#NEWS // BG Reads | May 15, 2023

[AUSTIN METRO NEWS]

State police suspend controversial patrol agreement with Austin (KUT)

The Austin Police Department says the Texas Department of Public Safety is ending its partnership with the City of Austin to supplement police patrols.

APD told KUT Saturday that troopers were being reassigned to the Texas border following the expiration of Title 42, a Trump-era restriction on migration.

In a statement, APD Chief Joseph Chacon said it was not immediately clear whether the?controversial partnership?would continue in the future.

"DPS will temporarily cease operations in Austin, and their last day will be Saturday, May 13," Chacon said. "It is unknown at this time when they will be able to reengage in the partnership with APD, but it will not be for several weeks at least."…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)

Austin doctors who treated trans kids leaving Dell Children’s clinic after AG Paxton announces investigatioN (Texas Tribune)

Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin has stopped providing transition-related care to transgender teenagers, according to several parents who were told they would need to find new providers.

Dell Children’s said in a statement Saturday that while its adolescent medicine clinic remains open, “the physicians who previously staffed the clinic will be departing.”

Parents said they were told about the doctors’ departures just hours after Attorney General Ken Paxton?announced an investigation?into “potentially illegal” activity at Dell Children’s. The investigation seems to be in response to a video report from the conservative Project Veritas, a far-right activist group that engages in deceptive practices to do hidden camera-style investigations…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)

Manager, AFSCME at odds over mandates to return to offices (Austin Monitor)

The Covid-19 public health emergency officially ended on Thursday and interim City Manager Jesús Garza wasted no time in telling city employees that they need to spend a lot more time in the office now – no less than three days a week for most and five days a week for executives.

Garza sent?a memo to all city employees?on Thursday outlining new rules for office workers. According to the memo, all executives, including directors, deputy directors and assistant directors, are required to be in the office five days a week effective June 5.

“Nonexecutive staff that are eligible to telework are required to be in the office for a minimum of three days per week, allowing for 40 percent of the week to be utilized for telework; and alternate work schedules are allowed in conjunction with telework.”…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)

Esperanza Community opens 50-cabin neighborhood for homeless residents in East Austin (Community impact)

Supporters of the Esperanza Community, a transitional shelter community for people exiting homelessness, gathered May 12 to celebrate the opening of the project's inaugural neighborhood made up of 50 cabins in East Austin.

The Other Ones Foundation, or TOOF, homeless nonprofit has since stepped in to operate and grow the shelter community. What was originally an open space covered in concrete is now home to a developing community of dozens of tiny homes that will continue to expand over the years ahead…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)

[TEXAS NEWS]

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick throws cold water on sports gambling bill days after Texas House approval (San Antonio Express-News)

Online sports betting isn’t coming to Texas any time soon, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Saturday. The state House narrowly advanced a bill this week that would allow Texans to vote on legalizing the practice, a milestone for the gambling industry’s push to expand in the Lone Star State. Supporters had already expected an uphill climb in the Senate, but Patrick put an end to any remaining speculation on Twitter. “I’ve said repeatedly there is little to no support for expanding gaming from Senate GOP,” Patrick tweeted. “I polled members this week. Nothing changed. The Senate must focus on issues voters expect us to pass. We don’t waste time on bills without overwhelming GOP support. HB 1942 won’t be referred.”

Still, gambling advocates say the bill’s passage in the House — by a vote of 101 to 42 — shows the potential to advance the legislation in future sessions. State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano and the author of the legislation, has argued that Texans already have easy access to illegal forms of online betting, where they spend millions of untaxed dollars every year. He said legalizing the practice would “allow these people to come out of the shadows” and put them under a “regulatory framework that will protect Texans who are already doing this now.” Critics were mostly Republicans who argued that legalizing the practice would stoke gambling addictions. State Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, said it would also “drag money out of Texas” to sports betting companies based in other states. House Republicans were also considering a bill this week to allow “destination resort” casinos to come to Texas, but the legislation failed after supporters couldn’t find enough votes to advance it…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)

Gov. Greg Abbott threatens to veto pared-down school choice bill, warns of special sessions (Texas Tribune)

Gov.?Greg Abbott?on Sunday said he would veto a toned-down version of a bill to offer school vouchers in Texas, and threatened to call legislators back for special sessions if they don't "expand the scope of school choice" this month.

"Parents and their children deserve no less," he said in a statement. His dramatic declaration came the night before the House Public Education Committee was scheduled to hold a public hearing on?Senate Bill 8, the school voucher bill. That measure passed the Senate more than a month ago, but has so far been stalled in lower chamber as it lacks sufficient support…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)

[NATIONAL NEWS]

ChatGPT CEO heads to Congress as lawmakers face AI explosion (The Hill)

The CEO of the company behind ChatGPT will head to Congress next week as lawmakers’ race to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) and more companies steam ahead with the technology.?

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will make his public debut in Congress at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing about oversight of AI as lawmakers seek to better understand the range of risks posed by generative AI and possible ways to mitigate them.

“AI is one of the most important issues of our times, with enormous potential both positive and negative, and it is crucial that we get it right,” Gary Marcus, professor emeritus at New York University, said in an email…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)

Bingham Group works to advance the interests of businesses, nonprofits, and associations at the municipal and state level.

LEARN MORE HERE.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE DISCUSSION ON YOUR MATTER AT:?[email protected]