1 00:00:03,359 --> 00:00:08,039 I'm Stephanie Wolf with a brief look at the latest news in Texas politics and 2 00:00:08,199 --> 00:00:18,239 policy from the Texas Tribune. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has issued a sweeping gag 3 00:00:18,359 --> 00:00:25,039 order ahead of the impeachment trial of suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Patrick 4 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:30,480 is acting as judge in the Senate's trial, which begins September fifth. In 5 00:00:30,519 --> 00:00:35,159 his order, he said any out of court statements made by both sides could 6 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:40,759 compromise the proceedings, and he cited comments made by legal teams for both Paxton 7 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:46,799 and House impeachment managers as potentially problematic. In his order, violators could be 8 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:51,159 found in content of court and face up to six months in a county jail, 9 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,479 as well as a fine of up to five hundred dollars. The order 10 00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:00,640 applies to members of the Senate and House. It also includes our staff, 11 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:07,319 witnesses and attorneys, barring them from making comments that they quote reasonably should know 12 00:01:07,799 --> 00:01:14,840 could cause prejudice and the trial that encompasses statements about expected testimony or comments on 13 00:01:14,879 --> 00:01:19,640 witnesses character or credibility. It also includes any opinion around the outcome of the 14 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:26,959 trial. Meanwhile, Paxton has raised more than a million dollars in campaign donations. 15 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:33,120 He announced yesterday that his one point seven million fundraising came from more than 16 00:01:33,239 --> 00:01:38,519 twenty three hundred donors in twelve days. His team said it was a personal 17 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,599 postseason record for Paxton and called it a triumph in spite of his impeachment. 18 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:49,560 Paxton raised one point four million in the same period in twenty nineteen and less 19 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:55,400 than four hundred thousand during the post session window in twenty fifteen. State officials 20 00:01:55,439 --> 00:02:04,200 are prohibited from fundraising around the regular legislative session. Texas has been struggling with 21 00:02:04,319 --> 00:02:09,319 finding and retaining educators, which is what led one school district to initiate a 22 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:15,800 teacher apprenticeship program. The Brasoport Independent School District, about sixty miles south of 23 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:21,599 Houston, launched the effort last August. The goal was to create a way 24 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:27,599 for aspiring teachers to earn their bachelor's degree and teacher certification within four years. 25 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,680 They're paired with mentors working alongside them in the classroom for a full academic year. 26 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,639 After completion, the teachers are required to work in the district for at 27 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,919 least three years. Twenty five educators will graduate from the program in time for 28 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:49,719 the next school year. There are similar programs across the state, but Brasoport's 29 00:02:49,719 --> 00:02:53,360 apprenticeship initiative stands out as high schoolers can start it while still in school, 30 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:59,360 and it can be more affordable than a four year college degree. The program 31 00:02:59,479 --> 00:03:02,919 is on the rad are of many public education advocates. They hope it can 32 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:08,080 serve as a model for other school districts to curb the state's teacher shortage crisis. 33 00:03:09,199 --> 00:03:15,800 Educator preparation programs were also a recommendation of Governor Greg Abbot's Teacher Shortach task 34 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:23,960 Force. The task force report said research shows that teacher residency models increased teacher 35 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:30,360 retention, effectively placed teachers in hard to staff areas, and positively impact student 36 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:36,400 outcomes. There were some bills before the state legislature this regular session that would 37 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:42,919 have helped fund and establish initiatives to better prepare people entering the profession, yet 38 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:52,919 the proposals failed after political fallout in both chambers. Former US Representative Myra Flores, 39 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,680 a Los Indios Republican, announced her bid to win back her old seat 40 00:03:57,719 --> 00:04:03,120 in South Texas last week. National Republicans celebrated the comeback campaign, and within 41 00:04:03,199 --> 00:04:09,439 hours of her official announcement, she had already gotten endorsements from the likes of 42 00:04:09,599 --> 00:04:15,560 US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Majority Leader Steve Scalise. She'll be challenging the 43 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:21,439 incumbent US Democratic Representative, Vincent Gonzalez of McAllen, who defeated Flores in the 44 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:28,240 twenty twenty two regular election. Democrats seemed very confident ahead of the race. 45 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:34,680 The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a memo recently calling the Republican fanfair around Flores's 46 00:04:34,759 --> 00:04:41,439 return delusional. The committee goes on to write that Gonzalez is popular and that 47 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:46,160 he unseated Flora's during what was supposed to be a red wave for Republicans. 48 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:51,040 Flora's initially won the seat in a June twenty twenty two special election. It 49 00:04:51,079 --> 00:04:57,759 was a breakthrough victory for the GOP in South Texas, but redistricting made the 50 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:02,279 seat more favorable for Democrats and Gonzalez won by a healthy margin in November. 51 00:05:08,199 --> 00:05:12,199 We have a favor to ask, would you go to Texas Tribune dot org 52 00:05:12,519 --> 00:05:17,040 slash brief survey to take a five minute listener survey. This is the best 53 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:23,360 way for Texas Tribune journalist to know what works and what doesn't for our podcast. 54 00:05:24,079 --> 00:05:30,720 The link again is Texas Tribune dot org slash brief Survey. We appreciate 55 00:05:30,759 --> 00:05:34,600 your feedback. Our website, Texas Tribune dot org is also where you can 56 00:05:34,639 --> 00:05:40,160 find updates to any of the stories that you heard in today's episode, and 57 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:45,800 follow the Brief podcast for daily news updates wherever you get your podcasts. I'm 58 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:56,560 Stephanie Wolf with the Texas Tribune. You've been briefed. Today's Brief is brought 59 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:02,319 to you by Texas State Technical College. Texas State Technical College has Texans covered 60 00:06:02,879 --> 00:06:08,879 with ten campuses across the state. Students can learn the skills necessary to start 61 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:16,000 a new career. Learn more at TSTC dot edu and here from Adam Kinsinger, 62 00:06:16,639 --> 00:06:21,519 Reno Katur, Katherine Clark, Aaron Franklin, and many others. At 63 00:06:21,519 --> 00:06:28,480 the twenty twenty three Texas Tribune Festival that's happening September twenty first to the twenty 64 00:06:28,519 --> 00:06:33,720 third in Austin. One hundred recently announced speakers join an already stellar lineup who 65 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:38,879 will debate new ideas and take on big issues that matter to Texans and the 66 00:06:38,959 --> 00:06:42,519 nation. Learn more at tripthest dot org.