Caldwell/Hays Examiner

06/14/2025

EXCLUSIVE: Despite Efforts by City of Lockhart & County Judge to Mislead Public on Threat of Arrest for Display of "No Kings" Materials, Here's the Receipts

The Caldwell County Democratic Party has released emails from their chair's exchange with County Judge Hoppy Haden & Lockhart Mayor Lew White, whereby Alfredo Munoz repeats back what Haden had told him by phone, including the consequence of arrest for residents who dare exercise free-speech rights...

"I was crystal clear about that," the Judge responds, clarifying a few other parts of their conversation but in no way contesting the threat-of-arrest portion.

The Mayor replies all, unbothered by the illegal demand.

06/14/2025

BREAKING: KXAN News Affirms Caldwell County Democratic Party Version of Events in Unconstitutional Effort to Shut Down Anti-Trump Free Speech

Dems brought the receipts, with email from County Judge...

"The city said it “did not state that it would instruct police officers to arrest protesters for exercising their constitutionally protected rights.”

After the city’s statement, the CCDP sent KXAN a pair of emails to support their version of events.

The first of the emails was sent on Thursday night from Munoz to White and Haden... “No Kings are not to hand out literature at any part of CTR not just the parade. I was crystal clear about that,” [Haden] said.

https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/no-kings-protests-lockhart-free-speech/amp/

06/14/2025

BREAKING: New York Times Spotlights Caldwell County Judge's Illegal Pledge to Have Protestors Arrested Tomorrow if they Dare Bring a "No Kings" Sign to Parade

"In an email on Thursday that Mr. Muñoz shared with The New York Times, Mr. Haden reiterated his stance: Anyone associated with the anti-Trump protests “are not to hand out literature,” during the festival.

Mr. Haden added in the note to Mr. Muñoz: “I was crystal clear about that.”

Mr. Muñoz said the judge also told him anyone seen with a sign would be arrested. 'I kept telling him, ‘These are elderly people, and they’re going to be arrested?’”

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/13/us/la-protests-trump-ice?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare -democrat-in-texas-says-he-was-warned-against-displaying-no-kings-signs-at-a-local-parade

06/13/2025

A magnificent sermon on the dangers of patriarchy is lined up for the Father’s Day service at San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday.

Sometimes our victims can be our saviors. Mary Daly, a Roman Catholic theologian and philosopher, was appalled at Vatican II in 1965 by the contrast she observed between the 2500 men, bishops dress…

06/13/2025

BREAKING: Caldwell County Judge Threatens Arrests Over “No Kings” Themed Parade Float

Today, the Caldwell County Democratic Party issued the following statement regarding attempts to suppress free speech at the upcoming Chisholm Trail Roundup Grand Parade:

"Earlier this week, Caldwell County Democratic Party (CCDP) Chair Alfredo Munoz was contacted by Caldwell County Judge Hoppy Haden and Lockhart Mayor Lew White demanding the CCDP refrain from having any signs or literature saying “No Kings” on our Chisholm Trail Roundup parade float. Judge Haden threatened that Lockhart Police Chief Gary Williamson would have anyone with “No Kings” materials arrested on the spot.

"I am deeply alarmed and disappointed both by the decision to suppress constitutionally protected free speech and the false characterization of our float as a public safety threat," said Munoz. "Using law enforcement to silence expression in such a partisan manner is unacceptable."

The CCDP has participated in the parade for years, consistently displaying signs that reflect our values—a tradition that has earned us first place in our category for the past two consecutive years.

The CCDP never imagined that a “No Kings” theme would be controversial in the United States of America. Ironically, this heavy-handed response demonstrates why our message isn't just theoretical—it's urgently needed. Although we are forced to change our float to comply with Haden’s demands, these fear tactics will not deter us from peacefully participating in the parade.

The parade should be about coming together as a community to celebrate our shared love for Lockhart and our local heritage, not about imposing the very tyranny our message opposes."

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The above is a press release sent to the Examiner & other media outlets

06/11/2025

Happy to see our June edition make a discrete cameo in this good-news post from Martindale River Cafe!

We’ve missed y’all and we’ve seriously missed live music in the courtyard! So we’re finally opening up more hours. Yay! Evening live music is back for the summer, and we’re bringing Thursdays back too, just like the good old days. Music kicks off this Saturday from 7-9pm, and we’ll be rolling with live music every Friday and Saturday night all summer long. Maybe even more…who knows?

Check out our new schedule below - we can’t wait to see y’all.

THURSDAY | 9am-3pm

FRIDAY + SATURDAY | 9am-9pm (kitchen siesta 3-5pm)

SUNDAY | 9am-3pm

06/10/2025

A new group, Step Up San Marcos, held a protest on May 30 that drew over a hundred peaceful demonstrators.

Their next protest is planned for Saturday, June 14 at 5PM: the very day Trump is throwing himself a birthday party in DC estimated to cost taxpayers $46 million dollars.

"No Kings" demonstrations will be held nationwide that day, including in Hays County.

**In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.** NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political v...

06/10/2025

Juania Sueños, illustrious editor of the Examiner’s monthly Lit section — Letras y Disparates, curated by Infrarrealista Review — has a book coming out this fall!

Pre-orders now available:

ISBN: 978-1-957840-43-7Hybrid Poetry CollectionAvailable September 15, 2025How can we make sense of what’s been erased? Topography of a Border/line Bird is a dream lost in the smoke of the destruction of the selves and reconstructed with raw tenderness. Its playful, multi-genre form mimics a mind ...

06/10/2025

Consultas migratorias gratis en San Marcos este jueves

06/06/2025

06/06/2025

After San Marcos City Council defeated the police push for mass surveillance, the Examiner got our first-ever $35/month sustainer!

This donor told us they are impressed by the crucial educational role we played in hosting a public forum on the dangers of Flock cameras; our work alerting regional media to the pending vote; & our diligence in attending the meeting until it ended early Wednesday morning, becoming the first news outlet to report the statewide-precedent-setting results...

40 people currently support the Examiner by way of a sustaining monthly gift – any chance you'd care to join them (for as little as $8/month) in advancing our important work?

06/05/2025

BREAKING: Hope for GARY JOB CORPS, as Trump Tries to Suspend its Operations?

A U.S. District Judge in New York has temporarily halted the administration's plans to close the popular educational facilities nationwide...

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-blocks-trump-administrations-effort-eliminate-job-corps-2025-06-04/