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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

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Data: OpenSecrets; Chart: Will Chase/Axios

The gun lobby makes Texas-sized donations to the state's congressional delegation.

Details: Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, both Republicans, are among the top three lawmakers whose campaigns or PACs have accepted the most money from the gun rights lobby. 

Why it matters: Lobbying groups spend big on lawmakers to directly influence policy. Powerful interest groups like the NRA, can be what stands in the way of gun safety legislation.

State of play: Three members of the Texas delegation make the list: Cruz at No. 1, Cornyn at No. 3 and U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions at No. 9.

Combined, they have collected more than $1 million from the gun lobby since they first arrived in Congress.

Of note: The figures are much higher if you count indirect contributions, like the NRA's purchase of attack ads against opponents.

Texas lawmakers take home large portion of gun lobby dollars

Powerful interest groups like the NRA, can be what stands in the way of gun safety legislation.

The gun lobby makes Texas-sized donations to the state&#x27;s congressional delegation.Details: Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, both Republicans, are among the top three lawmakers whose campaigns or PACs have accepted the most money from the gun rights lobby.

Politics

News

Travis County commissioners declared a public health crisis Tuesday, responding to the rising number of overdose deaths in the area.

Why it matters: 2021 marked the deadliest year on record for overdose deaths in the county, taking more lives than auto accidents and homicides combined, according to a report by the Travis County medical examiner.

Driving the news: The crisis declaration will allow the county to allocate $350,000 toward harm reduction outreach, staff, and supplies. 

Plus, the move will allow for monthly commissioner's court meetings with community advocates and expand access to overdose reversal medication and safe syringe disposal.

By the numbers: The latest Travis County data shows that 308 people died of an overdose in 2021.

Fentanyl was detected in 118 accidental drug deaths last year, up 30% from the previous year.

Zoom out: Deaths from alcohol and drugs have increased nationwide, but Texas has among the lowest rates in the country, according to a report released this week by health policy organizations.

Alcohol, drug, and suicide-related deaths in Texas still increased, just not by as much as in other states. Texas' combined death rates from suicides, drugs, and alcohol jumped 16% in 2020 compared to 2019. 

The number of Texans dying from synthetic opioids increased 146%, to a rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020 compared to 2019.

Commissioners call overdose deaths a public health crisis

2021 marked the deadliest year on record for fatal overdose deaths in the county.

Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Texas

Travis County commissioners declared a public health crisis Tuesday, responding to the rising number of overdose deaths in the area.Why it matters: 2021 marked the deadliest year on record for overdose deaths in the county, taking more lives than auto accidents and homicides combined, according to a report by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Travis County medical examiner" data-vars-click-url="https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/medical_examiner/docs/annual_report2021.pdf" data-vars-content-id="6dc090a3-f305-490c-8cbb-0e7aea621793" data-vars-headline="Commissioners call overdose deaths a public health crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/medical_examiner/docs/annual_report2021.pdf" target="_blank">Travis County medical examiner</a>.

Former Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho hasn't watched "Moana" or "Frozen" — a fact that left roughly a dozen students' mouths hanging open at the Moody Center on Monday.

Yes, but: They quickly overlooked the sin as the sports analyst and author offered advice on how to achieve their goals and move through adversity: "Put your skills and abilities out there," Acho said.

State of play: Acho is making the rounds at his alma mater. He delivered UT's commencement speech Saturday and sat down with actor Matthew McConaughey on Sunday to discuss his new book, "Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits."

Acho's previous books emerged from his Emmy-winning YouTube interviews, "Uncomfortable conversations with a Black man," which include an episode with McConaughey.

"I got a lot of blowback from both sides," Acho said of the series at the Moody Center event. "Some people were like, 'Hey, Emmanuel, stop being so nice to white people. … Some people, the ones that typically weren't of color, were telling me that I was a race baiter. We have to remember there are extremists on both sides. I try to live in the middle."

Of note: Acho's conversation at the Moody Center's Dell Technologies Club was offered to students from three local high schools receiving technology, education and professional development from the tech giant.

Dell offers programming including the student-led help desk TechCrew and Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) to help underserved students prepare for careers in technology.

Former Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho meets with local students

Acho is making the rounds at his alma mater. He delivered UT's commencement speech Saturday and sat down with actor Matthew McConaughey on Sunday.

Dell Technologies' LaToya Collins-Jones (left) speaks with former University of Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho (right) at the Moody Center. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios

Former Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho hasn&#x27;t watched &quot;Moana&quot; or &quot;Frozen&quot; — a fact that left roughly a dozen students&#x27; mouths hanging open at the Moody Center on Monday.Yes, but: They quickly overlooked the sin as the sports analyst and author offered advice on how to achieve their goals and move through adversity: &quot;Put your skills and abilities out there,&quot; Acho said.

Business

Sports

Data: Giffords Law Center; Chart: Axios Visuals 

In the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said he's prepared to work with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, on gun safety legislation.

Why it matters: So-called red flag laws, which Cornyn said he'd be open to discussing, seem to be the most realistic path for a congressional compromise, Axios' Alayna Treene and Andrew Solender write.

Red flag laws allow law enforcement to temporarily take guns away from those considered to be a threat to themselves or others.

Legislation that would expand background checks and address loopholes in waiting period rules is also being discussed but appears less likely to overcome a Senate filibuster.

Between the lines: The shooter had no known history of mental illness. Authorities have disclosed he entered the school through an unlocked door — and that the school had no armed security guard.

The big picture: At the state level, Republicans and Democrats have found common ground over red flag laws. 

Nineteen states have red flag laws, including in GOP-controlled states such as Florida and Indiana. However, talks in the Texas Legislature stalled in 2018 when Gov. Greg Abbott asked lawmakers to take up the measure. He later dropped the idea after gun advocates and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pushed back.

What they're saying: Cornyn said Tuesday's shooting could provide a new "impetus" to the stalled talks over gun safety legislation, Bloomberg reported.

Both Senate Democrats and Republicans held small-group discussions Wednesday to gauge bipartisan support for the passage of any legislation.

But, but, but: Compromise remains a long way off. Some Republicans bristled at the idea, and many Democrats are skeptical of real progress.

What's next: President Biden will visit Uvalde on Sunday to meet with families.

Cornyn willing to discuss red flag laws with Democrats

Red flag laws could be the most realistic path for a congressional compromise.

In the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said he&#x27;s prepared to work with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, on gun safety legislation.Why it matters: So-called red flag laws, which Cornyn said he&#x27;d be open to discussing, seem to be the most realistic path for a congressional compromise, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Alayna Treene and Andrew Solender write." data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/27855385.64/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjIvMDUvMjUvc2VuYXRlLWJpcGFydGlzYW5yZWQtZmxhZy1sYXdzLXRleGFzLXNob290aW5nP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/611c03ead69ae557c5059a10Bc493fd63" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/27855385.64/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjIvMDUvMjUvc2VuYXRlLWJpcGFydGlzYW5yZWQtZmxhZy1sYXdzLXRleGFzLXNob290aW5nP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/611c03ead69ae557c5059a10Bc493fd63" target="_blank">Axios&#x27; Alayna Treene and Andrew Solender write.</a><ul><li>Red flag laws allow law enforcement to temporarily take guns away from those considered to be a threat to themselves or others.</li><li>Legislation that would expand background checks and address loopholes in waiting period rules is also being discussed but appears less likely to overcome a Senate filibuster.</li></ul>

The political divide over guns was on full and raw display during a Wednesday press conference, just one day after 19 children and two adults were fatally shot at an Uvalde elementary school. 

Driving the news: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke approached the stage, extending a pointer finger toward Gov. Greg Abbott, and interrupting to deliver a message: "This is on you."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick immediately struck back, saying O'Rourke was "out of line and an embarrassment."

The big picture: The news conference underscored the country's discord over how to respond to the rising number of mass shootings. Even as Uvalde parents waited to hear whether their children were dead or alive on Tuesday, politicians fell into familiar camps — a uniquely American tradition amid a recurring tragedy.

State of play: Republican state leaders Wednesday called for mental health reform instead of gun control. Meanwhile, Democrats urged their colleagues to pass laws limiting access to guns or more strictly regulate them. 

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks to the media after interrupting a press conference held by Gov. Greg Abbott. Photo: Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images

Yes, but: Even if the two parties can reach a compromise, the Texas Legislature doesn't convene until 2023.

"Given the past pattern of policy making and the attitudes of Republicans, I don't expect to see more than familiar platitudes and deflection to vague future actions — which are unlikely to amount to anything concrete," Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at UT, told Axios.

Flashback: After the state's previous mass shootings, Texas Republicans pledged to take action to prevent future killing sprees.

But GOP lawmakers have responded with measures that loosen requirements to carry a weapon, most recently passing a law allowing Texans to carry handguns without a license or training.

After the Santa Fe High School shooting in 2018, where 10 were killed, Gov. Greg Abbott asked lawmakers to consider so-called "red flag" laws that would allow courts to take firearms away from those who present a danger. Instead, that session saw measures that strengthened mental health initiatives, allowed more school marshals to carry guns on campuses and gave teachers access to firearms in the classroom.

After the El Paso shooting at a Walmart and the Midland-Odessa shooting, just weeks apart in 2019, state legislators returned to the Capitol only to approve a statewide alert system and pass a measure to make it a crime to lie on a background check.

Republicans overwhelmingly approved a permitless-carry bill last year, allowing anyone who can legally own a gun to carry it without license.

What's next: It's unclear what measures Republican lawmakers will push next session, but Abbott on Wednesday said Uvalde officials told him: "We have a problem with mental health illness in this community."

Just moments before, Abbott said the gunman had "no known mental health history" or criminal history.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan vowed to engage in a "long, very robust discussion about mental health" in the Legislature.

The bottom line: Compromises are short-lived in Texas politics — and it will be months before lawmakers actually return to the Capitol to hammer out any legislation.

Dallas

Dallas Alerts

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Dallas. Written by Michael Mooney and Tasha Tsiperas.

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National

Shooting renews political debate in gun-friendly Texas

As Uvalde parents waited to hear whether their children were alive, politicians fell into familiar camps — a uniquely American tradition amid a recurring tragedy.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke interrupts a press conference held by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott following a shooting Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Photo: Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images

The political divide over guns was on full and raw display during a Wednesday press conference, just one day after 19 children and two adults were fatally shot at an Uvalde elementary school. Driving the news: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O&#x27;Rourke approached the stage, extending a pointer finger toward Gov. Greg Abbott, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="interrupting to deliver a message:" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/25/beto-orourke-abbott-uvalde-texas-mass-shooting" data-vars-content-id="f249cea1-789a-4e3c-b3b5-8652c8dc1932" data-vars-headline="Shooting renews political debate in gun-friendly Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/25/beto-orourke-abbott-uvalde-texas-mass-shooting" target="_self">interrupting to deliver a message:</a> &quot;This is on you.&quot;

Nicole Cobler

Featured stories

Cornyn willing to discuss red flag laws with Democrats

Texas lawmakers take home large portion of gun lobby dollars

Shooting renews political debate in gun-friendly Texas

Commissioners call overdose deaths a public health crisis

Former Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho meets with local students