Texas GOP moves forward with in-person state convention in Houston

News and updates from Austin's news in your inbox Email not displaying correctly? [View Online]( [Statesman]( MORNING HEADLINES Start your day with a fresh roundup of news, features and commentary. Friday's Top Story [Texas GOP moves forward with in-person state convention in Houston]( [Texas GOP moves forward with in-person state convention in Houston]( The Texas Republican Party's executive committee voted by a 2-to-1 margin to move forward with its plan for an in-person convention in Houston July 16 to 18. [Read More »]( Local News [Fort Hood soldier slain, dismembered on post, family attorney says; suspects named]( [Fort Hood soldier slain, dismembered on post, family attorney says; suspects named]( KILLEEN - Authorities on Thursday released the names of two suspects - including a Fort Hood soldier who died Wednesday of a self-inflected gunshot wound - after both were tied to the disappearance of Spc. [Read More »]( [Abbott issues statewide mask order as Texas coronavirus cases, hospitalizations rise]( [Abbott issues statewide mask order as Texas coronavirus cases, hospitalizations rise]( In an abrupt change of course, Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday issued a statewide mask order as Texas grapples with rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. [Read More »]( [Austin officers say council action to limit deadly force reached too far]( [Austin officers say council action to limit deadly force reached too far]( A resolution approved last month by the Austin City Council has some police officers worried they no longer will be able to use their discretion on when it's appropriate to use deadly force in the line of duty. [Read More »]( [Barton Springs, Deep Eddy no longer open; Austin parks facilities closing for July 4 weekend]( [Barton Springs, Deep Eddy no longer open; Austin parks facilities closing for July 4 weekend]( Austin's city parks and recreational facilities will be closed throughout the July 4 holiday weekend in light of the recent spike in coronavirus cases. [Read More »]( [With 12 in Texas on federal death row, Justice Dept. resumes executions]( [With 12 in Texas on federal death row, Justice Dept. resumes executions]( The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this week declined to hear a challenge to the Trump administration's revised federal death penalty practice, and the four men who appealed their executions are scheduled to be put to death this summer. [Read More »]( Business [Austin s Riders Share raises $2M for motorcycle rental platform]( [Austin’s Riders Share raises $2M for motorcycle rental platform]( Riders Share, a recent Austin transplant that operates a platform for motorcycle rentals, has raised $2 million for expansion. [Read More »]( Sports [Bohls, Golden: Finally, baseball is actually on deck]( [Bohls, Golden: Finally, baseball is actually on deck]( With Major League Baseball preparing to play ball for the first time in a now-shortened 60-game season, American-Statesman columnists Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden address some important on- and off-field questions:1. [Read More »]( [Could a pandemic lead to two Iowa State-Iowa games?]( [Could a pandemic lead to two Iowa State-Iowa games?]( DES MOINES, Iowa - Let's cut right to the chase:Iowa State and Iowa could play football against each other twice during the 2020 season. [Read More »]( [In response to pandemic, UIL asks schools to shut down summer camps]( [In response to pandemic, UIL asks schools to shut down summer camps]( With the state prepared to shut down this holiday weekend in response to the raging coronavirus pandemic, the University Interscholastic League has recommended that all public schools halt strength and conditioning programs from July 3 until at least July 13.The request coincides with a planned week off for most schools. [Read More »]( [Texas A M places on probation for recruiting violations; Jimbo Fisher penalized for 6 months]( [Texas A&M places on probation for recruiting violations; Jimbo Fisher penalized for 6 months]( The NCAA ruled that Texas A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher and an unnamed assistant coach violated NCAA recruiting and countable athletically related activity from January 2018 to February 2019, according to an agreement released by the Division I Committee on Infractions. [Read More »]( [Oklahoma athletics cuts budget by nearly $14 million, salaries reduced for highly paid staff members]( [Oklahoma athletics cuts budget by nearly $14 million, salaries reduced for highly paid staff members]( NORMAN, Okla. [Read More »]( Opinion [Letters to the editor: July 3, 2020]( [Letters to the editor: July 3, 2020]( Blame elected officials,not the police unionRe: June 28 commentary, "Texans are paying to keep officers subject to discipline. [Read More »]( [More at stake than 1 Senate seat in Texas election]( [More at stake than 1 Senate seat in Texas election]( More is riding on this year's election for the U.S. Senate than who will make up one-half of Texas' clout in the upper chamber of Congress for the next six years. [Read More »]( [Herman: Trump, trumpeting his COVID-19 effort, says send money]( [Herman: Trump, trumpeting his COVID-19 effort, says send money]( I got a nice letter in my mailbox the other day. [Read More »]( [Opinion: Waking up in 2030: What s likely to be lost]( [Opinion: Waking up in 2030: What’s likely to be lost]( There is something peculiar about time during the pandemic. [Read More »]( [Commentary: Coronavirus surge shows Trump puts America last]( [Commentary: Coronavirus surge shows Trump puts America last]( After weeks at home eating veggies, I longed for chicken-fried steak. I donned my mask and picked up a call-in order at a local eatery. [Read More »]( Nation [The Latest: Thailand worries about weekend holiday trips]( [The Latest: Thailand worries about weekend holiday trips]( BANGKOK " Thai authorities are urging vigilance as the country celebrates its first long holiday weekend after lifting most COVID-19 restrictions. [Read More »]( [AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter groups plan convention]( [AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter groups plan convention]( NEW YORK (AP) " Spurred by broad public support for the Black Lives Matter movement, thousands of Black activists from across the U.S. will hold a virtual convention in August to produce a new political agenda that seeks to build on the success of the protests that followed George Floyd's death. [Read More »]( [AP-NORC poll: White Democrats grow more critical of police]( [AP-NORC poll: White Democrats grow more critical of police]( DETROIT (AP) " As a national reckoning over racism and policing grips the nation, white Democrats are far more likely now than they were a few years ago to think police brutality is a serious issue " a dramatic shift in public opinion that some say could shape the November presidential election. [Read More »]( [Pope urges US Catholic media to work to overcome racism]( [Pope urges US Catholic media to work to overcome racism]( ROME (AP) " Pope Francis is urging Catholic media in the U.S. to work to overcome the 'diseases of racism and injustice" in his latest comments about George Floyd's death in the U.S. and the anti-racism protests that followed. [Read More »]( [Supreme Court s abortion ruling raises stakes for election]( [Supreme Court’s abortion ruling raises stakes for election]( Supporters of abortion rights are elated, foes of abortion dismayed and angry, but they agree on one consequence of the Supreme Court's first major abortion ruling since President Donald Trump took office: The upcoming election is crucial to their cause. [Read More »]( World [UN agency: North Europe radiation likely linked to reactor]( [UN agency: North Europe radiation likely linked to reactor]( BERLIN (AP) " The U.N. nuclear agency said Friday that slightly elevated levels of radioactivity detected in northern Europe likely were related to a nuclear reactor that was either operating or undergoing maintenance, but it's still unclear where it is located. [Read More »]( [Activist leaves Hong Kong after new law to advocate abroad]( [Activist leaves Hong Kong after new law to advocate abroad]( HONG KONG (AP) " Prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law has left the city for an undisclosed location, he revealed on his Facebook page shortly after testifying at a U.S. congressional hearing about the tough national security law China had imposed on the semi-autonomous territory. [Read More »]( [First coronavirus then Trump order split Indian families]( [First coronavirus then Trump order split Indian families]( NEW DELHI (AP) " The March day that his father died, Karan Murgai boarded a plane to India. [Read More »]( [Kim Jong Un urges North Koreans to keep up virus fight]( [Kim Jong Un urges North Koreans to keep up virus fight]( SEOUL, South Korea (AP) " North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged officials to maintain alertness against the coronavirus, warning that complacency risked 'unimaginable and irretrievable crisis,' state media said Friday. [Read More »]( [Photo of toddler sitting on slain grandpa angers Kashmiris]( [Photo of toddler sitting on slain grandpa angers Kashmiris]( SRINAGAR, India (AP) " A photo of a toddler sitting on the chest of of his dead grandfather has outraged residents of Indian-controlled Kashmir after the victim's family accused government forces of shooting the 65-year-old man during a clash with rebels in the disputed region. [Read More »]( Austin360 [Vanilla Ice cancels Austin concert after pushback over pandemic concerns]( [Vanilla Ice cancels Austin concert after pushback over pandemic concerns]( Emerald Point Bar & Grill owner Barrett Brannam announced Thursday that Vanilla Ice has withdrawn from Friday’s scheduled concert at the marina restaurant on Lake Travis, due to social media backlash. [Read More »]( [Original Hamilton streaming -how lucky we are to be alive right now]( [Original ‘Hamilton’ streaming -how lucky we are to be alive right now]( Anyone heard of this scrappy little play, "Hamilton"? Turns out it's pretty good! [Read More »]( [Beaches across Texas coast announce closures ahead of Fourth of July]( [Beaches across Texas coast announce closures ahead of Fourth of July]( As the number of coronavirus cases continue to climb across the state, several Texas localities are closing areas where people may be tempted to gather in large groups. [Read More »]( [Willie Nelson looks back, and forward, with First Rose of Spring ]( [Willie Nelson looks back, and forward, with ‘First Rose of Spring’]( Beginning his seventh decade as a recording artist, Austin's most celebrated musician may be nearing another crossroads. [Read More »]( [Recipe of the week: How to make a tart with (almost) any kind of summer fruit]( [Recipe of the week: How to make a tart with (almost) any kind of summer fruit]( Peaches aren't the only fruit worth celebrating in the summer. [Read More »](   [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Manage Account]( | [Contact Us](mailto:customercare@statesman.com) | [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Newsletters]( We have an app for whatever you want - news, weather, entertainment and more. 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