Houstonians Lizzo and Beyoncé Change Songs and Aid Inclusivity. Gov Abbott's Cruel New York Stunt Backfires: This Edition of the Texas Observer

Two Houston natives -- Beyonce and Lizzo -- are embraced by some disability advocates for changing their songs. Governor Abbott's cruel taxpayer fueled busing of asylum seekers to New York may be backfiring. Meanwhile, the governor faces uncertainty over power grid issues within ERCOT. We also take a look at junk forensic science that has sent innocents to their death. All in this edition of The Texas Observer

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- GREG ABBOTT'S FOUL SPECTACLE
Governor Greg Abbott's taxpayer-funded, election-year stunt—busing hundreds of asylum seekers from Texas to New York City—is backfiring.
"He treats people like cattle," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. Despite the criticism, the governor isn't blinking. Contributor James Dobbins dissects Abbott's dehumanizing spectacle.

ABBOTT AND ERCOT KEEP TEXANS IN THE DARK
The lights are on, but it is hard to see what is going on inside ERCOT. A new ERCOT board has picked a new CEO behind closed doors under the watchful eye–and guiding hand–of the governor, who is facing a political risk in November because Texans don't trust the grid.
Meanwhile, the release of the Legislature's own report on the grid is looming, reports staff writer Justin Miller.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF JUNK SCIENCE AND BAD FORENSICS
Bad forensics, at least in part, led Texas to wrongfully execute Cameron Todd Willingham, Tommy Lee Walker, and David Wayne Spence, says M. Chris Fabricant, author of Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System.
Staff writer Michelle Pitcher interviewed the longtime Innocence Project attorney about his new book and his hopes to "change the narrative around the infallibility of forensics."

QUEEN BEY INADVERTENTLY 'ELEVATES THE CONVERSATION' AROUND ABLEISM
Contributor Craig D. Lindsey unravels the latest Twitter controversy surrounding both Lizzo and Beyoncé and how the changing of their ableist lyrics is setting the tone for more inclusivity.

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