Free Republic

HOUSTON, Texas -- As Ebola grips Texas, Governor Rick Perry is nowhere to be found. This week the governor is on a previously-scheduled trip to Europe. His absence during this trying time not only questions how seriously he takes the threat of the deadly virus, but also marks a missed opportunity for him to appear presidential prior to the 2016 elections. Perry will be visiting England, Germany, Poland and Ukraine to spreading his message of economic prosperity and business development. He will also be exploring "opportunities to expand the export of liquefied natural gas from Texas to Poland and...

In a brief filed with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, Texas attorney general and GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott argued that lifting the state’s ban on same-sex marriage would not encourage opposite-sex couples to procreate within wedlock, and therefore the ban should stay in place. Abbott reiterated the “responsible procreation” argument he has already made in defense of a same-sex marriage ban, saying that the motivation for denying marriage rights is economic, according to the Houston Chronicle. “The State is not required to show that recognizing same-sex marriage will undermine heterosexual marriage,” the brief reads. “It is...

The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Wisconsin from enforcing its strict voter identification law in this year's election.. By a 6-3 vote, the justices granted an emergency appeal from civil rights lawyers who argued it was too late to put the rule into effect. Lawyers for the ACLU had noted the state had already sent out thousands of absentee ballots without mentioning the need for voters to return a copy of the photo identification. It would be "chaos," they said, for the state now to have to decide whether or not to count such ballots because the voters failed to...

WFAA is reporting, via their breaking news app, that the Dallas Ebola patient has died.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has seen six cases of the Ebola virus in recent weeks affecting five Americans and a Liberian. Two of the cases surfaced this week, raising concerns about wider spread of the disease, which has killed at least 3,439 people in the current outbreak in West Africa.All of the Americans contracted the disease while in West Africa and were diagnosed there before returning home for treatment. The Liberian fell ill and tested positive during a visit to Dallas.Below are details on the six U.S. cases so far

*****BREAKING NEWS***** THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS MAYBE AFFECTED BY ‪#‎EBOLA‬ Hotchkiss ES Dan D. Rogers ES Tasby MS Conrad HS Jack Lowe ES For the latest information follow us on Twitter @DanCofall

An independent audit of the Texas Enterprise Fund has found that roughly $222 million doled out from the fund went to companies that submitted no applications or made no promises to create jobs. The fund has been highly touted over the years by Gov. Rick Perry, who has said it was an invaluable tool to bring jobs to Texas and to stem the flow of jobs that might otherwise have left the state.The audit, conducted by the Texas State Auditor's Office, was the first time the Texas Enterprise Fund's activities were reviewed by an outside agency. Among its findings, the...

Map from usacarry.com It was only a couple of decades ago that crossing state lines left most law abiding people effectively disarmed.   That started changing as the "shall issue" concealed carry firearms reform swept through the country.  I particularly remember how criminals were targeting people with rental cars in Florida, because they could be fairly certain that the people were from out of state, and thus effectively disarmed. Florida responded by changing there law to allow for interstate reciprocity, and to allow non-residents to obtain Florida concealed carry permits.   Florida permits are now one of the most popular...

Exposing a deep GOP rift on a rancorous immigration issue, Gov. Rick Perry and George P. Bush, the Republican candidate for land commissioner, this weekend defended providing in-state tuition for unauthorized immigrants. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said he opposes the measure on principle, and state Sen. Dan Patrick, the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor, has vowed to repeal it. In separate appearances at the Texas Tribune Festival at the University of Texas, Perry and Bush expressed views on in-state tuition that were in sync with state Sen. Wendy Davis’ pledge to veto “in a heartbeat” any repeal legislation that would...

The man attempting the robbery appears to have a pistol gripped shotgun of unknown make.    In the video, it is clear that he hides the shotgun until he starts to attempt the robbery.   In the narrative, it is unclear exactly what happens next, whether the father pulls out a gun and tells the robber to leave after the daughter is threatened, or whether the father hands the gun to the 20 year old son,  or whether the son takes the gun from the father, and then shoots the robber.  It seems most likely that the father handed the handgun...

A U.S. Border Patrol agent fired several rounds toward an armed militia member in Texas, reigniting concerns among law enforcement officials about conflicts with untrained and unregulated volunteers who have arrived at the Mexican border in the wake of the recent immigration crisis. Omar Zamora, a spokesman for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday that the agent was chasing several suspects through an area of thick brush near the Rio Grande on Friday afternoon when he came upon a militia member holding a shotgun or rifle. lRelated Militias patrolling Texas border draw...

It was bone-chillingly cold in the village of Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836. There, a group of Texans had gathered to formally announce their break from the despotic Mexican state recently established by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. With the Alamo under siege almost 200 miles to the southwest, the settlers methodically listed their complaints in the Texas Declaration of Independence. One of them lashed out at the Mexican government for neglecting “to establish any public system of education… although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to...

McALLEN - Law enforcement officials and city leaders from across the Rio Grande Valley are preparing for what they say could result in tense moments or violence. Officials say they received word that members of a militia are threatening to block ports of entry. In Starr County, international bridge authorities met with Customs and Border Protection officials Thursday. Their goal was to discuss the potential problem and find a plan of action. Starr County has international bridges in Rio Grande City, Roma and Falcon Dam. Officials received word that members of a militia plan to protest illegal crossings by blocking...

Assyrian Christians are standing with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) after he was booed for his support of Israel by some Middle East Christians gathered in Washington, D.C. Wednesday at an event hosted by an organization called "In Defense Of Christians."

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples is raising objections to a school district pilot program that encourages kids to eat meatless lunches once a week. The pilot program at the Drippings Springs School District offers meat-free lunch options every Monday to students in its three elementary schools. Students can still eat meaty meals on Mondays, but must bring their lunches from home. Among the food items offered to students this Monday were a black-bean burrito, vegetarian chili with cornbread, baby carrots and sliced peaches. On past Mondays, students could choose cheese sandwiches, cheese ravioli, spinach salad and vegetarian soups. John Crowley,...

The FBI is accusing Texas Democrats of using cocaine to buy votes and it’s all coming out in court. Political chicanery and vote-buying in Texas are as old as the state itself, and the latest episode to come to light features purchasing votes with cocaine, marijuana, money, cigarettes and beer, an on-going FBI investigationhas uncovered. Two political operatives of a Hidalgo County Commissioner’s campaign manager were charged on Thursday with vote-buying before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Ormsby, The Monitor reported. The arrests are the latest twist in an 18-month investigation focusing on the 2012 primary election for County Commissioner.

Here's a transcript — edited for length and clarity — of The Texas Tribune's in-depth interview with land commissioner candidate George P. Bush, in which he lays out his positions on environmental policy. Texas Tribune: Commissioner [Jerry] Patterson has talked about, as part of his legacy, promoting the development of renewable energy on some of [the] land [managed by the General Land Office, or GLO] … that’s a way of diversification, and you never know what’s going to happen to the price of natural gas or with the shale boom. Is that something that you’re interested in and plan to...

The Border Patrol has had strict policies about the firing of weapons for decades.    In the most famous recent case, Border patrol agent Brian Terry was killed in a firefight in which the Patrolman used less lethal "bean bag" rounds.    Border Patrol agents I have talked to have always said that the mere presence of a weapon is not enough to justify shooting at someone.   This makes sense, because most people in the United States can legally possess weapons, and because the law is clear on what is required to justify the use of deadly force.   The mere...

During the last media push for laws to disarm the population, NRA executive VP Wayne LaPierre said that a good guy with a gun is what is needed to stop a bad guy with a gun.   A recent shooting outside the Harry Stone Montessori school in Dallas is a perfect illustration of his point.  In this case, an armed citizen was present.   He happened to be an off duty police officer.   The "Gun Free School Zone" law would have worked perfectly to assure the attacker of an unarmed victim if the legally armed citizen had not been...

We’re going to have to be the skunk at the party, the rain on the parade – again. Our mission necessitates – absolutely requires – that we raise issues certain politicians and some of their supporters don’t want raised. This will no doubt make some people angry, but we invite then to review the facts, which are a matter of public record. This is a time for clear-headed thinking – not lemming-like “over the cliff” emotion and reaction. While many have rushed to defend Governor Rick Perry on the surface matter of the indictment alone, we are compelled to talk...