia University into overhauling its Middle Eastern Studies Department, not exactly placing it into “academic receivership” as the White House demanded, but instead folding it into another combination along with South Asian and African Studies, the Senate in Austin is gearing up again for its latest battle with state universities.

Two years ago, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tried and failed to eliminate tenure for faculty members in the seven university systems of Texas, settling instead for a version of his Senate bill amended in the House to allow boards of regents to grant tenure. This was already “the case in Texas’ public universities” according to the Texas Tribune. In addition, the measure called for tenured professors to be reviewed every few years, also an accepted practice in American higher education. UT Austin President Jay Hartzell wrote a letter defending tenure, noting that without it recruiting top faculty would be problematic. In the end, the House saved the day, but not without fear taking root.

Those troubles reared again as legislators returned to town this year with Patrick gearing up yet again, this time to give governing boards the power to hire all leaders in their universities, not just the chancellors and presidents. By this time, Hartzell had fled to Southern Methodist University, my alma mater, where trustees respect their presidents and honor their authority.

Now UT Austin, proud flagship of a proud system that includes booming and blooming UT Dallas, must find a new leader, which won’t be easy, especially if the House concurs this time in legislation to give regents, appointed by the governor, decisive power to hire vice presidents, provosts, deans, et al., plus the ability to “vet and veto … courses and curricula” with an eye on preparing students for the workforce, according to the Texas Tribune.

This sounds like the end of the humanities to me and close to the prophecy in The New York Times of a department chair at Columbia that American universities — the envy of the world — would be “really, really more akin to a high school or a local community college.” He was talking about the death of research on campuses, but his point applies to courses directed by political pals/regents as well. It should be noted that Columbia Agonistes has been great for SMU and Texas Christian University. A woman I met at a conference last week said that friends in the East are sending their kids to college in North Texas because of all the upheaval closer to home.

Even so, we’ve been this way in Texas before. In 1971, just 17 years after emerging from censure by the American Association of University Professors, UT Austin lost four professors (supreme stars of the faculty) after a celebrated dean of the College of Arts and Sciences was fired, then was immediately named president of Boston University. He took the others with him. All left lamenting political interference in the work of the university. A regent appointed by Gov. John Connally, by then secretary of the Treasury under Richard Nixon, charged them with teaching too little and living too “high on the hog,” according to the Times.

Thirty years later, Gov. Rick Perry and his henchmen instigated spreadsheets that showed faculty “productivity” in one system and which professors brought in money and which didn’t in another. One proposal was to separate teaching and research budgets, seen by some as anti-research. In a rush of enlightenment, Dan Branch, then a Republican member of the House, managed to pass a bill to create more tier-one public research universities. The governor signed it. Now Texas has more tier-one universities than any other state in the Union.

Why jeopardize all that? Why aren’t Texas alumni, usually fanatical, rising up in defense of the Longhorns and their fantastic legacy in learning as well as linemen? Usually university presidents such as Jay Hartzell or Gerald Turner, whom Hartzell will follow at SMU, are masters at keeping their blockers with them.

Chances are that’s harder now because the turmoil in the Texas Legislature is reflecting a national mood of disenchantment with higher education. What bothers critics most, I suspect, is what they perceive as a leftward tilt among college professors. However, those professors may not have as much influence as some parents fear. In last year’s election, Kamala Harris won voters ages 18 to 29 by four percentage points where in 2020, this group favored Joe Biden over Donald Trump by 25 percentage points, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

I just had lunch with a sophomore major in political science at SMU who seemed more than able to measure her choices at the polls and in life. She had to leave early for her class on Northern Irish history. Does her professor mention the brutal, bloody 30 years of troubles? I hope so.

Lee Cullum is a Dallas journalist and former host of CEO on KERA TV.

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Texas

Powerball fever for estimated $1.7 billion jackpot as warm as the Texas weather

Published

6 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Press Room

Powerball fever for estimated .7 billion jackpot as warm as the Texas weather

Kelly Fox decided to throw a bit of chance into her children’s Christmas gifts this year by buying them all Powerball tickets.

“It was for fun,” Fox said. “Let’s see if we win.”

Her generosity could pay off, as the estimated jackpot is $1.7 billion. The cash option for the prize exceeds $781 million. But the Fox family doesn’t have the exclusive lockdown on playing the fantasy-rich Powerball, where the odds are 1 in about 292 million.

Fuel City on S. Riverfront in Dallas is dealing with the frenzy and the dreams. Jason Flores is working his first Powerball rush. The 17-year-old has been on the job for only four months.

“I actually had a customer come up here the other day. They bought $3,000 worth of Powerball,” Flores said. “And then we had another customer come up here the other day that bought 300. And then today we had a customer buy $100 worth.”

The teen cashier and stocker have to figure out how the customer wants the tickets: all on one ticket, separate, or another preference. As the transactions are occurring, dreams and promises fill the air.

“We’ve had a lot of people come in here and just be like that they’re going to buy their dream house, their dream car, and, you know, put half of it into a savings account,” he said. “Other people that want to just ball out and buy everything. And we always have some customers that have us, the cashiers, as a lucky charm.”

Flores said customers ask him and other workers to bless the tickets. That’s where multi-million dollar promises, he said, have been made to him. If the ticket holder became a winner and honored their word, the teen would become a millionaire.

“One said $10 million, $2 million, $5 million,” he said.

Flores, who simply holds the ticket up and declares it a winner, has not quit his day job for the promises, yet. Even he dreams of the change such currency could bring to his family’s life.

In the meantime, most of Fox’s children decided their winnings would go toward a trip. There was a vote for college. Church donations came up. It will be a family decision for sure, according to the mother of eight.

“It’s got my signature on every single one of them,” Fox said.

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Texas

How a Texas prison allowed children to celebrate Christmas with their fathers

Published

18 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

How a Texas prison allowed children to celebrate Christmas with their fathers

The last time Karley Alejo spent Christmas with her dad was when she was 3 years old.

Now 16, Alejo walked into the gym at the Sanders Estes Unit, trying to make eye contact with her father, Julian Alejo, who was wearing a white inmate uniform and a red Christmas hat.

A South Dallas nonprofit that works with individuals transitioning out of Texas prisons aims to highlight the human side of incarceration. Trinity Restoration Ministries’ holiday gathering in a prison allowed children to celebrate Christmas with their fathers.

Julian Alejo, 43, who is serving a 30-year sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, was one of 27 inmates at the Sanders Estes Unit selected to participate in the Christmas with Dads event organized by Trinity Restoration Ministries on Dec.19. This south Dallas non-profit organization operates a faith-based reentry program for individuals transitioning out of Texas prisons.

For the first time since Sanders Estes Prison was established 36 years ago, its gym was transformed into a holiday village for inmates to celebrate Christmas with their children.

Julian Alejo, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, talks with his 16-year-old daughter, Karley, during a Chirstmas with dads event Dec. 19, 2025.

Azul Sordo / Staff Photographer

“This makes it more authentic and personal. Being able to open gifts and not having to just take them home and talk about them,” said Karley Alejo. “You get to actually be here, to make memories with your family here. It’s amazing.”

Inmates and volunteers pushed the gym equipment to the side to make room for four Christmas trees surrounded by presents, a red carpet, long tables set up with crafts, books, board games, a face-painting booth and food.

For a couple of hours, the gym was filled with laughter, shouts, prayers and the sound of children running around. Christmas music played in the background while children sat on their dads’ laps.

At one point, Santa showed up, and families took photos with him. The portraits were just like any family would take during the holidays. Still, the tall walls, tiny windows, and the wired patio, along with the surveillance cameras, were reminders of where the celebration was being held.

On two occasions, all the dads left the gym for the mandatory headcount before returning to be with their children.

Julian Alejo has been incarcerated for 12 years and dreamed of spending Christmas with his daughter. The night before the event, he couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t believe he was going to see her open a Christmas gift.

“Even though I’ve been away from her for years, I still have to show her that I’m her dad, I love her, and I’m here for her, and I’m going to support her, and what she does,” Julian Alejo said. “I’m going to advise her wisely, and I’ve got to make sure I’m there for her.

‘It’s about the kids, not the adults’

For Karley Alejo, living all these years with her dad has shown her how incarceration affects families and how society sees the inmates.

“I just feel like a lot of the time, people believe that if you’re in prison, you did something awful, and you can’t change, and that nobody’s gonna forgive you, and you’re just here,” Karley Alejo said. “But a lot of the time, a lot of people don’t want that from themselves. They might have made a mistake when they were younger or older, but all the people here have families.”

Shagala Taylor, 50, decided to take Friday off from work to visit her brother, Larry Taylor, and bring his eight-year-old twins, Champion and Reagyn.

Larry Taylor, 43, who is serving a 45-year sentence for murder, was surprised by his son. The boy ran toward Larry Taylor to be picked up by ‘Daddy.’

After setting him down, Larry Taylor did the viral ‘floss dance’ with him. He gave his daughter and sister big hugs. Then, they sat down to wait for their turn to be called out for breakfast.

Larry Jr. Taylor, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, plays with his... — Larry Jr. Taylor, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, plays with his eight-year-old twins, Champion and Reagyn, during a Chirstmas with dads event Dec. 19, 2025.
Azul Sordo / Staff Photographer

“Sometimes people don’t understand because in their mindset, ‘Adults knew what they were doing,’ but at the end of the day, it’s not about the adult, it’s about the kids of the incarcerated individuals,” Shagala Taylor said. “You have to get out of that mindset and bring it down to the kids’ level, understanding how they’re feeling. Got to have empathy and sympathy. I wish there were more programs out here like this.”

Shagala Taylor added the regular visits are tough for the kids.

They last two hours, and there’s no physical contact. Sometimes there are crayons and books, but still, the kids get bored and don’t understand why there isn’t a playground or why “Daddy” can’t pick them up or sit them on his lap.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the kids. They didn’t have a choice to be part of it. Ground the adults but not the kids,” Shagala Taylor said.

Larry Taylor treasures the memories of wearing matching pajamas with his children before he was incarcerated in 2022. He hopes one day he and his children can do it again.

Following the example

Around 200 volunteers came together to create the one-of-a-kind event, the result of months of planning, said Richard “Chico” Smith, executive director of Trinity Restoration Ministries.

The congregation from Lakepointe Church in Rockwall provided approximately 60 volunteers and covered most of the event’s expenses. Volunteers from Templo Betania in Dallas also participated by helping with decorations, serving food and greeting the families.

“Jesus told us not to forget about the incarcerated,” said volunteer Carmen Vazquez, 52. “He set an example for us to serve everyone, especially those who need us the most.”

Lamar Simpson, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, holds his sleeping... — Lamar Simpson, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, holds his sleeping two-year-old son, Jamari during a Chirstmas with dads event Dec. 19, 2025.
Azul Sordo / Staff Photographer

With a radio in one hand and a sheet detailing the seating organization and event details, Robin Stephens, a 22-year-old program administrator at the prison, coordinated the event and ensured all guests and inmates followed the prison’s protocols.

Stephens saw the event as an opportunity for the inmates to feel hopeful and stay motivated.

Brodgrick Price, the senior warden at Sanders Estes in Venus, about 30 miles southwest of Dallas, approved the “Christmas with Dads” event to support the inmates’ rehabilitation. He had no budget for it, and that’s where the nonprofits and volunteers stepped in.

Price believes in providing inmates with the tools to be successful while incarcerated and, upon release, to rebuild their lives, “bringing people to change the thought process through a rehabilitative approach versus a punitive one,” Price said. “A lot of times, when somebody gets in trouble, people want to punish them, versus getting to the root cause of why the person is acting out.”

Price was amazed by how the gym was transformed into a holiday party for the children to celebrate Christmas.

Kevin Porter ties the shoelaces of his son, Levi, during a Chirstmas with dads event at the... — Kevin Porter ties the shoelaces of his son, Levi, during a Chirstmas with dads event at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus Dec. 19, 2025.
Azul Sordo / Staff Photographer

“I am so glad I said yes to this because I can see a lot of lives are being touched,” Price said, adding that some of the inmates were serving 12-, 15- and even 45-year sentences. “For the kids to be able to come in here and sit with them and open a present in front of them, that touches me.”

Frederick Pheiffer, 70, is an example of that rehabilitation. He was released four months ago after serving an 18-year sentence for murder.

Pheiffer graduated from the Trinity Ministries Restoration program and has been able to buy a car, get a job, and slowly reconnect with his family.

‘Those little things’

Adrian Casares was catching his breath after running behind his two sons. His 6-year-old wanted to kick the soccer ball, and his 3-year-old was trying to dribble a basketball.

Casares, 33, is serving a six-year sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. As soon as he knew about the event, he signed up. He has had good conduct and earned ‘trusty level status.’ He’s now the barber of the officers.

Adrian Casares, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, plays with his sons... — Adrian Casares, an inmate at the Sanders Estes Unit prison in Venus, plays with his sons Ares and Atlas after a Chirstmas with dads event Dec. 19, 2025.
Azul Sordo / Staff Photographer
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His wife, Gracey Turner, 23, drove about two hours from Temple to bring the kids to spend the day with their dad. During the whole ride, kids kept asking, ‘When are we gonna see Daddy?’

In past holidays, Casares, his wife and their kids used to make a ‘Christmas crack,’ similar to a cracker jack, with peanuts, sugar, and other ingredients. Then watch movies and open gifts in the morning.

“That’s something I miss the most for sure, those little things,” Casares said. “ I’m just taking it step by step, trying to change everything about myself for my family, my kids.”

For Turner, the hardest thing about her husband being incarcerated is raising the children alone. The event allowed them to have a family holiday, like they used to. She said this will be a memory her kids will remember.

They made crafts, shot Polaroid photos and collected animal-shaped balloons and bags of gifts.

The celebration lasted only a few hours. By the end, the Christmas trees and hats were put away by the inmates, the tables had been cleared, and the gym returned to its usual function.

The dads returned to their cells.

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Texas

Texas Attorney-General defends State’s terrorist label for CAIR | The Jerusalem Post

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Texas Attorney-General defends State’s terrorist label for CAIR | The Jerusalem Post

“Radical Islamist terrorist groups are anti-American, and the infiltration of these dangerous individuals into Texas must be stopped,” said Texas A-G regarding terrorist org. CAIR.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attends the executive order signing ceremony to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

(photo credit: CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES)

ByLARA SUKSTER MOSHEYOF

DECEMBER 24, 2025 04:21