Convenience Big Store: Fallout from the lifting of Title 42

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Texas border braces for influx

From Brownsville to El Paso, Texas border communities were bracing for waves of migrants to cross into the U.S. in response to the Trump-era Title 42 policy being lifted.

And our teams have been everywhere tracking it all.

Near Brownsville, Express-News photographer Jerry Lara watched as Texas National Guard and DPS officers pushed back people trying to cross the Rio Grande River.

Out near El Paso, Houston Chronicle reporter Sam González Kelly and photographer Raquel Natalicchio were talking to migrants trying to cross there.

And the Laredo Morning Times had Jason Mack reporting on how that city was preparing there.

Meanwhile, in Washington, reporter Benjamin Wermund was reporting on the U.S. House finally voting on a border security bill, while I was reporting on Democrats like former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro who was slamming Biden for how he is handling it all.

Jeremy Wallace
Texas politics reporter
jeremy.wallace@houstonchronicle.com

Who's up, who's down

Up: Legal sports betting.

The Texas House voted 101 to 42 to pass a bill to allow sports betting in Texas. BUT it now needs the support of the Texas Senate where Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has already said it doesn't have the votes. It may not pass this year, but it shows progress on an issue that has gone nowhere in the last couple of years.

Down: Donald Trump.

During his CNN town hall event, he said "I did finish the wall." We know that is not true because I photographed him in front of the uncompleted wall in Hidalgo County, Laredo has no wall on its waterfront, and hundreds of miles between Laredo and El Paso don't have walls.

What do you think? Hit reply and let me know.

What else is going on in Texas

Texas special education reforms at risk from GOP voucher fight

The reforms include more money for assessing students with dyslexia and other disabilities, which have exploded in recent years.

Biden moves against coal, gas plants, setting up fight with Texas

The Biden administration will announce Thursday tough new rules on power plant emissions designed to force the adoption of carbon capture technology.

Texas House GOP blocks last-ditch effort to raise AR-15 age

Republican lawmakers have again blocked the Texas House from voting whether to raise the age to purchase assault-style rifles, the biggest priority for Uvalde families after last year's mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.

As Title 42 ends, here's why and where migrants are coming from

Title 42 is expiring Thursday, and thousands of asylum seekers are at the border waiting for a chance to legally gain entry. Here's where they are coming from and why.

Abbott signs bill placing Stephen F. Austin in UT System

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday making Stephen F. Austin State University a member of the University of Texas System.

Pick of the day

Mexican immigration officials in Matamoros help a child back to the shore after Texas National Guard and DPS officers blocked her and her family from entering Texas.

What else I'm reading

As the Dallas Stars prepare for game 5 of their playoff series against the Seattle Kraken, the teams have announced they will wear an "ALLEN STRONG" decal honoring the victims of the Allen shooting last weekend. And they are hosting a memorabilia auction that will benefit Victims First and the Support for Allen Fund, along with a raffle benefiting both charities.