Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has announced that her office is making available a 1,400-acre plot of land in Starr County to the Trump administration, proposing it as a suitable location for a deportation facility. Buckingham believes that this particular site would be well-suited for such a purpose.
“I fully support the Trump administration’s commitment to removing these criminals from our country, and we are more than willing to provide our resources to assist in deporting these violent offenders,” Buckingham expressed. “We are pleased to extend this offer and hope that they accept it.”
According to Buckingham, the plot was described as “essentially farmland” and “easy to build on.” However, her office did not disclose the exact amount that the state paid to acquire it.
Tom Homan, the individual chosen by President-elect Trump to serve as the “border czar,” revealed to Fox News that the incoming administration intends to utilize the land they have been given as a component of their deportation initiative. However, he refrained from providing specific information regarding the plans.
Homan will be visiting the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday, where he will be accompanied by Gov. Greg Abbott in presenting holiday meals to National Guard troops stationed along the border. Additionally, Commissioner Buckingham has announced a “border wall construction kick-off” event on the newly acquired state land in Starr County, also taking place on the same day.
Migrant crossings along the Texas border have reached their lowest level in years, thanks to a combination of seasonal trends, federal executive action, and the state’s Operation Lone Star. However, despite this decline, state leaders are not easing up on their efforts to address border security.
“We have no plans to slow down,” stated Governor Greg Abbott during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News. He emphasized the urgency of removing individuals from the country who have entered illegally. However, he also emphasized the need to simultaneously focus on constructing barriers and preventing further illegal entry into the country.
Abbott showcased a video on Wednesday, unveiling the additional buoy barriers being installed by the state in the Rio Grande River. These bright-orange balls, spanning a thousand feet, have effectively sliced through the river in Eagle Pass for over a year. Their primary purpose is to discourage and redirect migrants who may be contemplating walking across the shallow water.
Last week, Texas troops were seen conducting training exercises as part of their preparation for what Governor Abbott refers to as “potential mass migration.” The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged the possibility that migrants may attempt to cross the border before President-elect Trump assumes office. However, it is worth noting that there has been no significant surge reported thus far.
The Texas legislature is going a step further in enhancing state border enforcement. One of the lawmakers, State Sen. Bob Hall, has introduced bills that aim to establish the “Texas Department of Homeland Security” and grant the Texas Department of Public Safety the authority to deport migrants. However, these measures have been challenged by the Biden administration as unconstitutional.
State Board of Education approves educational materials that include religious themes
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The State Board of Education has given its approval to new teaching materials that incorporate religious themes for elementary school students. The decision was reached in a close 8-7 vote on Friday.
School districts have the option to adopt the new “Bluebonnet” curriculum, although it is not mandatory. However, there are financial incentives available for districts that choose to implement it.
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the new materials due to their inclusion of Christian stories. Some members of the SBOE argue that this preference for Christianity over other faiths may potentially violate the principle of separation between church and state.
Rebecca Bell-Metereau, a member of the State Board of Education representing District 5, expressed her appreciation for the inclusion of other faith traditions. However, she believes that this approach is merely an attempt to cover up a significant problem.
The Texas Freedom Network, a grassroots organization that took a stand against the revised curriculum, conducted a thorough analysis of it on November 5th. The analysis reveals that while the amended version of the curriculum does address certain concerns from its initial May release, it still presents a biased perspective by heavily emphasizing Christianity and the Bible, seemingly diminishing the significance of other religious traditions.
According to a religious studies scholar and Christian theologian, David R. Brockman, Texas public schools should not be conveying a message that is not in line with serving a religiously diverse population.
According to the analysis, the curriculum shows an excessive focus on Christianity. The authors seem to make a deliberate effort to incorporate detailed Bible lessons, even when they are not required or justified.
In the fifth-grade curriculum, students learn about the Psalm of David, which holds significance in both the Jewish and Christian faiths. Additionally, they discover the importance of King David in the Islamic tradition.
In a lesson designed for fifth graders, students explore the Christian allegory found in C. S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” The lesson teaches students about a central character in the story who symbolizes Jesus, according to the Bible’s teachings of his sacrifice and resurrection.
Advocates of faith argue that the Bible holds significance as both a historical and literary artifact.
Mary Elizabeth Castle, the director of government relations at Texas Values, a conservative advocacy group, expressed her concern about the attack on these materials that focus on the academic study of the Bible. She argues that such actions not only deny students the right to learn but also create a hostile learning environment for Christianity and religion.
Schools that opt to incorporate the new materials into their curriculum will have access to them starting in August 2025.
Proposed dementia research institute could follow CPRIT model
On Monday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled an exciting new legislative initiative for the Texas Senate. This groundbreaking initiative aims to establish a state-funded research institute solely dedicated to the study and understanding of dementia.
According to Dr. Karen Fingerman, director of the UT Austin Texas Aging and Longevity Consortium, the prevalence of dementia is expected to rise in parallel with the growing population. As the number of people living with dementia increases, Texas will face a significant challenge in providing care and support. Driven by a projected 90% increase in the population aged 65 and older over the next 20-30 years, the urgency of addressing this issue becomes even more apparent.
Patrick revealed that the Dementia Prevention Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) would be structured similarly to the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).
According to a statement released on Monday, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick revealed that DPRIT (Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention and Research Institute of Texas) will be modeled after CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas) and will be dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by dementia. Patrick emphasized that, similar to CPRIT’s impact on the field of cancer research, DPRIT will attract top researchers and companies to Texas, who will be required to establish a presence in the state and contribute to its growth.
Patrick stated that the legislation in the Senate will be authored by Joan Huffman, a Republican lawmaker from Houston and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.
In a recent press release, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick revealed that he had journeyed to Midland for a meeting with former Speaker Tom Craddick, who hails from the same district. The purpose of this meeting was to collaborate on crafting legislation that would garner unanimous support in both the Senate and the House.
If the DPRIT is passed by lawmakers, it would still require voter approval as a constitutional amendment, just like the CPRIT in 2007 (which was re-authorized by voters in 2019).
Richard Elbein, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Houston & Southeast Texas chapter, highlights the significance of investing in Alzheimer’s and dementia research. He emphasizes that every dollar invested not only brings us closer to discovering better treatments and a cure but also plays a crucial role in attracting talented individuals to the field. Elbein suggests that such investments redirect resources towards Alzheimer’s and dementia research, preventing them from being utilized for alternative disease studies.
Elbein, however, emphasized the importance of not losing sight of the families who are currently grappling with this disease. The Alzheimer’s Association has been diligently advocating for increased funding to support these families.
According to the spokesperson, the primary focus of the Alzheimer’s Association in the past three legislative sessions has been to secure funding for care and support services for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease. This has been their top priority, as they recognize the critical need to provide assistance to those impacted by this condition.
In 2007, the Texas legislature enacted the establishment of CPRIT, which was later approved by voters.
According to CPRIT’s website, in 2019, Texas voters once again showed strong support for the organization by approving an additional $3 billion investment in cancer research and prevention. This brings the total investment by Texas voters to $6 billion.
CPRIT has awarded over $3 billion to research institutions in Texas, according to the agency.
As a cancer survivor herself, CEO Kristen Doyle has a personal connection to CPRIT’s mission. Her involvement in the agency began early on due to her firsthand experience with cancer.
Doyle expressed that being involved in the midst of such incredible work is truly a highlight of his life.
According to Doyle, this year in Texas, more than 150,000 individuals will receive a cancer diagnosis, resulting in approximately 44,000 fatalities.
According to Doyle, cancer continues to pose a significant danger, with an increasing number of cases being diagnosed in early adulthood.
According to Doyle, CPRIT allocates 10% of its funds to cancer prevention, with the remaining 90% dedicated to research.
CPRIT has the ability to conduct screenings in every county in Texas and has successfully identified more than 46,000 cases of cancer and cancer precursors through the screenings funded by CPRIT.
“Detecting cancer at an early stage makes it easier to treat and increases the chances of survival,” Doyle emphasized. “These screenings have been instrumental in saving lives. Thanks to the cancer prevention projects funded by CPRIT, over 410,000 Texans have undergone their initial screening.”
The grants provided by CPRIT undergo a thorough peer review process. CPRIT’s oversight committee, comprising appointments from the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker, relies on recommendations from experts to determine which grant applications should receive funding.
According to Doyle, the peer reviewers are individuals who reside outside of Texas and therefore are not eligible to receive grant funds from the organization. This ensures that there is no favoritism or bias involved in the review process. Doyle emphasizes that the peer reviewers approach the evaluation from a purely scientific standpoint.
CPRIT brings in talent from all over the world to join the Texas community.
According to Doyle, there has been a significant increase in the amount of innovation emerging from Texas.
Governor, Regents make moves to ease college cost burden
In a letter dated November 13th, Governor Greg Abbott informed Texas universities and colleges that any increases in undergraduate tuition and fees for the next two years are not allowed.
In the letter, Abbott emphasized that this approach provides a means to alleviate the financial strain on students and their families.
Governor’s stance on tuition increases
The Governor firmly stated his position regarding tuition increases at public higher education institutions in the upcoming biennium. He emphasized that he will not support any tuition increase in Texas. The Governor’s office has engaged in discussions with the Board of Regents from all public university systems, and they have reached a consensus that no institution in Texas should approve tuition increases for the academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
According to Abbott, the state has made significant investments in higher education. This includes increasing funding for universities and financial aid programs. The goal of these investments is to ensure that higher education remains accessible and affordable for all Texans.
“When every Texan has the opportunity to pursue a high-quality education that is both accessible and affordable, it opens doors to higher earning potential, equips individuals with the necessary skills for the workforce, and ultimately enhances their overall quality of life,” expressed Abbott. “As we approach the next legislative session, I am committed to prioritizing the issue of college affordability and ensuring that it remains a top concern for the state.”
The University of Texas spokesperson expressed their support for Governor Abbott’s dedication in finding innovative and affordable ways to make higher education accessible to individuals with limited financial resources.
The University of Texas System Board of Regents has recently made a decision to extend the coverage of tuition fees for undergraduate students. According to a news release from UT officials, this new policy will now include students whose families have an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $100,000 or less. Previously, the UT System only provided free tuition for undergraduate students coming from families making $65,000 or less.
Starting in the fall of 2025, officials have confirmed that the change will be implemented. The new policy will be applicable to students enrolled in all UT System institutions, as stated in the release.
Around 14,500 undergraduate students at UT Austin are currently benefiting from the Texas Advance Commitment (TAC), which provides them with free or reduced tuition.