The Standard’s news roundup gives you a quick hit of interesting, sometimes irreverent, and breaking news stories from all over the state.
A Texas Democrat says his resolution to end President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration to build a border wall has over 220 co-sponsors.
We have 222 cosponsors to terminate President Trump’s national emergency declaration to build his border wall. #FakeTrumpEmergency pic.twitter.com/guCB4PQlK2
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) February 22, 2019
One week ago Friday Trump invoked emergency powers to fund the construction of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Congressman Joaquin Castro discussed the resolution on a press conference call Friday morning. He said military bases in Texas could lose out on funding if President Trump draws from defense spending for the wall.
“My city, San Antonio, is known as Military City USA. … Funding could potentially be cut for projects for Joint Base San Antonio, as well as other Texas installations at Fort Bliss and the Red River Army Depot,” Castro said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was also on the call and talked about next steps in Congress.
“Mr. Castro’s resolution will go to the [House] Rules Committee on Monday evening. On Tuesday, we will bring the rule for bringing up this resolution to the floor. It would be our plan on the same day to vote on the resolution,” Pelosi said.
Castro filed the resolution Friday morning.
A North Texas Muslim group has launched a six-week campaign to educate people about the hijab, or headscarf, that some Muslim women wear. The outreach effort includes a billboard at Interstate 35 and Northwest Highway in Dallas. It features a woman wearing a hijab, along with a 1-800 number and the words “respect,” “honor” and “strength.” The goal is to get people to call and ask questions about the hijab.
Ruman Sadiq tells KERA News the current political climate has led to misperceptions of Muslim women.
“It’s very difficult at times for Muslim women to go out in public and wear a veil. We face a lot of discrimination in educational institutions, in the supermarkets, in public arenas,” Sadiq says.
The Dallas Chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America has partnered with a group called GainPeace to place the billboard in Dallas. Other billboards have gone up across the country, including in Houston and Chicago.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has picked up a key endorsement ahead of his 2020 re-election bid. President Donald Trump is backing the Texas Republican.
Trump praised the senior Senator from Texas on Twitter Thursday, writing, “John has my complete and total endorsement.”
Senator John Cornyn has done an outstanding job for the people of Texas. He is strong on Crime, the Border, the Second Amendment and loves our Military and Vets. John has my complete and total endorsement. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019
Cornyn does not yet have a clear challenger. But the upcoming contest is expected to be competitive after fellow Texas Sen. Ted Cruz narrowly won re-election over Democrat Beto O’Rourke for Texas’ other Senate seat in 2018.
El Paso singer Khalid reached a rare musical milestone this week. He became the third artist ever to rule the top two positions on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart.
His song “Better” is in the top spot. It’s been on the chart for 22 weeks, and spent six of those at No. 1.
Khalid’s song “Talk” ranked second on the chart. According to Billboard, only Drake and The Weeknd have ever ruled the first and second spots on the Hot R&B Songs chart simultaneously.
