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Vice President Kamala Harris decried former President Donald Trump as divisive and disrespectful in response to his recent attacks about her race, as she addressed a historically Black sorority event in Houston on Wednesday.

Speaking to the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s Biennial Boule, Harris said: “The American people deserve better.”

“The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth,” Harris continued. “A leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts. We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us. It is an essential source of our strength.”

Earlier in the day, Trump ridiculed Harris’ heritage as the first Black and Indian American vice president during an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists’ convention in Chicago. Trump falsely claimed Harris did not lean into her Black identity until it became politically advantageous to do so.

“She was always of Indian heritage and she was only promoting Indian heritage,” Trump said. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. And now she wants to be known as Black. So I don’t know. Is she Indian or is she Black? I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t.”

ABC News’ Rachel Scott, who was one of the moderators of the interview, pointed out that Harris has always identified as Black and attended Howard University, a historically Black university. When asked if he felt that Harris was a “DEI hire,” as several of his fellow Republicans have said, Trump said, “I really don’t know. Could be.”

On Wednesday evening in Houston, Harris responded: “It was the same old show. The divisiveness and the disrespect. And let me just say, the American people deserve better.”

Harris’ visit to Houston is part of her third trip to Texas in July. Harris was in Houston earlier last week for a briefing on the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl and to deliver a speech at the American Federal of Teachers’ national convention. Harris also visited Dallas earlier in the month to speak at the Alpha Kappa Alpha annual convention.

Harris will stay in Houston through Thursday to attend the service for U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, who died earlier this month. Harris will deliver a eulogy, along with other prominent national Democratic elected officials.

Harris plans to go on a battleground tour next week, visiting several cities in key states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Arizona and Nevada.

During her speech at the Sigma Gamma Rho event, Harris urged attendees to organize voters and bolster turnout as they did in 2020 when she ran with President Joe Biden.

“Election day is in 97 days, and in this moment once again, our nation is counting on you to energize, to organize and to mobilize,” Harris said. “Because when we organize, mountains move. When we mobilize, nations change. And when we vote, we make history.”

Harris previewed her policy priorities should she get elected president. She vowed to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. The two bills, which have remained stalled in Congress, would increase federal oversight of elections and codify expanded access to voter registration and the ballot.

Harris also addressed gun violence, promising to codify universal background checks, red flag laws and an “assault weapons ban.”

Harris blamed Trump for restrictive abortion laws currently in place across the South, including in Texas, saying he made this happen by appointing a conservative majority to the Supreme Court. She said she would sign into law legislation to “restore reproductive freedoms” that also respects individual religious beliefs.

“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not be telling her what to do,” Harris said. “We know faith and freedom can coexist.”

Harris cast a second Trump term as a threat to American democracy, saying that the former president planned to use law enforcement to round up protesters, use the Justice Department to go after political enemies and become dictator from day one.

“In this moment, we face a choice between two very different visions for our nation. One focused on the future, the other focused on the past,” Harris said. “We are working to build up, not tear down.”

“We are not going back,” Harris said. “We all here remember what those four years were like. And today, we were given yet another reminder.”

Harris started her Houston visit Wednesday at a political fundraiser for the Harris Victory Fund just before visiting with Sigma Gamma Rho.

The fundraising event was organized in four days, bringing in $2.5 million, according to a campaign official. The event’s target was $1 million. U.S. Reps. Al Green and Lizzie Fletcher and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo were in attendance. Sima Ladjevardian, chair of the National Women’s Business Council, introduced Harris. Ladjevardian ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw in 2020 and has organized fundraisers for the Biden-Harris campaign this cycle

Harris spoke briefly at the fundraiser, telling the audience of donors that “building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.” She warned that Trump represented a different, darker vision for the country, urging attendees: “we are not fighting against something. We are fighting for something.”

“We know how much is at stake,” Harris said.

Harris also alluded to her past as the California Attorney General and district attorney where she “took on perpetrators of all types.”

“I know Donald Trump’s type,” Harris said, alluding to his conviction last May of 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York court.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations on topics covering education, the economy, Texas and national politics, criminal justice, the border, the 2024 elections and so much more. See the full program.

It’s official: Hayden Schott is coming back for at least one more year.

The graduate student from Newport Beach, CA was finally granted his eligibility waiver from the NCAA Wednesday. Schott had earlier announced he would be returning to Texas A&M after previously entering the transfer portal. With the waiver, he is now officially able to take the field for Texas A&M in the 2025 season.

Last month on X, Schott expressed a desperate desire for the additional year upon hearing the news that Michael Earley would be coaching the Aggies.

Schott, ever the personality, won over the 12th Man with his talent on the diamond and his charisma off of it. He quickly made an impact in his first year in Aggieland, batting a team-leading .335 to go along with eight home runs and 63 runs batted in. He was a pivotal piece of the Aggie offense, especially deep in the playoffs, delivering several clutch hits late in games to boost Texas A&M to Omaha.

Before College Station, Schott earned an Ivy League education at Columbia and was named a first-team all-conference player in 2022, hitting 23 round-trippers in his time there.

Schott’s return to the club is just another chapter in the success that Michael Earley has already achieved as A&M’s coach, and the season still isn’t for another six or seven months. Since being named the head coach, Earley has managed to bring back most of the roster, especially stars like Gavin Grahovac and Jace LaViolette who had entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Earley has even brought in outside transfers as well, such as Texas Tech first baseman Gavin Kash, one of the top-ranked athletes in the transfer portal this offseason, as well as pitchers Grant Cunningham and Kyrin LeBlanc.

With the way the offseason has shaped out so far, getting back to Omaha should be smooth sailing for the Aggies.

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit, or are you thinking about starting your own business? Maybe you have a great idea, but you are not sure what city you want to start it in. 

According to a study by USA TODAY, Texas has cities that are great for pursuing a business. The article pulls studies from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Economic Analysis. 

And with a city like Austin home to businesses such as YETI, IBM, Dell Technologies, and Oracle, there could be optimism that others will do the same. 

More: Texas ranks third for business among US states in 2024, CNBC study reports

Here’s a look at how well Texas cities do when starting a business. 

The top 10 cities to start a business in the U.S.

According to USA TODAY’s research, here is the list of the top 10 cities in the U.S. to start a business.

1. Austin, Texas.
2. Miami, Florida. 
3. Nashville, Tennessee. 
4. Dallas, Texas.
5. Atlanta, Georgia. 
6. Phoenix, Arizona.
7. Jacksonville, Florida.
8. Raleigh, North Carolina.
9. Houston, Texas.
10. Tampa, Florida.

What Texas cities have the most entrepreneurs?  

USA TODAY examined metrics of 46 of the most popular cities in the U.S. 

According to their list, here a list of cities with the most entrepreneurs:

1. Los Angeles 
2. Nashville 
3. San Francisco 
4. San Diego 
5. Miami 
6. Austin 
7. Sacramento 
8. Portland 
9. Dallas 
10. Denver 
11. Houston 
12. Washington 
13. Atlanta 
14. Oklahoma City 
15. San Antonio 
16. Colorado Springs 
17. Tulsa 
18. Minneapolis 
19. Seattle 
20. New York 
21. Boston 
22. San Jose 
23. Charlotte  
24. Phoenix 
25. Fresno 
26. Omaha 
27. Wichita 
28. Raleigh
29. Louisville
30. Albuquerque
31. Baltimore
32. Tampa 
33. Las Vegas 
34. Kansas City 
35. Columbus
36. Tucson
37. Memphis 
38. Bakersfield
39. Jacksonville
40. Philadelphia 
41. Indianapolis
42. El Paso 
43. Chicago
44. Virginia Beach 
45. Detroit
46. Milwaukee

How to register an LLC in Texas 

Numerous small businesses choose to form limited liability companies (LLCs) because LLCs provide similar liability protections to corporations but with a more flexible structure and reduced administrative demands.

If you’re looking to start a business in Texas, here is how to register your LLC. 

• Choose a Name for Your LLC: The name must be unique and distinguishable from other business entities registered in Texas. It must include “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation like “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
• Reserve Your LLC Name: You can reserve your desired LLC name for 120 days by filing Form 501 (Application for Reservation or Renewal of Reservation of an Entity Name) and paying a fee.
• Designate a Registered Agent: A registered agent is required to receive legal documents on behalf of the LLC. The agent can be an individual or a business entity authorized to do business in Texas.
• File a Certificate of Formation: Complete and file Form 205 (Certificate of Formation) with the Texas Secretary of State. You can file online, by mail, or in person. The filing fee is $300.
• Create an Operating Agreement: Although not required by law, it is highly recommended to draft an operating agreement outlining the ownership and operating procedures of the LLC.
• Obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number): Apply for an EIN from the IRS either online or by mail. An EIN is necessary for tax purposes and to open a business bank account.
• File for State and Local Business Licenses and Permits:  Depending on your business type and location, you may need additional licenses or permits to operate legally in Texas.
• Comply with Texas Tax and Regulatory Requirements: Register with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts if your LLC will be selling goods or services subject to sales tax. File an annual Public Information Report with the Texas Secretary of State and pay any required franchise taxes.