Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Today marks one year to November 3, 2026 - the mid-term election. Mark YOUR commitment to the upcoming year by voting tomorrow: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/22/texas-statewide-propositions-november-ballot-election/

...In particular, be sure to vote NO on Proposition 12, which would give Governor Abbott too much influence over judicial conduct decisions: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/03/texas-prop-12-judicial-conduct-greg-abbott/

The Trump administration has been ordered to tap into available reserves and make full SNAP assistance payments by today: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-must-pay-food-aid-benefits-within-days-judge-says-2025-11-02/

...Even the uncertainty over SNAP has led to a Halloween weekend run on local food banks: https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-food-lines-snap-6b55e2c21c0198f3309f3a45a55f33b6

Over a quarter of ICE arrests under Trump have been made in Texas, and under half of those have involved undocumented people with criminal charges or histories: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/03/texas-trump-immigration-crackdown-ice-arrests-deportation/

UT Austin, now two weeks beyond a set deadline to respond, has still not said whether or not they'll sign that "compact" with Donald Trump: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/students-organize-as-ut-continues-to-drag-its-feet-on-trumps-compact/

In response to Governor Abbott's campaign to tear out rainbow crosswalks, Houston artists and residents have started painting rainbows all over the place: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/houston-texas-rainbow-crosswalk-murals-21122857.php

We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our 2025 Texas Statewide Voting Guide, including a link at the bottom for a printable version you CAN take with you to the polls: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/2025-texas-statewide-ballot-guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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