Texas
Eye on Politics: North Texas shows support for Jewish community following attack on Israel
NORTH TEXAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) — North Texans came together to support the Jewish community this week after the deadly Hamas attacks. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has endorsed four Republican candidates challenging state representatives who voted to impeach him. And the animosity between Texas Republican legislative leaders intensified this week after a report a conservative activist met with an avowed Nazi sympathizer and antisemite.
Jack breaks down these stories and more in the latest edition of Eye on Politics (original air date: Oct. 12).
Every week, CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink breaks down some of the biggest political stories grabbing headlines in North Texas and beyond. Watch the latest episode of Eye on Politics in the video player above and stream new episodes live every Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. on CBS News Texas.
North Texas shows Jewish community support following attack on Israel
As of Thursday, Israel’s military reported Hamas’ attack had killed more than 1,200 people, including at least 27 Americans. More than 1,500 people have been killed in Gaza in Israel’s counterattack.
Follow the latest developments from the Israel-Hamas war here.
While the full scope of the atrocities against Israelis and the counterattack in Gaza continues to unfold, North Texans have come together to show their support for Israel and the Jewish community.
In Dallas Tuesday night, around 2,000 people came together for an interfaith gathering of solidarity and support for Israel and the Jewish community at Temple Emanu-El in North Dallas.
“They took out the Jews and they murdered them just because they were Jews… that’s exactly what has happened,” attendee Jorge Poliak said.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson were both in attendance Tuesday. And the next day, Dallas City Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning Hamas and showing support for Israel and the Jewish community.
Watch Jack’s one-on-one with Sen. Cruz below. They discuss the Israel-Hamas war, his bid for reelection and the ongoing tension between House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
A community event in support of Israel was also held in Fort Worth on Tuesday. And both the Texas House and Senate passed resolutions supporting Israel and condemning Hamas.
What is Hamas and what is its purpose? Here are some facts about the organization:
- The U.S. Government designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization in Oct. 1997.
- The Council on Foreign Relations said Hamas’ charter from 1988 calls for the destruction of Israel.
- The U.S. National Counterterrorism Center said the group is committed to armed resistance against Israel ad the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state in Israel’s place.
- Hamas primarily operates in Gaza and in 2007, the terror group ousted the Palestinian Authority from power.
- The U.S. Government said Hamas receives material and financial support from Iran.
- Under federal law, it’s illegal for Americans to knowingly provide material support resources to such groups.
Jack also spoke to Democratic Congressman Marc Veasey of Fort Worth about the Israel-Hamas war. Watch their discussion below.
Animosity between Lt. Gov. Patrick and House Speaker Phelan
Tension between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan intensified this week as the third special legislative session kicked off in Austin.
The sparring came after a Texas Tribune report said former Republican state lawmaker Jonathan Stickland of Tarrant County met for hours Friday with Nick Fuentes, an avowed Nazi sympathizer and antisemite.
Phelan issued a statement Monday that said in part:
“This is not just a casual misstep. It’s indicative of the moral, political rot that has been festering in a certain segment of our party for far too long. Antisemitism, bigotry and Hitler apologists should find no sanctuary in the Republican party. Period.”
He then called on Patrick, the Texas GOP and others who’ve received money from the PAC, to donate it to charity.
The lieutenant governor responded Monday in a statement:
“Nick Fuentes and his antisemitic rhetoric have no place in the United States.. For anyone to try to use these invectives for their own political gain is below contempt. I am calling on Dade Phelan to resign his position before the House gavels in this afternoon.”
On Wednesday, Patrick released an additional statement, saying he had spoken with Tim Dunn, a principal funder of Defend Texas Liberty PAC, and that Dunn called the meeting between Stickland and Fuentes a “serious blunder.” He went on to say:
“This is an orchestrated smear campaign by a failed Speaker, Dade Phelan. He is desperate to deflect attention from his failure to pass conservative legislation that the people of Texas want and deserve.”
Defend Texas Liberty PAC also responded to Phelan:
“We reject Speaker Phelan’s effort to combine Defend Texas Liberty PAC with Nick Fuentes. We oppose Mr. Fuentes’ incendiary views.”
Jack was unsuccessful in contacting Stickland.
Debate over using taxpayer funds for private school
With the start of the third special legislative session at the Texas Capitol, one of the major bills state lawmakers will begin debating involves whether taxpayer money should be used to pay for students to go to private schools.
Supporters call it school choice, while opponents call them school vouchers.
Republican State Senator Brandon Creighton of Conroe introduced Senate Bill 1 Monday evening. The $500 million bill would provide students who qualify $8,000.
Hear from Sen. Creighton below.
Also under SB 1, parents would be able to use that money for tuition and fees, purchasing of textbooks along with uniforms, transportation and private tutoring.
The private schools must be accredited in order to participate.
Those eligible include public and private school students and those entering kindergarten or pre-kindergarten for the first time.
Those students who are in financial need and who have a disability would be given preference.
Supporters say the public money would not come out of state education funds, but general tax revenues. Opponents say public schools will lose money when they lose students. Republicans and Democrats disagree on whether the idea will help or hurt students.
Sen. Creighton is in favor of the bill. He believes that the bill will benefit families in need, saying, “I think it’s good for families, right. Our moms and dads around the state know much better than the institutions or schools or government on what’s best for the education needs for their kids.”
Democratic Senator Nathan Johnson of Dallas is on the opposing side of the bill, stating “public education is about students. I don’t think vouchers are about students. I think vouchers are about elections. I think they’re about motivating a base with a misleading narrative and undermining the institutions that, frankly, keep people together that do cause people to vote across party lines.”
Hear from Sen. Johnson below.
Gov. Abbott didn’t include teacher pay raises in the special session agenda, an item that’s popular with both Democrats and Republicans. However, lawmakers say they want to increase teachers’ salaries and public school funding.
On Monday afternoon, Sen. Creighton, who is writing the school choice or voucher bill, introduced a separate bill on public school funding in the Senate.
Senate Bill 2 is $5.2 billion, with nearly $4 billion of the funds to be allocated for teacher raises. There would be a $3,000 increase across the board, but teachers in smaller school districts would receive a $7,000 increase.
We have not seen any legislation filed in the House just yet on teacher pay or public school funding. The question is: Will lawmakers be able to pass teacher pay raises?
Continued political fallout from Paxton impeachment
At the Collin County Republican Party meeting Monday night, supporters gave Attorney General Ken Paxton a hero’s welcome weeks after he was acquitted by the Texas Senate of impeachment articles.
Paxton vowed he’s going to campaign against House Speaker Dade Phelan and the Republican state representatives from his home county and another key county in North Texas who voted to impeach him in May.
“I’m going to be all over,” he said. “I’m going to be in Tarrant County, and I’m going to be here. I’m going to be helping people raise money. We are going to take the Texas House back and we are going to clean house.”
Paxton endorsed four candidates challenging the incumbents in the Republican primary this March:
- Allen Councilmember Daren Meis against incumbent Jeff Leach in the 67th House District.
- Chuck Branch, who’s challenging incumbent Frederick Frazier in the 61st House District.
- Wayne Richard, who wants to unseat incumbent Matt Shaheen in the 66th House District.
- Abraham George, who stepped down as the party chair, to run against incumbent Candy Noble in the 89th House District.
Watch the full report below.
What’s New?
Texas is being battered by huge hailstones the size of quarters, powerful winds of up to 65mph and thunderstorms on Christmas Eve.
Why It Matters
The winter storms come as many Americans traveled home just in time for the holidays.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicted a record-breaking year for holiday travel, with more than 119 million expected to hit the roads and the skies.
Last weekend was expected to be the busiest travel period, but Texans who left their travel to Christmas Eve may have been faced with hailstorms, flooded roadways and even potential tornadoes.
The storms are predicted to continue until Christmas Day, meaning Texans are likely in for a wet, not a white Christmas, this year.
What To Know
The National Weather Service (NWS) has placed much of Texas under severe thunderstorm warnings after a winter storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to the state today.
A flash flood warning was issued in the Fort Worth, Texas, area on Tuesday while a tornado warning was also issued for the southeast region of the state as forecasters warned of multiple tornadoes, winds of up to 65mph and hail of up to two inches diameter.
Many Texans have been sharing footage and images of large hailstones that landed in their backyards. So far, there have been no reports of serious damage from the hailstorm.
A ground stop was issued at Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday afternoon amid the severe weather.
The NWS has also warned that the environment “will support a threat for supercells with isolated large hail. A marginal wind-damage threat may also develop along the more intense parts of the line.”
Supercells refer to rotating thunderstorms that can last for hours, travel hundreds of miles and often produce tornadoes.
What People Are Saying
National Weather Service said in a statement earlier today, “A line of strong to severe thunderstorms, capable of large hail and marginally severe gusts, is expected to develop late this afternoon into this evening across east-central Texas.”
One Cypress, Texas resident, who shared a video of huge hailstones bouncing off the ground in her backyard, wrote on X, “It is bonkers at my home right now in Cypress, TX. Suburb of Houston. Major hail and rain.”
Meredith Seaver, another Cypress, Texas, resident shared a picture of huge hailstones, and asked, “It’s a Christmas miracle?”
Forecaster Max Velocity said on X, “NASTY LINE OF STORMS will move into SE Texas tonight, including Houston! Damaging winds, hail, and a tornado will be possible. Santa will have to navigate around these storms!”
What Happens Next?
The storm’s heavy rain and strong winds are expected to continue until 5 a.m. CST.
The National Weather Service has placed regions of Texas under severe thunderstorm warnings until 8 p.m. CST, with severe thunderstorm watches issued for parts of Texas until 12 a.m. CST.
Light rain is expected on Christmas Day and through Thursday while another storm system is predicted to move into the region on Friday, bringing continued rain through Saturday.
I arrived at the San Antonio International Airport and stepped outside to meet my ride. The dry, hot air gave me an instant flashback to my days intermittently working in the West Texas oilfield. I’ve seen quite a bit of the Lone Star State and couldn’t wait to get to Fredericksburg. I’d heard so much about this cute historical German town in the Texas Hill Country.
After an hour’s drive, the shuttle driver and my host said, “We’re on Wine Road 290.” The county has over 75 wineries, vineyards, and wine-tasting rooms. I thought, “What a perfect getaway for Texans and travelers flying into the area.”
A unique stay in a whimsical hideaway
Blue Sage No. 12
I wasn’t surprised to see the rolling hills as we drove toward the property I was staying at outside town. But I was astonished at how green this part of Texas was, especially since I was visiting at the end of the summer. I learned that Fredericksburg is home to the largest working wildflower farm, Wildseed Farms, and seeing the fields of flowers is a popular activity during the spring. People come from all over to admire the bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, and red poppies.
We pulled up to Blue Sage, where I was staying, and I was instantly excited to check in to my accommodations — No. 12. The dark blue treehouse-inspired cottages looked like they belonged in a fairy tale. As I toured the inside of mine, I was awed by the warm and inviting boho decor. The loft room, with a giant soak tub overlooking the woods, was grounding, and I knew I had found a comfy weekday retreat.
After resting and freshening up from the long travel day, I met with friends to enjoy cocktails at Chase’s Place Cocktails + Kitchen in Fredericksburg’s historic district. We sipped and savored a handcrafted cocktail and a few small bites in their relaxing lounge area before heading to Hill & Vine for dinner. Known for their Southern staples, trying Texas wine and their black-eyed pea hummus was delicious.
Hike at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Enchanted Rock on a blue sky day / Ashlee hiking the Summit Trail
In 2023, over 300,000 people visited Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. It’s a popular place for hiking, camping, and bird-watching – many migratory birds fly through.
The iconic rock feature is one billion years old, and you can hike to the top of the pink granite dome along the Summit Trail. The climb is steep, but the views of Hill Country are worth the trek.
Planning tip: Be sure to make reservations to visit the park. October through May are the busiest times of the year to explore, and parking is limited.
After hiking, we drove back into town for lunch at Hill Country Herb Garden. Their menu is curated with wellness in mind and rotates seasonally. I had a beautiful kale and quinoa salad with steak, just what my body needed after the morning’s hike. After lunch, we toured the herb gardens, gift shop, and spa — they make custom scents. There are even 14 quaint little cottages on the property you can book for lodging.
Learn about Fredericksburg’s German heritage
Outside of the Vereins Kirche Museum / Lunch at the Hill Country Herb Garden
Germans immigrated to the area in the mid-1800s after being enticed by promises of a new life. It wasn’t just Germans; Danish and Swiss settlers also made their way to Fredericksburg. You can learn more about the town’s history at the Vereins Kirche Museum and the Pioneer Museum.
You can do a self-guided tour of a historic homestead at the Pioneer Museum and see inside the buildings, including a traditional Sunday house. A Sunday house is where families that lived out of town and worked on farms and ranches would stay on the weekends so they could attend church.
After an exciting day of hiking and tours, we ended the evening with an Italian-inspired dinner at Alla Campagna. The savory Heritage Chicken Risotto and a Texas white wine were the perfect way to end the day. I couldn’t resist topping the day off with a few bites of homemade chocolate, vanilla, and pistachio gelato.
A morning of local retail therapy
Row of cowboy boots at Allens Boots / Breakfast at the Keidel Pharmacy
The following day, we drove into town and had breakfast at Keidel Pharmacy inside the new Albert Hotel (the largest hotel on the main street, opening in January 2025). I was pleased to start the day with a piece of gluten-free cinnamon coffee cake and an almond milk London Fog latte.
Afterward, I spent a few hours window shopping and checking out all the cute local stores, such as Carol Hicks Bolton, Blackchalk Home + Laundry, Allens Boots, and Flying Cow Tallow.
For lunch, we grabbed a glass of rosé and a quick salad at Standard Public House before heading to the vineyards for wine tasting.
Discover Fredericksburg’s wine scene
Meierstone Vineyards / Airis’Ele Vineyards
While traveling, there is something glamorous and fun about visiting local wineries, hearing stories from the owners, and tasting wine. Our first stop was Meierstone Vineyards. Krystal Patel’s family has been making 100% Texas wine for seven generations, starting in the 1840s. I loved the white wine flight, and their 2023 Trebbiano was my favorite.
Next, we visited Airis’Ele Vineyards. Their team has over 40 years of experience in the wine business. I found their wine-tasting room welcoming, with big windows for Summer Tanager bird-watching. Their sweet Bienvenue was refreshing, especially on a hot day.
Don’t miss this family-run farmstand
Das Peach Haus Farmstand
Last, we headed to Das Peach Haus farmstand, which has been in business for over 50 years. The Fischer & Wieser family business sells local wines made from 100% Texas grapes, fruit jams, jellies, sauces, and other delectable artisanal goods.
Deanna Fischer, the Chief Experience Officer, shared that the company’s goal is to “Create flavorful experiences that make people happy.”
You can sample many of the farmstand’s specialty foods to select your favorites before purchasing. I appreciated that each jar provides examples of how to pair it with your next happy hour hors d’œuvre or cozy dinner at home. You can also take one of their cooking classes or have a hand-crafted cocktail at Dietz Distillery, which is next door.
It’s nice to see places like this still preserving family, food, and faith in the community.
Texas vs. Clemson: Quinn Ewers, Hayden Conner react to CFP win
Texas defeated Clemson, 38-24, in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff.
Texas football is preparing to face the champion of its old conference in the College Football Playoff, with Big 12 champion Arizona State awaiting in the Peach Bowl.
Texas was tested in the first round, defeating Clemson 34-24 behind a rejuvenated running attack led by Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner. However, the Sun Devils, winners of six straight games, also have a fierce rushing attack led by running back Cam Skattebo, who has run for 1,568 yards rushing and 22 total touchdowns.
BUY TICKETS FOR TEXAS VS. ARIZONA STATE HERE
The Peach Bowl is held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta the same site of Texas’ loss to Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The winner will advance to the Cotton Bowl, where Ohio State or Big Ten champion Oregon will await. Ohio State advanced to the quarterfinals after beating Tennessee at home, 42-17.
Here’s everything to know about the upcoming game:
Where is Texas vs Arizona State?
Texas will travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to face Arizona State. It is also the location of the national championship game.
CFP Bowl locations
Peach Bowl
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Matchup: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 4 Arizona State
Fiesta Bowl
Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Matchup: No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 6 Penn State
Sugar Bowl
Location: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Matchup: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
Rose Bowl
Location: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Matchup: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Oregon
Texas vs. Arizona State tickets
Tickets for Texas’ game against Arizona State are available here.
CFP schedule
Playoff quarterfinals
All times in CT
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Fiesta Bowl, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 1
Peach Bowl, noon
Rose Bowl, 4 p.m.
Sugar Bowl, 7:45 p.m.
Playoff semifinals
All times in CT
Thursday, Jan. 9
Orange Bowl, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 10
Cotton Bowl, 6:30 p.m.
Playoff Championship
Monday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. CT
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