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The Latest Breaking News from West Texas AM University

Panhandle history museum scrambles to protect 2 million artifacts as it fights permanent closure

With a steep price tag, saving the landmark museum won’t be easy, but area residents and leaders are looking for solutions.

The Texas Tribune

Federal appeals court will reconsider West Texas A&M drag show ban

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday tossed a three-judge panel's earlier ruling that found the ban violated students' free speech rights. The court's 17 judges will rehear the case.

The Texas Tribune

Did the Texas Tribune Hallucinate About Judge Ho's Dissent?

The article misattributed two quotations to Judge Ho. And variants of those quotes appeared in the majority, but there were inexplicable alterations.

Reason

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Fifth Circuit halts West Texas A&M drag show ban as free speech lawsuit continues

In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the school’s prohibition on drag performances, finding students are likely to prove it violates the First Amendment.

The Texas Tribune

Fifth Circuit: West Texas A&M Violated First Amendment by Blocking Student Group's Drag Show

The decision drew a sharp dissent. [UPDATE: The headline originally said Texas A & M, and has since been corrected to West Texas A & M; my apologies.]

Reason

Texas State System dissolves faculty senates, eroding professors' influence on campuses

While other universities move to preserve the advisory bodies, Texas State will abolish them under a new state law that curtails faculty’s influence on campuses.

The Texas Tribune

What Texas lawmakers did after the state’s largest wildfire

A package of bills aims to better prepare the state to prevent and fight wildfires.

The Texas Tribune

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Texas megadonor Alex Fairly joined forces with the GOP’s ultraconservative wing. He didn’t like what he saw.

Fairly, an Amarillo businessman, backed many candidates aligned with conservative West Texas billionaire Tim Dunn’s political operation in 2024. Now he’s disavowing what he says are dishonest and aggressive campaign tactics while pondering his path forward.

The Texas Tribune

Texas A&M can’t ban “Draggieland” drag show, federal judge rules

Judge Lee H. Rosenthal said the student group that organizes Draggieland, the Queer Empowerment Council, was likely to succeed in showing the ban violates the First Amendment.

The Texas Tribune

FIRE Files First Amendment Lawsuit Challenging Texas A&M Drag Show Ban

Texas A&M's Board of Regents voted to ban drag shows on the grounds that they objectify women and violate state and federal policies against promoting "gender ideology."

Reason

Bodybuilding prodigy Jodi Vance, 20, dies from heart attack at Ohio fitness festival, family says

The young bodybuilder’s ‘heart stopped due to complications of severe dehydration’ according to her family

The Independent UK

Texas A&M System bans drag shows from its universities

The move sparked a new First Amendment fight between students and university administrators.

The Texas Tribune

An emerging Texas megadonor just pledged $20 million to “expand a true Republican majority”

Alex Fairly is an Amarillo businessman and father of a state House member who has previously given millions to West Texas A&M University, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott suggests he wants to bar transgender teachers from dressing in line with their gender identity

Abbott made the remarks as he recounted the story of a male teacher in North Texas who wore a pink dress for his school’s spirit day earlier this year.

The Texas Tribune

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The Texas Tribune

U.S. Supreme Court declines to intervene in lawsuit over West Texas A&M drag shows

The decision means university President Walter Wendler could cancel an on-campus drag show next week. He canceled a previous show last year.

The Texas Tribune

West Texas A&M University receives $20 million gift for new institute to promote “Texas Panhandle values”

University leaders say the new Hill Institute will promote values like family life, the free and open exercise of faith, and rugged individualism.

The Texas Tribune

Federal judge sides with West Texas A&M University president who canceled campus drag show

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the student fundraiser featuring drag performers was not protected, raising the stakes for a battle over First Amendment rights and drag shows.

Reason

Federal Judge Declines To Stop Drag Show Ban at Texas College

The judge ruled that drag performances are not inherently expressive and that schools could regulate "vulgar and lewd" conduct.

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The Texas Tribune

West Texas A&M will no longer require students to pay for textbooks starting next fall

The move is an effort to provide relief for college students struggling with the skyrocketing costs of higher education. But professors expressed concerns about the impact the decision might have on their ability to prepare for classes.

The Texas Tribune

West Texas A&M faculty condemn university President Walter Wendler after drag show cancellation

The vote of no-confidence came over Wendler’s handling of the drag show. Faculty said he’s also exhibited poor leadership with other issues.

The Texas Tribune

West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler faces no-confidence vote from faculty after canceling drag show

Faculty say the decision to take a vote on whether to condemn Wendler was the final straw in a host of issues with him.

Reason

This College President Knows the First Amendment Protects the Drag Show He Canceled. He Just Doesn't Care.

"I will not appear to condone the diminishment of any group at the expense of impertinent gestures toward another group for any reason, even when the law of the land appears to require it," he wrote.

The Texas Tribune

West Texas A&M University students file free speech lawsuit after president cancels campus drag show

The lawsuit comes after protests each day this week, calling for university president Walter Wendler to reinstate the drag show and step down.

The Texas Tribune

West Texas A&M University president cancels student drag show, saying it degrades women

Students and First Amendment lawyers say President Walter Wendler’s portrayal of drag shows is off base and the cancellation violates free-speech rights.

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