Tag: texas

Texas State U. professor told my class ‘we’re not born with a sex,’ it’s assigned

When I signed up for Professor Michael Whitehawk’s sociology class at Texas State University, I hoped it would challenge me to look at society in new ways, and think critically.

But after hearing his lectures and seeing his slides, it was obvious that we were there to accept his one sided political view, not explore ideas or facts.

That’s especially concerning at a public university. For the 2024-25 school year alone, lawmakers approved $275 million in public funding for the Texas State University System.

And for next year, the legislature approved a $70 million increase — making it all the more fair to ask whether that money is going toward real education, or just reinforcing political agendas in the classroom.

In class, Whitehawk told us flat-out that biological sex itself is a social construct.

“First, we assign the sex category?” he told us. “The sex, male or female, is also assigned at birth. I think that’s a little bit of a hump for some of us to get over, to see that we’re not born with a sex. Sex is also socially constructed.”

One girl raised her hand and asked him, “So you’re saying biological sex and gender are separate?”

Whitehawk replied: “Yeah, and the simple explanation is that sex is biological and gender is social. And I’m sort of suggesting they’re both social. Even the concept of sex is social and a human convention. Because we understand that that binary isn’t even how biology works, it’s more of a continuum.”

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Family Of Karmelo Anthony Asks For Millions In Donations After Murder Indictment

Things are not going well for Karmelo Anthony compared to a couple months ago.  Despite confessing to the stabbing that led to the death of athlete Austin Metcalf at a track event on April 2, 2025 in Frisco, Texas, Anthony was given greatly reduced bail and allowed to remain under house arrest by a progressive activist judge.

Anthony’s family posted a public fundraiser on GiveSendGo which ultimately raised over $500,000 for legal expenses.  Many of the donations included racially charged messages calling for Karmelo to be “protected” regardless of his crime simply because he is black and his victim was white.  The stabbing has been represented as an act of self defense, but also as “payback” against white people.   

The call for donations was then amended to include money needed for “relocation” (a new home) after the family claimed they received threats.  Karmelo was allowed by Texas courts to leave the state for an “undisclosed location” until his trial, a highly unusual accommodation.  Furthermore, the Anthony’s have engaged in a press bonanza which has turned the case into a circus.

The family continues to assert that the stabbing of Austin Metcalf was an act of self defense, but video evidence might suggest otherwise.

Reporters have been allowed to view footage taken of the incident (footage that will not be released to the public) and there are no reports of Metcalf attacking Anthony.  Though accounts of the video are vague, there appears to be no evidence so far that Anthony was acting in self defense.  Not long after reporters were allowed to see the video, a Grand Jury issued an indictment for Karmelo Anthony. The charge is murder.

The Anthony’s are now asking donors for even more money, to the tune of $1.4 million.

The outcome should not be surprising given the known facts of the incident.  Anthony admits to stabbing Metcalf.  He admits to bring deadly weapon to a school track meet.  He admits to invading the tent of another team and witnesses say that he refused to leave when asked.  There is no report of Austin Metcalf having a weapon when he was stabbed by Anthony and deadly force cannot be legally used against another person unless a defender has a reasonable fear of mortal harm.

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TX Gov Signs Law Allowing Texans to Use Gold, Silver as Legal Tender

Texas residents can soon use gold and silver bullion as legal tender in everyday transactions following a bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

“I signed a law authorizing Texans to use gold & silver as legal tender in day-to-day financial transactions,” the Texas governor declared on X Sunday after signing House Bill 1056.

“It fulfills the promise of Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution,” he added.

Article I, Section 10 Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution states:

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

The law, which takes partial effect May 1, 2026, and goes into full effect Sept. 1, 2026, authorizes the State Comptroller’s office to establish electronic payment systems “backed by bullion” stored at the Texas Bullion Depository, though it does not require vendors accept the precious metals as payment.

Gold and silver used in transactions must also meet certain requirements, and cannot be minted by governments, but bullion from private minters like Apmex is fine.

Bill author Rep. Mark Dorazio (R-San Antonio) at one point in 2024 said the measure “makes gold and silver functional money in Texas,” adding, “It has to be functional, it has to be practical and it has to be usable.”

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Karmelo Anthony Pleads Poverty and Asks for Public Defender Despite $600K Fundraiser, as Family Boosts Goal to $1.4M 

Karmelo Anthony, the 18-year-old Texas teen indicted for the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco high school track meet in April, has requested a court-appointed public defender, citing financial hardship, despite his family’s GiveSendGo fundraiser raising nearly $600,000.

The family also recently raised the campaign’s goal to $1.4 million, sparking questions about the use of funds. Since the killing, the Anthonys have purchased a new Cadillac and moved into a $900,000 home.

Anthony fatally stabbed 17-year-old Metcalf in the heart at a track meet in Frisco, Texas. He died in the arms of his twin brother.

The killer, who claims self-defense, was released on house arrest with an ankle monitor after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000.

The “Help Karmelo Official Fund” on GiveSendGo, launched by Anthony’s family, had raised $595,000 as of June 26, 2025, initially targeting $350,000 before increasing to $600,000 and now $1.4 million.

The family claims the funds support legal defense, safe relocation due to threats, basic living costs, transportation, trauma counseling, and security measures.

Court records show Anthony’s previous private attorney, Mike Howard, is no longer listed, and on June 25, Anthony’s father, Andrew Anthony, announced the public defender request, claiming indigence.

Howard’s retainer was estimated to be between $10,000 and $30,000, with hourly rates ranging from $400 to $500.

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REPORT: Travis County Prosecutors Allegedly Drop CAPITAL MURDER Charges Against Two of the Four Suspects in Brutal Killing of InfoWars Reporter Jamie White

Travis County prosecutors have allegedly dropped CAPITAL MURDER charges against two of the four suspects involved in the brutal, racially-motivated killing of InfoWars reporter Jamie White—a 36-year-old father and journalist murdered outside his Austin apartment earlier this year.

Jamie White, 36, was found fatally shot in the parking lot of his apartment complex in March.

According to police, the murder occurred during an attempted vehicle burglary by a group of four teenage suspects. White later died from his injuries at the hospital.

One of the suspects, Eloy Adrian Camarillo, 17, confessed to police that he and three of his friends were attempting to break into cars when they encountered White.

During the altercation, White was shot and killed.

Camarillo was originally charged with capital murder, and police made it clear that this was no random crime.

One of the suspects even bragged about the killing in a rap verse, calling the victim a “white boy,” strongly suggesting a racial motive behind the attack.

“White boy came outside / Hit his damn a– with a 9,” the disturbing lyrics from the phone of suspect Rodney Charles Hill reportedly stated.

Hill, 17, was the final suspect arrested, while two others—both under the age of 17—have not been publicly identified due to Texas law.

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Supreme Court Greenlights Online Digital ID Checks

With a landmark ruling that could shape online content regulation for years to come, the US Supreme Court has upheld Texas’s digital ID age-verification law for adult websites and platforms, asserting that the measure lawfully balances the state’s interest in protecting minors with the free speech rights of adults.

The 6-3 decision, issued on June 27, 2025, affirms the constitutionality of House Bill 1181, a statute that requires adult websites to verify the age of users before granting access to sexually explicit material.

Laws like House Bill 1181, framed as necessary safeguards for children, are quietly eroding the rights of adults to access lawful content or speak freely online without fear of surveillance or exposure.

Under such laws, anyone seeking to view legal adult material online (and eventually even those who want to access social media platforms because may contain content “harmful” to minors) is forced to provide official identification, often a government-issued digital ID or even biometric data, to prove their age.

Supporters claim this is a small price to pay to shield minors from harmful content. Yet these measures create permanent records linking individuals to their browsing choices, exposing them to unprecedented risks.

We obtained a copy of the opinion for you here.

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Karmelo Anthony’s spokesperson calls for unity ‘in the fight against White supremacy’ after first-degree murder indictment

A spokesperson for Karmelo Anthony, the now 18-year-old who admitted to fatally stabbing student Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet, has asked people to stand with them “in the fight against White supremacy.”

Dominique Alexander, the founder and president of the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), took to X to announce that “the legal process will move forward toward trial.”

“This case involves multiple minors and sensitive details that I cannot and will not speak about publicly,” he said. “That is why, from the beginning, I have refused to let this be tried in the court of public opinion.”

He then continued by speaking directly to those who he says have “targeted” Anthony. 

“To the racists, the bigots, and those filled with hate who’ve targeted Karmelo, his family, and even myself – you do not intimidate us. We are not backing down.”

“This case is yet another example of what it means to be Black in America, where even our self-defense is questioned, scrutinized and politicized. My involvement – like many others — came as a direct response to the overwhelming hate, threats and outside influence that have surrounded this case since day one.”

Alexander concluded by asking Anthony’s supporters for prayers, to support due process, and to “stand with us in the fight against White supremacy.”

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Gov. Abbott Signs Bill Removing Short-Barrel Rifles from Texas Prohibited Weapons List

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed legislation Saturday to remove short-barrel rifles and shotguns from Texas prohibited weapons list.

On May 29, 2025, Breitbart News reported that the legislation, Senate Bill 1596, had passed the Texas legislature and was headed to Gov. Abbott’s desk.

Now that the bill has been signed, KVUE noted  it will take effect September 1, 2025.

It should be noted that SB 1596 removes short-barrel firearms from the prohibited firearms list in Texas, but does not remove them from National Firearms Act (NFA) oversight.

“1o1.9 The Bull” reported:

Senate Bill 1596 will remove short-barrel firearms from the list of illegal weapons in Texas law.  Texans would be able to own these guns as long as the proper federal rules are followed:

1) A background check

2) To register the gun with the ATF

3)To pay a $200 tax.

Would-be purchasers of short-barrel firearms will also still have to be fingerprinted and photographed per NFA requirements.

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Texas Governor Tells Lawmakers To Regulate Hemp THC Products Like Alcohol After Vetoing Bill To Ban Most Consumable Cannabinoids

The governor of Texas says that, rather than outright ban consumable hemp products, lawmakers should establish a regulatory framework that treats cannabinoids “similar to the way alcohol is regulated.”

After vetoing a controversial bill on Sunday that would have effectively eliminated the state’s hemp market, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) proposed an extensive list of policy changes that he says he would support—and which the legislature will have the chance to enact during a special session the governor is convening next month.

“Texans on each side of the Senate Bill 3 debate raise serious concerns. But one thing is clear—to ensure the highest level of safety for minors, as well as for adults, who obtain a product more dangerous than what they expected, Texas must strongly regulate hemp, and it must do so immediately,” Abbott said.

Part of the rationale behind his veto was the risk of litigation over “valid constitutional challenges” that he suggested would hold up in court. And to that end, multiple top Texas hemp companies did file a preemptive lawsuit challenging the legislation, SB 3, before the governor’s veto.

“If I were to allow Senate Bill 3 to become law, its enforcement would be enjoined for years, leaving existing abuses unaddressed,” Abbott said in his veto message. “Texas cannot afford to wait.”

“At worst, Senate Bill 3 would be permanently invalidated by the courts; at best, its implementation would be delayed for years as the case winds its way through the legal system,” he said. “We can do better.”

Rather than face the possibility of having the law enjoined, or indefinitely delayed, the governor said the state “must enact a regulatory framework that protects public safety, aligns with federal law, has a fully funded enforcement structure, and can take effect without delay.”

“Legislators could consider a structure similar to the way alcohol is regulated, with strict enforcement by an agency like the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission,” he said, adding a list of recommended policies he wants to see lawmakers adopt that include age restrictions, zoning requirements and bans on public consumption.

Here’s the full list of the governor’s recommended hemp regulations:

  • Selling or providing a THC product to a minor must be punishable as a crime.
  • Sales must be prohibited near schools, churches, parks, playgrounds, and other areas frequented by children.
  • Packaging must be child-resistant, tamper-evident, and resealable;
  • Products must not be made, packaged, or marketed in a manner attractive to children.
  • Any store selling these products must have a permit and restrict access to anyone under the age of 21, with strict penalties for any retailer that fails to comply.
  • Products containing THC may not contain other psychoactive substances (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, kratom).
  • Testing must be required at every phase of production and manufacturing, including for both plants and derivative consumable products.
  • Manufacturing and processing facilities must be subject to permitting and food safety rules.
  • Permit and registration fees must suffice to support robust enforcement and testing by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, in partnership with other state agencies.
  • An operator’s permit and warning/danger signs must be posted at any store selling these products.
  • Sales must be limited to the hours between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., and prohibited on Sundays.
  • The amount of THC permissible in each product must be restricted and an individual may make only a limited number of purchases in a given period of time.
  • Labels must include a surgeon general-style warning, a clear disclosure of all ingredients, including the THC content, and a scannable barcode or QR code linking to test results.
  • Fraudulently creating or displaying manifests or lab results must be punishable as felony offenses.
  • Public consumption, consumption on the premises of any store that sells these products, and possession of an open container in a vehicle must be punishable as crimes.
  • The Attorney General, district attorneys, and county attorneys must have authority to pursue violations under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
  • Local governments must have the option to prohibit or limit stores selling these products.
  • Excise taxes must be assessed on these products to fund oversight and enforcement.
  • Additional funding must be provided to ensure law enforcement have sufficient resources to vigorously enforce restrictions.

“This list, of course, is not exhaustive. But it may provide items to consider in a regulatory system that is strict, fair, and legally sustainable,” Abbott said. “Passing a law is not the same thing as actually solving a problem. Texas needs a bill that is enforceable and will make our communities safer today, rather than years from now. Next month, the Legislature will have the opportunity to address this serious issue. I look forward to working with them to ensure that we get it right.”

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Texas Governor Signs Bill To Significantly Expand State’s Medical Marijuana Program

The governor of Texas has approved a bill to to significantly expand the state’s medical marijuana program.

As advocates and stakeholders await the fate of a separate measure banning consumable hemp products, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Saturday signed into law the medical cannabis legislation from Rep. Ken King (R).

The new law will expand the state’s list of medical cannabis qualifying conditions to include chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases, while also allowing end-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care to use marijuana.

The measure additionally allows patients to access a wider range of cannabis product types—including patches, lotions, suppositories, approved inhalers, nebulizers and vaping devices.

And, it mandates that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) increase the number of medical cannabis business licenses from the current three to 15. It further allows dispensaries to open satellite locations.

Before moving to the governor’s desk, House lawmakers had rejected Senate changes to the bill, which largely scaled back the scope of the proposed expansion to the medical marijuana program.

The version passed by the House last month would have extended the currently limited list of medical cannabis qualifying conditions to include chronic pain, glaucoma, TBI, spinal neuropathy, Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel disease and degenerative disc disease.

It would also have allowed military veterans to become registered cannabis patients for any medical condition—and authorized the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to further expand the list of qualifying conditions.

But those provisions were removed in the Senate State Affairs Committee before the bill reached the floor of that chamber.

Rep. Tom Oliverson (R) suggested there was an agreement around adding chronic pain with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), the presiding officer of the Senate. While Patrick disputed the characterization of their conversation, the lieutenant governor and lawmakers ultimately reached a deal to reinsert the condition into the bill with an amendment that passed on the Senate floor, among others.

Whereas the Senate version had said that chronic pain patients could only access medical cannabis if they had first tried opioids for 90 days, the final version crafted by the conference committee does not contain such a stipulation. And, under the agreement, TBI is being added back in as a new qualifying condition as well.

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