exciting news: I'm officially on the insurance beat! first story Houston Chronicle: Texas lawmakers explore ways to lower home insurance costs after TWIA rate hike houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas…

After a member of Uvalde Little League was tragically killed in a school shooting earlier that year, Jose rented out Six Flags and picked up the little leaguers in stretch limos. “I know we can’t change what happened. We can't. But for those couple hours, I wanted to make them

“Everyone writes history like it’s all inevitable” nytimes.com/2024/08/18/us/…

NEW: Gov. Greg Abbott moved swiftly to pardon Daniel Perry after his murder conviction. Abbott also promised victims of domestic violence and human trafficking a similar shot at redemption years ago, but they're still waiting. w/Taylor Goldenstein houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas…

TX Gov. Greg Abbott in 2020 announced a special pardon application for human trafficking + domestic violence survivors who have criminal records related to what they endured. Four years later, most applicants have not received relief (w/ Neena Satija) houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas…

Houston ISD released its projected accountability grades. See how each school scored. houstonlanding.org/houston-isd-re…

Some #txlege news. Houston state Rep. Shawn Thierry is taking a new role at Genspect. Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the org as a hate group. Thierry was toppled by Lauren Ashley Simmons in the Democratic primary after she voted in favor of a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

And credit to Lauren McGaughy who broke this story earlier today: kut.org/texas/2024-08-…

usatoday.com/story/news/pol…

“I reach out for the daughter I will never hold again.” Kimberly Mata-Rubio of Uvalde, Lexi’s mom, representing the victims of Robb Elementary and their families at the DNC

Photo from Todd Heisler of The New York Times.

NEW: #HD80 GOP candidate Don McLaughlin slams Democrat Cecilia Castellano, whose home was raided last wk as part of TX AG voter fraud investigation. She "is clearly focused on her own political agenda and saving her own hide instead of the issues that matter to Texans." #txlege

I thought it was Brat summer

House Speaker Dade Phelan's camp just put out a press release about an all-staff meeting they held to plan for the upcoming #txlege session. Maybe the most interesting nugget: Phelan listed school choice and education funding as top, personal priorities.

goodbye forever brat summer.

NEW: Texas AG Ken Paxton, as promised, is suing the Bexar County Commissioners Court after it approved a program to mail voter registration applications en masse to residents. Background: houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas… #txlege

.Greg Abbott boasts about border crackdown, voter removals during Trump event in Arizona houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas…

Rick Perry is joining Dade Phelan’s office as a senior adviser and will serve in a “voluntary capacity” until the legislative session starts in January, per Phelan’s office #txlege

I’m at #TribFest24 for a panel on what a trio of right-wing mems would do with power in #txlege. Brian Harrison just said last year’s session was “the most liberal in the history of the Texas House.” And Mitch Little says many conservative priorities died before the floor.

In the Texas Tribune Fest panel on public education next session, Ken King, a “no” on vouchers, says he was asked to write a bill that included vouchers that would pass the House. “It’s coming,” he says. He says his goal is to get the best deal for public schools. #txlege