Your weekend is here, Texas, and it's time to take a look back at some of the stories that were in our headlines this week.
Your Weekend Weather
We’ll see a a good amount of sunshine and warmth this weekend and a touch of storm activity into North Texas overnight. Monday will be pleasant, then widespread rains move in once again for up to five days!
Take a look at your local weekend forecast: Austin | San Antonio | Dallas
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Watch the latest news and more local stories from across the country.
Watch the latest news and more local stories from across the country.
The Week in Review
1. Gunman who killed 23 in racist attack at Texas Walmart is offered plea deal to avoid death penalty
The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart near the U.S.-Mexico border in 2019 would avoid the death penalty under a plea offer announced Tuesday, abruptly ending years of efforts by prosecutors to see that he face execution by lethal injection.
El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya said during a news conference that his decision in the prosecution of Patrick Crusius, who drove across the state to commit one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, was driven by a majority of victims' relatives who wanted the case behind them.
2. Sen. Ted Cruz pushes for voucher bill in Texas, calls Signal text group ‘a screwup’
As Texas’ so-called "Big Three" state leaders amplify the voices of school voucher proponents, one of their biggest champions in the U.S. Congress is Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. He was recently recognized on the Texas House floor for his advocacy.
“The Texas Legislature is on the verge of passing the most far-reaching school choice program ever adopted in any state, and that’s incredible for giving hope to millions of kids across the state of Texas. I believe every child in Texas, every little boy, every little girl, deserves access to an excellent education, and that should be regardless of your race, regardless of your ethnicity, your wealth or your zip code,” Cruz told Spectrum News.
3. Bill that would have put Austin under state control voted down in Texas House
Lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have turned Texas’ capital city into the state-controlled “District of Austin.”
Republican Deer Park Rep. Briscoe Cain’s House Bill 274, filed last November, was brought before the Committee on State Affairs, where it died when it received zero votes.
4. Texas AG investigating insurance company accused of spying on lawmakers, journalists, other Texans
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday that he has launched an investigation into one of the state’s Medicaid insurance providers after allegations that the company illegally spied on Texans.
The state is investigating insurance company Superior HealthPlan for allegedly using private investigators to perform surveillance and gather potentially confidential information on lawmakers, journalists and other Texans. Superior HealthPlan provides Medicaid coverage to adults and children, as well as coverage for the Children’s Health Insurance Program in Texas.
5. The woman who killed Tejano music icon Selena in 1995 has been denied parole
The woman convicted of killing Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Perez has been denied parole after spending decades behind bars for fatally shooting the young singer at a Texas motel in 1995, the state’s parole board announced Thursday.
6. Rep. Randy Weber files censure resolution against Rep. Jasmine Crockett
A resolution to censure Rep. Jasmine Crockett for her comments on Gov. Greg Abbott was introduced by Rep. Randy Weber on Wednesday.
On March 22, Crockett was speaking at a Human Rights Campaign event in Los Angeles when she referred to the governor as “Governor Hot Wheels” and a “hot a** mess,” according to the resolution.
Around the Nation
1. Trump announces 25% tariff on foreign-made cars and trucks beginning April 2
One week before the United States is expected to impose reciprocal tariffs on all of its global trading partners, President Donald Trump announced that auto tariffs will be 25% on foreign-made cars and light trucks. The tariffs will take effect on April 2 he said before signing an executive order designed to spur increased domestic car manufacturing.
A Look Ahead
Taking over Zilker Park with a sky full of kites, thousands of Austinites will participate in the ABC Kite Fest on April 5, an event created by The Exchange Club in 1929.
