Daily Dispatch 8/23/23: But His E-Mails! and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Texas journalists seeking access to an encrypted e-mail account owned by Attorney General Ken Paxton are denied by his office, claiming "attorney-client privilege": https://twitter.com/lmcgaughy/status/1694031900988317710?t=w1jWJMjxUIoAEmVUHthoQA&s=03

A federal judge in Austin rejects Governor Abbott's claims of an "invasion" at the border with Mexico: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/08/22/federal-judge-rejects-texas-migrant-invasion-defense-in-doj-lawsuit-over-border-buoys/

...While the Texas Supreme Court rules that a state law abolishing Harris County's elections administrator will be allowed to take effect on Sept. 1: https://abc13.com/senate-bill-1750-harris-county-politics-houston-elections-area-politicians/13685768/

Prager U CEO and wackjob Texas State Board of Education member announce that Texas has approved the use of right-wing propaganda in Texas public school classrooms: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/prageru-among-educational-lesson-plans-allowed-in-texas-schools-under-new-law/

...While TEA and SBOE scratch heads in confusion, claiming no such approval has been granted: https://abc13.com/prageru-kids-slavery-video-educational-videos-for-controversial-material-texas-education/13687315/⁠ A Lewisville ISD backtracks on policy after harshly punishing an 8th grader for talking to friends about fears of a shooting threat: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2023/08/10/student-discipline-oversight-bolstered-in-lewisville-isd-after-teens-punishment/

...While Houston ISD's new state-appointed superintendent backtracks on cutting recess for elementary school kids: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/hisd-s-mike-miles-increases-recess-nes-schools-18310918.php

The Texas power grid gets a mixed report card from a state watchdog: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/ercot/2023/08/18/459988/texas-power-grid-has-held-up-well-for-summer-but-still-inefficient-energy-experts-say/

And, an important read on Texas' new "Death Star" law, set to take effect next Friday, and what it means for our city governments: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/08/greg-abbott-texas-attacks-austin-with-death-star.html

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