The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas announced Tuesday that a state court has blocked Texas officials from enforcing a pre-Roe abortion ban that was on the books prior to 1973. The news comes after the civil rights group filed a lawsuit is in response to an...
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignal.com
‘We Will Not Prosecute People Who Seek Abortions,’ Says Travis County DA
At a press conference on Monday, Travis County District Attorney José Garza repeated his promise to not prosecute abortions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. “I promise that I will continue to fight for and protect women’s rights and use my discretion as the...
Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade
On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that guaranteed federal protections for an abortion. In Texas, abortion will soon become illegal in due to the state’s “trigger law.” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has said the trigger law...
Texas Senate Hearings on Uvalde End With Little Talk of Guns
The Texas Senate committee formed after the Uvalde mass shooting held its first public hearings this week. For anyone hoping something substantial will be done before the start of the school year in August, none of it instilled confidence. Tuesday’s 12-hour hearing...
Let us Make Laws Gov. Abbott, Says Texas Senator Representing Uvalde
The Texas Senate Democratic Caucus held a press conference on Monday where they continued calls to address gun violence with a special legislative session that would see lawmakers return to Austin insead of waiting until 2023. “Texas has suffered mass shootings over...
This is the ‘Endgame,’ Warn Abortion Funds
With a Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade expected in the next few weeks, nowhere else is the urgency and anger felt more than with abortion funds, groups that provide financial support for those seeking abortions. In Texas, these abortion funds are...
GOP Sees Victory in TX-34, but Only for Six Months
GOP Congressional Candidate Mayra Flores flipped a U.S. House seat on Tuesday, beating out Democrat Dan Sanchez by less than eight percentage points in a special election for Texas’ 34th Congressional District. Flores narrowly avoided a runoff in the four-way race...
‘South Texas is Not For Sale’ — GOP Seeks Symbolic Victory in TX-34
Whichever candidate wins in Texas’ 34th Congressional District on Tuesday will only be in office until January. The congressional district was formerly represented by Democrat Filemon Vela Jr., the 9-year moderate incumbent who retired in March to join Akin Gump...
Abortion Caravan Tour Kicks Off in Austin
On Tuesday, abortion activists began traveling to Mississippi as part of a “Liberate Abortion Caravan,” a journey from Austin to Mississippi to raise awareness about the nationwide attack on abortion rights. The caravan departs from Austin on Tuesday, will stop in...
Texas Court Blocks DFPS From Investigating Families of Transgender Youth
Civil rights and LGBTQ advocactes are celebrating a legal victory on Friday after the Travis County District Court granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services from investigating families of transgender youth...