The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 11, 2025

Episode Date: March 11, 2025

Want to support The Texan and help us continue providing the Lone Star State with news you can trust? Subscribe today: https://thetexan.news/subscribe/Learn more about the Data Center Coalition at: https://www.centerofyourdigitalworld.org/texasThe Texan’s Daily Rundown brings you a quick recap of the latest stories in Texas politics so you can stay informed with news you can trust.Want more resources? Be sure to visit The Texan and subscribe for complete access to our in-depth articles, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review!

Howdy folks, today is Tuesday, March 11th and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lauschus and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the Texas House Committee on Public Education met on Tuesday to hear testimony on House Bill 3, the lower chamber school choice bill that would create a $1 billion education savings account program in the state. With Governor Greg Abbott's pro-school choice crusade in the 2024 Republican primaries,

this bill is expected to pass the House this session. But substantial amendments to the legislation could lead Abbott not to sign it if it does pass the legislature and land on his desk. Follow the Texans education reporter Cameron Abrams for the latest details on what could be the most prominent issue of the 89th legislative session. Stay tuned for more news updates after this short message. Data centers fuel 364,000 Texas jobs, generate 3.5 billion dollars in state and local taxes, and power essential services like banking, health care, and video calls. With 21 connected devices per household and soaring data demands, these hubs drive Texas's booming economy, shape its technological future, and keep your data here in the U.S. To learn more, visit centerofyourdigitalworld.org.

Now returning to your daily Texas news. Next, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced on Monday the arrests of 543 criminal illegal aliens, including seven gang members, out of a total of 646 illegal aliens during a week-long operation in Houston in collaboration with multiple state and federal agencies. Conducted from February 23rd to March 2nd, the operation resulted in a plethora of charges or convictions for which the arrests were issued, including 140 cases of, quote, an aggravated felony or other violent offense such as homicide, aggravated assault, or domestic violence. 34 of the arrests were for sex offense or child sex offense,

such as aggravated sexual assault of a minor, possession of child pornography, or rape. 52 of the arrests were based on illicit narcotics offenses such as drug trafficking or possession of a controlled substance. In other news, lawmakers are seeking to add enforcement mechanisms to the state's public camping ban law that was passed in 2021, such as withholding tax remittances from the offending cities.

Four years ago, the Texas Legislature passed a statewide prohibition against camping and lying in public places. It was primarily aimed at the city of Austin, which rescinded its municipal camping ban in July 2019. That sparked two years of problems caused by an increasingly present homeless population in areas frequented by public foot traffic. Senate Bill 241 by State Senator Pete Flores adjusts the state law that reads in part, quote, a local entity may not adopt or enforce a policy under which the entity prohibits or discourages the enforcement of any public camping ban, end quote, and adds on to it, quote, including prohibiting or discouraging the investigation or enforcement of a violation of a public camping ban.

It further requires localities to provide a way for citizens to file a complaint against their municipality that's purported to be running afoul of the state law. Local entities have 90 days to remedy the situation following the levying of a complaint. If that does not happen, the Office of the Attorney General must then declare them a violating local entity, which comes with the withholding of tax remittances from the state by the Comptroller of Public Accounts. The Texas Senate passed a similar bill in 2023, but it died in the House. Also, new Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr announced he will be investigating allegations that Google's YouTube TV is discriminating against conservative and faith-based content after

receiving a complaint from the chairman of a Texas-based media outlet. Carr wrote on social media last Friday, quote, These concerning allegations come at a time when American public discourse has experienced an unprecedented and unacceptable surge in censorship. Carr's request for a briefing from Google and its company Alphabet stemmed from a letter sent by Doug Deason, chair of Texas-based Great American Media. Deason noted that although his company's Great American Family Channel is the second fastest growing cable channel, YouTube TV has refused to carry the content. Deason wrote,

quote, This exclusion is particularly troubling in light of YouTube TV's channel lineup, which prominently features an overwhelming number of channels showcasing content with sex, violence, and profanity, while faith-based programming is almost non-existent. Last but not least, public school districts across North Texas will elect new board members during the May 3rd local election. Visit thetexan.news to read Seth Morehead's article

covering all Tarrant County independent school district elections as well as Dallas, Louisville, and Weatherford ISDs, listing which seats are up for election and who's running for them. Thanks for listening. To support The Texan, please be sure to visit thetexan.news and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.