Good morning,

In this week's One Click Survey, we want to know what you think about the Lone Star State's ban on lab-grown "fake" meat.

This is the Texas Minute for Monday, January 26, 2026.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Yes, the Comptroller Can Block School Choice Funds From Terror-Linked Schools

• Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a legal opinion on Saturday affirming that the Texas Comptroller’s Office has the "exclusive" authority to determine which private schools and education vendors are eligible to participate in the state’s new school choice program. Brandon Waltens reports on the details.
      
• Last month, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock asked Paxton for legal clarity on whether certain schools could be disqualified from the program if they have ties to entities designated as foreign terrorist organizations or transnational criminal organizations, or if they are linked to foreign adversaries. He noted that some schools have hosted publicly advertised events organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, while others are affiliated with the Chinese communist government.
       
• Paxton explained that the Legislature "unambiguously vested" the comptroller with the duty to establish and administer the program. He noted that participation is also conditioned on compliance with "other relevant laws," including bans on aiding foreign terrorist organizations or foreign ownership.
      
• "Let me be crystal clear: Texans’ tax dollars should never fund Islamic terrorists or America’s enemies." – Attorney General Ken Paxton

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Cancels Late-Term Abortionist Speech

• Adam Cahn reports that a talk scheduled for today by a late-term abortionist will no longer proceed at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The decision follows several days of behind-the-scenes activism by the Turning Point USA chapter at Texas Tech, in collaboration with other local pro-life activists.
      
• The campaign began last week, when activists learned Shelly Sella, a New Mexico doctor who performs third-trimester abortions, was scheduled to speak at TTU’s Health Sciences Center. Her talk was billed as “A physician’s perspective on third-trimester abortion care, ethics, and patient centered medicine,” and sponsored by Medical Students for Choice, a national organization with no clear ties to Texas Tech.
        
• The city of Lubbock outlawed abortion in a 2021 referendum. Lubbock County followed suit two years later. Abortion is also illegal across the state of Texas.
      
• "Under the leadership of Chancellor Brandon Creighton, Texas Tech has upheld truth and stands for what’s right." – Preston Parsons, TPUSA Texas Tech

Webb County Democrat Sheriff Indicted in Federal Fraud Case

• Webb County’s sheriff and two of his assistants are facing federal charges for allegedly using office resources to create and profit from a disinfecting business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addie Hovland has the story.
     
• Unsealed indictments find Sheriff Martin Cuellar Jr. (D) misappropriated Webb County Sheriff’s Office funds between 2020 and 2022. He is the brother of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo).
      
• The sheriff allegedly used the county’s resources, vehicles, and equipment to start a for-profit business called Disinfectant Pro Master. Staff from the sheriff’s office were allegedly utilized to conduct the company’s operations during their regularly scheduled shifts.
       
• During its operation, DPM received multiple contracts with local businesses, as well as a $500,000 contract with the United Independent School District.

State Officials Approve Costly New Regional Water Plans

• Amid concerns of skyrocketing water costs, the Texas Water Development Board unanimously approved the 2026 Regional Water Plans late last week. As Paige Feild reports, regional water districts are required by state law to plan resources and projects until 2080, then submit their plans to the TWDB for approval every five years.
      
• Board member Ashley Morgan noted that one of the planned projects is estimated to cost $9.8 billion, but was told the TWDB lacks the authority to change anything about the plans.
         
• "All the cheap water is gone it seems." – Ashley Morgan

Report Shows Mass Declines in Houston ISD Student Enrollment

• A new report from the University of Houston finds that the Houston Independent School District has lost more than 13,000 students since 2023. Michael Wilson has the details.
     
• The analysis, conducted using data from UH’s Education Research Center, found that enrollment losses have been occurring year-over-year since the 2016-17 school year, with only one year, 2019-20, seeing an increase. After the 2022-23 school year, enrollment declines have increased more rapidly.
     
• Students leaving Houston ISD are largely transferring to neighboring school districts, charter schools, or leaving Texas public education entirely.

Teacher Charged With Sex Crimes Against Students

• A Bartlett Independent School District teacher ousted last year over sexual misconduct allegations is now facing felony sex crime charges involving students. Erin Anderson reports on the case.
     
• Jerod Lee Knox has been charged with having an improper relationship between educator and student and possession of child sexual abuse material. The case dates back a year, when a student accused Knox of inappropriate touching and making “explicit statements.”
     
• Bartlett ISD Superintendent Teddy Clevenger announced in February 2025 that the then-unnamed teacher was “no longer employed by the district.” It’s not clear whether he was fired or allowed to resign.
      
• Investigators have since interviewed several current and former students who may have been targeted by Knox. He has held a Texas teaching certificate since July 2021.

Hood County Officials Place Conditions on Data Center Plans

• After two hours of local residents urging government officials not to move forward due to water concerns, Hood County Commissioners’ Court gave only conditional approval last week to a developer's data center proposal.
      
• Among other aspects of the conditional approval, commissioners are requiring the data center developers to provide a comprehensive drainage and wastewater treatment plan. The county also requested proof that the project would not affect the watershed of neighboring properties.

New Austin Policy Forces City Manager to Consult Union Over Fiscal Reforms

• Going forward, public sector employee unions must be consulted in the City of Austin before fiscal reforms can be implemented. The city council is also requiring the office of the city manager to “meet regularly with” leadership from Local 1624 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union.
     
• James Quintero of the Texas Public Policy Foundation said that this "power grab" can be expected to cause "higher taxes, bigger government, and more bureaucracy" for those living in Austin.

Today In History

On January 26, 1839, the Republic of Texas' Congress passed a homestead act. It guaranteed every citizen or household that their homestead—up to fifty acres or a town lot, as well as the structures—could not be seized to pay debts.

Quote-Unquote

"The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right."

– James Madison​

One Click Survey

A federal court is allowing a lawsuit to continue against Texas' ban on cell-cultured "fake meat." The court did say, though, that the ban can remain in effect.

Should the state be allowed to ban lab-made “meat”?

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!

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