Conservatives take aim at tenure for university professors
January 8, 2023 GMTMISSION, Kan. (AP) — When Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked Texas colleges to disavow critical race theory, the University of Texas faculty approved a resolution defending their freedom to decide for themselves how to teach about race.
Texas lieutenant guv tests positive a second time for COVID
July 24, 2022 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time in the last seven months, his campaign said Sunday.
Patrick, 72, tested positive on Saturday and was experiencing mild symptoms, according to a campaign statement.
Texas lieutenant governor tested positive for COVID-19
January 3, 2022 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tested positive for COVID-19 over the holidays and is quarantining after experiencing mild symptoms, his campaign said Monday.
Democrat Matthew Dowd drops out of lieutenant governor race
December 8, 2021 GMTWIMBERLEY, Texas (AP) — A former political advisor to Republican President George W. Bush withdrew Tuesday from the race for next year’s Democratic nomination for Texas lieutenant governor.
In a statement Tuesday, Matthew Dowd said he was ending his candidacy because he saw a growing diversity in candidates for the office, and he didn’t want to stand in the way of new diverse leadership.
Mike Tomlin: idea he’s a candidate for college jobs ‘a joke’
October 26, 2021 GMTPITTSBURGH (AP) — Note to big-time college football programs looking for new coaches: Mike Tomlin isn't interested.
The Pittsburgh Steelers coach said Tuesday he considers it a “joke” that his name has popped up as a potential candidate for places such as Southern California.
Texas GOP leader pays illegal voting ‘bounty’ to Democrat
October 21, 2021 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The conservative Texas Republican leader who pledged bounties to those who prove fraud at the polls has paid a liberal Democratic poll watcher who reported illegal voting by a Pennsylvania Republican.
Collier makes 2nd try for Texas lieutenant governor official
October 4, 2021 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democrat Mike Collier on Monday formally launched a second try for Texas lieutenant governor in a race that also now includes former Bush campaign strategist Matthew Dowd.
Ex-Bush strategist Matthew Dowd running as Democrat in Texas
September 29, 2021 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Matthew Dowd, a former political advisor to Republican President George W. Bush, announced Wednesday that he will run as a Democrat for Texas lieutenant governor.
The onetime chief strategist to Bush's 2004 reelection campaign enters the race as a heavy underdog challenger to Republican Lt.
Planned ban over abortion law could cost Texas $7M a year
September 8, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The city of Portland, Oregon’s plan to boycott Texas goods and services over its new abortion law could cost Texas companies millions of dollars a year, officials said Tuesday.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s COVID claim denounced as racist
August 21, 2021 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas' lieutenant governor blamed rising hospitalization and death rates from COVID-19 on unvaccinated Black people — comments that were quickly denounced as racist.
Texas GOP backs off changes to Sunday voting before next try
July 7, 2021 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Republicans are backing off two contentious voting measures ahead of a second attempt to pass new election laws, after Democrats temporarily thwarted a restrictive bill in May by staging a dramatic walkout from the state Capitol.
Hank Azaria reprises Jim Brockmire character in new podcast
April 7, 2021 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — A part of Hank Azaria wasn't really ready to let go of foul-mouthed baseball announcer Jim Brockmire, a character he affectionately calls a “debauched freak...
Texas’ Patrick offers reward as Trump makes unfounded claims
November 11, 2020 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick on Tuesday offered up to $1 million in defense of President Donald Trump's unsupported claims of irregularities in the U...
Texas’ lieutenant governor criticizes Fauci as cases surge
July 1, 2020 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — As confirmed coronavirus case levels in Texas continue surging to record highs, Republican Lt...
Trump allies put unproven virus drug to work in Texas
April 7, 2020 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — When a coronavirus outbreak hit a Texas nursing home, Dr. Robin Armstrong reached for an unproven treatment: the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine...
Texas’ lieutenant governor says US should get ‘back to work’
March 24, 2020 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas' lieutenant governor said Monday night that the U.S. should get back to work in the face of the global pandemic and that people over the age of 70, who the Centers for Disease Control says are at higher risk for the coronavirus, will “take care of ourselves...
Police: Parishioners kill man who fatally shoots 2 at church
December 30, 2019 GMTWHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas (AP) — A man pulled out a shotgun at a Texas church service and fired on worshippers Sunday, killing two people before he was shot to death by congregants who fired back, police said...
Texas sending another 1,000 National Guard troops to border
June 21, 2019 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Friday that he will send another 1,000 National Guard troops to the U...
Dan Patrick is wrong about marijuana decriminalization
May 13, 2019 GMTThe Texas House made news headlines recently after passing HB 63, the first modification attempt of the state’s marijuana laws in more than 40 years.
The legislation is a step in the right direction by decriminalizing marijuana possession through reclassifying possession of an ounce or less as a Class C misdemeanor versus the current Class B misdemeanor, which carries harsher sentences.
Texas GOP Senate leader looks to block bipartisan pot bill
April 30, 2019 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A historic push in Texas to reduce penalties for small amounts of marijuana was declared dead Tuesday by the state's Republican lieutenant governor, who called it a "step toward legalization" that he would not allow...
Every success story starts in the classroom
March 24, 2019 GMTKudos to Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen for making teachers a top priority this legislative session.
Teachers work hard every day to make a difference. They positively impact the future, and they deserve our support.
An unexpected voice of reason in Rivera
August 25, 2018 GMTLt. Gov. Dan Patrick and telejournalist Geraldo Rivera have long been cut from the same cloth, both straddling the line between politics and entertainment while actually only selling sensationalism.
Lt. Gov. candidate stops in McAllen
August 12, 2018 GMTMcALLEN — The small but spirited side room of supporters this week at Costa Messa welcomed a candidate running for lieutenant governor of Texas.
Polls have Mike Collier, the Democrat running to unseat cash-strapped and widely known Lt.
School shootings prompt mental illness discussions
May 23, 2018 GMTColumbine, Sandy Hook, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas and now, Santa, Fe, Texas: mass shootings of juveniles at schools that left 70 students and teachers dead. Those are the names that stick out because they claimed large numbers of victims.
Chief made right call on immigrants
January 13, 2018 GMTThere exists a state smuggling law. It’s difficult to imagine the state Legislature would enact the law without an expectation the state’s police officers would enforce it. Or was it just for show?
Is this World Series as good as Twins-Braves in 1991?
October 31, 2017 GMTHere’s a question that’s likely to elicit a highly emotional response from a lot of folks around here: Is this crazy World Series between the Astros and Dodgers already better than the 1991 World Series between the Braves and Twins?
Senator appointed to co-chair emergency call committee
October 9, 2017 GMTAUSTIN — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appointed on Friday State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, to co-chair a committee researching public accessibility to emergency calls in which the caller died.
The Joint Interim Committee on Disclosure of Emergency Call Information will spend about 16 months studying the release of such recordings, a press release from the senator’s office read.
EDITORIAL: Abbott blunders with special session agenda
June 7, 2017 GMTShort of proposing to bulldoze the Alamo, Gov. Greg Abbott has come up with the worst idea in Texas in a long time - a pointless return to that time-waster known as a bathroom bill for the agenda of a special session.
Texas Senate gushes over The Admiral, David Robinson
March 28, 2017 GMTAUSTIN — Former Spurs center David Robinson caused a stir when he stopped by the Texas Senate Thursday, as lawmakers hurried to shake his hand, pose for photos and generally gush.
“I’d like to give an official welcome to one of the greatest players in the NBA,” said Lt.
‘Proper’ local control in the eye of the beholder
March 25, 2017 GMT“Local control” is as popular as cold beer in modern Texas politics.
For a time, conservatives monopolized the phrase. They used it when fighting against federal rules and mandates orchestrated by President Barack Obama.
Sen. Lucio Jr. comes out in support of ‘bathroom bill’
March 7, 2017 GMTState Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. on Monday came out in support of the “bathroom bill,” giving Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick a Democratic supporter in his push for the high-profile legislation.
At a news conference with Patrick and other supporters of Senate Bill 6, Lucio, who has previously bucked his party on social issues, announced he will vote for the legislation.
Backers of bathroom bill, including San Antonio pastor, vow to enlist support of 1 million Christians
March 6, 2017 GMTAUSTIN - Backers of the so-called bathroom bill said Monday they’ll mobilize 1 million Christians in their effort to push the measure through the Legislature.
They also announced the support of a Democratic state senator for the effort, which has been largely supported by Republicans, although not all GOP leaders are in favor of it.
Forest applauds Texas bathroom access bill
March 6, 2017 GMTNorth Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest lent his support Monday to Texas officials backing legislation to restrict access to public bathrooms in that state.
Forest appeared at a news conference in Austin with his counterpart, Texas Lt.
Texas court hears case that could dent gay marriage right
March 1, 2017 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a Houston case that top Republicans hope will provide an opening to chip away at the landmark 2015 ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide...
Don’t mess with Texas’ bathrooms
February 12, 2017 GMTWith a little more than 100 days left in the 85th legislative session, the ever-familiar divisiveness that rears its head in partisan politics has found a rather comfortable home with Senate Bill 6.