The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 31, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy folks, today is Tuesday, March 31st, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Managing Editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced new rules regarding consumable hemp products, and published an official program rule text, which will go into effect on Tuesday, March 31st. Consequently, certain consumable hemp products will be affected in terms. Texas, including popular smokable products like THCA flour and pre-rolled joints. The new rules aren't unfamiliar in scope. The 2018 Farm Bill, which carved out hemp from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled

Starting point is 00:00:48 Substances Act, defines hemp as any part of the cannabis plant or its derivatives containing no more than 0.3% delta 9 THC on a dry weight basis. Manufacturers, in response to the ban, created a compound, called THCA, which has been criticized for complying with the letter of the law while maneuvering between the bill's requirements. THCA can be converted to Delta 9 THC by heating it. The new rules in Texas detail legal hemp content and set the legal threshold for THC content at a maximum of 0.3%, including THCA. This results in certain hemp products like THCA flour, becoming effectively non-compliant with the new rules. Next, weeks after Harris County Judge Lena Hidalgo clashed with officials at the

Starting point is 00:01:39 Houston Livestock Show and rodeo, Harris County Commissioners rejected a resolution condemning Hidalgo's behavior and opted to honor the rodeo instead during Tuesday's business meeting. The original resolution introduced by Commissioner Tom Ramsey took issue with Hidalgo for an incident earlier this month when she attempted to enter a VIP area for which she did not have tickets to watch a sold-out Megan Maroney concert at the rodeo. Ramsey's resolution stated that Hidalgo's, quote, entitled behavior and misuse of her official position have embarrassed this commissioner's court and the people of Harris County time and time again and called her comments, quote, grounds for resignation and a bipartisan call for her apology. Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he

Starting point is 00:02:26 considered adding language condemning President Donald Trump for his previous comments and behaviors, but instead motioned for the court to only accept the portion of Ramsey's resolution honoring the rodeo. In other news, over 30 high school students from Humble Independent School District took a field trip to Houston's Centro Islamico, which is run by the organization Islam and Spanish. According to the Kingwood High School Muslim Students Association Instagram page, the field trip took place during the school day on February 17th, with students leaving after their second period class and not returning until 3.45 p.m. With lunch at halal food trucks, a midday prayer, a tour, and presentation from Islam and Spanish. On the Islam and Spanish website under Our Partners,

Starting point is 00:03:14 the organization lists the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Islamic Medical Association of North America, Rice University, and the East Plano Islamic Center, the organization that initiated the development of the Islamic residential community, the Meadow, formerly known as Epic City. Also, a Texas man has pleaded guilty to his participation in an expansive child sexual abuse network after being named in a federal indictment while already serving out a sentence for child rape. 26-year-old Caleb Christopher Merritt from Spring pleaded guilty to account regarding his involvement from 2019 to 2022 in cult, which operates digitally to seduce children into creating sexual content, specifically child sexual abuse material and sadistic material.

Starting point is 00:04:05 The organization's methods include exposing minors, particularly to young girls, to ideologies such as neo-Nazism, nihilism, pedophilia, and anarchy, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged, then manipulating the children through various methods to produce child sexual abuse material. Last but not least, on March 31st, the day that has been designated to honor Latino labor leader Caesar Chavez, the city of Fort Worth voted to approve a resolution to rescind the recognition of a portion of State Highway 183 in his honor. The measure passed unanimously. Fort Worth's rescinding of the Chavez recognition comes after the New York Times public, an in-depth investigative article on March 18th, revealing allegations by several women that Chavez had sexually abused them for years when they were girls and he was in his 40s. Fort Worth City Council member Carlos Flores moved passage on the resolution, which states

Starting point is 00:05:02 that the honorary designation is not only ceremonial, but also reflects the city's values. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 31, 2026

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