The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - November 21, 2024

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks! Today is Thursday, November 21st and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lausches and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the University of Texas System Board of Regents has given preliminary approval to take the next significant step in expanding the school's Promise Plus program, which provides tuition-free education to low-income students. The approval would create an immediate infusion of $35 million as part of the Promise Plus endowment. In addition to the increased funding, the program would be expanded and establish a new baseline of $100,000 for eligible students. Kevin P. Eltyfe, chairman of the Board of Regents, stated, quote, To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us, and as long as we are here,

Starting point is 00:00:58 we will continue our work to provide an affordable, accessible education to all who choose to attend a UT institution. Beginning with UT Austin, the university system has made significant steps in expanding financial aid for low- and middle-income families in recent years. In 2016, then-UT Austin President Gregory L. Fenves committed $7.5 million annually to increase financial aid, followed by an additional $5 million in 2018 to launch the Texas Advanced Commitment, which provides full tuition assistance for students from families earning up to $30,000 and guaranteed aid for those earning up to $100,000. In other news, the Texas Office of the Attorney General has filed a petition in Dallas County District Court

Starting point is 00:01:42 seeking an injunction against the City of Dallas based on a recently passed charter amendment that would prohibit police from enforcing marijuana possession laws in the city. Proposition R, also called the Dallas Freedom Act, was on the November 5th ballot and passed by a margin of over 30 points, with nearly 229,000 out of the 324,000 voters favoring it. The measure prohibits Dallas police from making quote, any arrest or issuing any citation for class A or class B misdemeanor marijuana possession, except in the limited cases described by this policy. Dallas police would also be prohibited from using the odor of marijuana as probable cause for search and seizure. The measure also acknowledges that the state or federal government could pass an act binding Dallas to enforce

Starting point is 00:02:29 misdemeanor marijuana crimes. In that case, the city's policy would be to make the offenses its lowest enforcement priority. Last but not least, in case you missed it, tickets are on sale now for the Texans' 89th session kickoff. The Texan is once again bringing together lawmakers from across Texas to give an inside look at the policy and politics at play in the 89th legislative session. Join us to hear from state lawmakers and other officials as they outline what's ahead. Subscribers to the Texan get a $40 discount on event tickets. Visit the Tex.news to get your ticket and subscribe today. 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.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - November 21, 2024

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