This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at www.texastribune.org. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans – and engages with them – about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Texas
Texas State University professor fired again after court revoked initial firing over ‘inciting violence’
(The Texas Tribune) — A Texas State University professor has again been fired after a court had reinstated him following his initial termination over an allegation that he incited violence.
Thomas Alter was first fired on Sept. 10 after a video circulated on social media showing him talking about political organization at an online socialist conference, which university administration said amounted to “advocat[ing] for inciting violence.” Alter, whose tenure officially began on Sept. 1, subsequently sued the university, alleging they violated due process by dismissing him abruptly.
Two weeks later, a Hays County district judge granted an injunction that allowed Alter to be reinstated. The university had said it would review Alter’s case through its standard faculty investigative process amid the lawsuit, Alter’s lawyer said.
In a statement Monday evening, a Texas State spokesperson said that after a “thorough review of Dr. Alter’s conduct and the information provided during his due process hearing, President [Kelly] Damphousse has notified Dr. Alter that his employment at Texas State University is terminated, effective immediately. There will be no further comment on this matter at this time.”
After being reinstated, Alter was not allowed to teach classes but was brought back with pay, according to a statement from Texas State University.
In the video that led to his firing, Alter condemned “insurrectional anarchists,” saying, “while their actions are laudable, it should be asked, to what purpose do they serve?” But the video that went viral on X featured only the second half of Alter’s idea, where he said, “without organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world — that of the United States?”
The professor’s firing was one of several recent cases at Texas State University where administration has stepped in to respond to comments made by students and staff on and off campus. A Texas State University student was given the decision to be expelled or withdraw his enrollment after he mocked conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death. A faculty recruiter was also fired for comments she made online related to the student, according to Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood, and a spokesperson for the university.
After Alter’s initial firing, local politicians and advocacy groups in the San Marcos area held a rally demanding that Alter have his job reinstated. Speakers, including Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and Zwiener, said Alter’s firing was indicative of authoritarian government overreach and pre-emptive compliance from university officials.
In an interview prior to Alter’s reinstatement, Zwiener said that while she didn’t agree with everything the professor had said at the socialist conference, she still believed in his constitutional right to speak his mind.
“If you actually watch all of Dr. Alter’s speech, I think his harsher words are for the Democratic Party and about how organizing within the Democratic Party is a waste of time, which is something I disagree with vociferously,” Zwiener said. “I believe the Democratic Party is the way to make change, but Dr. Alter thinking that my political party isn’t useful doesn’t stop me from advocating for him to have certain rights.”
Netflix was sued Monday (May 11) by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who accused the streaming company of spying on children and other consumers by collecting their data without consent, and designing its platform to be addictive. Ram Nabong reports.
Evercore ISI senior managing director Mark Mahaney joins Varney & Co. to discuss the departure of Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings and to address questions about the company’s future leadership and strategy.
The state of Texas announced a lawsuit against streaming giant Netflix on Monday, accusing the company of spying on children and other consumers by collecting their data without consent and designing the platform to be addictive.
Texas claims that Netflix has falsely represented to consumers that it didn’t collect or share user data while it actually tracked and sold viewers’ habits and preferences to commercial data brokers and advertising technology companies.
The lawsuit, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, claims that “Netflix’s endgame is simple and lucrative: get children and families glued to the screen, harvest their data while they are stuck there, and then monetize the data for a handsome profit.”
The state of Texas announced a lawsuit against streaming giant Netflix on Monday. (Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“When you watch Netflix, Netflix watched you,” Texas added in the lawsuit.
NETFLIX CO-FOUNDER REED HASTINGS TO STEP DOWN, DEPARTURE IS ‘SPOOKING INVESTORS’
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFLX | NETFLIX INC. | 85.39 | -2.10 | -2.40% |
The complaint quotes comments made by former CEO Reed Hastings who said in 2020, while he was still leading the streaming company, that “we don’t collect anything,” amid questions over Big Tech companies’ data collection practices.
Netflix was also accused of quietly using “dark patterns” to keep users watching on its platform, such as an autoplay feature that starts a new show after a different show ends.
NETFLIX RAISES SUBSCRIPTION PRICES ACROSS ALL PLANS
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit. (Cheney Orr/Reuters)
Paxton said in a press release that Netflix “has built a surveillance program designed to illegally collect and profit from Texans’ personal data without their consent, and my office will do everything in our power to stop it.”
The attorney general said he’s charging Netflix under the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act and seeks to require Netflix to stop the unlawful collection and disclosure of user data, require Netflix to disable autoplay by default on kid’s profiles, and to secure injunctive relief and civil penalties.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
FOX Business reached out to Netflix for comment.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Six people were found dead inside a cargo train boxcar in a Texas city along the southern border on Sunday, officials said.
The bodies were found in a Union Pacific train at a rail yard in Laredo, around 160 miles south of San Antonio, just after 3:30 p.m. local time, said Jose Espinoza, a public information officer with the Laredo Police Department.
The circumstances of their deaths are unknown, said Laredo police spokesperson Joe Baeza, according to CNN affiliate KGNS, and an investigation is underway.
Union Pacific operates across the border and is the only railroad that services all access points into Mexico, according to the freight company’s website.
Temperatures on Sunday afternoon in Laredo were in the low-mid 90s, though it’s unclear whether heat was a factor.
Union Pacific said it was saddened by the incident and is working closely with law enforcement to investigate.
Laredo police said they received a call around 3 p.m. from an employee at the Union Pacific rail yard, KGNS reported. The bodies were discovered during a routine rail car inspection, police said. No survivors were found.
CNN has reached out to Laredo police for more information.
“It’s a very early phase of the investigation. There’s not a lot to reveal right now,” Baeza said, KGNS reported.
The immigration status and ages of the deceased are not yet known, Espinoza said.
US Customs and Border Protection referred CNN to the Laredo Police Department, saying “The incident remains under investigation by Laredo Police Department and Homeland Security Investigation and Texas Rangers.”
CNN has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security, HSI and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“It’s a very unfortunate event,” Espinoza told CNN. “It was too many lives that were lost.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
-
Nevada3 minutes agoSky Pointe sweeps Mojave, to play Desert Oasis for 4A volleyball title — PHOTOS
-
New Hampshire9 minutes agoNot For Granite: New Hampshire Man Isn’t Laughing At Anti-Cyclist Comments From State Elected Official — Streetsblog USA
-
New Jersey15 minutes ago24 hours with 3 teenage birders: Welcome to the World Series of Birding
-
New Mexico21 minutes agoSummerlike heat settles into New Mexico this week
-
North Carolina27 minutes ago
Proposed NC property tax cap, affordable housing exemption set for debate
-
North Dakota33 minutes agoNorth Dakota tourism sites get $4M after music fest declines funds
-
Ohio39 minutes agoMatt Patricia Shares Major Health Update Following Neurosurgeon Visit During Ohio State Offseason Break
-
Oklahoma45 minutes agoWhy Oklahoma GM Jim Nagy Thinks a Freshman Salary Cap Would be a Good Idea