Texas
Tim Walz’s overture on Texas border crisis a welcome olive branch
What Gov. Greg Abbott didn’t say about immigration in a recent CNN interview speaks volumes about why the nation has not had serious immigration reform in decades.
Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor and presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee, recently conceded that there is a border crisis and Democrats need to acknowledge it, something this editorial board has urged Democrats to do.
“When they’re asked if it’s a crisis, you need to answer, ‘Yes, it’s a crisis.’ And then deal with it,” Walz said in an interview on the Ezra Klein Show, days before he became Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
It’s important for leading Democrats to get serious about acknowledging what Walz did in plain language. Conservatives are fairly skeptical about the left’s willingness to engage in strong border enforcement, but Walz didn’t mince words.
“Leaving it and saying it’s not a problem is a political detriment to Democrats,” he said. “Just acknowledge it is. You’re not denigrating anyone, and you’re not helping them — being the immigrants — by saying it’s not a problem. Because they know better than anybody it’s a problem. Because they’re stuck at a border community with nowhere to go.”
Abbott’s decision to bus migrants out of Texas to deep blue cities got near universal condemnation from the left. The reality was that it demonstrated states like Texas cannot and should not be forced to bear the burden of an unmanaged border. And it helped wake up the country to the problems at the border.
Walz characterized Abbott’s busing program as cruel and inhumane. That’s unhelpful. The governor was fairly criticized in 2022 for dropping off more than 100 migrants near the Naval Observatory in below-freezing temperatures without coordinating with local groups. But Texas has bused more than 100,000 people without incident, and many have expressed gratitude for the free trips.
Walz did concede that the action “suggests the problem in Texas is pretty bad.”
That’s a start at least on getting real about how difficult mass migration has been on Texas and especially on border towns and cities.
Walz importantly said that he would support the bipartisan Sinema-Lankford immigration reform bill that we think balances serious enforcement with humane processing of asylum applications.
When Abbott was asked on CNN whether he would work with a potential Harris-Walz administration on border security, he rightly pointed out key policy differences. That’s fair. But it’s unfortunate he stopped short of saying that he would engage with Democrats in Washington who are ready to look at solutions.
That is what most Americans find so frustrating about the immigration debate. Abbott might harbor frustration with federal inaction, but he must also signal a willingness to work with anyone who is willing to bring forward some answers.
We get that it is difficult for a Republican to promise to work with a Democrat or vice versa in this highly polarized environment, especially when presented with a hypothetical question. Nonetheless, Walz’s gesture is welcome, and we wish Abbott would have acknowledged it.
It used to be common to hear a politician say, “I’ll work with anyone who wants to work with me.” Now, somehow, that’s political poison.
It is true that, for months, Harris and President Joe Biden wrongly insisted that the border was secure even as tens of thousands or more crossed it illegally. Only after the border crisis became undeniable did the Biden-Harris administration belatedly enact an executive order to reduce illegal migration and back the bipartisan border security package.
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump foolishly helped kill that measure earlier this year to preserve a campaign issue. Harris has promised to resubmit the measure if elected.
Americans want and deserve border and immigration solutions. We are tired of years of unproductive cynicism. Border issues are solvable but require leadership, outreach and compromise to not make perfection the enemy of progress, beginning with Democrats and Republicans, regardless of whether they are in the White House, Congress or state capitols.
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com
NORTH TEXAS – The hottest days of the year are on the way to Dallas-Fort Worth this weekend, including a stretch of excessive heat. The weather alerts from CBS News Texas are in place Friday through Tuesday – that is five consecutive days of alerts in place.
The high-pressure ridge out west continues building towards the east the next few days and will bake North Texas even more from Sunday to Monday.
The heat dome expands through the weekend and into next week, which keeps high temperatures in the triple digits for an extended stretch.
By late Wednesday, the ridge shifts west and North Texas is on the eastern edge. This weakness allows a surface front to slide into North Texas late Tuesday into Wednesday. With the slightly cooler temps in the forecast, CBS News Texas meteorologists dropped the weather alert for Wednesday. High temperatures drop to 100 degrees and then into the upper 90s by Thursday.
The European forecast model brings some spotty showers into the forecast Tuesday night into Wednesday but there isn’t a high confidence that is going to happen so don’t expect any precipitation.
The heat alerts are in place Friday for North Texans as the heat is in full force. A heat advisory is in place for all of North Texas until 9 p.m. At noon, an excessive heat warning is in effect for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and all the counties in pink.
Dangerous “feels-like” temperatures are in the forecast through the weekend where some spots could feel up to 112 degrees. Be sure to limit time spent outside and expect these alerts to continue into next week.
AUSTIN — Texas Longhorns pass-rusher Trey Moore is surrounded with tons of anticipation as he enters his first season in Austin.
The UTSA transfer was one of the best defensive players in college football last season en route to winning the 2023 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with 14 sacks, However, some have questioned if Moore will be able to make a smooth transition to SEC.
But according to one NFL draft scout, Moore has been shining in training camp by showing off his first-round ability while simultaneously brushing off any of the outside doubt.
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller revealed on X (Twitter) Thursday that Moore has been “wowing” the Texas coaching staff this offseason.
“Hearing very good things about Texas pass-rusher Trey Moore–who transferred in from UTSA,” Miller tweeted. “Expectations in Austin are double-digit sacks. Have heard they think he’s a potential first or second round draft pick. Early word is he’s wowed this staff that saw two top 50 picks last year.”
When speaking to the media Thursday via Zoom, Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks revealed that Moore has been one of the toughest pass-rushers he’s had to block this offseason. Considering that Banks is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2025 draft, this speaks volumes to the talent that Moore possesses.
Banks also shared a story from earlier this summer where Moore, who stands at 6-3, 245 pounds, showed off his strength in the weight room while doing bench press.
“We were lifting, and I think it was the second summer session, and Trey Moore, you would not think he is as strong as he is, but that man, he can lift some weights, man,” Banks said. “He’s very strong, very powerful and it show on the field as well. … “I think it was like (400 pounds) or (500) or somewhere around there, and he did it. He did it pretty easily, so it was eye-opening.”
A product of Smithson Valley High School and San Antonio, Moore had just one tackle as a freshman at UTSA but burst onto the scene as a junior last season, as his 14 sacks were the third-most in FBS. He also posted 45 total tackles, three passes defended, one forced fumble and an interception.
No. 4 Texas begins the regular season at home against Colorado State on Saturday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers has been named to the preseason Manning Award Watch List for the second season, which honors the nation’s top collegiate quarterback. It is the only award that takes candidates’ bowl performances into account.
Should Ewers win the award, he would join Vince Young and Colt McCoy as the only Longhorns to take home the honor.
Ewers is entering his fourth year in college and third in Austin, amassing over 5600 yards and 37 touchdowns in his two seasons as a starter. The quarterback was likely not a top option for last year’s award, but the gunslinger had a strong 2023 where he led Texas to a Big 12 Championship, a college football playoff apperaance, and more passing yards per game than all but eight power five quarterbacks.
Ewers, however, is firmly in the running for the award in 2024. DraftKings Sportsbook has Ewers as the third-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, something LSU’s Jayden Daniels did last year when he won the Manning Award. Of the eight quarterbacks mentioned who had more passing yards per game than Ewers in 2023, just three remain in college football, and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is the only one who stayed with the same program.
In adjusted yards per passing attempt, a stat that weighs touchdowns and interceptions to give each passing attempt a quarterback makes into a yardage value, Ewers is just one of nine returning power five quarterbacks to be north of nine, a number usually used to cut off the best passer in the nation. Ewers also threw the second most passes of that group, meaning players like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe could see some regression with more attempted passes.
Another factor in Ewers’ favor is a potential lack of an elite running game after the injury of CJ Baxter. Though Baxter’s season-ending LCL injury is a huge loss for the Longhorns, it does help Ewers in working towards awards like the Manning or Heisman. Sarkisian will ask Ewers to make more big-time throws than before with the lack of running back depth on the squad, and his collection of new pass-catchers is sure to keep him near the top of many passing metrics.
Oregon State has strong numbers for 2024 football season tickets
Good demand for new crop Pennsylvania apples
Plane flown from Chatham crashes, injures pilot in Rhode Island. FAA investigating.
Showdown vs. Indiana highlights South Carolina MBB’s non-conference slate for new season
Obituary for Lyle E. Schroeder at Miller Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
House Oversight investigating Walz over 'longstanding connections' to China
Pakistan says at least one case of mpox virus detected
Who or what did Trump call 'the greatest cutter' this week? Find out in the quiz
Video: Biden and Harris Announce Deal to Lower Drug Prices
Trump assassination attempt: Secret Service makes big change to former president's outdoor rally security
-
News1 week agoThe ‘Blue Walz’: How a low-key Midwestern governor shot to the top to be Harris’ VP pick | CNN Politics
-
Culture1 week agoIf that was it for Simone Biles' Olympic career, let's all appreciate what we just saw
-
World1 week agoThe day after in Dhaka
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Confession’ Review: A Live-Action Manga Adaptation Crams Maximum Menace Into One Cabin
-
Ohio2 days agoOhio taxpayers sent families $966 million for private school tuition: Capitol Letter
-
World1 week agoEx-Catalan leader Puigdemont headed back to Spain despite fear of arrest
-
Politics1 week agoKamala Harris shuts down anti-Israel protesters during campaign speech in Michigan: 'I'm speaking'
-
News1 week agoAmericans wounded in rocket attack on Iraq base