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AG Paxton takes State Fair gun ban challenge to Texas Supreme Court

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AG Paxton takes State Fair gun ban challenge to Texas Supreme Court


After losing arguments in a Dallas district court and a state appeals court, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton took his challenge of the State Fair of Texas’s gun policy to the state supreme court on Wednesday.

Paxton filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court to prevent the city of Dallas from assisting the State Fair of Texas in enforcing their ban on firearms at Fair Park.

In early August, the State Fair of Texas announced that it would screen for weapons at the gate and that only active or retired law enforcement officers would be allowed to carry weapons into the fairgrounds.

The attorney general argued the fair’s policy unlawfully prohibits licensed gun owners from carrying their weapons in places owned or leased by governmental entities unless otherwise prohibited by law.

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The city of Dallas owns Fair Park and leases much of the fairgrounds to the State Fair of Texas each year.

In the city’s response to the appeals court earlier this week, interim Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said the State Fair was a ticketed, private event and that the fair had exclusive control over some of Fair Park during its 24-day run. A board of directors runs the State Fair with no city oversight or approval, and the State Fair, as a private event, has exclusive authority to decide who it will admit. Tolbert said the city did not take a position on the correctness of the fair’s gun policy and said they had received no complaints from citizens about the fair’s policy.

The appeals court ruled Tuesday that there was not enough evidence showing that the State Fair or the city of Dallas would break any laws with the policy on firearms, and Paxton’s motion for a temporary injunction pending the appeal was denied.

“The City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas cannot nullify state law by banning firearms. And a government entity cannot contract away our rights by offloading this policy to a private entity. Texans who are licensed to carry have a right to defend themselves, and I will fight every step of the way to protect it,” Paxton said in a statement Wednesday.

Amid the legal battle to get the fair to rescind their policy, Paxton pulled a 2016 opinion in which he supported a nonprofit’s right to ban firearms on government-owned land. During the appeal, Paxton said the opinion was pulled because handgun laws had changed and that the opinion was now outdated and inapplicable.

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The fair is set to open its gates on Friday, so a decision by the Texas Supreme Court could come sometime Thursday.

The State Fair of Texas runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 20.



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Talarico, Paxton campaigning in Texas this week. See events

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Talarico, Paxton campaigning in Texas this week. See events


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The two candidates vying for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas are making stops across the Lone Star State this week.

Democrat James Talarico and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will head to South Texas as the two go head-to-head in the Nov. 3 General Election to replace U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Cornyn lost his reelection bid to Paxton in the Republican Primary Election.

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The campaign tour continues for Talarico after hosting townhalls in El Paso and Marfa as part of his “Frontera Tour,” while Paxton is holding a “Rally in the Valley” in McAllen.

Here’s where the candidates will be in Texas.

Paxton heads to McAllen for ‘Rally in the Valley’

Paxton is heading to McAllen for his “Rally in the Valley” event at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. He’ll be joined by National Border Security Council President Paul Perez, TX-28 Nominee Tano Tijerina, and TX-34 Nominee Eric Flores.

The all-ages event will take place at University Draft House Townlake McAllen, 100 West Business 83, and spots can be reserved at eventbrite.com.

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Talarico to visit Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Laredo

Talarico continues his “Frontera” tour with a stop in Del Rio on Monday, July 14.

“Gather with your family, friends, and neighbors to hear from James about taking his fight against Big Money and corruption to Washington. Together, we can win back power for working people in a system that’s rigged for the ultra-wealthy,” the event page states, adding that the program will be short and voters can greet Talarico after.

Here are the stops on Talarico’s “Frontera” tour:

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Monday, July 13:

  • 3 p.m. Memo’s Restaurant, 804 E Losoya St. in Del Rio
  • 7 p.m. International Center For Trade, 3295 Bob Rogers Drive in Eagle Pass

Tuesday, July 14:

  • 6 p.m. La Posada – San Agustin Ballroom, 1000 Zaragoza St. 107 in Laredo

Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.



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Arrest made in death of North Texas teen Daniel Erving found in Lake Ray Hubbard

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Arrest made in death of North Texas teen Daniel Erving found in Lake Ray Hubbard




Arrest made in death of North Texas teen Daniel Erving found in Lake Ray Hubbard – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth



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Texas leaders question federal handling of fatal ICE shooting

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Texas leaders question federal handling of fatal ICE shooting


HOUSTON, Texas — Houston-area leaders on Saturday expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of cooperation from federal authorities following the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

The shooting happened on Tuesday during an immigration operation. Federal officials said an ICE agent shot and killed the 52-year-old after he allegedly rammed a law enforcement vehicle and refused verbal commands during a traffic stop.

Three men detained during the operation have disputed the federal account of what happened.

RELATED | Illegal immigrant killed by ICE agent in Houston was not intended target, lawmaker says

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Rep. Christian Menefee, D-Texas, criticized the federal government’s handling of the case, questioning its characterization of Salgado Araujo and the use of masked ICE agents and unmarked vehicles during enforcement operations.

RELATED | Family speaks out after fatal ICE shooting as Austin rally calls for transparency

SEIU Texas President Elsa Flores called for greater transparency and accountability, saying officials should ensure a similar incident does not happen again and that those responsible are held accountable.



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