Texas

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Sorry, Ghislaine, No Dog for You
Sorry, Ghislaine,
No Dog for You
Aug 7, 2025 1:28 PM CDT

Sorry, Ghislaine, No Dog for You

Maxwell barred from prison camp's service dog training program

(Newser) - One of the perks for inmates at the Texas prison camp where Ghislaine Maxwell was moved last week is the opportunity to train service dogs. In other words, they get to play with puppies. "I absolutely love it," one inmate wrote of the program, noting it means living...

Senator: FBI Has Granted Request on 'Runaway' Dems

Cornyn says agency will help state find lawmakers who fled Texas, though their location is known

(Newser) - Republican Sen. John Cornyn says the FBI has granted his request to locate and investigate Democratic Texas lawmakers who fled the state to block a redistricting plan that would give the GOP more US House seats. The lawmakers' whereabouts aren't a secret—they regularly give press conferences from various...

Feds: US Soldier Tried to Give Russia Secrets on Battle Tank

Taylor Adam Lee allegedly hoped to trade details on tank used in Ukraine for citizenship

(Newser) - A US Army soldier from Texas is accused of trying to trade classified tank secrets for Russian citizenship. Federal authorities say Taylor Adam Lee, a 22-year-old service member stationed at Fort Bliss, attempted to hand over sensitive information about America's main battle tank, the M1A2 Abrams, per CBS...

Texas Democrats Are Asking for Donations

Lawmakers who fled the state face mounting costs

(Newser) - After leaving Texas for Illinois to prevent a legislative vote on a Republican redistricting plan, state House Democratic leader Gene Wu needed a means to project his voice—and viewpoints—to a national audience. So he tapped his campaign account to buy a microphone for news conferences. When it came...

Texas Democrats 'Undeterred' After Hotel Bomb Threat

Lawmakers were among 400 evacuated from Illinois building

(Newser) - Democrats who fled Texas to thwart the redrawing of a congressional map said they were "undeterred" Wednesday after a bomb threat at the Illinois hotel where some of them are staying. The St. Charles Police Department said that around 400 people were evacuated from the hotel after the threat...

Texas Hunter Killed by His African Prey

Asher Watkins was tracking Cape buffalo, one of Africa's most dangerous animals, with guides

(Newser) - A Texas man's hunting trip in South Africa ended in his own death—by a Cape buffalo he was pursuing. Asher Watkins, 52, was killed by the 1.3-ton buffalo in Limpopo province on Sunday during an expedition organized by Coenraad Vermaak Safaris. The safari company said Watkins...

Abbott Asks Top Court to Remove Democratic Leader

He claims Gene Wu forfeited his seat with walkout

(Newser) - Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked the state's highest court to remove the Democratic House leader from office, escalating efforts to end the holdout that is blocking redrawn US House maps sought by President Trump.
  • Bypassing lower courts, Abbott filed a rare emergency petition straight to the
...

Abbott: Democrats Can't Stop Us
Abbott: Democrats
Can't Stop Us
Aug 5, 2025 6:17 AM CDT

Abbott: Democrats Can't Stop Us

Texas governor dismisses 'crazy bluster' as his state aims to redraw congressional maps to benefit Republicans

(Newser) - The Texas political showdown over new congressional maps is on the brink of turning into a national showdown. Already, Democratic Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Kathy Hochul of New York are threatening to redraw their own state maps to give Democrats a bigger advantage, to counter what Republicans are...

Newsom Threatens Texas With Redistricting Showdown

Plan could give Democrats a major edge in congressional seats in California

(Newser) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering a bold move to redraw the state's congressional map, setting the stage for a nationwide redistricting battle if Texas Republicans push forward with their own partisan plan . Newsom said Monday the redistricting plan is akin to "fighting fire with fire,"...

Democrats Successfully Halt Texas Redistricting

With most of them out of state, Texas House could not establish a quorum

(Newser) - Texas Democrats on Monday prevented their state's House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Trump to shore up Republicans' 2026 midterm prospects.
  • After dozens of Democrats left the state , the Republican-dominated House was unable to establish the quorum
...

Next in Wildfire Response: Self-Flying Helicopters

Texas A&M working with DARPA to give up to 4 Blackhawks autonomous flying capabilities

(Newser) - Piloting a helicopter over forests enveloped by fire is a dangerous business—which is why experts are working on a plan to pull pilots from Blackhawks, while keeping the helicopters themselves in the air. Texas A&M University is working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to bring...

Illinois Governor Vows to Protect Texas Democrats

Lawmakers fled there to prevent a vote on new congressional maps

(Newser) - The Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to prevent a vote from taking place now face two potential unwanted scenarios: arrest and extradition back to their home state, and possible expulsion from the Texas House. Details:
  • The walkout: More than 50 Democrats left the state to prevent the GOP from being
...

Democratic Lawmakers in Texas Just Fled Their State

Move is intended to deny House Republicans a quorum in redistricting vote

(Newser) - Democratic lawmakers announced Sunday they're leaving Texas to try to prevent passage of a new congressional map President Trump wants drawn to win more GOP seats in the 2026 elections. The decision, designed to deny House Republicans a quorum, exposes Democrats to fines and other civil penalties, the AP...

Ghislaine Maxwell Gets a Surprise Transfer

Epstein associate has been moved from federal prison in Florida to low-security Texas prison camp

(Newser) - Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislane Maxwell has been transferred from a federal low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, to a prison camp in Texas, the Bureau of Prisons announced on Friday, though it didn't get into too much detail on the move, reports the Washington Post . Maxwell's lawyer also confirmed...

IKEA Is Opening Mini-Stores in Best Buys

Experiment will begin in 10 stores in Florida and Texas this fall

(Newser) - IKEA is stepping out of its massive blue-box comfort zone. For the first time since its 1943 debut, the Swedish furniture giant will let shoppers buy its products somewhere other than its own stores or online—specifically, inside Best Buy locations. Starting this fall, small IKEA shops (think 1,...

Get Ready for a Tarantula Mating Frenzy

Males on the move, risking life to find a partner who hopefully won't eat them

(Newser) - As mating season sweeps across the Southwest, residents in 13 states should prepare for what could be a remarkable, or terrifying spectacle, depending on who you ask. Over the next several months, tens of thousands of male tarantulas will emerge from their burrows, setting out across states including California,...

MLB Rookie Enjoys a 'Jaw-Dropping Moment'

Nick Kurtz of the Athletics becomes first rookie in MLB history to hit 4 home runs in one game

(Newser) - Nick Kurtz already had three homers and five hits as he began his final at bat with a chance to make history, but none of that was top of mind for the Athletics' rookie slugger—he just didn't want to embarrass himself. The 22-year-old did just fine, lining a...

California's 'Shield' Law Takes On Texas' 'Heartbeat' Law

Texas man files suit against Golden State doctor who allegedly shipped abortion pills to his girlfriend

(Newser) - A Texas man is taking a new legal tack in the nation's ongoing fight over abortion pills. Jerry Rodriguez has filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit against California physician Remy Coeytaux, alleging Coeytaux illegally mailed abortion medication to Rodriguez's girlfriend—despite California's "shield" law that protects...

Texas Death Row Lets Its Inmates Mingle

Program at Livingston's Polunsky Unit breaks the isolation of solitary, lets some share meals, chats

(Newser) - For the first time in decades, Texas death row inmates are experiencing a change in daily life: no handcuffs, no solitary, and—for a select group—a taste of community. After more than 25 years of near-total isolation sparked by a notorious 1998 escape, the Polunsky Unit in Livingston...

Man Lawmakers Fought to Save Is Scheduled to Die Oct. 16

Lawyers say they have 'powerful new evidence' of Texas inmate's Robbie Roberson's innocence

(Newser) - A judge on Wednesday set a new execution date for Robert Roberson, a Texas man who won a last-minute reprieve last year and could become the first person in the US to be put to death for a murder conviction tied to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome. State district...

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