The State of Texas: Abbott orders Texas universities to examine their admissions policies

What Texas is talking about today No Images? [Click here]( [Shop the Texas Monthly General Store!]( [Texas Monthly]( March 19, 2019 QUOTE OF THE DAY "America’s immigrant history made us who we are. Amid all the complications of policy, may we never forget that immigration is a blessing and a strength." —Former President George W. Bush. [At a naturalization ceremony at the Bush Institute in Dallas, Bush greeted more than four dozen new American citizens]( and urged lawmakers to “dial down the rhetoric” concerning immigration and move toward modernizing current policies. THE LATEST [Greg Abbott Orders Texas University Boards to Investigate Admissions Policies After Bribery Scandal ]( LEIF REIGSTAD The University of Texas at Austin’s men’s tennis coach was among those accused of accepting bribes in a massive federal probe. [Read more.]( TEXAS MONTHLY ARCHIVES [A Tree Is Known By Its Fruit ]( DECEMBER 2014 – SONIA SMITH When Bonnie Harkey, the 85-year-old matriarch of a prominent San Saba family, was brutally murdered in 2012, her death spelled the end of a legendary pecan dynasty. It also uncovered a dark tale of family, greed, and hate. *With an incidental appearance by Tommy Lee Jones. [Read more.]( Every Tuesday, we'll share a piece from our archives. Check back tomorrow for Meanwhile, in Texas: weird news from around the state. OUR TOP STORIES [How Many Domains Does Austin Need?]( With yet another billion dollar mixed-use development in the works, Austin may be nearing its saturation point. [Read more.]( [Marty B’s Overdoes It on Almost Everything, but the Brisket Is Great ]( The massive Bartonville barbecue and steak restaurant uses too much seasoning and butter, but the pitmaster knows what he’s doing. [Read more.]( [The Curse of La Llorona Summons a Centuries-Old Ghost—With Mixed Results]( The Latin American folk tale has frightened generations, but its big-screen adaptation relies too heavily on repetitive scares. [Read more.]( THE STATE OF TEXAS Beto O’Rourke outraises all Democratic presidential candidates in 24 hours Presidential hopeful [Beto O’Rourke says his campaign raised $6.1 million in its first 24 hours](—beating all other Democratic candidates who have disclosed their first-day figures. In comparison, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders raised $5.9 million in his campaign's first 24 hours, while Kamala Harris raised $1.5 million. The bulk of O'Rourke's $6.1 million came from online donations, and O'Rourke says he will not be taking political action committee money. While campaigning in Iowa last week, the former El Paso representative declined to release his first-day numbers until Monday. At this time, he hasn’t revealed how many donors made up his $6.1 million donations. Deer Park fire expected to burn for days While firefighters are making progress on a fire at a Houston-area petrochemical plant, it’s expected to burn through Wednesday. [The fire along the Houston Ship Channel began when a tank containing volatile naphtha leaked, ignited, and spread throughout the complex.]( The blaze caused the closure of Highway 225 and nearby schools, and while fires near the plant aren’t uncommon, but officials are closely monitoring the air quality in the area as the chemicals that are burning are components of gasoline. Though classes have resumed at the nearby school districts, some parents are refusing to send their kids to school while the fire is still burning. On Facebook, one concerned parent wrote: "My kid will not be in class until the fire is out. My son's school is a couple of miles away. I will not gamble with his life." FOOD & DRINK [Lettuce Grow’s Subscription Service Promises to Make Texas Gardening Much Simpler ]( PAULA FORBES Actor Zooey Deschanel and her husband, entrepreneur Jacob Pechenik, launch an Austin-based effort to help you grow your own vegetables. [Read more.]( [Good Newscast: Listen now!]( G]([ood Newscast]( News ever get you down? Try listening to the Texas Optimism Project's latest series, Good Newscast—a podcast about good news in the world sponsored by Frost.Read more]([.]( [Shop the Texas Monthly General Store!]( MORE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [Joaquin Castro “All But Certain” to Challenge John Cornyn for U.S. Senate, Source Says ]( CARLOS SANCHEZ [Texas Monthly Recommends: Traveling the Border via the Film The River and the Wall]( TEXAS MONTHLY [Khalid Said Goodbye to his American Teen Days at SXSW on Thursday ]( DAN SOLOMON [Subscribe to Texas Monthly and save!]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Website]( Texas Monthly PO Box 1569 Austin, TX 78767 Texas Monthly has sent you this alert because you signed up to receive it either online at texasmonthly.com, at the website of one of our business partners, or when you filled out a reader response card. You may opt-out from Texas Monthly newsletters at any time. Please see our Privacy Policy. 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