Houston mayor John Whitmire blasts critics of retiree pay delays
| September 19, 2025
Mayor John Whitmire, facing criticism over a delay in payouts for more than 300 city employees who accepted a buyout to retire, fired back during a recent Houston City Council meeting. He put the blame on the Houston Municipal Employees Pension Plan, which was overwhelmed with processing 1,052 early retirements.
Sherry Mose, chair of the pension plan, told Whitmire and the council during its Sept. 10 meeting that more than 700 of the retirees have been paid. The remainder will be paid by the end of September. The city offered early retirement to workers earlier this year to help address a budget shortfall.
James Talarico opens US Senate campaign denouncing ‘bullies bigots, billionaires’
| September 19, 2025
Feeling scrappy? State Rep. James Talarico reminded supporters that living in a politically red state has taught them how to fight, pointing to Democratic icons like Barbara Jordan, Beto O’Rourke, and Wendy Davis.
Talarico, running for US Senate in 2026, wants to become the first Texas Democrat to win a statewide campaign since 1994.
Texas’ DEl ban in K-12 public schools challenged in court
| September 12, 2025
A new Texas law that bans diversity, equity, and inclusion in K-12 public schools claims to be about parental rights, but civil rights groups that are suing to block its enforcement say it’s blatant government overreach.
Greg Abbott brushes off NAACP lawsuit over new congressional map
| September 12, 2025
CIVIL RIGHTS | EXCO-Player | Gerrymandering | greg abbott | local politics | old texas | redistricting | TEXAS
Facing a second lawsuit over his new congressional map for Texas—labeled by critics as “racial gerrymandering”—Gov. Greg Abbott curtly dismissed the legal challenges.
Texas colleges could see fewer international students amid Trump immigration crackdown
| September 5, 2025
dei | EDUCATION | EXCO-Player | HIGHER EDUCATION | IMMIGRATION | local politics | old texas | public education | TEXAS
Public universities throughout Texas could lose thousands of international students (and millions of dollars) this fall thanks to the Trump administration.
Ken Paxton wants your kids to recite the Lord’s Prayer in school
| September 5, 2025
A new Texas law allows public schools to create a designated prayer time for students, and Attorney General Ken Paxton wants to make sure it’s used to promote Christianity.