Resolve to Love Pecan Pie

It’s not too difficult a nut to crack, but Texans are nuts about pecans. And who can blame them? A slice of pecan pie with a scoop of Blue Bell’s Homemade Vanilla on top is just about as Texan as one can get. We all know it and so does the Texas Legislature. Through the action of the legislature, the pecan has gained a place of honor in the long list of state symbols. It is represented by the state tree, the state health nut, and, of course, the state pie. So, how does something become a state symbol here in the Lone Star State?

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Take It Down: AI & Deepfakes

Last week, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and several bipartisan colleagues introduced a bill to protect victims of cyberbullying and “revenge porn,” also known as non-consensual intimate imagery. The bill, Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act, or TAKE IT DOWN Act, will, if passed, require a “covered platform,” such as a website, online service, or mobile app, to establish procedures for removal and remove the imagery and any copies upon a valid request from the identifiable individual within 48 hours of the request.

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