Texas

Texas runoffs put Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, state's GOP House speaker in middle of party feud

Published

1 year ago

May 28, 2024

Texas runoffs put Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, state's GOP House speaker in middle of party feud

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas is out to save his job Tuesday in a GOP primary runoff that has put rifts within the party on display.

Gonzales, who has clashed with some of his hard-right colleagues in Washington and drawn a rebuke from the state party, is in a race against Brandon Herrera, a gun-rights YouTube creator with more than 3 million followers.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan also faces a tough challenge that could see him ousted from his powerful seat, upending the Republican-controlled Legislature. Phelan angered conservatives for leading the 2023 impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was later acquitted in a Senate trial and then set out to remove those who voted against him.

A Gonzales loss, his supporters warn, would give Democrats an opening to flip a traditionally moderate district in November, while a change in Texas House leadership could push the state’s policymaking even further right.

Here’s a look at the key primary runoffs in Texas:

A BIG BRAWL IN A BIG DISTRICT

Gonzales represents a sprawling district that spans some 800 miles (nearly 1,300 kilometers) of the Texas-Mexico border.

He was first elected in 2020 and easily won again in 2022, but the state Republican Party sanctioned him over a voting record that highlighted an independent streak. That included support for protecting same-sex marriage and for new gun-safety laws following the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, in his district, that left 21 people dead.

What to know about the 2024 Election

Gonzales has also clashed with some hard-right Republicans, calling them “scumbags.”

Herrera, a gun manufacturer and gun-rights activist, was second with nearly 25% of the vote in a five-way primary in March to force the runoff. Gonzales was first with 45%.

Gonzales has the support of some key Republicans who may be wary of ousting an incumbent from an ostensibly safe seat. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has attended a fundraiser for Gonzales, and Gov. Greg Abbott has endorsed him. Herrera’s support on the far right has included a campaign appearance with Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.

The winner will face Democrat Santos Limon in November.

Only one other House incumbent has been defeated this year: Republican Rep. Jerry Carl of Alabama, who lost an unusual primary to Rep. Barry Moore after the state was forced to redraw congressional districts.

WHO RUNS THE TEXAS HOUSE?

Usually reelection would be a shoo-in for a speaker whose Republican majority passed some of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the country, vastly expanded gun rights, supported Abbott’s highly visible anti-immigration platforms and curtailed LGBTQ+ rights.

Yet Phelan was pushed into a runoff with oil and gas consultant David Covey. Not only that, Phelan came in second in the March primary, meaning he has ground to make up Tuesday. The winner will not have a Democratic challenger in November.

A Phelan loss would start a new round of campaigning for speakership, which is chosen from among the state House members.

TRUMP TIES

Katrina Pierson, a former spokeswoman for former President Donald Trump, is up against incumbent Justin Holland for his state House seat in the Dallas suburbs.

Holland was among House Republicans who voted to impeach Paxton. He also voted to raise the age for purchasing assault rifles from 18 to 21, and voted against Abbott’s plan to spend public education money on private schools.

CHALLENGING CUELLAR

Republicans are also deciding who will run in November against Henry Cuellar, a longtime Democratic congressman who along with his wife was indicted this spring on federal bribery, money laundering and fraud charges. He has said he is innocent; three associates have pleaded guilty in related investigations.

Jay Furman, a retired Navy veteran, and rancher and businessman Lazaro Garza, are vying for the nomination to challenge Cuellar in the South Texas district that he has held since 2005. Both have campaigned on tighter border security and immigration restrictions.

There’s another Cuellar on the ballot, too: Rosie Cuellar, his sister, faces Cecilia Castellano in the Democratic runoff for a South Texas state House seat. The March primary was held before Henry Cuellar was indicted, and it is unclear whether his legal troubles will impact her campaign.

The winner advances to the November general election against Republican Don McLaughlin, who was mayor of Uvalde when the school shooting happened.

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Texas

Dallas weather: Severe weather expected across North Texas

Published

12 hours ago

June 8, 2025

Press Room

Dallas weather: Severe weather expected across North Texas

DALLAS – North Texas is facing a significant severe weather event Sunday night, with the potential for widespread damaging winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes.

Sunday Forecast

Big picture view:

The primary threat will be powerful, straight-line winds, with gusts potentially reaching 80 to 95 mph as a line of storms moves through the region. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 4 out of 5 “moderate risk” for a large portion of North Texas, indicating the potential for a significant severe weather outbreak.

“This has the potential to be one of the greatest severe weather events that we’ve seen so far this spring, just with that high wind potential,” Capps said. She noted that winds of that magnitude can cause damage equivalent to an EF-0 or EF-1 tornado.

Timeline:

The line of storms is expected to approach northwestern North Texas around 8 p.m. and move into the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex between 10 p.m. and midnight. It is forecast to exit the area to the east and southeast between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Monday.

“The initial storms that move in from the north and west will have that tornado threat, as well as a large hail threat, but wind continues to be the greatest concern,” Capps said. An increasing flood threat is also a concern due to the potential for heavy rainfall.

Live Radar

Earlier Sunday, scattered showers and some thunderstorms were reported in the far eastern and northeastern parts of North Texas, with some storms crossing the Red River producing hail.

Daytime hours on Sunday are expected to be hot and humid before the storms arrive. High temperatures are forecast to reach the low to mid-90s, with a heat index making it feel like 100 to 104 degrees.

The active weather pattern is expected to continue through the week. Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast from Tuesday through Thursday, bringing a continued threat of heavy rain and potential flooding.

7-Day Forecast

Residents are advised to stay weather-aware, have multiple ways to receive warnings, and secure outdoor objects that could become projectiles in high winds.

The Source: Information in this article is from the FOX 4 Weather Team.

Severe WeatherWeatherDallasFort Worth

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Texas

Black bear spotted at North Texas gas station

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2025

Press Room

Black bear spotted at North Texas gas station

SAVOY, Texas – A black bear has been spotted in Fannin County, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials confirm.

Savoy, Texas black bear

What we know:

Video from a gas station in Savoy, about 70 miles north of Dallas, shows the bear running towards the gas pumps and then taking off in the other direction.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists confirmed the sighting.

They say that this time of year, young bears leave their mothers and may end up in unusual places.

What You Should Do:

Black bears are normally not aggressive, but can be.

TPWD says that if you see a black bear you should remain calm and stay far away. They also ask that you should not run away from the bear or try to feed it.

Bears will usually move on from an area if they are given space.

TWPD asks anyone who spots a black bear to report it to their department or the Texas Game Warden.

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Texas Wildlife and Parks Department.

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Texas

NiJaree Canady Signs Second Seven-Figure NIL Deal with Texas Tech

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2025

Press Room

NiJaree Canady Signs Second Seven-Figure NIL Deal with Texas Tech

The “Million Dollar Arm” may need a new nickname. After signing a historic million-dollar contract last year, Nijaree Canady has inked another seven-figure NIL deal with Texas Tech.

Canady is partnering with Texas Tech’s NIL collective, The Matador Club, and will make $1.2 million in the new deal.

The Red Raider ace has been stellar in the circle this season. She has a nation leading 0.97 ERA and has recorded 317 strikeouts.

Canady’s thrown every pitch during her team’s run in the WCWS.

In game one of the championship series she held Texas to just two earned runs and four hits and seven strkeouts in the 2-1 loss. Canady bounced back in game two only allowing two earned runs on six hits en route to a 4-3 win.

In 2024, she was named USA Softball’s player of the year and was a top three finalist again this season. She spent two seasons at Stanford before transferring to Texas Tech.

Canady has been dominating the headlines, weather it be her performance in the circle or a certain number that’s been repeatedly spoken on the broadcasts. Either way, this is great for women’s sports. It’s bringing attention and ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza is thrilled.

“You can have all kinds of theories about what it’s going to take to bring people to our sport, what will get them excited, get their attention,” Mendoza said. Right now, I’m watching all these men’s sports shows, and they’re talking about softball. This is exactly what we’ve wanted. I’ve been waiting for this.”

Canady and the Red Raiders look to take home their first WCWS title in school history. The winner-take-all game three against Texas is set for Friday night at 7:00pm CT.