Convenience Big Store: Greg Abbott has D.C.’s attention now

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All eyes on Texas

If Gov. Greg Abbott wanted more federal agencies paying attention to what he's doing at the Texas border, he sure succeeded in that.

Abbott has long complained that the Biden administration is ignoring the border. Well, not this week thanks to all the news coming out of Eagle Pass.

Today, we learned the Justice Department is joining with the Department of Homeland Security in reviewing complaints from a Texas Department of Public Safety officer who said they are being told to push migrants back into the Rio Grande and withhold water from migrants who might be in danger in the extreme temperatures. We already had federal Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass warning that DPS is making their jobs more difficult.

Texas DPS officials have insisted they aren't doing anything to endanger migrants and have their inspector general looking into the complaints.

And then there is the U.S. State Department, which yesterday told me that one of their agencies has been requesting information from Texas DPS about the newly deployed buoy wall and razor wire on the river banks that may violate international treaties. They say Texas has not responded.

Jeremy Wallace, Texas politics reporter

jeremy.wallace@houstonchronicle.com

Who's up, who's down

Up: Will Hurd.

We're not sure if the San Antonio Republican is going to qualify for the first GOP presidential debate stage on Aug. 23, but he did get a chance on The View on Wednesday to make his pitch to a national television audience. Candidates have to hit polling and fundraising thresholds that the former congressman has yet to make.

Down: Sheila Jackson Lee.

While several candidates running for mayor of Houston had campaign finance violations, the Houston congresswoman was the most eye-popping given she had 10 donations over the allowable limits and one donation from someone who is dead. Details from reporters Yilun Cheng and Dylan McGuinness.

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

What else is going on in Texas

Three pairs of Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi-Tops sit under the mural honoring 10-year-old Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, one of the 21 people killed in the May 24 Robb Elementary School shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Maite's mother Ana Rodriguez drew black hearts on the shoes to match what the fourth grader was wearing when she died as a gift for the San Antonio based artists Ana Hernández and Gabi Magaly, who worked on the mural.

Photo by: Sam Owens/Staff Photographer

Lauren Boebert throws away pin honoring Uvalde shooting victim

The Colorado congresswoman was seen on video Tuesday tossing the pin in the trash after an activist handed it to her.

Lesley Briones, Commissioner Precinct 4, left, Tom Ramsey, Commissioner Precinct 3, County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Adrian Garcia, Commissioner Precinct 2, and Rodney Ellis, Commissioner Precinct 1, right, are shown during Commissioners Court, 1001 Preston St., Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Melissa Phillip, Staff Photographer

Harris County officials to meet with Biden administration

A delegation of Harris County officials will meet with members of the Biden administration Wednesday in Washington to discuss the county's projects fueled by federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales shared on Twitter Monday that he nearly died four years ago after facing kidney failure.

Photo by: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc Via Getty Imag

Tony Gonzales files bipartisan bill to improve work visa process

The San Antonio congressman's bill would extend temporary work visas from one to three years.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner watches baby Okapi Sylvester, named after him, making his public debut Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Houston Zoo in Houston. Baby Sylvester was born to mom Sukari on April 20 at around 40 pounds. He weights around 90 pounds now, and will be meeting the public every morning from today.

Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee/Staff Photographer

Mayor Turner on trade trip to Africa pushes new direct flights

Mayor Sylvester Turner is leading a city delegation on a three-country trip in west Africa.

Pick of the day

Photo by: Jeremy Wallace

That was Will Hurd's comment about former President Donald Trump remaining a frontrunner in the race during his appearance on ABC's The View. Hurd, a former U.S. representative, is running for the Republican presidential nomination.

What else I'm reading

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, explained on Newsnation last night why it is OK to treat Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, but we should not officially call them that. If we label them that, he worries it could create a credible fear case for more migrants to claim asylum in the United States, increasing the flow of asylum-seekers crossing the border.