Good morning, 

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Citizen Arrested for His Political Meme Sues Hood County Officials

• A man who was arrested for a political social media post has now sued the public officials responsible, alleging multiple violations of federal law and his constitutional rights. Robert Montoya has the story.
    
• Kolton Krottinger, a veteran, was arrested in early November after posting a “satirical political meme” that took aim at allies of the Hood County Sheriff, Roger Deeds. The arrest made national news, as did the dismissal of the charges a month later.
      
• Krottinger is now suing Deeds and a former deputy, as well as the county and its district attorney, Ryan Sinclair. The lawsuit describes the arrest as a “coordinated effort to silence a political critic.”
      
• “The people will not be bullied, silenced, or intimidated by abuse of power. We see it. We remember it. And we will hold them accountable.” – Kolton Krottinger

Texas Supreme Court to Decide if Detransitioner’s Lawsuit Can Proceed

• Travis Morgan reports that Texas’ Supreme Court is set to hear the case of a “detransitioner” who is seeking over $1 million in a medical malpractice claim. The plaintiff is Soren Aldaco, who, as a teenager, underwent a botched double mastectomy as a part of a “gender transition.”
     
• Aldaco is now 22 years old and claims the June 2021 surgery was prompted by a counselor’s recommendation letter full of false information about her gender identity. She has since detransitioned both “medically and ideologically.”
      
• The issue before the Court is whether Aldaco filed the lawsuit before the limitations deadline set by the Texas Medical Liability Act.

Texans for Vaccine Choice Handed Legal Win Against Former Executive Director

• Texans for Vaccine Choice was handed a legal victory this week in a lawsuit against its former executive director, Jackie Schlegel. A jury in Tarrant County found Schlegel had engaged in trademark infringement and made an illegal transfer of cash.
      
• Pending an appeal, Schlegel—who is currently a candidate for the Texas House—will be forced to pay $767,473.90 in damages and fees.

Texas Tech Chancellor Tells Gender Studies Enthusiasts To Look Elsewhere

• Texas Tech Chancellor Brandon Creighton has drawn a boundary around the type of personnel and students he hopes his institution will—and will not—attract. Adam Cahn has the details.
      
• Specifically, Creighton said prospective students with an interest in gender studies would be a poor fit as Red Raiders.
     
• Creighton’s comment follows a December policy memo he issued that prohibits advocacy of “race or sex-based prejudice” at any of the Texas Tech system institutions.

Texas Ag Commissioner Calls for ‘Agriculture Freedom Zones’

• With the surge of data centers and other developments in Texas and around the country, Addie Hovland reports that Texas’ chief agriculture official is proposing a plan to secure the future of the state’s farms and ranches.
     
• Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is proposing that lawmakers consider creating a tax incentive that would redirect construction of developments, infrastructure, and data centers away from prime agricultural land. His plan would be modeled similarly to opportunity zones, giving tax breaks to encourage development growth in certain areas. 
      
• Miller argues that placing protections around the development of agricultural land would help ensure the state’s long-term food security.

School District To Release ‘Redacted’ Report From Sex Abuse Investigation

• As parents continue to call for transparency and accountability regarding a sex abuse scandal that rocked the Celina community and its famed football program, school trustees have promised to release a “redacted” report from a third-party investigation into coach Caleb Elliott’s illicit locker room recordings of middle school boys. Erin Anderson has the latest developments in the case.
      
• Trustees reviewed the investigative findings during a nearly six-hour closed session at a special school board meeting earlier this week. Significantly, they took no action on personnel issues—leaving unresolved the fate of two top administrators placed on leave during the investigation.
     
• Elliott was arrested in the fall on state and federal charges. He was allowed to resign in exchange for surrendering his teaching certificate and is being held in the Collin County Jail until his federal trial. Three dozen victims have reportedly been identified; many of their families have filed civil lawsuits in the matter.
      
• Many in the community have expressed frustration that no one in authority has been held accountable for enabling Elliott’s abuse. There are also concerns that no policy changes have been implemented to protect students from future abusive situations.

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