April 14, 2026: All Newsclips

Lead Stories

Gonzales, Swalwell resigning amid sexual misconduct allegations

Two members of Congress facing sexual misconduct allegations from former staffers have announced they will resign from the House amid a push to expel them from Congress. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who represents California’s 14th Congressional District, and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents Texas’s 23rd Congressional District, both said Monday they plan to resign. In a statement, Swalwell apologized to his family and staff for “mistakes in judgment” he’d made while vowing to fight the “serious, false allegation made against me.” He did not say in his statement whether his resignation was effective immediately. “I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” he said. “Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties.”

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Gonzales, who has already suspended his reelection bid, said he too was resigning. “There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all,” he said in a statement on X. “When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.” Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, wrote earlier in a social media post: “Reps. Gonzales and Swalwell are not fit to serve. They must resign. If they do not, I will vote to expel them.” Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District, had said she planned to introduce a resolution, which would need two-thirds of the chamber’s vote, to expel Swalwell from Congress. Gonzales is accused of sending explicit texts to a now-deceased former aide and coercing her into a sexual relationship. On March 5, Gonzales announced he was dropping his bid for reelection ahead of an Ethics Committee investigation into his affair with a former staffer. The next day, the congressman admitted to the affair in an interview with conservative talk show Joe Pags, calling it a “lapse in judgment.” Dozens of Swalwell’s former congressional and campaign staffers also signed a public letter Sunday calling for him to drop out of the gubernatorial race — which he did that night — and resign from the House.

Abbott threatens to pull $110M in grant funds if ICE policy isn't revoked

Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to pull $110 million in grant funds from Houston if the city does not revoke its new policy limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The director of Abbott’s Public Safety Office, Andrew Friedrichs, told Mayor John Whitmire that Houston was out of compliance with its agreement for state grant funds and must revoke the policy by April 20, according to a letter obtained by the Houston Chronicle. If the city does not, the letter states, Houston would be on the hook for repaying $110 million within 30 days of the grant's termination. Houston City Council last week eliminated a police department policy that required officers to wait 30 minutes for ICE agents to pick up people with civil immigration warrants.

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It also required the department to make reports to the council about its cooperation with ICE. The proposal passed in a 12-5 vote, with Whitmire in support. "Gov. Abbott expects all local governments -- cities or counties -- to cooperate with ICE in enforcing federal immigration laws," said Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris. "Creative efforts by local governments to get around that obligation are unacceptable." Houston's proposal was brought forward by Council Members Alejandra Salinas, Abbie Kamin and Edward Pollard under Proposition A, which allows any three council members to add items to meeting agendas as long as they’re lawful. Whitmire, in a letter to council members Monday evening, said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had also opened an investigation into whether the city had violated state law with the new policy. In a separate press release, Whitmire said he had “repeatedly warned” Salinas, Kamin and Pollard about the potential legal and financial ramifications of passing the policy.

A long day on the stand for Camp Mystic, here are takeaways from Monday's hearing

A Travis County district court heard nearly five hours of testimony Monday in the first of three days of evidentiary hearings in the wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the deaths of 28 people at Camp Mystic during the July 4, 2025, Guadalupe River flood. Camp Mystic director Edward Eastland spent the entire day on the stand under direct examination by plaintiffs’ attorney Brad Beckworth. The defense has not yet had the opportunity to present its case. Here is what we learned on Monday. 1. The camp publicly claimed it received no warning. That was false. Defense attorney Mikal Watts told the press after the March injunction hearing that Camp Mystic “didn’t get a warning” before the flood. Edward Eastland admitted under oath Monday that he received a National Weather Service Flash Flood Warning directly to his cell phone at 1:14 a.m.

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2. One night watchman was left in charge of more than 500 children. When camp leadership went to sleep on the night of July 3, a single night watchman was the only adult actively monitoring more than 500 children spread across more than 100 acres. Counselors returning from nights off in Kerrville warned the camp’s senior office assistants at 12:40 a.m. that it was raining so hard they had been scared to drive. That warning was never passed to the sleeping directors. 3. The first priority was moving canoes, not evacuating children. Eastland was woken at 1:45 a.m. — not to begin an evacuation, but to move canoes and waterfront equipment to a soccer field. By the time he reached the main office, the land bridge was already overflowing, cutting off more than 150 girls on Senior Hill. No camp director or staff member attempted to contact those stranded children for more than three hours. 4. The camp had no written evacuation plan. Eastland admitted Camp Mystic had no written evacuation plan — a violation of the Texas Administrative Code.

Aaron Reitz: Why I’m backing a former opponent in the runoff for Texas attorney general

“We’re in a battle for the soul of our state and nation. The main arena in which we wage this war is the justice system. That’s why we need an attorney general who’s ready to fight — and win.” That’s how I opened every stump speech at nearly 150 campaign stops during my nine-month campaign for Texas attorney general. It resonated with over a quarter million Republican primary voters — but not enough for me to make the runoff. Now the competition is between U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and state Sen. Mayes Middleton. My position remains the same: We are at war with the radical left in court. But on the question of who should lead us to victory as attorney general, I choose Mayes Middleton over Chip Roy. I first met Mayes in the summer of 2014. I was 27 years old, had just finished active-duty service in the Marine Corps, and was a summer fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation before attending the University of Texas School of Law.

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Mayes was 32 and deeply involved with TPPF. In 2016, he joined their board of directors as the youngest member. Because of our proximity in age, we naturally got along well, and I was impressed with his intelligence, temperament and principled approach to law and policy. We fell out of close contact over the next few years but saw each other regularly on the usual circuit of Republican events: conferences, award galas, fundraisers and Lincoln-Reagan dinners. While I was clerking on the Texas Supreme Court, I watched as Mayes launched his first insurgent campaign for the state House in 2018 against an incumbent aligned with then-Speaker Joe Straus. Mayes beat him by 14 points. Mayes then sailed to re-election in the House in 2020 before setting his sights on his hometown state Senate seat in 2022. He was in such a dominant position that the incumbent senator simply stepped aside. Mayes again won — overwhelmingly. Meanwhile, I was serving as Attorney General Ken Paxton’s deputy and then as Sen. Ted Cruz’s chief of staff. During both the 88th and 89th legislative sessions, Mayes became one of my favorite state senators because of the causes he took up.

State Stories

‘A big blur’ – Edward Eastland describes doomed rescue effort at Camp Mystic

As floodwaters ripped through its grounds, the power suddenly failed at Camp Mystic shortly before 4 a.m. on July 4, leaving the secluded Texas Hill County retreat cloaked in darkness. Edward Eastland tearfully told a state district court Monday about the harrowing scene he encountered while trying to help 23 campers and counselors stranded at the camp’s Twins I and II cabin near the south fork of the Guadalupe River.

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Most of the children in the cabin were 8-year-old girls staying at the camp for the first time. A torrential thunderstorm had pushed the water so high that it soon reached the cabin’s ceiling. A counselor yelled that the strong current was pushing girls out one of the cabin’s doors. “I grabbed two girls,” said Eastland, 42, a director of the Camp Mystic Guadalupe River campus. “I held on to those girls, holding on to the door frame. There was another girl in Twins I who jumped on my back. I don’t know who it was, but they put their arms around my neck before we got washed out. The water came up over my head very quickly. “Then I’m assuming I was on the soccer field in the water, just churning, just grabbing for tree branches. I don’t remember how long it took me to get to the tree where all the other girls were found. I didn’t think there were any girls with me, but some counselors said there was at least one camper with me when they saw me. That part of the whole night is a big blur for me.” Asked what became of 8-year-old Austin child Cile Steward, a first-time camper, Eastland began to cry. “I don’t know,” Eastland said, weeping as his wife, Mary Liz, another Camp Mystic Guadalupe River director, bowed her head and also began to cry. Steward’s mother and the parents of other Camp Mystic victims also wept quietly throughout the courtroom.

Arthur Schechter, Houston attorney, former U.S. ambassador and Metro chair, dies

Arthur Louis Schechter, a prominent Houston attorney, philanthropist and political figure who served as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas under President Bill Clinton and later chaired the Metropolitan Transit Authority, died Monday. He was 86. Schechter, a longtime Democratic Party supporter, built a wide-ranging legacy in law, public service and philanthropy, with influence that extended from Houston to Washington, D.C. "He departed this life surrounded by his loving family," his relatives said in a statement. "A distinguished attorney, devoted philanthropist, dedicated public servant, steadfast political ally, passionate civic activist, and beloved pillar of the Jewish community, Ambassador Schechter leaves behind a legacy that touched the lives of countless individuals across Houston, the nation, and beyond."

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Clinton, who appointed Schechter ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in 1998, said in a statement to the Houston Chronicle that Schechter was “a brilliant lawyer, a dedicated philanthropist and a wonderful friend.” "If Arthur had your back, even when the going got rough, you never had to turn around to see if he was still there," Clinton said. "Houston, America, and the world are better off because of his life of service. Hillary and I will miss him very much. Our prayers are with Joyce, his entire family, and everyone who loved him." Former Houston mayor Annise Parker described Schechter as a central figure in the city's civic life. "He was a pillar of Houston's social and philanthropic and political life," Parker said. "Yes, he was a passionate Democrat. But more than that, he was active in charitable organizations of all kinds and a pillar of the Jewish community." Those who knew Schechter described him as personable, charismatic and proud of his Jewish faith. "He had a larger-than-life personality," Parker said. "He was the life of the party — outrageous, silly, but brilliant."

Have Democrats turned on the mainstream media?

When Carlos Espina took the stage on the third night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, in Chicago, nearly everyone in attendance—including him—was surprised. The ponytailed 25-year-old Spanish-language social media influencer had been given a three-minute time slot to speak about the value of immigrants to the United States and to warm up the crowd for Bill Clinton, Tim Walz, and a preannounced “surprise” appearance by Oprah. Espina began his speech by noting that when his parents immigrated to the U.S. from Uruguay and settled in College Station, they wouldn’t have believed that one day their son would address a massive crowd at a major U.S. political event. Or for that matter that he’d amass a following of 14 million. Influencers—they get the job done. Espina’s featured appearance, however, was not as unlikely as he’d suggested. The Democratic Party had invited more than two hundred influencers, credentialed them more pitiably as “content creators,” and ushered them into the convention alongside disgruntled members of that formerly dignified group known as journalists. Upstairs, at a studio space dubbed the blue carpet, the creators battled reporters for interviews with key politicians. On the floor, they fought journalists for seats. Many in the press lamented that the insurgents had been welcomed in.

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Two years later, it’s obvious which group has retained its influence. The rush of front-facing videos from the floor of the DNC was a screaming comet of an omen. Most candidates in Texas now have budgets devoted to creators and programs to keep them up-to-date on posting opportunities. Indeed, just one week after the deadline for candidates to file for the 2026 Texas Senate primary, Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico were engaged in a digital arms race. In mid-December, Espina received an email from the “Crockett Creators” asking him to join the congresswoman’s influencer network. Talarico had gotten there first, however, and filmed a video with him two days later. It was clear early on that this new cohort would drive the news cycle. In January, pro-Talarico influencers—many of them from out of state and not exactly Nate Silver–level analysts—debated Crockett’s electability, leading to coverage in The New York Times. Then in early February, Morgan Thompson, a Dallas-based influencer who had been part of the Talarico creator program, claimed in a TikTok post that Talarico had called Colin Allred, a former Democratic Senate candidate, a “mediocre Black man.”

CenterPoint Energy’s customer satisfaction rating increases, according to independent survey

CenterPoint Energy has seen a slight increase in its consumer satisfaction ratings compared to a survey conducted last year by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The ACSI administers national surveys across several U.S. industries. Its 2026 energy utilities customer satisfaction ratings were based on a national survey of 33,759 customers who were contacted between January of 2025 and December of 2025. The national average score for electric investor-owned utilities this year was 72 out of 100. CenterPoint's national rating for its electricity services rose from 70 to 72, as measured on a 100-point scale. Its 70-point rating from the 2025 survey reflects data from 2024, when Hurricane Beryl and a derecho left parts of Houston without power for days – and in some areas, more than a week.

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The utility company, which provides electric transmission and natural gas distribution services, is headquartered in Houston, though it also operates in other parts of the South and the Midwest. Forrest Morgeson, the director emeritus of research at the ACSI, said CenterPoint's ratings likely increased in this year's survey because of "a significant reduction in outage minutes in the first half of 2025." "Improved reliability like that is going to drive stronger customer satisfaction, particularly in an industry like this one where electricity is one of those things we don't notice until we don't have it," he said. CenterPoint's electricity services rating in the south also increased from 70 to 72, though its score fell short of the regional average of 75 points.

Susan Ballabina named sole finalist for Texas A&M president by Board of Regents

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents appointed System Executive Vice Chancellor Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., as sole finalist for president of the System’s flagship campus on Monday, April 13. “On behalf of the Board, we are confident Dr. Ballabina is the right leader for Texas A&M University,” Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton said in a press release. “She brings unparalleled knowledge of Texas A&M, a collaborative leadership style and the experience and know-how to guide the university with vision and purpose. Equally importantly, she cares deeply about the people and communities this university serves.” Ballabina now enters a state-mandated 21-day waiting period before the Board can take final action.

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“Having worked alongside so many dedicated members of this university for the past 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand the remarkable impact Texas A&M has on students, communities and our state,” Ballabina said in a press release. “I am honored by the trust and confidence of the Board of Regents and Chancellor [Glenn] Hegar, and if given the opportunity, I look forward to building on the incredible work already underway and leading Texas A&M into its next chapter.” In her current role, Ballabina works with the Regents to “advance key strategic initiatives” across the System’s 12 universities and eight state agencies, according to a press release from the A&M System. Before her most recent position, Ballabina served in a variety of roles at A&M at both the university and System level, including previously serving as chief of staff in the Office of the President and leading Texas A&M AgriLife.

Tarrant County commissioners to discuss how to prevent 'misleading' topics during meetings

Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare wants to prevent topics he considers "misleading and inaccurate" to be discussed during commissioners court meetings. O'Hare's agenda item for Tuesday's meeting also requests commissioners to identify gaps that could "allow misleading, unclear, or inaccurate agenda topic descriptions," and consider implementing measures to help further prevent such topics be published on the agenda. In a statement to KERA News, O'Hare said it's the court's responsibility to ensure Tarrant County residents aren’t misled by agenda item language. "Last month, an item was placed on the agenda and the language used to describe the item grossly mischaracterized the actual facts and data," O'Hare's statement read.

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"The official Tarrant County Commissioners Court agenda is no place for misleading the public to try to score political points, and especially not when the facts alleged are false. The public deserves better.” In a statement, Precinct 2 Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons said this discussion raises questions about what gets discussed during meetings. "When legitimate and vetted agenda items start being labeled ‘misleading,’ it raises a bigger question," Simmons said. "Are we trying to ensure accuracy, or limit what gets discussed in public? I believe this is connected to O’Hare’s ongoing efforts to avoid open briefings designed to educate the electorate and add information items at the request of constituents."

True Texas Project presentation dubs Texas ‘ground zero’ for Islamic threat

“We will not let them get away with it anymore,” Krista Schild said near the end of her presentation outlining the threat of Islam Monday night at the Texas Star Golf Course in Euless. She said Texas is the “ground zero” for Muslims wanting to take over the nation. The state’s Muslim population is estimated to be about 313,000, or a little more than 1.1% of the population of Texas, according to the World Population Review. Tarrant County’s chapter of the True Texas Project hosted Schild to inform attendees about the “hottest topic” in Texas politics, President Fran Rhodes told the Star-Telegram. Schild is the Texas Director at RAIR Foundation USA, an organization aiming to defend America’s constitution, borders and Judeo-Christian values.

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Before the talk began, Republican elected officials and candidates including District Court Judge Andy Hsu, District Clerk Tom Wilder and Senate District 9 candidate Leigh Wambsganss asked the crowd for their vote in upcoming elections. The talk given Monday night largely focused on the “power network” Muslims have in government and warned that if action is not taken, America could become an Islamic nation. Schild said RAIR was instrumental in getting Gov. Greg Abbott to declare the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations. The action allows heightened enforcement against the groups and prohibits both from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas. Among other Islamic groups, Schild labeled the Muslim Student Association and CAIR as dangerous organizations leading the Islamic infiltration and recruiting children to an extreme militant movement.

Texas SNAP soda, candy ban leaves diabetics, hypoglycemics at risk

While filling up at a gas station recently, Janell Britton’s vision started to darken and blur, and her body broke out into a sweat. She suffers from hypoglycemia, a condition characterized by chronic low blood sugar, and she was minutes away from passing out. Having used all her cash to get gas, Britton pulled out her SNAP card to purchase soda, the cheapest and quickest way for her body to get sugar. With new SNAP purchase restrictions, this method for instant relief will no longer be available to her. As of April 1, Texans in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also informally called food stamps, can no longer use benefits to purchase sweetened beverages and candy. While they agree that diabetics and hypoglycemics should eat nutritious foods to prevent their conditions from worsening, health experts and those with these chronic conditions also say the new SNAP restrictions will prevent them from quickly accessing sugar when their blood sugar levels drop to dangerously low levels.

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They say these restrictions result in inequitable treatment of people on SNAP because their wealthier peers who have these conditions can purchase these food items more easily. “By restricting certain foods, it inadvertently sets people such as myself up for an emergency,” said Britton, who works as a substitute teacher in Everman near Fort Worth. “This is a life-threatening situation and can end badly. It may sound good on paper, but in practice, it is not a good thing.” Several diabetics and their family members also expressed similar concerns on Texas Health and Human Services’ Facebook post announcing the SNAP changes. “Diabetics with hypoglycemia require sugar like in candies and juices to avoid going into a coma,” one comment reads. Other comments say, “My son is an insulin dependent diabetic what is he supposed to do?” and “My husband drops low a lot, we can’t afford sodas or juices. He can’t drink orange juice. He is a kidney failure patient.” Supporters of last year’s Senate Bill 379, which created these SNAP restrictions, have said the legislation aims to curb the consumption of unhealthy foods. Sen. Mayes Middleton, the Galveston Republican who authored the bill, has said taxpayers are funding the purchase of sweetened beverages and candy that worsen health conditions among SNAP beneficiaries and result in “taxpayer-funded health care.”

Frisco leaders address ‘Indian takeover’ rhetoric, balk on public speaker changes

For months, public speakers have stood at the Frisco City Council podium and denounced the city’s growing Southeast Asian population. The speakers have alleged widespread visa fraud, labor law violations and incompatible cultural practices, and argued that the shifting demographics are making Collin County less American year after year. The fiery comments have been posted across social media, garnering hundreds of thousands of views and inspiring subsequent public speakers to attend council meetings. The rhetoric has put a spotlight on the Frisco City Council, and the increased attention may have led the horseshoe to hesitate in adopting a new set of public speaker rules.

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The ordinance discussed on April 6 would have changed each public speaker’s time from five minutes to three, but the council said that the issue had become “politicized.” Mayor Jeff Cheney said that because the mayor presides over meetings, it would make sense for Frisco’s next mayor to determine whether the proposed ordinance change is appropriate. Cheney is term-limited, and the election for his replacement will be held on May 2. The council did approve updated rules for decorum, which ban public speakers from using props or signs and bar them from approaching council members directly. Still, some individuals took to the podium last week to lament that the “Indian takeover” crowd has been permitted to spew hate unchecked. “People are observing an absence of intervention. People are coming up here and disparaging immigrants with no consequences,” said one woman who identified herself by her first name, Ankita. “I know that these remarks don’t physically harm anyone here, but they do harm people outside of this room.” Some speakers have accused the city council of being complicit in the face of Frisco’s demographic change. According to a city-released 2026 population overview, 33% of Frisco’s residents are Asian, up from 26% in 2020 and 10% in 2010. One of the most recurring claims is that Indian Americans are coming to Frisco as part of an H-1B visa fraud scheme. H-1Bs are a federal program that allows employers to hire workers from outside the U.S., and claims of widespread fraud are unsubstantiated.

Texas Attorney General launches investigation into Lululemon over alleged toxic chemicals in activewear

Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a formal investigation into athletic apparel giant Lululemon USA Inc., examining whether the company has misled consumers about potential health risks associated with its products. Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to the Vancouver-based company as part of a probe into whether Lululemon's activewear contains PFAS — commonly known as "forever chemicals" — that could pose health risks to consumers. Lululemon, which generated over $11 billion in fiscal year 2025, has built its brand around wellness and sustainability messaging. The company markets itself as a health-conscious lifestyle brand emphasizing performance and environmental responsibility.

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However, the Attorney General's office says emerging research and consumer concerns have raised questions about synthetic materials and chemical compounds potentially present in Lululemon's apparel that may be linked to serious health issues. The investigation will focus on whether Lululemon's products contain PFAS chemicals that health-conscious consumers would not expect, given the company's marketing claims. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals that have been associated with endocrine disruption, infertility, cancer, and other health problems. These chemicals are dubbed "forever chemicals" because they don't break down naturally and can accumulate in the human body and environment over time. "Americans should not have to worry if they are being deceived when trying to make healthy choices for themselves and their families," Attorney General Paxton said in a statement. "I will not allow any corporation to sell harmful, toxic materials to consumers at a premium price under the guise of wellness and sustainability."

New report says Dilley Detention Center is an American horror story

A new report by human and immigrant rights groups documents horrific conditions and treatment of families at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center located about 70 miles south of San Antonio, Texas. The April 1 report by Human Rights First and RAICES relies on research through immigration data and extensive interviews with families held at the federal facility between April 2025 and February 2026. The sprawling center has become the Trump administration’s sole location for incarcerating immigrant families and children. The study concluded that “inhumane conditions, routine mistreatment and due process violations experienced by families at Dilley are pervasive and systemic.”

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Constitutional and other legal protections are routinely violated at the Department of Homeland Security site, including arbitrary detentions and violations of statutory prohibitions against returning asylum seekers to the countries they fled because of persecution. Operated by prison contractor CoreCivic, Dilley housed more than 5,600 people, including parents, newborns and toddlers, during the 10-month stretch covered by the report. Other organizations also have documented abuses at the Texas facility. The Marshall Project reported ICE has placed more than 6,200 people at the center during President Donald Trump’s current term. That report explained that child immigrants have been placed in detention going back multiple administrations, but that practice was halted by President Joe Biden in 2021.

Lithium discovery bringing landmen back to Texas’ Smackover Formation

Inside his office just off Mount Vernon’s town square, attorney B.F. Hicks lays a map out on his desk. At speed, he points at different tracts, reciting who lives there, what size their property is and which companies he’s heard have sent landmen to knock on their door to negotiate lithium leases. What happens in Northeast Texas could shape the nation’s energy future. The region has emerged as a key player in the domestic race for lithium — the mineral essential to the batteries in electric vehicles, cellphones, and renewable energy storage — as the U.S. scrambles to secure its own supply. For a few years now, the infiltration of companies into this rural region of Texas searching for lithium — a critical ingredient for storing solar energy and powering electric vehicle batteries —has become a topic of conversation over dinner at the local chophouse or in catching up at the historical society meeting.

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Sometimes, it’s behind closed doors as friends, family and neighbors gossip about who’s getting the best offers for their mineral rights. Being an energy frontier for other parts of Texas isn’t new to residents in Franklin and surrounding counties, as some of their backyards have started to fill with solar panel farms and battery energy storage systems, all fuel powering the “green economy.” But now, they’re learning that deep beneath their feet is salty water that could become a key resource in the United States’ global fight for full energy independence. The Smackover Formation, which sweeps broadly from East Texas to Florida and once gushed with oil, now is being hailed as containing some of the purest lithium brine in the world. Hicks, one of the most vocal local leaders opposing industrial-scale solar projects, actually welcomes the potential that lithium can bring to the community. The historian and longtime attorney has signed a lithium lease for a portion of his pristine Daphne Prairie; he’s now helping others do the same. He’s hoping to get the best deal for his clients — and perhaps most important, make sure the surface land is as protected and preserved as possible.

First Mexican American Dallas City Councilmember Anita M. Martinez has died

Anita N. Martinez, the first Mexican American elected to the Dallas City Council and the founder a dance company that bears her name, has died. She celebrated her 100th birthday in December. Born in 1925 and raised in the Little Mexico neighborhood, Martinez’s public service began at an early age with a campaign to pave Pearl Street in her neighborhood. She raised four children, supported her family business, El Fenix, and volunteered for a variety of organizations before she was elected to represent West Dallas in the City Council in 1965.

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A decade later, she would found the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico with the hopes of reconnecting young people with their heritage through dance. It grew over the years, and now reaches more than 50,000 students a year through its performances. (The company was named Best Dance Company in 2024’s Best of Big D awards.) “She was more than a leader—she was a mentor, a trailblazer, and a fierce advocate who broke barriers as the first Mexican-American woman elected to the Dallas City Council, fighting tirelessly on behalf of the working poor and the most vulnerable among us,” the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico said in a statement announcing her death. “She was a trailblazer and a cherished pillar of the Dallas community,” said Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia, who added that Martinez was a friend and mentor.

National Stories

Cook Political shifts four Senate races toward Democrats, key race now a toss-up

Jessica Taylor, the Senate and governors editor for The Cook Political Report, dropped the political forecaster’s latest analysis on the state of the 2026 U.S. Senate races and offered some dire news for Republicans hoping to keep their slim majority. Cook Political shifted four Senate races toward the Democrats: an open seat in North Carolina, Sen. Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) reelection bid in Georgia, the open race in Ohio, and Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) reelection bid in Nebraska. Both the Georgia and North Carolina races shifted from “toss up” to “lean D,” while the key Ohio race moved from “lean R” to “toss up.” Ricketts’s race moved from “solid R” to “ likely R” – leaving the seat firmly in likely GOP hands.

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“With an increasingly sour national environment for Republicans, the Senate battlefield is shifting in Democrats’ favor. But due to the difficulty of the map, winning back a majority still remains a tall order. The GOP remain the narrowing favorites to retain the upper chamber. However, that outlook could change in the coming months,” wrote Taylor in her analysis on the shifts. As of right now, the Democrats would have to win all the seats leaning their direction, and the three toss-up races – Maine, Michigan, and Ohio – to get to a 50-50 split in the Senate. A split would still leave the GOP with the majority as Vice President JD Vance would have the tie-breaking vote. In Cook’s race standings, Alaska is the only “lean R” state the Democrats could possibly take to win an outright majority. Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas are in the “likely R” column and appear out of reach as of now.

Senate Republicans are eager to see an Iran War off-ramp

Senate Republicans returning to Washington on Monday said they need to see a plan to end the war with Iran before they will vote to extend the military operation. “They need a plan for how to wind this down, how to get an outcome that actually leads to a safer, more secure Middle East and, by extension, a stronger national-security position for the United States,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on Monday. Congress returned to session Monday after a two-week recess –– more than six weeks since the U.S. and Israel began its bombing campaign against Iran. Lawmakers are quickly approaching the 60-day mark to vote on whether to continue the conflict.

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While lawmakers remained in their states, President Donald Trump threatened sweeping attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure, warning that a whole “civilization” could be wiped out. That pressure campaign helped produce a shaky two-week ceasefire that gave way after weekend talks failed to deliver a broader deal to end the war. On Monday, the Trump administration escalated with a naval blockade that raised new fear of a more sustained conflict in the region and drove gas prices even further up. Before the recess, many Senate Republicans said they were comfortable with a quick-and-limited military operation aimed at pressuring Iran into a deal and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Now, as the war stretches on and the ceasefire is set to end soon without a deal in place, some Republicans are starting to sound more uneasy about where the war is headed and are demanding an exit plan. Sen. Thom Tillis told reporters on Monday that he was “looking at the 60 day target” when it comes to voting onextending the military campaign under the Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001, first used against Afghanistan.

Trump post appearing to depict him as Jesus removed amid backlash

President Donald Trump’s posting of an imagethat appeared to depict him as Jesus drew rare criticism from the religious right, prompting allegations of blasphemy and calls for him to take down the post before it was deleted. Shortly after posting a screed against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night as he returned to Washington from Florida, Trump shared an image that appeared to be AI-generated in the style of a painting, depicting him in a longwhite robe with a red cloak draped around his shoulders. In one hand was an orb glowing with light; Trump’s other hand rested on the forehead of a man in what resembled a hospital bed — light beaming from the man’s head as Trump appeared to pray for his healing. Patriotic symbols including an eagle, fireworks and the Statue of Liberty filled the frame.

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Unlike the post criticizing Leo, whom Trump later said he didn’t like and is too “liberal,” the image evoking Jesus drew swift criticism from some evangelical Christians and conservative Catholics who have otherwise expressed near constant support for Trump’s decisions. “I don’t know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy,” wrote Megan Basham, a prominent conservative Protestant Christian writer and commentator. “But he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Trump’s intent in posting the image. Following the backlash and after appearing on the president’s Truth Social account for more than 12 hours, the image was deleted. Asked about the post Monday afternoon, Trump said he posted it.

Hegseth-affiliated pastor Doug Wilson says Trump ‘has to do better’ after AI Jesus debacle

Pastor Doug Wilson, the Reformed theologian who has gained notoriety as a spiritual mentor to government officials, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth, believes President Donald Trump needs clearer spiritual guidance after committing “blasphemy” with artificial intelligence. Trump posted an image to social media Sunday evening that depicted himself in scarlet robes and illuminating light that evoked the appearance of Jesus Christ. He removed the image on Monday morning after the illustration, which portrayed him healing a sick man while being prayed to by adorers and watched from above by celestial beings, was criticized as blasphemous by Christian supporters.

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At a later press availability, Trump told reporters that he “thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with [the] Red Cross” and blamed the press for stoking the outrage. Wilson, however, said the explanation does not quite cut it. “I am glad he deleted it, and glad that he rejected the idea of portraying himself as Christ,” he told the Washington Examiner on Monday night. “But this was not manufactured by the press — it hit pretty much everybody the same way, Left, Right, and in the middle. “It was a robe around his neck, not a stethoscope, and the cosmic figures in the sky were something else, and the woman with praying hands.” The pastor continued, “Even with his explanation accepted, it was accidental blasphemy, not high blasphemy. He has to do better either way.”

Mamdani's "tax the rich" agenda isn't spooking Wall Street after all

Earlier this month, real estate giant RXR and its partner TF Cornerstone filed for a permit to tear down the Grand Hyatt Hotel famously built by Donald Trump and replace it with a 95-story office building that will cost $6.5 billion to construct. The project won City Council approval back in 2021, but is finally advancing now amid signs that — despite differences with Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his tax-the-rich agenda — Wall Street and the financial sector are eager to pay record rents for new office space. “The demand is there,” RXR CEO Scott Rechler told THE CITY. “I had a meeting Thursday with brokers who work with financial service companies and they told me their clients are growing so fast that when their leases are nearing an end they always need more space than they currently occupy.”

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During the pandemic, the headlines spotlighted a series of Wall Street firms that relocated elsewhere, especially to Miami. Efforts to defeat Mamdani’s push for higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations have led to stories predicting companies would flee New York. But the numbers tell a different story. Wall Street employment in the city is at a record. Available office space on Park Avenue, a key location for those firms, is almost nonexistent in the most attractive buildings. And developers are planning three new towers on Park, confident there will be financial firms to fill them. “There is really only one driver of the decisions financial companies make and that is where the people they want to work for them are and where those people want to live and work,” said Mary Ann Tighe, CEO of the real estate firm CBRE’s Tri-State region and a broker who has worked on scores of the most important office deals in recent decades. “And New York is still a magnet for those young people.” It is true that Wall Street firms are expanding elsewhere in the United States and the city’s share of securities industry employment is also at a record low. But that is not an exodus.

Judge dismisses Trump’s Wall Street Journal defamation suit over Epstein story

A federal judge tossed President Trump’s defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal on Monday over a story it published detailing a letter Trump allegedly sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. Trump denies writing the letter and claims it was faked. But U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled the president failed to allege “actual malice,” the high bar public figures must clear to pursue defamation claims. “The Complaint comes nowhere close to this standard. Quite the opposite,” Gayles wrote. Gayles, who serves on the federal bench in Miami, was appointed by former President Obama. Trump can now attempt to amend his lawsuit and try again.

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Trump launched the suit in July after the Journal published a 2003 letter he allegedly sent to Epstein for his 50th birthday. It purportedly includes several lines of text “framed by the outline of a naked woman” and ends, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump says he told the Journal the letter was a fake before it ran the article and that it should have known the story was false. The Journal has stood by its reporting. The judge’s ruling doesn’t address whether the president actually wrote it. “Because the Court finds that the Complaint fails to adequately allege actual malice, it declines to address these issues at this juncture,” Gayles wrote. “Moreover, whether President Trump was the author of the Letter or Epstein’s friend are questions of fact that cannot be determined at this stage of the litigation.”

Missouri town fires half its city council over data center deal

Voters in a small Missouri town, unhappy with the city council’s approval of a $6 billion data center, struck back at the polls last week, ousting all four incumbent council members running for reelection. Tuesday’s election in Festus, Missouri — a city of 12,000 people along the Mississippi River a half-hour south of St. Louis — is the latest example of growing public backlash against cities agreeing to host hyperscale data centers over the objections of residents concerned about their local impacts. On the same day as the Festus election, voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, a Milwaukee suburb, where tech giants Oracle and OpenAI are building a $15 billion data center campus, also registered their disapproval by overwhelmingly passing a first-of-a-kind referendum to restrict future projects. At least three other cities across the country will vote on similar measures this year.

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The rout of half the Festus City Council was fueled by a surge in voter turnout and widespread frustration with the data center approval process. “It’s really the way the deal was handled that led to this kind of uprising,” said Rick Belleville, who won the nonpartisan race for Ward 4 councilman by more than 40 percentage points over incumbent Jim Tinnin, who’d voted to approve the data center. The other three losing incumbents were: Jim Collier, Brian Wehner and Bobby Venz. Belleville, 70, has never run for public office before and walked neighborhoods and knocked on doors during the campaign. What he learned was that residents were frustrated by the city’s unwillingness to hear their constituents and a general lack of transparency around the project, he said. “I ran because I thought the city was not listening to people,” he said.

Threats to library funding end with settlement by Trump Administration

The Trump administration has reached a settlement with the American Library Association and a union of cultural workers, bringing to an end its yearlong effort to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency. The settlement, reached by the Justice Department last week, affirms that the agency will continue issuing grants and operating its programs, which provide support to institutions in every state and territory. The Trump administration reaffirmed that it had reinstated all previously canceled grants, in keeping with a separate legal ruling last year, and reversed all staff reductions. It also promised not to take any further steps to reduce the agency. Sam Helmick, the president of the American Library Association, said the threats had set off “a chain reaction” of cuts in services and called the settlement a victory for “every American’s freedom to read and learn.”

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“This settlement protects life-changing library services for communities across the country,” Helmick said. The Institute of Museum and Library Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The settlement agreement says that the Trump administration officials who were sued “reject the allegations” made in the complaint and “maintain that all of I.M.L.S.’s restructuring actions” were lawful. The fate of the agency, which has a budget of roughly $290 million, had been uncertain since March 2025, when President Trump issued an executive order calling for its elimination. The administration installed Keith E. Sonderling, the deputy secretary of labor, as acting director. The agency then began moving to lay off its roughly 70 employees and cancel previously approved grants. The American Library Association, a nonprofit that promotes libraries, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit arguing that the cuts violated the Constitution and federal law by usurping Congress’s authority over how federal funds are spent.

Copyright April 14, 2026, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved