The latest Greg Abbott news from The Texas Tribune.
Patrick said he wants police in as many Texas schools as possible to have bulletproof shields before the fall. He’s asked other state leaders to move around money in the state budget to make it happen. Full Story
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Abbott has tasked the Texas School Safety Center with conducting in-person, unannounced audits of public schools to see how quickly staff can enter a building without being stopped and detect weak points. Full Story
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The committees are different from a special legislative session, which Democrats — and at least a couple Republicans — have asked for after the shooting. Abbott has not ruled that out. Full Story
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The Texas Department of Public Safety previously said local police made key errors. A specialized team of federal officers didn’t enter the school until more than an hour after the shooter arrived at the school. Full Story
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The “God-given right” to self-defense has become a rallying cry in Texas politics, further cementing gun ownership as a holy cause and political identity. The state’s Republican leadership has spent decades carrying the banner. Full Story
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State officials provided a timeline of the massacre and have corrected crucial details amid public demands for information on how authorities handled the situation. Full Story
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On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Jolie about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary and whether anything will be done to prevent another one. Full Story
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Tuesday’s school shooting is a tragic end to a terrible year for Texas teachers who faced two COVID-19 surges, staffing shortages, school boards fights, book bans. Full Story
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“I am livid about what happened,” the governor said at a tense press conference in Uvalde. “The information I was given turned out, in part, to be inaccurate, and I am absolutely livid about that.” Full Story
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Abbott’s press conference follows a morning briefing from top law enforcement who admitted local police made a crucial error as the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde continued. Full Story
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The Republican governor will still be seen in prerecorded remarks at the organization’s annual meeting, which begins Friday in Houston. Full Story
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This week’s massacre in Uvalde highlights disparities in how federal laws regulate rifles and handguns. The shooter bought two rifles days after his 18th birthday. Full Story
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After previous mass killings during his more than seven years in office, Abbott has pledged that lawmakers and his administration would search for solutions. He made no substantive suggestions Wednesday. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are also scheduled to attend the event but their offices have not commented on their attendance since the shooting unfolded in Uvalde on Tuesday. Former President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to speak, said Wednesday he still plans to attend. Full Story
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O’Rourke’s disruption drew angry responses from the elected officials onstage, with Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin calling him a “sick son of a bitch.” Full Story
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A spokesperson for Abbott said he had previously committed to the event but all campaign-related activities are postponed until further notice. Full Story
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Abbott was publicly criticized by his Democratic opponent for governor. Abbot also said he wasn’t sure if he would attend the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting later this week. Full Story
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We know what comes next. Another scar hardens on the state’s collective psyche, but little is done to prevent the next one. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders signaled an openness to some gun restrictions after recent mass shootings. But in the last several years, lawmakers have eased gun laws, most notably by passing a permitless carry bill last year. Full Story
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Lawyers representing families under investigation said they heard from the agency Thursday about continuing the investigations that had previously been halted by a statewide injunction. Full Story
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