Texas Rep. Gene Wu (D)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove 13 state representatives from office. These representatives are among the Democrats who fled the state to prevent the legislature from reaching a quorum and passing a new redistricting bill.
This action follows a similar lawsuit filed by Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday, which targeted House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu. House Speaker Dustin Burrows had given the absent Democrats until Friday at 1 p.m. to return voluntarily, but they did not.
The representatives named in Paxton’s lawsuit are Ron Reynolds, Vikki Goodwin, Gina Hinojosa, James Talarico, Lulu Flores, Mihaela Plesa, Suleman Lalani, Chris Turner, Ana-Maria Ramos, Jessica Gonzalez, John Bucy III, Christina Morales, and Gene Wu.
Meanwhile, A Tarrant County judge on Friday temporarily blocked former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke and his political group from raising or spending money after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused them of bribery by helping Democrats flee the state to block GOP redistricting.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared shoulder-to-shoulder Friday with Texas Democratic lawmakers in a show of support for their nearly weeklong walkout.
The Texas special session, which began July 21st, is effectively stalled after House Democrats left the state.
Key Bills in Limbo:
- THC Ban: Senate Bill 3, which would ban the sale of hemp products containing THC in Texas, is among the stalled legislation.
- Flood Relief: Legislation to provide relief funding for Hill Country floods from early July 2025, including local match funding for FEMA public assistance and disaster preparation measures.
- Redistricting: Congressional district redrawing efforts that triggered the Democratic exodus
Agenda Scope: Governor Abbott set an ambitious agenda with 18-20 legislative priorities, but all House business is now in doubt due to the lack of quorum.
What’s Next: While the House is paused, the Senate continues to operate, but meaningful progress requires the Democrats’ return. The session’s success depends on resolving the quorum crisis, with the clock ticking on the 30-day special session timeline.
A homicide occurred Friday evening at the Booker T. Washington terraces in the Rosewood neighborhood of East Austin. Police say a Black teenaged male was the victim.
Austin police released video footage Friday showing the moments leading up to a downtown shooting that occurred late last month.
The I-35 Capital Express Central project is going to impact the area around Lady Bird Lake and the Hike and Bike Trail.
Starting this evening, the parking lot under the I-35 bridge will close to store equipment for the upcoming bridge rebuilding project.
Later on, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to close short segments of the trail near I-35 for up to one week at a time, three times a year, starting in 2026. TxDOT will also construct a new dock west of the bridge.
The City of Austin warns of potential closures at Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach, Waller Beach, Chicano Park, and Norwood Dog Park during some phases of construction. However, TxDOT has stated that they will use existing easements, and these parks will remain open.
Recent flooding has left behind dangerous debris, including large tree limbs and trash, still floating in the water. Boaters and swimmers are advised to stay alert, especially at night, and to watch their speed.
A state Senate committee convened Friday to deliberate legislation aimed at bolstering the state’s readiness for natural disasters following the July flooding that killed more than 130 in Central Texas
Texas Rangers have released the names of the 119 people who lost their lives. (Texas Tribune)
The Austin Public Health Department says it believes there may be a possible case of West Nile virus in Travis County.
Although sales tax collections for the state were reported to be up 4.33 percent so far this year, Austin’s sales tax collections were down 1.34 percent. (Comptroller of Texas)
A major electronics manufacturer may soon break ground on a massive new facility in Williamson County.
An approximately 30-acre retail center could be coming to Dripping Springs and possibly bring a Target store along. (Austin Business Journal)
Students at 76 Austin ISD elementary, middle and high schools will get free breakfast and lunch during the 2025-2026 school year. (KUT 90.5)
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Hurricane experts are predicting three to five named storms will form across the Atlantic basin throughout August as conditions become prime for tropical development. (AccuWeather)
Between seeking the return of Democratic lawmakers to Texas, suing to stop Beto O’Rourke from funding them and sparring with opponent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was busy online yesterday.
Paxton and Cornyn are locked in a battle for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
The cities of Dallas and Fort Worth ended their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts this week to preserve hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. (Texas Tribune)
In 2023, Texas voters approved a $1 billion investment in state parks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has begun acquiring new land, conserving wildlife and developing trails for public use. (KUT 90.5)
Officials in Bexar County arrested a man on charges of possession of child pornography.
A cardiologist in Lubbock has agreed to pay $1.2 million to resolve allegations of violating the Controlled Substances Act by issuing prescriptions for opioids and other drugs outside professional practice. (My Texas Daily)
Texas’ redistricting fight is has spread past state lines. New federal legislation aims to ban mid-decade congressional redistricting, and the brawl looks likely to impact upcoming elections and the 2028 presidential race.
Mark Jones, political science fellow at Rice University and senior research fellow at the University of Houston, joins Texas Standard with more:
SPORTS
MLB: The fall of the New York Yankees continued in the Big Apple.
Carlos Correa hit a tiebreaking single off struggling reliever Devin Williams in the 10th inning, and the Houston Astros outlasted the New York Yankees 5-3 on Friday night. New York has lost six of seven and have fallen to third place in the AL East. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Texas Rangers hosted Philadelphia last night.
Kyle Schwarber hit his 41st homer in the first inning, Brandon Marsh’s four hits included a solo shot that put Philadelphia ahead for good in the fourth and the Phillies beat the Texas Rangers 9-1 on Friday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
NFL: During Cowboys training camp, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer is carefully managing preseason reps to keep key players healthy, especially as Dallas prepares to face the Rams in their preseason opener this evening.
One of the Houston Texans’ key acquisitions this past off-season went down with an injury this week.
MLS: After a two-week break, Austin FC prepares to host in-state rivals Houston Dynamo FC at Q2 Stadium tonight. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT. (Austin FC)
More than half a century ago, fried chicken tycoon David Bamberger used his fortune to purchase 5,500 acres of overgrazed land in the Texas Hill Country. Planting grasses to soak in rains and fill hillside aquifers, Bamberger devoted the rest of his life to restoring the degraded landscape. Today, the land has been restored to its original habitat and boasts enormous biodiversity. Bamberger’s model of land stewardship is now being replicated across the region and he is considered to be a visionary in land management and water conservation.
