Time for the week that was in Texas politics with Emily Ramshaw, editor-in-chief at the Texas Tribune.
The number of apprehensions of border-crossers decreased dramatically slowed in June. The summer months are the hottest and most dangerous time to attempt to cross the border,
“The Trump administration would like you to believe that this is absolutely the result of the ‘zero tolerance’ policy,” Ramshaw says “and it may be, at least in part. But as wev’e reported… apprehensions are always down in the summer.”
A court has given the U.S. Department of Justice until next Tuesday to reunite children under five years of age with their families. It seems likely the government will need an extension, Ramshaw says..
“They are scrambling to do it. They are worried about meeting the deadline. They want to make sure they’re bringing together the right families to the right kids, avoiding human trafficking. It sounds like there are still a couple hundred kids that are of that age that need to be reunited,” Ramshaw says.
Following Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s letter this week to 11 Texas cities regarding the unconstitutionality of plastic bag bans, several cities have decided to roll back their bans – Austin among them. Now the question is, how will consumers and retailers respond.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week to allow most Texas district election maps to stand. The state will move forward with the upcoming 2018 elections with few changes to existing maps. A Tarrant County-based state House district was the only one to be found to have been drawn in a way that intentionally discriminated against members of minority communities. That district will be redrawn after the 2018 election cycle.
Listen to the full interview in the audio player above.
Written by Sarah Yoakley.