4 stabbed at Texas home church service; suspect in custody
Four people were stabbed Wednesday during a church service at a Texas home and a man is in custody, police said.
Texas
Judge halts Texas law requiring burial or cremation of fetal tissue
A federal judge on Monday placed a temporary halt on a Texas law requiring abortion providers to dispose of aborted fetal tissue through burial or cremation, saying the state has not shown how the measure has a public health purpose.
Wealthy exodus to escape new tax rules worries California Democrats
The Republican-backed federal tax bill flipped the tables on a never-ending question for California politicians: Will high taxes lead the state’s wealthiest residents to flee the Golden State for the comparable tax havens of Florida, Nevada and Texas?
Sen. Cruz Introduces Legislation to Make Tax Cuts Permanent
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) has introduced a bill that would make the individual tax cuts included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent.
FEMA to Stop Discriminating Against Churches, Synagogues
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a new policy Tuesday that may end the agency’s discrimination against churches, synagogues and other houses of worship in regards to receiving immediate and equal access to federal disaster relief funding.
Texas Church Comes Together for Christmas, Remembers Victims
After facing tragedy less than two months ago, First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas remembered the victims of November’s mass shooting in a special Christmas ceremony.
Congress sends historic tax bill to Trump
House Republicans on Wednesday voted for the second time in two days to pass a major tax overhaul, sending the $1.5 trillion tax cut to President Trump, as promised, just before Christmas.
House GOP pushing $81B disaster relief for hurricanes, fires
House Republicans plan to unveil an $81 billion disaster aid package to help hurricane-ravaged communities and states hit by wildfires, almost double the amount requested by President Donald Trump last month.
Religious schools, homeschoolers to get a boost in GOP tax plan, thanks to Ted Cruz and Mike Pence
Parents would get new federal tax breaks for sending their children to private or religious schools or teaching them at home if the final Republican tax overhaul bill becomes law.
Republicans strike deal on tax package
Republican negotiators on Wednesday said they’ve managed to strike a deal on a $1.4 trillion tax-cut package and that they’ll be prepared to send it to President Trump’s desk next week.
House, Senate conferees to meet publicly Wednesday on tax legislation
The House-Senate conference committee working to finalize a tax bill will meet publicly Wednesday to work on the final version of the legislation, chairman Kevin Brady of Texas announced Friday, and GOP members are also expected to work through the weekend to reach an agreement.
House votes to allow concealed carry across state lines
The House passed legislation Wednesday that would allow concealed carry permit holders from one state to legally carry their guns in other states.
U.S. judge strikes down Texas measure to limit second-trimester abortions
A U.S. district judge on Wednesday struck down parts of a Texas law that would ban the most common type of second-trimester abortions in the state, after plaintiffs argued the procedure was safe, legal and necessary for women’s health.
Churches, non-profits could profit politically under House tax bill
Not only would houses of worship be able to more actively promote political candidates, but so would non-profit groups under a section inserted into the House tax bill an hour before it was due for a key vote.
Bipartisan Bill to Fix Gun Background Check System Introduced in Senate
A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill designed to address failures in the FBI’s gun background check system on Thursday.
Texas town holds 1st Sunday service since church attack
Hundreds of mourners crowded into the tiny town of Sutherland Springs for the first Sunday service since a gunman stormed the First Baptist Church a week earlier, killing more than two dozen people in the worst mass shooting in Texas history.
Judge Gives FEMA 3 Weeks to Change Policy Banning Churches From Receiving Disaster Relief
A Houston federal judge has given FEMA three weeks to decide if its going to change its policy of denying disaster relief to religious institutions, rejecting FEMA’s attempt to delay a challenge by three Texas churches.
Texas Church Where Gunman Massacred 26 Will Be Demolished
The Texas church where more than two dozen people were killed by a gunman during Sunday services will be demolished, the pastor said.
Pence: ‘Bureaucratic failures’ led to Texas church shooting, meets with victims’ relatives
Vice President Mike Pence, visiting the Texas church where a gunman killed 26 worshippers, said Wednesday that ‘bureaucratic failures’ contributed to the tragedy by allowing the murderer to purchase a weapon illegally.
Packing in the Pews: The Connection Between God and Guns
The Good Samaritan credited with causing the Texas church shooter to flee the scene was a churchgoing National Rifle Association (NRA) member, armed with an AR assault rifle.