Texas
As Texas lawmakers meet in Austin, here’s what to expect on abortion, guns and betting
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Get your fits pressed and your footwear polished — it is legislative time.
Driving the information: Lawmakers from all factors of Texas descend on Austin to make legal guidelines that form our every day lives.
What we’re watching: Property tax cuts and college security are main items of the agenda.
Between the strains: The large funds surplus unveiled by state Comptroller Glenn Hegar yesterday — $32.7 billion — will form just about all policymaking on the Capitol.
- Hegar estimates lawmakers can have $188.2 billion to spend within the coming two years — a 26.3% improve over 2021.
- Playing pursuits have tried to persuade Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and different resistant lawmakers that betting can be a boon to the state’s backside line. Now, with the excess, that argument could have much less traction.
The large image: Anticipate push-and-pull between Abbott, who needs to defray property cuts; Patrick, who goals to make additional electrical energy grid upgrades; and Home Speaker Dade Phelan, who has signaled the excess needs to be used for highway and different improve enhancements.
Patrick has additionally thrown chilly water on any abortion ban carve-outs.
- In September, a number of key Texas Republicans signaled openness to giving victims of rape or incest entry to abortion.
- However Republicans handily gained statewide workplaces in November — and maintained overwhelming majorities within the Legislature, suggesting assist from voters for his or her anti-abortion stance.
What they’re saying: Relating to abortion carveouts, Patrick informed Spectrum Information’ “Capital Tonight” in December, “I’m not saying no, however we would must see an actual groundswell of Republicans within the Home and Senate to say sure.”
- In legislative converse, that is very in all probability no.
Within the wake of Uvalde, do not count on gun restrictions, however do count on lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} to be devoted to psychological well being companies and new safety measures in faculties.
The underside line: No piece of laws is sort of lifeless until the ultimate gavel — and it is not legislation till it is signed by the governor.
Texas
2 dead, multiple injured in shooting at Texas Juneteenth celebration: police
Posted:
Updated:
ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Two people are dead and multiple others were injured after a shooting at a Juneteenth celebration in Texas.
Police in Round Rock, a city located less than 20 miles north of Austin, said the shooting began just before 11 p.m. at Old Settlers Park after a fight between two groups who were at the Juneteenth event.
“The unfortunate part is that we had innocent victims as a result of this reckless actions of certain subjects,” Police Chief Allen Banks said during a media briefing. “We’re here to celebrate Juneteenth and the unfortunate part is these folks could care less about someone’s life and take someone’s life and on a day we’re here to celebrate community.”
Banks shared that officers and members of the Round Rock Fire Department who were there immediately tried to help the victims of the shooting. Austin-Travis County EMS medics also responded to the incident and said four adults and two kids had potentially serious injuries.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene. Their ages and identities have not yet been released.
Those injured, who were not part of the fight, were taken to area hospitals.
“My thoughts and my prayers go out to the victims,” said Banks. “My condolences go out to the families of the deceased.”
Watch the briefing from RRPD Chief Allen Banks:
No additional details were immediately available. Banks said police believe the suspects fled the scene but that there is no threat to the public.
Anyone with video or information about the incident is asked to reach out to the Round Rock Police Department at 512-218-5500.
Texas
Texas mass shooting as multiple people hit at Juneteenth event
At least six people have been injured in a shooting during a Juneteenth festival in Texas, according to authorities.
Round Rock Police said officers were investigating a shooting that took place at Old Settlers Park on Saturday night. “This is an active scene, and the investigation is ongoing. Please avoid the area,” the department wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Austin-Travis County EMS wrote that it responded to “a mutual aid request for a reported shooting involving multiple patients.”
Medics transported four adults and two children to local hospitals, “all with potentially serious injuries,” the department wrote on X.
Videos posted on social media showed a huge police presence at the scene after the shooting. One clip reportedly shows police officers surrounding a possible suspect.
Police said they have no suspects in custody, CBS Austin reported.
Newsweek has contacted the Round Rock Police Department for comment via social media.
🚨#BREAKING: Numerous people have been shot and injured with fatalities in a mass shooting during at a Juneteenth festival — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) June 16, 2024
⁰📌#Roundrock | #Texas
⁰Currently numerous Law enforcement along with emergency personnel are on the scene in old settlers park located in round rock… pic.twitter.com/P0Vb6WNIoN
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Texas
Texas voters cast ballots in runoff election
Voters went to the polls Saturday to make their final selections in 11 races that required runoffs after the May 4 local elections.
Most of the races were for city council seats in suburban communities around Dallas-Fort Worth. In Dallas County, the only races were for Irving City Council District 4 and Lewisville City Council, Place 2. You can see full results at dallasnews.com/election-results/.
Most of the attention on May 4 was on Dallas’ $1.25 billion bond program that overwhelmingly passed on a day that saw low voter turnout in the city. Turnout on Saturday was expected to be light, as well.
Among the races on the ballot: Two city council races in Allen, and single council races in Euless, North Richland Hills, Kennedale, Anna, Midlothian, Fate, Irving and Lewisville. Also being decided was a seat on the Ellis Appraisal District board of directors.
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