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Texas Bathroom Bill Dies Again, Raising Republican Acrimony

Members of the Texas House in discussion on Tuesday evening, when the special session was abruptly ended.

AUSTIN, Tex. — A bill to restrict which bathroom transgender people can use in public buildings and schools died in the Texas Legislature on Tuesday evening, a rare defeat for social conservatives in a state they usually dominate.

The failure of the so-called bathroom bill at the end of a special legislative session was the second time in three months that the bill had fallen short, and it deepened the ideological discord within the Texas Republican Party. But it did not kill the issue entirely.

The Republican lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, who pushed for the bill’s North Carolina-style restrictions on transgender bathroom use, virtually guaranteed that the issue would arise again in future legislative sessions. And it is still possible that Gov. Greg Abbott, who supported the bill, will recall lawmakers for a second special session to give the bill another chance at passage.

“You know why it’s going to be back next session? Because the people will demand it,” Mr. Patrick told reporters Tuesday night. “The issue is not going to go away.”

Opponents of the measure, including gay rights activists, corporate executives, transgender Texans and both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, hailed the bill’s demise in the special session as a significant achievement, even if it proves to be short-lived. The Legislature had previously failed to pass it during the regular session that ended in May.

“Defeating this discriminatory and dangerous legislation in Texas is a huge victory that will have an impact far beyond the Lone Star State,” Kasey Suffredini, the acting chief executive of Freedom for All Americans, a national gay rights and transgender rights group, said in a statement.

In the special session, conservative lawmakers passed a version of the bill in the Texas Senate, where Mr. Patrick presides, but the moderate Republicans who lead the Texas House never referred it to a House committee, so it was effectively dead on arrival in the chamber. Another version, written by a House lawmaker, was never given a hearing.

The bills would effectively have required transgender people to use bathrooms, locker rooms or showers corresponding with the sex listed on their birth certificates, not their gender identity, in government buildings and schools.

The procedural moves in the House that killed the bathroom bill were led in large part by the House speaker, Joe Straus of San Antonio, one of the last Bush-style moderate Republicans to hold a prominent post in a state increasingly dominated by the far right. Mr. Straus and his allies in the House worried that enacting a bathroom bill would harm the state’s economy and its business-friendly image, in the same way that North Carolina was hit with boycotts and cancellations of sporting events and concerts after it passed a similar bill last year.

The debate over the bill illustrated the increasingly rightward tilt of Texas politics in recent years.

Mr. Patrick, Mr. Abbott and other Republican leaders pushed for the bill over the objections of many of the state’s corporate leaders and large companies. The state’s political and business leaders typically align on policy issues.

The willingness of social conservatives to break with business interests on the bill showed how far to the right they want to push Texas, while the success of moderate Republicans in killing the bill showed that they still retain some power to pull Texas back toward the center-right.

Business leaders played a pivotal role in persuading moderate Republicans to stand up to the lieutenant governor, the governor and other influential social conservatives. The Texas Association of Business mounted a large and well-financed lobbying campaign against the bathroom legislation, and released studies that forecast billions of dollars in economic losses if it were to pass. IBM took out full-page ads opposing the bill in major Texas newspapers, and corporate giants like American Airlines, AT&T and Texas Instruments warned Mr. Abbott in a letter that the bill “would seriously hurt the state’s ability” to attract jobs and investment.

“For me, having the business community weighing in as strongly as they did to say this would have a chilling effect on the business climate and opportunity in this state is a huge factor,” said Byron Cook, the Republican chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, who refused to hold a hearing on a House version of the bathroom bill during the special session.

Supporters of the bill warned that Mr. Straus, Mr. Cook and others who opposed the measure would pay a price in the 2018 Republican primaries. Grass-roots social conservative activists and voters hold tremendous sway in Texas’s low-turnout primary elections.

Jonathan M. Saenz, president of Texas Values Action, which helped lead the push for the bathroom bill, said that his organization would make the issue a top priority next year and that Mr. Cook and other opponents of the bill “are going to be vulnerable when it comes time for re-election.”

A spokesman for Mr. Abbott, Matt Hirsch, put it even more bluntly: “This is why we have elections.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas had pushed for the bill’s North Carolina-style restrictions on transgender bathroom use. Speaking of the bill’s demise, he said, “You know why it’s going to be back next session? Because the people will demand it.”

Mr. Cook defended his position, pointing out that his committee held a marathon hearing on the bill during the regular session that ended in May. “I think it’s incumbent on officeholders to do what’s right, period,” Mr. Cook said.

The governor convened the special session that began on July 18 and set the agenda for it. The bathroom bill was one of 20 items of business, most of them social conservative priorities that the Legislature failed to pass during the regular session. That regular session devolved into bitter intraparty squabbling toward the end, and the special session ended the same way Tuesday night.

The special session was originally expected to last 30 days and wrap up on Wednesday, but the House abruptly adjourned Tuesday night over a dispute with the Senate on a property tax bill. The Senate followed suit later in the evening.

In a radio interview on Wednesday, Mr. Abbott said he had not ruled out ordering a second special session for the property tax bill, one of his top priorities. If he does so, he could add the bathroom bill to the agenda.

“I’m disappointed that all 20 items that I put on the agenda did not receive the up-or-down vote that I wanted, but more important, that the constituents of these members deserved,” Mr. Abbott said in an interview on KTRH radio. He said the Legislature “had plenty of time to consider all of these items, and the voters of the state of Texas deserved to know where their legislators stood.”

Though only half of the governor’s agenda items were passed, Mr. Abbott’s supporters and aides called the session a success. “Our office believes this special session has produced a far better Texas than before,” said John Wittman, a spokesman for the governor.

But Mr. Abbott’s failure to get the Republican-dominated Legislature to enact his whole social conservative agenda has opened him up to a new round of criticism that he is strong in rhetoric but weak in influence.

“Like his tenure in office, Governor Greg Abbott’s first special session was bad for Texas,” State Representative Eddie Rodriguez, Democrat of Austin, said in a statement. “We’ve gone through this charade at a cost of over $1 million to Texas taxpayers, and we must not make the mistake of coming back for a second.”

Mr. Abbott and Mr. Patrick had strong words for Mr. Straus. The governor, in a series of radio interviews, accused Mr. Straus and the House of moving slowly on his agenda and “wasting time.” Mr. Patrick criticized Mr. Straus for adjourning the House early, a move that helped kill the property tax legislation.

Mr. Straus took a different tack, issuing a statement that refrained from any sharp criticism.

“We considered every idea carefully, listened to constituents and acted on a number of critical issues, such as helping retired teachers,” Mr. Straus said. “House members voted for new limits on property tax growth and significant school finance reforms, but in the short time available, we did not reach final agreement with the Senate on those issues.”

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Tavon Austin out ‘at least’ another week, could miss preseason

Tavon Austin has missed almost all of training camp due to a hamstring injury According to Sean McVay, he’ll be out ‘at least’ another week In addition to missing more practice time, Austin could be sidelined throughout the preseason So, ideally I’d like to say Tavon will get a chance to play in the preseason, but the goal and the main thing that we have in mind is making sure he’s ready for that Colts game. Don’t be surprised to see Austin sidelined until Week 1

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Luxury apartments near Austin Landing now leasing as opening nears

Austin Park, a 226-unit luxury apartment complex, will offer studio, and one- and two-bedroom units when it opens, which is targeted for later this summer. NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF

A multi-million dollar luxury apartment complex in Miami Twp. is leasing units as it prepares to open later this summer.

Austin Park Apartments is offering studio, and one- and two-bedroom units among the 226 apartments off Ohio 741 next to Waldruhe Park just north of Austin Landing.

The Ackermann Group’s project – estimated to cost at least $20 million when it was approved in early 2015 – has studio, one-bathroom units ranging from 468 to 570 square feet starting at $730 a month, according to its website. The largest two-bedroom, two-bath apartments of 1,270 square feet top out at $1,665 a month, officials said.

The complex at 9600 Summit Point Drive plans to open by the end of the summer, but is targeting availability by Sept. 1, officials said.

RELATED: Austin Park approval bringing 500 luxury apartments to Austin area

Austin Park offers access to the 53-acre Waldruhe Park, a bike share program, a “resort-style” pool, a grilling pavilion, a fitness center and a game room, among other amenities, according to its website.

For more information on leasing, call (937) 249-0300 or go to https://liveaustinpark.com/.

RELATED: Hotel among $50M in Austin Landing projects to be complete this summer

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Looking For Austin Housing?

Austin, Texas happens to be one of the more popular places to consider moving to nowadays. This is likely due to the decreased living costs along with the high employment opportunities. Because of this increase, you might find yourself looking for Austin housing sometime soon. Below, we will be going over some of the top tips for finding the best Austin housing opportunities.

Tips For Looking For Austin Housing:

1. Property Finders.

One of the best resources that you can use for finding this kind of housing would be to consider property finders. You should be able to utilize a variety of websites that can help you find various properties of all kinds. Whether you are looking for apartments or homes, you will have a variety of options to consider.

2. Location.

Another important thing that you should be considering when it comes time to choose an Austin home would be the location. Finding a home with an ideal location is a primary thing to consider. Therefore, you will likely want to filter your options based on viable and ideal locations.

3. Neighborhood.

Another major thing that you should be considering is the neighborhood. Ideally, you will want to find a home in a neighborhood that is deemed safe and one that you can see yourself living in. The best way to do this is by simply visiting the neighborhood yourself. By doing this, you will be able to identify the right neighborhood to consider moving to.

By following the tips above, you will not only be able to find a list of apartments or homes that you can consider, but you should be able to find ideal homes to choose as well. Apartment and property locator websites can really help minimize the time that this process takes.

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How to watch Austin Wiley, USA Basketball in 2017 FIBA World Cup: Schedule, streaming info, details

If someone was going to stop Auburn’s Austin Wiley, it wasn’t going to be a player on Angola’s national team.

The 6-foot-11 center dominated on Sunday, recording his first double-double of the 2017 FIBA World Cup in the United States’ 109-68 blowout. After scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the first half, Wiley finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds in 20-plus minutes of play.

RELATED: Austin Wiley notches double-double in USA’s FIBA U19 win over Angola

Along with a standout stat line, Wiley ran the floor, sank free throws and kept showing how valuable he’ll be to the Auburn Tigers during his second college season on the Plains.

Until then, it’s the perfect time for the rising sophomore to be hitting his stride, as FIBA play is really just beginning. The U.S. will take on Italy in its final pool play game Tuesday before continuing on in Cairo, Egypt.

Here’s everything you need to know to follow Wiley:

How can I watch the 2017 FIBA World Cup?

Games will be live streamed on FIBA’s official channel and on FIBA’s YouTube channel.

What time are the remaining USA games in the 2017 FIBA World Cup?

Tuesday, July 4 at 10 a.m. ET vs. Italy

* Times and matchups are TBA for games July 5-9. They’ll be set after pool play.

How does the 2017 FIBA World Cup work?

After three pool-play games for each team, all 16 countries will be seeded according to those results. What follows is a round of 16 on July 5, quarterfinals on July 7, semifinals on July 8, and gold- and bronze-medal and gold-medal games on July 9. The United States, ranked No. 1 in the world, is gunning for its third consecutive U19 gold medal after winning in 2013 and 2015.

Does Austin Wiley have previous international experience?

Yes. Wiley helped the United States’ U17 team snag gold at the world championship in the summer of 2016 in Zaragoza, Spain.

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Why You Should Move To Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas is one of the most popular places to live in the United States. This city boasts a healthy arts scene and there are lots of restaurants and cultural activities to enjoy. The cost of living is reasonable and buy a home is affordable. Read on to learn some of the reasons you might want to consider moving to Austin.

If you love live music, you are going to love living in Austin. You can watch fantastic live bands every night of the week and you can discover all sorts of new groups that you like when you live in Austin. You won’t get bored because there is always something interesting to do when you move there.

Austin is a great place to catch all kinds of shows. There is a great comedy scene and you can watch both famous and up and coming comics do their routine. If you like the performing arts, you can find many different plays, concert performances and even the opera. Austin also has a strong visual arts scene and you can visit one of the many galleries or museums when you live in Austin.

The food scene in Austin is amazing and there are all types of restaurants to choose from. Barbecue is really big in Austin and you can find all kinds of ribs and meat when you go to Austin. The food is amazing and there are many different types of food to choose from when you go to Austin. If you love food, you will love living in Austin.

Another great thing about Austin is the weather. The weather is fantastic there. It does get hot, but there are lots of ways to cool off and the non-summer months are perfect. You don’t have to worry about freezing weather in the winter and you don’t have to worry about snow either. If you hate dealing with long dark and cold winters, you won’t have to deal with them anymore when you move to Austin.

Austin is a great place to live and there are lots of reasons to move there. If you are tired of the weather where you live or you just need to try something new in a place where the cost of living is reasonable and you have a lively arts scene, then moving to Austin could be the right choice.

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What You Might Want To Do If You Travel To Austin Texas This Year

Will you be traveling to Austin in the near future? Have you ever been there before? Once you arrive, you will want to do several fun activities that will be perfect for you and your family. There are destinations that are designed to teach you about the history of Texas to some degree, as well as the development of the city itself. Whether you are looking for something that is fun filled, or just relaxing, here are a couple of ideas that you should consider if you are going to be spending a small amount of time in Austin.

Congress Avenue BATS

This is a very interesting location for one specific reason. It contains the largest urban colony of bats. If you have ever had an affinity toward these nocturnal creatures, this is a place that you should visit just to see them. They come as a result of a migration that they typically do, ending up at this location during the spring. They will reside there until the fall, and then continue to migrate north. You can see them best right at dusk as they go for their evening flight in order to feed on the many different insects that are in the area.

Lady Bird Lake

Although paddleboard in is typically attributed to those that travel to the Caribbean or Hawaii, Austin is warm enough where you can do this on Lady Bird Lake during the summer. It is a Westside city, east of Austin, and the waters are usually very clear and calm. Most people will take this paddleboard trip right about dusk, allowing them to enjoy the sunset. It is always recommended that you bring the proper safety gear, and of course snacks. If you have a waterproof camera, you will definitely want to take that as well, so that you can enjoy this beautiful location.

It is common for people to associate the city of Austin with towering buildings, but it is so much more than that. The combination of this trip to where bats reside, and also taking a sunset paddleboat adventure, will give you a couple unique things to do. Best of all, if you are staying for several weeks, you can take advantage of all of the other attractions that are available. Austin is a beautiful destination that people should visit at least once, and if you get to go, these places will make your trip extra special.

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Tallahassee Apartments For Rent Info

If you are looking for a new apartment, you are going to want to find one available for rent that meets your specific criteria. The best way to do this is by finding an apartment that has everything you need. Below, we will be going over some of the top things to consider when you are looking to find Tallahassee apartments for rent.

Finding Tallahassee Apartments For Rent:

1. Size.

The first thing that you are going to want to do is try to find an apartment that is the size you need. You want to find an apartment that has all of the rooms that you would require including the amount of bedrooms, bathrooms, and more.

2. Budget.

Another thing that you are going to want to do when it comes to finding Tallahassee apartments for rent is to figure out your budget. By figuring out how much money you have available to spend per month on an apartment, you should be able to narrow down your search in order to find the right one to consider. Your budget is going to really mean a big difference when it comes to finding and choosing the right apartment.

3. Location.

Another thing that you are going to want to do is make sure that you find an apartment that has the right location. You want to find an apartment that is either located conveniently to your work or your children’s school or something that is going to be suitable for your needs. The location of the apartment is going to ultimately determine how much you enjoy living at the place. Therefore, you want to be sure that you look at the location and see whether or not it is something you can live with and whether or not it is going to be a good place to raise your family.

4. Ammenities.

Another major consideration that you are going to want to look at is the ammenities that the apartment building offers. By finding an apartment building that offers the best ammenities, you should be able to find one that is going to work for you. Whether the place has a pool or a gym, this might be enough to sway your decision.

In the end, it is going to come down to finding the right apartment for your needs in both the short and long term.

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Why So Many People Enjoy West Palm Beach Florida Vacations

Wherever you go in the state of Florida, there are usually a couple consistent teams. First of all, it is a state where it is primarily warm most of the year, and therefore there will be many outdoor activities. Although there are many cities in central areas of Florida, most of the ones that people visit are going to be on the coast. If you decide to stay in West Palm Beach, you need to book your trip as early as possible if you are going to travel in the spring or summer. The rooms fill up very quickly. If you can get a package deal, book your flight at the same time as your car and hotel, and you will save quite a bit of money. Additionally, as you are making your purchase, you are going to see special offers with discounts on things that you can do. Here are some of the ones that you may actually find as you are planning for your trip to West Palm Beach.

Palm Beach Zoo And Conservatory Society

For those that really do enjoy zoos, you will really like this location. It’s is going to be perfect for people of all ages, and there are also many shady areas. This is especially important if you are bringing young children, or an elderly person with you. There are many different areas with a wide variety of animals that everyone will appreciate. McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is another place that you can visit which actually gets even more visits each year. It’s a great place to not only see animals, but learn about them. Once you are done at the zoo, and also the sanctuary, you can then try some of the other activities.

Snorkeling And Scuba Diving

This is probably one of the most popular areas of this city. It has to do with several of the water activities that the tourists can take part in. One of the most popular is the Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures which is absolutely fantastic. You are going to have the time of your life, whether you are a loan, or if you are bringing friends and family. They have charters that go out into the water, and you can also do snorkeling. You can also learn to dive and experience dolphin encounters. There are many other companies that offer similar services throughout Florida, but this is one that will definitely make you happy.

These are just a few ideas to consider if you are going to be traveling in this area. It’s a great place to stay at the beach, and as long as you have a wonderful hotel, are going to be very happy. Whether you decide to spend most of your time at the beach, or participating in some of these activities that have been presented, you are going to be constantly moving. There is so much to do at West Palm Beach and you will definitely enjoy your time at this wonderful city.

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Why You Should Consider Fort Lauderdale In Florida For Your Next Vacation

One of the most publicized cities in the state of Florida is Fort Lauderdale. You have probably heard of the controversy a beaches where spring break happens every year. It actually gets more press at certain times then Orlando or even Miami. There are a few things you can do their which are actually very fun. Most people do go to see Fort Lauderdale beach. However, there are quite a few other places that you can go, some of which are attractions that you may or may not have heard of. Let’s take a look at some of the favorites that people frequent annually.

The Intracoastal Waterway

When you arrive here, you are going to see an amazing area where beautiful boats are sailing by. It’s also a place where you can take advantage of the Segway tours that will allow you to travel around the city on these unique devices. You can also get on what is called the family pirate cruise, and there is also the private Miami water activity package. There are so many activities related to the water at this one location that you will definitely be preoccupied the entire day.

Jungle Queen Riverboat Cruise

This is actually a very inexpensive trip that you can take with what will usually be a very large crowd. The crowd size will be dependent on the time that you get on the riverboat, and also what month you happen to be there. You can take the cruise along Fort Lauderdale’s New River, and you can see many interesting things. On the side you will see rare plants, macaws, birds, and you may even get lucky enough to see alligators that are wrestling in the waters.

Fort Lauderdale does have many different attractions that you will actually enjoy. From the many different boats that you can take, to the beautiful beach that you will see, it’s really hard to be bored in this community. You can also go on the Water Taxi, or even take a scooter or moped tour. You are going to be absolutely exhausted by the time you are done with even a short vacation if you decide to stay in the Fort Lauderdale area. Just make sure that you have plan your trip accordingly so that you have your hotel, your car rental if necessary, and advanced tickets for many of the attractions that you will want to do.

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Keeping Your Pets Happy Even in Small Apartments

It is difficult to adjust in a small apartment especially if you living in Atlanta but living with a pet in a small apartment is really a challenge because of your belongings and furniture. However, if you are unable to afford expensive large apartment then there is no other option instead of keeping your pet happy in your small apartment. But keep in mind that, now onwards, you have to put more efforts to train it according the new life style. Activity of pets matters a lot for their long and healthy life. Here are some of the steps through which you can easily keep your pets happy as well as healthy in your small apartments:

Exercise

Pets are big commitment for time. In fact, an important rule to keep your pets healthy and happy is to assure that they do exercise regularly. Your pets might not be able to run around play in a small apartment. This will make your pets feel frustrated and cooped. You have to take your pet out for exercise.

Know your pet

Different pets flourish better in small spaces. However, there are some pets that cannot live in the small apartment like dogs, some cats from special breeds. Before buying a dog or cat, do a research about their breeds so that you can properly adjust yourself with them.

Create a doggie haven

Pets feel more relax and comfortable to settle down in one area. Prefer to make a small pet haven for your pets so that they can easily relax and sleep. This will help you in making them calm and quiet. Put a small bed for your pet along with the toys, food and water bowl in the corner of the haven. It is also helpful to train them in better way.

Make a routine

Pets have their own routine and in case of living in small apartments. They can never go out for peeing. Train your pet in a way that whenever you take off for a walk out of the apartment, it could pee and afterwards, it could be in a habit of this. It is also preferable that you fix time to feed him. He will be able to digest food in that particular time period and then take it out of your small spaced apartment so that it can go to bathroom.

Enlist help for daytime

Many pets are more satisfied and happy when they are able to go out of their specific areas. They can stay more active and healthy as well. However, this might be a problem for you to work from 9 to 5 so it is better to hire someone else who can take care of your pet properly in your absence. Now, there are many centers for caring the pets, you can also leave your pet over there.

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