Southwest
Here’s why rural Republicans are finally beginning to shift and support school choice
![Here’s why rural Republicans are finally beginning to shift and support school choice Here’s why rural Republicans are finally beginning to shift and support school choice](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/wind-farm-wyo.jpg)
Rural Republican lawmakers are beginning to shift on school choice after historically blocking efforts.
The Wyoming legislature earlier this month passed a school choice bill after past failed attempts to make that happen in the Cowboy State.
Lawmakers hope to provide education saving accounts for all K-12 students to use taxpayer dollars to have alternatives to local public schools such as charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling.
The bill comes after two bills were introduced and swatted down during the 2023 legislative session. Republican Governor Mark Gordon vetoed a different charter school bill that passed earlier this year.
The Wyoming Education Association expressed hope that Gordon would strike this bill down.
URBAN CHARTER SCHOOLS BODE SUCCESS FOR LOW-INCOME, NON-WHITES, COLLEGE ENROLLMENT: REPORT
The state capitol in Cheyenne, Wyoming on October 21, 2023. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“Whether or not he does, it’s striking that the legislature in one of the most rural states in America passed a robust school choice bill,” American Federation For Children senior fellow Corey DeAngelis wrote in the Wall Street Journal.
“Rural red-state Republicans, backed by teachers unions, have long opposed school choice. They say their constituents don’t want it because there aren’t many private schools in their districts,” he said.
DeAngelis, a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, explained further, “Yet the nine most rural states in the country (as measured by population share) now have some form of private school choice.”
He continued, “Maine and Vermont have the oldest private-school voucher programs in the U.S., both enacted in the late 19th century for students who live in rural districts without public schools. Both programs allow state funding to follow the child to the public or private school his family chooses.”
“The school choice stampede through rural states and the political success of education freedom supporters in rural districts should put to bed the myth that rural voters don’t want school choice once and for all,” DeAngelis told Fox News Digital.
OVER 30 ORGANIZATIONS VOW TO END ‘DISCRIMINATORY’ PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES THAT ‘PROMOTE SEGREGATION’
Wyoming’s advancement toward a universal school choice bill is part of a trend of red states passing the measure. Nine states passed universal school choice bills last year and Alabama made the move last week.
As Wyoming seeks to be the eleventh state to pass universal school choice, Texas struggled to join the phenomenon due to rural GOP lawmakers, some who were backed by the teachers’ unions.
Teachers unions traditionally reject school choice measures since they claim it debilitates public school funding and resources as taxpayer funding is siphoned off due to the existence of other education alternatives.
Per the Texas Tribune, the state senate tried different ways to pass an education savings account program, but Democrats and rural Republicans blocked their efforts.
State Rep. Travis Clardy, in particular, voted against school choice and told media outlets that he is not convinced vouchers are a good move for public schools in rural areas where there are not many options like there are in suburban and urban communities.
![Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1710773155_506_Heres-why-rural-Republicans-are-finally-beginning-to-shift-and.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott on October 31st, 2023 issued a proclamation stating that universal school choice” would include additional school finance, such as teacher pay raises, school safety, and special education” to appease concerns over the impact of public schools. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Clardy is one of the 24 GOP lawmakers who voted against ESAs and has been at odds with Abbott over school choice.
Clardy received a donation of $250 from the Texas AFT in 2020. Clardy, a 12-year incumbent, was defeated in this month’s primary by Joanne Shofner in House District 12.
Jason Bedrick, education policy fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital that rural voters are “waking up to the fact that there are issues in their schools too, and there are more options in rural areas than most people think.”
“As we note in the report, opponents of school choice often say that 1) there are no options besides the public schools in rural areas, and 2) so many kids would leave for these options that the public schools in rural areas would collapse. Those statements cannot both be true simultaneously, but they can both be false. And, indeed, they are false.”
He explained further, “As we document, there are more options in rural areas than most people realize, and with school choice policies in place, there is growth in the private options in rural areas. Additionally, far from destroying rural public schools, the evidence suggests that more choice and competition improves the quality of the public school system in rural areas, just as it does in urban and suburban areas.”
According to a poll from the University of Houston, it reported that 60% of Republican primary voters would be less likely to vote for an incumbent Texas House representative who opposed school choice measures in 2023.
The report stated, “The negative impact on the vote intention for a House incumbent who voted against school choice/vouchers does not vary by region, with 63% of GOP primary voters in urban and suburban counties less likely to vote for the incumbent compared to 58% in rural and semi-rural counties.”
Nine Republican incumbents lost their elections and eight more were pushed into runoffs in the primary last week. Considering the defeat of certain incumbents, the primary election favored Republican candidates who pushed for school choice.
A shift in the Texas legislature could enshrine school choice efforts in the Lone Star State, as GOP primary results indicate that voters favor school choice legislation.
DeAngelis added that the primary results indicate the “biggest political shift towards school choice in Texas history.”
“The Texas election is already sending shockwaves all across the country: rural voters want school choice,” DeAngelis said to Fox News Digital. “These legislators also knew about the non-binding ballot proposition from 2022 finding that 88% of Texas Republican primary voters supported school choice, but they ignored the will of their constituents. In fact, Representative Glenn Rogers said that the Republican primary ballot proposition result was ‘not valid data’ the same day he voted against school choice last November. He ended up losing by 27 points to Mike Olcott on election night.”
![Kim Reynolds speaks](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1710773155_406_Heres-why-rural-Republicans-are-finally-beginning-to-shift-and.jpg)
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an unprecedented school choice bill called the Students First Act. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Furthermore, the primary results came after a recent report showing donations from teachers’ unions supporting Republicans who previously rejected school choice measures.
Although the teachers’ unions publicly endorse Democrats, they have shown support for Republicans with a track record of voting against school choice measures.
Campaign finance reports posted by Corey DeAngelis on X show that the Texas AFT donated $25,000 to the PAC “Defend Rural Texas PAC.”
DeAngelis told Fox News Digital last year that Texas state lawmakers could face consequences for choosing not to support school choice by being ousted in the next primary election cycle. He foresaw a parallel between Texas and what occurred in Iowa when Gov. Kim Reynolds sought to pass universal school choice legislation.
Reynolds endorsed nine candidates with a pro-parent platform in primary elections, ousting the incumbent GOP candidates who did not support that platform.
Read the full article from Here
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Southwest
Dallas Police Department Officer Darron Burks 'executed' in targeted attack, chief says
![Dallas Police Department Officer Darron Burks 'executed' in targeted attack, chief says Dallas Police Department Officer Darron Burks 'executed' in targeted attack, chief says](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Darron1.jpg)
The Dallas Police Department provided an emotional update after Officer Darron Burks was shot and killed, saying that the former high school teacher was “executed” while in the line of duty.
In a press conference Friday, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said that the department had lost a “brother” and a “hero” following the shooting.
“As a department and as a family, we are devastated,” Garcia said. “Last night we lost a brother, a hero. Officer Darron Burks was a son, a nephew, a friend to many, and he was senselessly and tragically murdered in the line of duty.”
DALLAS POLICE OFFICER KILLED, 2 OTHERS INJURED: ‘WE LOST ONE OF OUR OWN’
Officer Darron Burks, 46, was killed in a shooting in Oak Cliff, and two other responding officers were injured late Thursday night at approximately 10 p.m. (Dallas Police Department)
The shooting, which happened around 10 p.m. Thursday night near the Oak Cliff Community Center, killed Burks and wounded two other officers. The suspected gunman, identified as 30-year-old Corey Cobb-Bey, was killed in a shootout with police after a highway chase.
“We came close to losing other officers,” Garcia said. “Officers who put their lives on the line to protect their brother, and it is by the grace of God that they are still with us today.”
The chief of police said that the officers were “targeted” by Cobb-Bey.
Our officers were targeted by nothing more than the uniforms that they wear.
“Our officers were targeted by nothing more than the uniforms that they wear and for the brave and honorable job that they do,” he said. “I want to be clear here, the word ambush has been thrown around in the last 24 hours. That is not what happened here. Officer Burks was executed.”
![Corey Cobb-Bey](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1725120076_31_Dallas-Police-Department-Officer-Darron-Burks-x27executedx27-in-targeted-attack.jpg)
Garcia said the shooting suspect, 30-year-old Corey Cobb-Bey, approached Burks while he was waiting in a parking lot between calls. Shortly after approaching him, he pulled out a handgun and shot him. (Dallas Police Department)
Garcia revealed that Cobb-Bey approached Burks and struck up a conversation, while recording the encounter on a cellphone, before pulling out a handgun and opening fire. Police said that they have no evidence that Burks and Cobb-Bey knew each other.
TEXAS SUSPECT’S ALLEGED VIOLENT RAMPAGE, INCLUDING STABBING AND CRASHING INTO PEOPLE, CAUGHT ON VIDEO
“Cobb-Bey approached Burks and talked with him briefly at the driver’s side of the window as he recorded the encounter with a cellphone,” he said. “The suspect then pulled out a handgun and executed Officer Burks as he sat in his vehicle.”
Police said they got a 911 call about an officer in distress. Responding officers found Burks in his marked patrol vehicle critically injured.
![Dallas Police vehicle towed away](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dallas-Police-Department-Officer-Darron-Burks-x27executedx27-in-targeted-attack.png)
A Dallas Police Department vehicle is seen being towed away from the scene where the officers were shot on Thursday. (KDFW)
At 10:11 p.m., Senior Corporal Jamie Farmer pulled into the parking lot after responding to a call for backup. Farmer was met with gunfire from Cobb-Bey. When Farmer returned fire, Cobb-Bey grabbed the shotgun and fired at Farmer, hitting him in the leg.
A minute later, Senior Corporal Karissa David arrived on the scene.
TEXAS POLICE ESCORT LATE OFFICER’S SON TO FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
The Cobb-Bey ran toward David, shooting at her multiple times while she exited her vehicle.
David was shot in the face, according to police.
The officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, and two additional officers were shot.
The suspect was shot and killed at the end of a high-speed police chase on Interstate 35 from Dallas to Lewisville.
![Dallas police procession](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1725120076_269_Dallas-Police-Department-Officer-Darron-Burks-x27executedx27-in-targeted-attack.png)
A procession of police vehicles roll through Dallas early Friday, after an officer was killed in the line of duty. (KTVT)
Burks was a former high school math teacher at the Texas Can Academy’s Pleasant Grove Campus, whose passion for helping his community led him to enroll in the police academy, FOX 4 reported, citing sources.
“Last year, Officer Burks bravely decided to leave the field of education to serve our city as a member of the Dallas Police Department. His commitment to serving others, both as a teacher and as a police officer, exemplified his dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of those around him,” wrote Tina Shaw, the principal at Texas Can Academy’s Pleasant Grove Campus.
One former student, Adrian Coleman, said that Burks mentored troubled youths.
“As a troubled youth, he made sure to instill knowledge and provide me with the tools I needed to graduate, to be a man out here in this world,” Coleman told the local outlet. “I am very thankful for him and the time he spent with me.”
A rookie police officer, Burks first entered the Dallas Police Academy last year.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Dallas Police Department for comment.
Read the full article from Here
Los Angeles, Ca
Driver runs across 101 Freeway after slamming into overturned sedan
![Driver runs across 101 Freeway after slamming into overturned sedan Driver runs across 101 Freeway after slamming into overturned sedan](https://ktla.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/08/snapshot-2024-08-31T063012.211.jpg?w=900)
A hit-and-run driver remains outstanding after they collided with an overturned vehicle on the 101 Freeway and fled on foot.
Preliminary information indicates that police had responded to the eastbound span of the 101 near Balboa Boulevard in Encino just before 3 a.m. Saturday on reports of an overturned red sedan blocking traffic.
As first responders arrived on scene, another vehicle – said to be a gray Nissan – barreled into the overturned sedan.
Footage obtained by KTLA shows the Nissan careening across the freeway before smashing into the right shoulder wall. That driver was taken to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.
The driver of the red sedan fled after the collision; they were seen on video making their way towards the shoulder on foot.
As of 6 a.m. Saturday, they had not been apprehended.
Los Angeles, Ca
San Bernardino County man arrested in child predator operation
![San Bernardino County man arrested in child predator operation San Bernardino County man arrested in child predator operation](https://ktla.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/08/San-Bernardino-County-man.png?w=900)
Deputies arrested Guy Schneider, 63, of Yucaipa in an undercover child predator operation where he allegedly arranged to meet with a 13-year-old girl for sexual acts.
The 13-year-old girl was in fact an alias created by Perris Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team deputies for this investigation. They received a response from Schneider ultimately expressing his desire to meet and perform sex acts, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies arranged to meet Schneider on Friday and took him into custody without incident. During his arrest, deputies found he also possessed two firearms.
Schneider was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center and is being held on a $1,000,000 bail.
The investigation team asks anyone with information about this case to contact Deputy Hartert at the Perris Sheriff’s Station: 951-210-1000.
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