'Broadband Access Is No Longer A Luxury': Gov. Greg Abbott Calls On Legislature To Get All Texans Access
During his State of the State address in February, the Governor named broadband access as an emergency item for the 87th legislative session.
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During his State of the State address in February, the Governor named broadband access as an emergency item for the 87th legislative session.
Outside of George Floyd's public memorial last summer in Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott floated the possibility of a law named in honor of the longtime Houston resident.
After Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on Gov. Abbott to make the change himself on Thursday, the governor said it's up to the legislature to act.
At the Texas Capitol, a political fight is brewing between Republican leaders.
In a statement Tuesday, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan expressed doubts about lawmakers changing ERCOT's pricing during February's winter storms.
"The emergency item includes any inaccurate excessive charges and any issues regarding ancillary service prices," the brief news release said.
"I want to say that I completely understand all the outrage and anger of all Texans," said Oncor CEO Allen Nye.
The State House and State Senate began separate hearings at 9:00 a.m. that ran well into the evening on Thursday.
Two years ago, Sen. Bob Hall, the Republican from Van Zandt County filed the legislation that passed the Senate, but died in the House.
Two severe winter storms featuring snow, ice, and bitter cold temperatures statewide resulted in millions of Texans without electricity, heat, and clean water.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held an emergency meeting with lawmakers on Saturday to address spikes in energy bills following the devastating winter storms this week.
Gov. Greg Abbott also outlined five emergency items including expanding broadband access and no defunding of police.
On Tuesday, Jan. 12, Rep. Deshotel spoke at the font mic maskless while introducing the family of the newly chosen Texas House speaker, Republican Dade Phelan.
DPS troopers greatly outnumbered what turned out to be a small number of protesters outside and visitors inside the Capitol, where officials required rapid COVID-19 tests for entry as cases surge statewide.
State lawmakers will have more than $112.5 billion in general revenues for 2022-23, which is nearly the same amount they spent during the current biennium.
"This is a state that historically is suspicious of politicians," said Texas A&M Political Science Prof. Dwight Roblyer. "We have this idea that we don't want the government telling us a whole lot of what to do."
The 87th Legislative Session convenes at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. The Texas Capitol will reopen Jan. 4.
Concerned about possible new Supreme Court restrictions, abortion-rights groups in Texas and across the country are moving to open new health centers that they say will preserve nationwide access to the procedure.
Democrats are just nine seats from seizing a House majority for the first time in 20 years.
Whichever party controls the Texas House will not only have a say over policy, but redistricting as well.
Abortion rights groups say the procedure, known as dilation and evacuation, is the safest and most common second-trimester procedure.
A Texas teenager, who was punished over the length of his dreadlocks, won't have to cut his hair to return to school after a federal court ruling.
"I'm still doing breathing treatments," he said. "Lots of cough drops. I get short of breath a little bit, but I feel a lot better."
Texas public school districts haven't finalized their plans for a return to the classroom, but they know the state will resume its high-stakes standardized testing.
The federal government would have to approve a request by Texas to waive STAAR testing for the 2021 school year.
Late night storms rolled in through early Saturday morning. We're looking ahead to better conditions Sunday.
Videos broadcast by local television stations showed a large crowd of fans in the south stands amidst an explosion of fireworks.
Lauren Betts had 16 points and made a huge block late, and UCLA withstood a late charge by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game for the first time.
Rookie No. 1 pick becomes the youngest in NBA history to score 50, but Dallas' home slide at American Airlines Center reaches 14 straight.
Longtime agency attorney steps in after Nadine Lee's contract ends; leaders say they're prepared for World Cup crowds.
Late night storms rolled in through early Saturday morning. We're looking ahead to better conditions Sunday.
Videos broadcast by local television stations showed a large crowd of fans in the south stands amidst an explosion of fireworks.
Lauren Betts had 16 points and made a huge block late, and UCLA withstood a late charge by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game for the first time.
Rookie No. 1 pick becomes the youngest in NBA history to score 50, but Dallas' home slide at American Airlines Center reaches 14 straight.
Longtime agency attorney steps in after Nadine Lee's contract ends; leaders say they're prepared for World Cup crowds.
An I-Team investigation found workers' comp issues for first responders are not isolated, raising questions about a system many describe as slow and adversarial.
Since early February, residents of the Big Bend region have been outspoken about border wall plans.
The moratorium does not affect companies already enrolled in Medicare.
The state is already home to nearly 400 data centers, but hundreds more are in the works.
The crash sparked a nearly three‑year I‑Team investigation into Fort Worth police pursuit policies.
Junior Ezeonu is the Democratic State Representative-Elect for the 101st District after defeating veteran Texas House member Chris Turner by a 53% to 47% margin in the Democratic primary on March 3. He tells Jack Fink what the key was to earning more votes than Turner.
Democratic Texas Rep. John Bryant discusses the statistics of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program applications. The state's taxpayer funded program would allow students to go to private school beginning Fall 2026.
Republican Texas Rep. Mitch Little of Lewisville discusses the number of applicants to the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program. He tells Jack Fink why he supports using taxpayer money to allow students to attend private schools.
Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Gay Donnell Willis defends City Manager Kim Tolbert in the uproar over the future of Dallas City Hall. Willis told Jack Fink she expects City Manager Kim Tolbert to be having conversations with community and business leaders, especially the Dallas Mavericks, whose lease at the American Airlines Center expires in 2031.
Dallas Council Member Chad West discusses the future of City Hall. As the finance committee chairman at the city council, the committee has been overseeing some of the cost estimates for city hall. He tells Jack Fink, "Six years ago, we started looking into the city's book of real estate and have been identifying the deferred maintenance problems in the city since day one. So it's been years that we have actually been talking about the real estate issues in the city and the fact that there's been decades of neglect on a lot of our properties."
Zoox, owned by Amazon, produces its own autonomous vehicles that it says are built for passengers, not drivers.
A lawsuit filed late last month took Chicago-based McDonald's to task over the McRib sandwich, calling its name a form of false advertising.
While retailers like Amazon, Macy's and Target are extending their return window for gifts bought during the holidays, some stores are adding fees to return purchases.
Less than two days after Delta Air Lines offered $30,000 to each passenger on board the flight that crashed and flipped in Toronto on Monday afternoon, the company is facing its first two lawsuits in the incident — and they likely won't be the last.
Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller is calling for a statewide ban on non-water additives, such as fluoride, in the public water system.
New Texas regulations took effect March 31 that capped THC in smokable hemp products at 0.3%, banning some popular items.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wants the popular coffee chains to prove their surgery drinks are safe for teens and suggested the Trump administration could place limits on your cup of coffee.
Tests of dozens of baby formulas by Consumer Reports found that nearly half contained potentially dangerous chemicals.
USALESS.COM is recalling its Rhino Choco VIP 10X product due to the undeclared presence of Tadalafil, which is the active ingredient in Cialis.
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD said that the decision was made after consultation with Tarrant County Public Health.
Small businesses along South Akard Street say the removal of a key bridge connecting Downtown Dallas to the Cedars neighborhood is already driving customers away, with no return of direct access expected until 2028.
An Amazon Prime delivery in Richardson this week left more behind than intended.
Prominent political and business leaders are named in the documents released by the Justice Department in connection with its investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.
A Dallas coffee chain says it's caught in a political firestorm after a walkout over an ICE discount.
During the World Cup, soccer fans will be able to get a taste of what North Texas' new professional soccer team, Atletico Dallas, has to offer.
Videos broadcast by local television stations showed a large crowd of fans in the south stands amidst an explosion of fireworks.
Lauren Betts had 16 points and made a huge block late, and UCLA withstood a late charge by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game for the first time.
The executive order is designed to increase the NCAA's control over college sports, and threatens to remove federal funding for colleges and universities that don't comply with NCAA rules.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said he learned of the Luka Doncic trade at the "11th hour" while responding to Mark Cuban's criticism of the deal and team sale.
Body camera video has been released of Tiger Woods' arrest, after a car crash in Florida. He has been charged with driving under the influence.
A federal judge in New York has tossed out actor Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against actor Justin Baldoni over their roles in the movie "It Ends With Us," but left intact a claim for retaliation.
Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane was lured to a Dallas studio for a meeting, then allegedly kidnapped and robbed by a group including rappers Pooh Shiesty and Big30.
The video, co-directed by Langley, highlights Texas culture through scenes of two-step dancing, live music and rodeo influences tied to the city's Western heritage.
Kid Rock posted videos of the helicopters hovering by his Nashville home on social media over the weekend. The Army later confirmed the helicopters were on a training mission.
A Las Vegas performer has sued Taylor Swift over the title of her hit album "The Life of a Showgirl," alleging it violates the performer's trademark.
The Red Bull Flugtag Airshow returned to Las Colinas on Saturday after a 12-year hiatus. Teams are tasked with constructing a flying machine and putting it to the test. It's estimated that around 25,000 people attended the event.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit babies at Texas Health locations across North Texas celebrated Valentine's Day.
As Anthony Davis prepared for his debut game at the AAC, Dallas Mavericks fans took to the arena to protest the controversial trade.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
