TODAY IS THE LAST DAY that Chris' new podcast for Progress Texas will appear on this feed! If you've enjoyed it, please find its permanent home on the Progress Texas Podcasts feed on the platform of your choice.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The "Death Star" law, designed for state pre-emption of a wide range of local ordinances in Texas cities and set to take effect tomorrow, has been ruled unconsitutional by a judge in Austin: ⁠https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-08-30/texas-death-star-law-ruled-unconstitutional-two-days-before-taking-effect/⁠

New details of Ken Paxton's lavish lifestyle as Texas Attorney General come to light in advance of his impeachment: ⁠https://apnews.com/article/texas-ken-paxton-impeachment-perks-travel-cake-97f8ef6ab925785977ff54b796f6c4f9⁠

Dozens of migrants have been treated for razor wire injuries at the border in the last two months: ⁠https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/border-wire-injuries-18336354.php⁠

...While the Los Angeles City Council considers criminal charges against Governor Greg Abbott over continued busing of migrants into that city: ⁠https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-08-30/migrant-bus-abbott-city-council-motion⁠

Studies find that Black babies in Harris County are twice as likely to die before age 1 than those of other racial groups: ⁠https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/29/texas-maternal-mortality-black-women/⁠

ERCOT releases yet another public plea for conservation - and it wasn't even that hot yesterday: ⁠https://abc13.com/texas-power-grid-energy-saving-tips-houston-heat-weather/13719257/⁠

...While ERCOT officials consider measures that would make battery storage more expensive and less effective. What the hell? ⁠https://www.douglewin.com/p/is-ercot-attempting-to-eighty-six⁠

Almost 800 new laws will take effect in Texas tomorrow, and it was hard work isolating the three most ridiculous to pick on: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/nearly-800-laws-take-effect-sept-1-here-are-most-misguided⁠

Ted Cruz decries non-existent medical recommendations on beer consumption (though he might consider cutting back himself): ⁠https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-beer-awkward_n_64f00663e4b0ca54cc6be9d7⁠

And the Ru-Publicans billboard is up in Austin: ⁠https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/30/drag-show-gov-greg-abbott-texas-law-austin-billboard-rupublicans-ai-republicans/70717759007/⁠

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