Cuero, Texas - Oct 29, 2024

 The Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum (CTHM) hosted a heartfelt retirement party for its esteemed Executive Director, Sharon Weber. The event was a warm and joyous occasion, bringing together a diverse group of city and community officials as well as devoted community members.  They all gathered to honor Sharon’s incredible contributions and dedication to the museum since she became Executive Director in 2017.

The atmosphere at CTHM was filled with nostalgia and appreciation as attendees shared fond memories and stories of Sharon’s impactful leadership. Her commitment to preserving the rich history of the Chisholm Trail has left a lasting legacy that will be cherished for years to come.  Throughout her tenure, Sharon marked several significant achievements, such as the inauguration of the English-German School, the unveiling of Peebles Park, and the introduction of the Steen Roundabout. The museum, under her guidance, acquired five substantial bronze statues that now adorn the museum grounds, a testament to the generous contributions from supportive families.

Sharon also hosted many major exhibitions and forged significant partnerships with prestigious institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the Witte Museum in San Antonio. Her efforts and vision elevated the museum’s stature and enriched the community’s cultural heritage.

As Sharon steps into this new chapter of her life, she is eager to devote her time to her five beautiful grandchildren, embracing every opportunity to create precious memories with them.

Her departure marks the end of an era, but her influence and passion will continue to inspire those who follow in her footsteps. The community extends its heartfelt gratitude to Sharon Weber for her unwavering dedication and wishes her a retirement filled with love, joy, and family.

In a concerning development, a government purchased tool known as Locate X is being used to track the movements of women entering abortion clinics. Signaling a new tactic by anti-abortion groups that could soon get the backing of law enforcement.  This tool, developed by Babel Street, leverages smartphone location data to monitor individuals without their knowledge or consent.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, Texas has been under a near-total abortion ban, and many women have gone outside the state to seek the procedure. Now interstate travel has become a target for the anti-abortion movement.

Locate X can pinpoint the location of smartphones, allowing law enforcement agencies to track the movements of individuals visiting sensitive locations such as abortion clinics. This capability has raised alarms among privacy advocates, who argue that such surveillance infringes on personal privacy and could be used to target women seeking reproductive healthcare.

Recently, a Texas man, Collin Davis, alleged that his ex-girlfriend underwent an abortion in Colorado. His attorney, Jonathan Mitchell, who is noted for his anti-abortion stance, submitted a legal petition in Texas to gather information potentially useful for a subsequent lawsuit.   The petition asks a state district court for permission to depose Davis’ ex-partner along with other people he claims may have helped her access an abortion out of state in Colorado.

Mitchell writes in the petition that any findings could be considered in a possible future lawsuit under a Texas law he helped develop, which allows citizens to sue anyone they believe has, quote, aided or abetted an abortion. Mitchell writes that his client was also considering a suit under Texas’ wrongful death statute.

This is all being done legally and with technological advancements like Locate X women could find themselves losing even more rights.  The use of Locate X comes as several states consider implementing stricter abortion laws. By tracking the phones of women entering abortion clinics, authorities could potentially gather data to enforce these laws more aggressively. This has sparked fears that women seeking abortions could face increased scrutiny and legal repercussions.

Privacy advocates have highlighted the invasive nature of this technology, noting that it can monitor individuals’ movements without a warrant.  This lack of oversight raises significant ethical and legal concerns, particularly regarding the right to privacy and bodily autonomy.

The deployment of Locate X underscores the growing tension between technological advancements and individual privacy rights. As the debate over reproductive rights continues, the use of such surveillance tools will likely remain a contentious issue, prompting calls for greater transparency and regulation to protect personal freedoms.