Without that unity, Patrick said state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, could win the U.S. Senate race, The Dallas Morning News reported.

State House Speaker Justin Burrows said he believes the GOP will keep its majority in the chamber but agreed unity is critical.

“We’ve got to be on the same page,” Burrows said. “We’ve got to be working and rowing in the same direction.”

Democrats, who have not held a majority in either chamber in more than 20 years, would have to flip 14 Republican seats to achieve a majority in the 150-member House.

DATA CENTERS SET TO GET BILLIONS IN TAX BREAKS

An exemption for the state’s booming data center industry means Texas will lose $3.2 billion in sales tax revenue over the next two years, The Texas Tribune reported.

Lawmakers say they will consider proposals to either limit the tax break or eliminate it altogether when they meet in January for the next legislative session.

“These new numbers are extremely concerning, and I will say they’re unsustainable,” said state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, the chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Finance. “I plan to look at filing legislation to either repeal the exemption or take a very close look at it and see.”

The tax break was approved by lawmakers in 2014, when there were far fewer data centers and they were much smaller. If nothing changes, exemptions could reach $1.75 billion annually by 2030.

The state already has more than 300 active data centers, with more than 100 additional projects either under development or planned.

TEXAS COULD FACE $700 MILLION IN SNAP PENALTIES

New federal rules designed to cut waste in the nation’s food stamp program means Texas taxpayers will have to pay $700 million more each year to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, The Tribune reported.

Officials with Texas Health and Human Services disclosed this to lawmakers at a recent committee hearing.

Almost 9% of the state’s SNAP payments had an error, slightly better than the national rate of 11%. Texas has until October 2027 to bring the error rate down below 6%. The error rate is based on unintentional mistakes by either the agency or the client receiving the benefits that result in an overpayment or underpayment Nearly one-fourth of the state’s population gets some type of assistance from Texas Health and Human Services.

“We are dealing today with a health care epidemic, but not from a disease or virus,” said Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, the committee chairwoman. “With scandals in places like Minnesota and California drawing national attention, we, as Texans, must examine our own system and see how we measure up to other states.”

COURT PAUSES SMOKABLE CANNABIS BAN, HIGHER FEES

A Travis County district judge has temporarily lifted a statewide ban on the sale of smokeable hemp products, The Texas Tribune reported. The temporary restraining order is in effect until at least April 23, when another hearing is scheduled.

Texas hemp companies sued to block new state rules that have wiped out a huge portion of the legal cannabis market, the Texas Standard reported. The rules took effect March 31 and prevented stores from selling smokable hemp products and vastly increased licensing fees.

Smokable products make up the vast majority of hemp sales in the state.

“I estimated that flower is about half the market and smokable products put together including vapes are about two-thirds of the market,” said Robin Goldstein, a University of California economist who researches cannabis markets. He said the Texas market had about $4 billion in retail sales annually.

The plaintiffs are also suing over a jump in annual licensing fees for manufacturers from $250 to $10,000. Retailers must now pay $5,000 per store, up from $150.

“These provisions function not merely as regulatory tools, but as significant economic barriers not authorized by statute,” the lawsuit contends.

The suit was filed by the Texas Hemp Business Council, the Hemp Industry and Farmers of America, and eight Texas-based hemp companies.

STATE TO LAUNCH STATEWIDE FOOD PERMIT JULY 1

The Department of State Health Services will begin offering statewide operating permits for food trucks in Texas beginning July 1, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

Food truck owners currently must pay each city’s permitting fees to operate there, which discourages them from traveling to other places to sell their food.

“It’s a hassle to take time off to go and do that where we have to stop what we’re doing and lose money that day,” said Dallas food truck owner Eloisa Schessler.

Some cities opposed the new law, fearing they may lose control of how mobile food trucks operate in their jurisdictions. They will still be able to control where and when food trucks operate, but they will not be able to collect permit and inspection fees.

TEXAS’ JOB GROWTH CONTINUES TO OUTPACE NATIONAL RATE Texas added 40,100 nonfarm jobs in January to reach 14,379,500 positions, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.6 percentage points, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

“Texas employers continue to spur our state’s economic momentum, adding more than 40,000 jobs across a wide range of major industries,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “TWC remains committed to supporting Texas’ pro-growth policies and world-class talent pipeline that make Texas the best place to do business.”

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the state remained at 4.3%, which is below the national jobless rate of 4.7%.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders @texaspress.com.

In February, the Trump administration waived more than two dozen environmental laws to clear the way for a 150-milelong wall through West Texas, including Big Bend and the adjoining state park. Opposition quickly arose from people and politicians from both parties.

The sheriffs of Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Presidio and Terrell counties — a mix of Democrats and Republicans — wrote an open letter that said: “Based on decades of combined experience working with this terrain, we believe that construction of a continuous physical border wall in the Big Bend region would not represent the most practical or strategic approach to border security in this area.”

Now, a map on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website no longer indicates plans to construct a physical wall in the Big Bend region. It is unclear if those plans are final, since the map has been changed several times in the past few weeks.

The rugged area historically has been the leastbusy of the nine Border Patrol sectors, accounting for just 1.3% of the 237,538 apprehensions recorded along the entire U.S.-Mexico border during the last fiscal year.

STATE SUED FOR LACK OF PRISON AIR CONDITIONING

The Texas government is now on trial in an Austin federal court to determine whether it must provide air-conditioning in state prisons, kut.org reported. Inmates and their attorneys have argued for decades that summer conditions — where temperatures can reach 110 degrees — constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

“The Constitution requires living conditions that are not exposing individuals to high heat levels, and the evidence has consistently shown that what (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) has done as an alternative has just not been effective,” attorney Brandon Duke said. “It’s not a solution.”

The state counters that it is bringing more AC online at its prisons. Plaintiff attorneys say at least five inmates have died in Texas from heat-related illness since 2023.

TDCJ officials said it would cost $1.5 billion to install air-conditioning systems at all state prisons, and that Texas lawmakers must approve the funding.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman is expected to rule from the bench after the trial concludes.

CAMP MYSTIC FILES APPLICATION TO REOPEN THIS SUMMER

Camp Mystic has filed an application with the state to reopen this summer, the Houston Chronicle reported. More than two dozen children and two camp counselors were killed in the July 4 flash floods that swept the camp. The Texas Department of State Health Services, which oversees camp licensing, said it has received complaints about the camp and that it will be “investigated for violations of the laws and rules governing youth camps.”

DSHS has been sued by the parents of nine victims who contend the camp was wrongfully licensed just two days before the disaster last summer, even though it lacked an evacuation plan. In a separate case, a Travis County judge has ordered Camp Mystic to preserve for future examination the cabins and grounds damaged in the floods.

Camp leaders are asking for permission to open its Cypress Lake campus, which they said is “in compliance with all aspects of the state’s new camp safety laws and has implemented additional safety measures that exceed the requirements of those laws.”

TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER PAY DROPS

A new report from the University of Houston Education Research Center indicates average pay for Texas public school teachers has dropped about $5,000 over the past decade, the Chronicle reported. The decrease comes even as the cost of living has increased during that time span.

“When we look at those regional differences, there are some increases across the state, but really what we’re seeing is that average teacher salaries haven’t kept up with inflation,” said Toni Templeton, the Education Research Center’s senior research scientist.

Average base pay for the state’s most experienced teachers, those with 11 or more years of experience, has declined from about $73,000 to about $66,000 in 202425, according to the report.

The Legislature has approved pay increases based on teachers’ years of experience, and those raises could show up in future studies.

SPACEX PLANNING WHAT COULD BE BIGGEST-EVER IPO

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is confidentially planning to sell shares to the public in what could be the largest initial public offering in history, the Austin American-Statesman reported. It has filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission that indicates it could raise as much as $75 billion in an IPO by July.

The confidential filing allows companies to get feedback from regulators without revealing information to competitors. However, SpaceX will have to release a public filing at least 15 days before its IPO “road show,” when it presents its financial plan to potential underwriters and institutional investors.

SpaceX has become the world’s leading commercial rocket launch company. Over the past five years, it has secured $6 billion in contracts from the federal government.

TDI HELPS STOP $400 MILLION MEDICARE SCHEME A Texas Department of Insurance investigator and crime analyst played a key role in arresting a Russian national who submitted $400 million in fake Medicare claims. Nikolai Buzolin established a durable medical equipment company in Houston in 2025. He is charged with stealing patients’ and doctors’ identities to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare Part C.

“A few of the patients checked their explanation of benefits and noticed that they were getting medical equipment that they didn’t need. And it was coming from doctors they’d never met,” said TDI Fraud Unit investigator Sgt. Kevin Mannion.

FBI agents arrested Buzolin as he was boarding a plane in Los Angeles to Russia. He faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

“TDI works with federal, state and local partners to follow cases wherever they go, whether it’s California or right here in Texas,” Mannion said. “We track them down, we shut them down and we help dismantle these criminal activities.”

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published communit y newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders @texaspress.com.

“Kelly Hancock was rejected by Texans because he failed to do his job. He failed to take me down during impeachment, and his career is over,” Paxton wrote on X. “It’s time for him to be fired.”

Before his appointment as acting comptroller, Hancock served in the Texas Senate and was one of two Republican state senators who voted to convict Paxton in his impeachment trial. Paxton was acquitted.

The latest dispute comes after Hancock sent a letter to Paxton and to federal officials, calling for stripping the Houston Quran Academy of its charter because of alleged ties to CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights advocacy organization. Abbott has designated that group a foreign terrorist organization.

The academy is suing to overturn the designation.

TEXAS POISED TO LEAD NATION IN DATA CENTERS

Texas is poised to lead the nation by 2030 in the number of data centers, the Austin American- Statesman reported, surpassing Virginia. The state currently has 6.5 gigawatts of data center capacity under construction, accounting for 20% of the capacity added to the U.S. pipeline last year. One gigawatt can power about 750,000 homes on average.

Data centers provide the infrastructure to support both crypto currency facilities and the growth of artificial intelligence. The centers require huge amounts of power and water to operate. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates most of the state’s power grid, said the continuing growth in data centers will increase Texas energy demand by 71% in the next five years.

Central Texas has become the top data center market in the country. The American-Statesman identified at least 55 completed or planned projects between Temple and San Antonio in 2025.

$116 MILLION IN FIFA SAFETY GRANTS ANNOUNCED

The city of Houston and the North Central Texas Council of Governments, areas hosting FIFA World Cup events, will receive $116 million in grants to provide for safety personnel, equipment and other public safety needs, the Governor’s Office has announced.

“The FIFA World Cup coming to Texas gives our state a premier opportunity to showcase all it has to offer,” Abbott said in a news release. “These public-safety grants will help ensure that travelers visiting and traveling throughout Texas can enjoy our great state safely, will bolster Texas’ efforts to combat crime, and help prevent potential acts of violence.”

The money is coming from the federal government under the omnibus budget bill passed last year, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The budget provides $625 million in federal funding to host cities across America. The funds are allocated for recipients to provide extensive security to protect venues, players, staff and attendees against potential terrorist attacks.

LICENSE SEEKERS WILL HAVE TO PROVE THEY’RE IN COUNTRY LEGALLY

Anyone seeking a professional license in Texas, from barbers to dog breeders, will have to prove they are in the country legally after May 1, The Texas Tribune reported. The state’s Commission on Licensing and Regulation last week adopted a new rule that could affect thousands of workers.

A long line of speakers at a hearing urged the commission not to adopt the rule, arguing it will hamper the state’s economy and push people to work without a license. The commission oversees the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

“TDLR has long been evaluating verification of license eligibility in line with federal law. With the transfer of the Texas Lottery to TDLR, the recent launch of our licensing system modernization project, and increased focus on combatting human trafficking, the department is moving forward with lawful presence verification,” said Caroline M. Espinosa, a TDLR spokeswoman.

TDLR attorney Derek Burkhalter told commissioners that some non-citizens will still be able to get licenses if they are here legally; for example, if they were granted asylum or admitted as a refugee.

“The proposed rules do not impose a citizenship requirement,” Burkhalter said. “Individuals who are not U.S. citizens may still be eligible for licensure if they meet the eligibility criteria.”

PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLIST FATALITIES INCREASE

With spr ing and warmer weather here, there are more pedestrians and cyclists out on the road.

More than 20% of all Texas traffic fatalities involve either pedestrians or cyclists, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, which is urging drivers to know and follow the rules for sharing the road.

In 2024, 852 cyclists and pedestrians were killed in crashes on Texas roads. There were 6,095 crashes involving pedestrians and 2,761 crashes involving bicyclists. In 2025, there were 1,372 traffic crashes involving pedestrians in Texas and 527 traffic crashes involving bicyclists. In these crashes, 186 people were killed.

“All of us share a responsibility to watch out for each other, but people on foot or riding a bike are most at risk for serious injury or worse in a crash with a car, which means drivers must be extra vigilant,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said.

SLIGHTLY LESS ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON PREDICTED

Hurricane season is a little more than two months away, and weather media outlet AccuWeather is predicting a slightly less active season this year than in 2025, the Houston Chronicle reported. However, Texas and the Gulf Coast are still at risk of being hit.

AccuWeather forecasts 11 to 16 named storms, including four to eight hurricanes. Of those, one to three are expected to become Category 3 or strong hurricanes, with winds of at least 111 mph. Three to six storms could directly hit the United States, including one to three along the Gulf Coast, putting Texas and neighboring states at risk.

Last year was the first since 2015 without a hurricane making a direct U.S. landfall. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published several community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders @texaspress.com.

The judge also ordered the application deadline for families be extended to March 31, citing concerns that no Islamic schools had been approved for the program.

“We received an invitation to register … from Odyssey. We were able to register, and we got approval immediately upon finishing the registration form,” said Hamed Ghazali, principal of the Houston Quran Academy. “In addition, our school appeared on the parents’ portal and some of our parents were able to register, choosing our school.”

The voucher program gives as much as $10,400 for tuition reimbursement and other fees to parents who send their children to private school next year, up to $30,000 for parents of children with disabilities, and up to $2,000 for homeschooled children.

TEXAS SENATE RUNOFF BALLOT DEADLINE PASSES

The deadline for Republican candidates to withdraw from the May runoff ballot has passed, and both U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remain in the race, The Texas Tribune reported. Not long after the primary, President Donald Trump promised to endorse one of the candidates “soon,” but has yet to do so.

Cornyn, who held a narrow lead in the primary but not a majority, recently wrote an op-ed piece reversing course on his opposition to ending the filibuster, which requires 60 votes for Senate approval of legislation.

The Senate last week started floor discussion of the SAVE America Act, a bill Trump claims would “guarantee the midterms” for Republicans. Both Cornyn and Paxton now back the bill, which calls for proof of U.S. citizenship.

There is little chance of the bill passing the Senate because of the filibuster, since all 47 Senate Democrats oppose it, calling it a modern-day poll tax. There also does not appear to be enough support for ending the filibuster, which would allow the bill to pass with a simple majority.

Whoever wins the GOP Senate runoff will face state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, in November.

CHÁVEZ OBSERVANCE SCRAPPED AFTER ABUSE ACCUSATIONS

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to no longer observe César Chávez Day and said he plans to ask lawmakers to remove the holiday from state law, The Dallas Morning News reported. The move came after The New York Times reported Chavez, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, groomed and sexually abused girls and women who worked in the movement.

In addition, many Texas cities and school districts are considering renaming streets and schools and removing monuments to the famed labor leader.

“Let me be clear — no political affiliation, legacy or historic contribution should ever shield sexual predators from scrutiny or excuse the harm inflicted on survivors,” Dallas Councilman Adam Bazaldua said in a Facebook post.

The co-founder of the UFW, Dolores Huerta, now 96, said Chavez forced her to have sex and raped her at one point. Huerta said that she kept silent to protect the farmworker movement.

DRAG SHOW BAN FINALLY TAKES EFFECT

A ban on certain public drag shows passed in 2023 finally took effect last week after a federal appeals court reaffirmed its constitutionality, The Texas Tribune reported. The law prohibits performers from performing on public property or where children are present.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cheered the ruling in a news release, writing, “I will always work to shield our children from exposure to erotic and inappropriate sexually oriented performances.”

The plaintiffs and the ACLU of Texas, which represents them, said they plan to continue fighting the ban.

“The law’s vague and sweeping provisions still create a harmful chilling effect for drag artists and those who support them, while also threatening many types of performing arts cherished here in Texas, from theater to ballet to professional wrestling,” ACLU Texas attorney Brian Klosterboer said in a statement.

$16 BILLION GAS POWER PLANT PLANNED IN EAST TEXAS

One of the nation’s largest energy projects is coming to East Texas, according to The Dallas Morning News. It is part of a $550 billion investment package that Japan pledged last October and will be built in Anderson County.

The $16 billion natural gas-fired power generation hub will be able to serve up to five gigawatts of energy demand and will be operated by NextEra Energy Resources, a wholesale electricity provider based in Juno Beach, Florida.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited President Donald Trump at the White House last week. The administration has previously said the East Texas project will provide power to meet booming electricity demand, particularly as new data centers come online across the state.

147 MEASLES CASES IN TEXAS THIS YEAR

The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported at least 147 cases of measles in Texas this year, with most occurring in federal detention facilities, The Texas Tribune reported. The largest outbreak, with 99 cases, is at the West Texas Detention Facility, which is privately operated in Hudspeth County.

A DSHS spokesperson said the “state’s role inside federal facilities is very limited,” so detailed information on contact tracing, vaccine response, or any demographic information on infected individuals is not available.

Another 20 cases have been reported in El Paso, Bexar, Bandera, Kendall, Lubbock, and Rockwall counties, according to DSHS, and were contracted from a variety of sources, such as international travel.

Measles is highly contagious and is especially dangerous to unvaccinated children, pregnant women and adults with compromised immune systems. It also has a long incubation period.

AGENCY LAUNCHES LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM ACROSS STATE The Texas Department of State Health Services has launched a new sterilization program for dogs and cats after receiving $13 million in state funding to support the initiative for two years. The funds are allocated to 38 applicants to perform these procedures across the state. Grant recipients had to demonstrate the ability to provide high-volume, high-quality and low-cost spay and neuter services.

“The program is designed to maximize sterilization impacts across both urban and rural communities in Texas. Receiving funding were animal shelters and rescue entities, veterinary clinics, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations that perform sterilization procedures,” the news release said.

To discover which entity is serving your area, visit this link: https://tinyurl. com/5zkzu5bm.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texas press.com.

We celebrate Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, the Sunday before Easter.

Does this day prompt recollections of Jesus’ last days before crucifixion? This week in April A.D. 33 was a hopeless one — dark days without direction and seemingly no future for His followers.

I think it’s good to focus on events of Jesus’ last week: what He did, what He knew, what He chose. No one killed Him, for He chose death this path (Hebrews 12:2). Most people are too busy to focus on the days of that momentous week, but you will benefit much from this timely focus.

His triumphal entry into Jerusalem is what we now call Palm Sunday.

Monday, he cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple.

Several events occurred Tuesday, but late that day, He taught what we call the Olivet discourse: teachings pertinent today (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21). After reading this, you will listen to our daily news differently.

Wednesday, people gathered, scheming how to arrest Jesus and offered Judas a reward to betray Him.

Thursday, as most gathered for Passover, Jesus also met with his disciples for the Last Supper. He shared many comforting promises that evening, even though few understood that then. Judas later betrayed Him, officers arrested Him, and in the wee morning hours, trial events began.

He was mocked and beaten, scourged and chided. Remember, earlier this very day, Jesus told His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled …” But likely, His followers were stressed, confused and failed to apply those words to their hearts and life circumstances that day.

Friday wasn’t a good day for Jesus, nor for anyone who knew Him. Imagine their fear for Him, even for themselves. How his mother, Mary, must have felt — helpless for sure, heartbroken.

Jesus carried the heavy cross. He died and was buried before sundown.

It was an eventful day, one our current news reporters would follow hour by hour, noting each unusual weather event, the earthquake, the darkness.

Saturday was a quiet day, not mentioned much in scripture. It must have been one of heartache and sorrow.

Did Jesus’ entry seem triumphal then? They must have wondered what life and God were about.

Like most of us, we often fail to appropriate the truth of Scripture in a timely manner.

They had a really bad day. Today, in 2026, remember let not your heart be troubled, because Sunday is coming!

Make time to watch “Who Is the Man of the Shroud?” by Dr. Jeremiah Johnson. Until next week, Anita

Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.

Dr. Taylor’s good advice one morning was just one step in his helping me attain one of my goals in life. I count him as one of many who oiled the hinges for me when the doors of opportunity opened.

After I chose the communications field for a career, the resulting roadmap included practicing journalism and sharing it with those aspiring to take the same journey — students. It took an extra step to bridge those two, however. That came after a group of Shelby County residents convinced me to run for the Texas House of Representatives.

Although finishing a few votes short, I gained what I considered one the best “educations about people” not available in a classroom.

Throw your hat in the ring sometime. It’s a unique learning opportunity.

The best part of the process turned out to be campaigning among educators at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. Parking on campus was a pain, but good fortune prevailed when I knocked on Dr. Taylor’s door. After getting acquainted over shared viewpoints regarding education, he asked a question I never saw coming.

“I wish you the best, but what are your plans if you’re not elected?”

“Well,” I said with some hesitation. “I’ve harbored aspirations of teaching journalism someday.”

With his ever-present smile, he responded, “If it turns out that politics is not part of what life has in store for you, come back and see me. We have a department full of journalism degrees, but none with experience. It would be nice to have someone who could bring real-life journalism to the classroom.”

With Super Tuesday primary votes counted, I missed the runoff by a scant few votes. Remembering Dr. Taylor’s offer, I was back in his office.

Some “leveling classes” and an assistant’s position in the summer and fall aligned my previous experience and non-related degree with university requirements. By the spring semester, I was added to the full-time staff.

And the best perk of all—a teacher parking permit.

I had traded my comfortable existence as a practicing journalist, editing copy and meeting deadlines for a classroom of aspiring news writers. I had studied the assigned text. I had crafted a simple syllabus promising a passing grade in exchange for grasping the fundamentals of newsgathering and breathing life into a story utilizing Associated Press style and inverted-pyramid format. What I had not anticipated was an unexplained fear of facing news writing 101 students.

It wasn’t fear of public speaking. I was coming off a five-month trail of impromptu campaign speeches, candidate forums, pie suppers, church gatherings, civic clubs, media interviews and more. It wasn’t lack of knowledge. I had 15 years of time in the newsroom trenches and a wall of awards.

It was more like, “What if I fumbled sounding like the hard-nosed editor I had once been, but coming off sounding like a nervous substitute teacher?” Or, “What if I stumbled when asked difficult questions such as the pitfalls of relying on unnamed sources?”

Before I could finish stressing over my fears, it was time. The hour was here. I left my office and walked down the communications hallway in the Boynton Building. At the classroom door, I glanced in to see a couple of dozen waiting students. Then kept walking.

At the other end of the hallway, I whispered, “You got this.”

Walking past the classroom a second time, I saw Dr. Taylor exit his office with the same ever-present, relaxed smile.

Looking in my direction, he asked, “Nervous?”

“A little,” I confessed. That’s when he offered advice that has served me well many times in the years since.

“All you have to know,” he said, “is just a little more than they do.”

“Good morning,” I announced to the class as I walked in. “My name is Leon Aldridge, and we are here to learn from each other.”

Songwriter Randy Newman is a genius. Not only has he provided music for great films such as “The Natural” and “The Three Amigos,” he also wrote a masterpiece in 1974 that still holds true to this day.

That song is titled, “Mr. President, Have Pity on The Working Man.”

Lyrics include, “We’ve taken all you’ve given/But it’s getting hard to make a living/Mr. President, have pity on the working man.”

Sad but true, these words still ring a bell for many working-class folks. No matter how much history repeats itself, it seems like the “haves” either don’t get it or worse, don’t want to get it.

While I am in favor of the United States and Israel eliminating oppressive leadership in Iran, I am not in favor of the rise in gas prices. Surely, we can fight this war without the rich folks taking it out on the working folks.

There needs to be a way to handle inflation responsibly. If prices go up, let’s make sure wages go up so working folks can afford to live.

If wages are not going to rise, then prices need to stay put. The working man deserves to live comfortably, too.

Don’t gaslight the laborer by saying, “The world doesn’t owe you a living.” They’re weary of hearing that tired narrative.

Working people know good and well the world doesn’t owe them a living. They wouldn’t be working in the first place if they thought they were owed a living.

With that being said, working folks at least deserve to be able to afford to live. They shouldn’t have to make decisions that revolve around paying the electric bill or buying enough groceries for the week – they deserve to be able to do both and have money to spare for emergencies.

The rich folks can ponder where they’re going on vacation this summer. In return, the working folks shouldn’t have to decide whether they’re going to eat or have lights.

Let them both eat and have lights. They’re working people, they deserve to live comfortably, too.

Chlapek is the area editor of the Elgin Courier and Taylor Press. He can be reached at jason.chlapek@granitemediapartners.com.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn last week reversed his opposition to changing the Senate’s filibuster rules, writing in an op-ed that legislation in that chamber should pass with a simple majority, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Cornyn said the change should be made to advance the SAVE America Act, legislation pushed by President Donald Trump that would require a birth certificate or passport to register to vote.

“After careful consideration, I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary for us to get the SAVE America Act and homeland security funding past the Democrats’ obstruction, through the Senate, and on the president’s desk for his signature,” Cornyn wrote.

Cornyn has long opposed ending the filibuster, which requires a 60-vote majority to end debate on the Senate floor. The practice dates to the early 1800s.

Cornyn is in a tough runoff race with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. That election is set for May 26.

MIDDLETON, ROY GO ON OFFENSE AHEAD OF AG RUNOFF State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, are taking the gloves off as they also head to a runoff in the GOP primary for Texas attorney general, The Dallas Morning News reported. Middleton finished first in the March 3 primary but fell short of a majority. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton didn’t seek reelection to the state attorney general post, opting instead to run against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

“Chip Roy is on the ropes,” Middleton said. “We’ve got all the momentum.”

Roy, a four-term congressman, criticized what he called Middleton’s lack of legal experience.

“I wouldn’t hire Mayes Middleton into the office of the attorney general, except at a very basic level, because he has no discernible legal skills,” Roy said. Both are framing themselves as Trump allies.

On the Democratic side, state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, faces former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski in a runoff. Johnson received 48.1% of the vote to 26.4% for Jaworski in the March 3 primary.

TRUMP TAPS EMERGENCY OIL RESERVES FROM TEXAS SITES The Trump administration pledged 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week, with the oil coming from sites along the Gulf Coast, the Houston Chronicle reported. Prices for West Texas Intermediate crude oil have been hovering just below $100 per barrel since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against the theocratic regime in Iran.

Iranian officials have responded by essentially shutting down oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran controls.

“The market is seriously unbalanced, and that will continue until the Strait is reopened and upstream and downstream operations return to normal,” said Jim Burkhard, vice president, S&P Global Energy crude oil markets. “It will not happen quickly.”

The national oil reserves are held in dozens of manmade underground salt caverns in Texas and Louisiana.

STATE BAN ON SMOKABLE CANNABIS TAKES EFFECT MARCH 31

Smokable cannabis products must be gone from Texas store shelves by March 31, the Texas Standard reported. The new rules were formulated by the Texas Department of State Health Services after the Legislature couldn’t agree on whether to regulate THC products or ban them entirely.

Annual fees charged to retailers are set to rise to $5,000 per year for each retail location and $10,000 per year for each manufacturing facility — 33 and 40 times higher, respectively, than current levies. More than 9,100 retail locations in the state are registered to sell consumable hemp products.

Cannabis advocates say the higher fees and ban on cannabis flowers and smokable extracts will send users to the underground market.

“Our concern is some of these measures are so draconian that you are going to drive people out of the business and then folks’ access to the products,” said Mark Bordas, head of the Texas Hemp Business Council. “Invariably, we’re going to have to bring forth a (lawsuit]), and the state has to defend what it’s done, and that’s taxpayer money, and it’s a waste.”

WATER WOES IN CORPUS COULD PROMPT STATE ACTION A looming water crisis in Corpus Christi has prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to warn the city’s leadership the state may intervene to ensure the city’s residents and businesses have access to water, The Texas Tribune reported. The city’s water supply could be outpaced by demand as soon as June 2027, according to one model.

“Corpus Christi is a victim not because of lack of water. They’re a victim because of a lack of ability to make a decision,” Abbott said at a press conference.

The city currently has $1 billion in water projects underway to increase supply, but many of them won’t come online until later this year or next year.

The city’s water woes stem from low reservoir levels, a long-lasting drought and rising demand driven by an industrial boom, especially in petrochemical and energy projects near the bay. A large seawater desalination plant proposal was turned down by the City Council last year after it faced fierce criticism because of its cost and potential harm to the marine ecosystem.

Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo has called for a special emergency meeting to vote again on the plant proposal.

BIG BEND PROJECTS REMOVED FROM ‘SMART WALL’ PLAN

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has updated its “Smart Wall” map to remove two planned projects in the Big Bend area, including one slated for Big Bend National Park, according to the Texas Standard. The plan has drawn considerable opposition from park lovers, including a newly formed group, No Big Bend Wall.

“While this shift from potential ‘physical wall’ to ‘detection technology’ is a signal that the public pressure is working, lack of transparency means we don’t know if this is a real policy shift or a tactical one designed to lower our guard,” the group said.

CBP did not publicly announce the change and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@ texaspress.com.

Voters in both parties can return to the polls in May to decide primary winners in several runoff elections where no candidate garnered a majority:

• U.S. Sen. John Cornyn faces challenger Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Cornyn received 41.9% of the GOP vote to 40.7% for Paxton in the March 3 primary.

• State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, faces U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin for the Republican nomination for Texas attorney general. Middleton led in the primary with 39.1%, while Roy had 31.6%.

• On the Democratic side for attorney general, state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, faces former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski. Johnson fell just short of winning a majority with 48.1% in the primary, while Jaworski earned 26.4% of the vote.

• Two Democrats are headed for a runoff for lieutenant governor. State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, finished well ahead of Marcos Velez, a Houston labor leader, with 48% of the vote. Velez received 31.5% of the primary vote. The winner will face incumbent GOP Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

There are also several runoffs slated in congressional and state house races. The runoffs will be held May 26, with early voting running from May 18-22. Voters cannot cross over to vote in a runoff, meaning if they voted in the Democratic primary, they cannot vote in a GOP runoff, and vice versa. Voters who didn’t cast ballots in either March primary can participate in the runoff of either party.

GAS PRICES SPIKE SHARPLY IN WAKE OF IRAN WAR

The price of gasoline rose nearly a dollar per gallon in some cities after the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. The Dallas Morning News reported gas prices are now at their highest level

since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been largely stalled, greatly reducing production by Asian refiners.

U.S. crude oil prices topped $89 late last week. Since the Friday before the attacks, Brent crude oil, the global benchmark for oil prices, has increased by 24%.

Trump said March 6 there will not be a deal to end the U.S.-Iran war without an “unconditional surrender” by Iran.

HUFFINES SAYS HE WOULD NOT CHANGE VOUCHER PROGRAM Former state Sen. Don Huffines, who handily beat Gov. Greg Abbott’s handpicked candidate for state comptroller in the GOP primary, said he does not intend to change the state’s $1 billion voucher program if he wins election in November. Huffines, who challenged Abbott for the governorship in 2022, praised the current handling of the program, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“We’re not here to be disruptive,” Huffines said. “I don’t see a big disruption in the process that’s already started, as long as it’s going smoothly and being run effectively and managed.”

Huffines will face state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, DAustin, Nov. 3. The comptroller’s office has been tasked with overseeing the voucher program, which is in its first year.

GONZALES ENDS REELECTION BID AFTER ADMITTING AFFAIR U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, withdrew from his reelection race after admitting to an extramarital affair with an aide who later died by suicide, The Dallas Morning News reported.

“After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek reelection while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district,” Gonzales said in a statement posted on social media.

The House Ethics Commit tee announced a probe into his conduct after the primary ended. Gonzales finished second to challenger Brandon Herrera in the Republican primary for the state’s 23rd congressional district, but the race was headed to a runoff until Gonzales withdrew.

Herrera will face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout, an attorney, in the general election.

SPACEX BEACH-CLOSURE FIGHT REACHES TEXAS SUPREME COURT The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in a fight over whether counties can temporarily close a beach for a space flight, The Texas Tribune reported. Rio Grande Valley environmentalists and indigenous groups have sued over a 2013 law that allows some counties to close a beach.

The dispute primarily concerns SpaceX, which operates a launch site near Boca Chica Beach in Cameron County. The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized the company to launch rockets up to 25 times a year, prompting the closure of roughly eight miles of beach adjacent to the launch pad.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued the Open Beaches Amendment to the state constitution grants the public an unrestricted right to use public beaches. The state contended the amendment does not guarantee unlimited, unfettered access.

“It is a more limited right,” said Beth Klusmann, deputy solicitor general for the Texas Attorney General’s Office. “The question, of course, then is what are those limits?”

TXDOT WARNS ABOUT SPRING BREAK DRUNK DRIVING Spring Break is upon us, and the Texas Department of Transportation is supporting community efforts across the state to stop impaired driving. Texas last year saw a spike of drunk-driving crashes in March, more than any other month.

There were 700 driving- under-the-influence alcohol-related traffic crashes in the state during the 2025 Spring Break period, leading to 36 fatalities and 63 serious injuries. During that time, 51% of all alcohol- related crashes in Texas involved young drivers ages 17–30.

Drivers are urged to never drive after consuming any amount of alcohol or drugs and to arrange for a sober ride beforehand.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park.

By Gary Borders

Texans planning to travel to Mexico or currently visiting there are urged to closely follow warnings from the U.S. Department of State, which advises U.S. citizens to not travel to the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas.

Travelers to other states in Mexico are urged to either reconsider or at least exercise increased caution. This comes after violence broke out in Jalisco following the death of a cartel leader in a gunfight with Mexican authorities.

Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase security along the border region.

“Mexican drug cartels pose a significant threat to public safety and national security,” Abbott said. “By increasing proactive efforts to defend against cartel violence, Texas will continue to utilize every tool and strategy to protect our state and our nation. We will not cower to criminals who impose terror on our fellow Texans and Americans.”

Texans in need of immediate assistance can call the State Department from outside the U.S: 1-202-501-4444; from inside the U.S.: 1-888-4074747; or the Texas Fusion Center: 1-844-927-0521.

PATRICK SEEKS TO BLOCK CAMP MYSTIC’S REOPENING Texas should not renew the license for Camp Mystic this summer until necessary changes are made to ensure more lives aren’t lost in a flood, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wrote in a letter to the state health commissioner, according to the Texas Standard.

“It would be naive to allow Camp Mystic to return to normal operations before all of the facts are known,” Patrick wrote to Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Shuford. “Camp Mystic should have decided on their own to suspend operations this coming summer, but it appears they are planning for camp in 2026 and will likely be seeking your approval to operate with a renewed license.”

Flooding last July 4 killed 25 campers, two counselors and the camp’s executive director.

Parents of some of the campers who died have sued Shuford and other DSHS officials, claiming the state failed to follow Texas law when licensing the camp without ensuring it had adequate evacuation plans. In the months following the flood, Camp Mystic has announced plans to reopen its Cypress Lake property, which it says is independent from the older Guadalupe River location where the girls died.

WILDFIRES POPPING UP ACROSS THE STATE

Dry conditions and brisk winds are fueling a rise in wildfires across the state. The Texas A&M Forest Service reported that forecast rain could lessen the wildfire risk in early March.

As of Sunday, the service reported two active wildfires: one in Orange County, in Southeast Texas, and the other in Schleicher County, in Central Texas. Most of the wildfires reported last week and now contained were in East Texas. Burn bans are in place in 184 of the state’s 254 counties.

EDUCATION BOARD APPROVES 4,200 CURRICULUM CORRECTIONS The State Board of Education last week approved roughly 4,200 corrections and revisions to its elementary and secondary school curriculum, The Texas Tribune reported. The cost of making the corrections and changes has not been determined, but it will come at taxpayer expense, since the Texas Education Agency developed the materials using state funding. A TEA official said the agency planned to determine the costs now that the changes and corrections have been approved. The vote was delayed in January.

The state has been using the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum since November 2024. When unveiled, it attracted national attention for its references to the Bible and Christianity.

About 1 in 4 school districts have indicated they are using at least some portions of the reading curriculum, covering about 400,000 students. The materials come with a $60 per-student incentive for districts.

TEA spokesman Jake Kobersky said not all the changes to Bluebonnet are to fix errors.

“Some updates are simply improvements based on teacher feedback,” Kobersky said. “Every change and/or edit made to the product must be submitted individually for SBOE approval, regardless of the nature of the change, hence the large number.”

NEW STATE PARK OPEN AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS

The gates to the state’s newest park are now open. Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located about 75 miles west of Fort Worth, consists of 4,871 acres of former ranch land, according to The Dallas Morning News. It marks the first time in more than 25 years that a new state park has opened in North Texas.

“I am proud of the dedication of our (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) team but also the unwavering support of the Texas Legislature and the voters of Texas that have brought us to this moment,” Rodney Franklin, director of Texas state parks, said in a news release. “State park staff stand ready to welcome families far and wide to begin making memories at Texas’ newest state park.”

The park’s planned opening in 2023 was postponed by safety concerns during construction. It has more than 16 miles of trials, a 90-acre lake and both recreational vehicle and tent-camping sites.

The site was purchased by the Parks Department in 2011. Funding for its construction came from a combination of legislative appropriations, the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, federal funding and $10 million in private philanthropy.

FOUR TEXAS COUNTIES REPORT MEASLES CASES Measles cases have been reported recently in four Texas counties: Frio, Bandera, Kendall and Lubbock. With five reported cases, Bandera had the most, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Lubbock was the center of last year’s outbreak when people from surrounding counties with measles came there for hospital care.

The current outbreak of measles has been centered around South Carolina. Last year, Texas led the nation with more than 800 cases, mostly in West Texas.

Measles is highly contagious and spread by airborne particles. It has a 90% infection rate among unvaccinated people who are exposed to someone with measles. It can cause people to also lose their immune protection against other diseases.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@ texaspress.com.

Hurling insults, chanting insipid slogans and throwing water bottles isn’t the way to fight this. Do these kids know that ICE is only enforcing laws passed by their congressmen? OK, change the laws.

Are they protesting bias against Hispanics or Somalians? Change the laws. And on the other end, become citizens, learn English, be so hard working everyone will want to hire you or live next to you.

Right now, recent history shows pictures, facts and statistics of thousands of people coming through the borders illegally from 2020 to 2023 … ICE is looking at the preponderance of that evidence. If ICE officials are breaking the law by roughness, false notices, etc., then document it, present your case.

We must have a nation of laws. We can’t have gangs of students, KKK or “activists” making their own rules against police or our law authorities. The fine art of persuasion is needed.

After World War II, gangs were attacking Germans … or Poles or Czechs, whoever talked with an accent, and were calling them Nazis. We had to stop those gangs, and our legal system did, but it took time and effort.

Those legal immigrants learned English, became citizens, worked to establish a good reputation as law-abiding people, were mostly clean and church going. Our generation brought down the wall, but it took much longer for the suspicion of Eastern Europeans to die down.

Learn your history, kids, so the future will be better. We have bad people engaged in trafficking people and children across the border. ICE has a legal duty and job to rid us of those people. We have a country where thousands of people are waiting to enter. We have a process to enter our country.

That process could use improving, streamlining to make it better. But with the graft and the games in Congress, we aren’t getting the best and brightest to work on changing our legal immigration system.

Please learn our history so you can make the world better. Please learn to think and write clearly so you can form an immigration bill that is fair to both new immigrants and current citizens, who have strived to respect the law and may have become citizens themselves.

Are there reasons to be upset at any government agency? Yes. Is civil unrest, i.e. walking out of class, the way to do it? No.

Can you name the year slavery ended in the world? It was far more recent than ours in 1865. Can you tell me what is the average income in capitalistic countries versus socialist countries? Can you state three countries where women aren’t allowed to work outside the home without a man’s permission, even if their children depend on it?

There are many injustices in the world and in our own beloved country. Good for you if you want to fight those injustices. We need you! But do it the smart way. Do it the way a good citizen would. If you must protest, respectfully follow the law. And do it after school.

Jane Thomas

Early voting began Feb. 17 and runs through Feb. 27.

Among Republicans, Paxton led incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn 38% to 31%. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt polled at 17%, making it likely the race will go to a runoff in May if these margins hold.

Among Democrats, Crockett led with 47% while state Rep. James Talarico was favored by 39% of respondents.

The margin of error for both parties was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The primary election is March 3. Runoffs are May 26 and the midterm is Nov. 3.

ROY FRONT RUNNER IN ATTORNEY GENERAL’S RACE

In the race to succeed Ken Paxton as Texas attorney general, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, with 33% in the latest poll, leads a crowded GOP field by 10 percentage points, with state Sen. Mayes Middleton in second at 23%.

The Texas Tribune reported state Sen. Joan Huffman polled at 13%,

and Aaron Reitz, a former federal assistant attorney general, trailed at 6%.

However, 25% of those polled remain undecided in that race.

On the Democratic side, state Sen. Nathan Johnson led with 25% of the 550 people polled, followed by former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski at 22%. Attorney and former FBI agent Tony Box held 13%.

A majority of those polled said they didn’t know enough about any of the candidates to express a preference.

That poll was conducted by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs.

FED PREDICTS JOB GROWTH IN TEXAS IN 2026 A new employment forecast by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas predicts the state will add jobs in 2026, after a flat 2025, The Dallas Morning News reported. The bank’s forecast indicates Texas employment will grow by 1.1%, or about 155,000 jobs.

That is about half of job growth the state has experienced in recent years.

“We’ve run our models. We’re going with the 1.1% growth, so that is a significant increase from zero, certainly,” said Pia Orrenius, a senior economist at the Dallas Fed.

The slower-than-normal employment growth is partly attributable to the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies and enforcement operations, according to some economists. In a report published by the Fed in October, the authors said the immigration policies were negatively affecting one in five Texas businesses.

“The stepped-up visibility and intensity of enforcement have produced a chilling effect,” the authors wrote. “As fear spreads in immigrant communities, foreign- born individuals are more likely to miss work or school and less likely to venture out to shops and restaurants.”

STATE, FEDS PREPARE TO FIGHT SCREWWORM INVASION

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Gov. Greg Abbott presided last week over the opening of new facility in Edinburg to produce sterile flies in order to combat a potential invasion of New World screwworms from Mexico that could threaten the nation’s leader in cattle production, The Texas Tribune reported.

Cases of the screwworm, which lays eggs in open wounds on cattle, have been detected in Mexico as close as 70 miles from the border.

“I don’t want to underplay it because it is a big threat to our country, but I believe we’re as prepared as we could possibly be, if that happens, to deal with it, to move toward eradication,” Rollins said.

Sterile flies were released last week in Northern Mexico and in Texas within 50 miles of the border as a precautionary measure.

Abbott has issued a disaster declaration to enable a newly formed response team to have adequate resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to open its own production facility in Edinburg by the end of 2027.

For now, the facility is using larvae produced in Panama and flown to Texas.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders @texaspress.com.

Romans 5:3-5 is a great passage, but I want to focus on the third verse, “… but we rejoice (feel and express tremendous joy) knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance.”

Of course, it is never good to lift any Bible verse out of context, so please take a minute to read all the verses referenced above. Then, think with me about the fact tribulation brings perseverance, and knowing that produces tremendous joy.

Don’t quit reading now, this is a true statement — just one that requires a bit more thought.

How would you describe tribulation in your life? What trials or misfortunes have you faced that produced perseverance and joy?

Maybe you think this is merely a way to learn patience. Likely you have heard “never pray for patience,” for this is almost inviting a problem.

In the overall passage, we trust God’s great grace and His process. Scripture says He uses each situation to produce something good, and in this verse, the benefit gained from tribulation is perseverance.

That’s a good character trait: being a person who does not easily give up when suffering, or someone who hesitates to retaliate.

Cheerfulness is a byproduct of not allowing circumstances to define our response or hope. This is exactly what this passage says.

Because of the hope to come — because of the great outcomes for our character — we can be joyful with the process. Growth is demanding.

I love sitting and watching young children or babies persevere — they just keep on trying. They take a hesitant step or two, fall, but get back up with the biggest smile and a sense of victory. Of course, all babies get frustrated and give up, but sometime later you see them trying again.

They face obstacles, hindrances, blocked passages, gates and restraints, but again they try once more.

Once we are born again, we are to grow. Physically, growth comes through the tension of resistance — through perseverance. Spiritually, we are to grow through adversity with perseverance toward joy.

Keep on keeping on. Face the obstacles with God’s perspective, they are character builders. Perseverance is a good trait that sustains us through many life events. For the long haul.

Trusting God is good, even when or if we fail to see the good. We will find His sunshine behind every cloudy sky. Until next week, Anita

Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.

One of the most closely watched statewide races for both parties are the primary contests for U.S. senator. Incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn faces two challengers: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston. On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, faces state Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock. There are many other contested races on the ballot as well.

Voters can access election information, find out if they are registered to vote and obtain other pertinent information at votetexas.gov.

MORE THAN 30K VOUCHER APPLICATIONS ON FIRST DAY More than 30,000 school-voucher applications were submitted last week on the first day of the state’s new program to give families taxpayer- funded accounts for private school tuition and homeschooling expenses, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The applications will be accepted until March 17 and are not first-come, first-served.

The Legislature provided $1 billion in funding for the program’s first year, which is projected to support up to 100,000 accounts. If it receives more applications than can be funded, an income- and disability- based lottery will be held to determine which families receive vouchers.

“When parents have more options, students have more opportunity — and that’s a win for Texas,” acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock said in a news release.

Officially called Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the program is being administered by the state Comptroller’s Office and Odyssey, a New York-based tech contractor.

SCHOOL WALKOUTS COULD TRIGGER TEA PROBES A rash of student walkouts in Texas to protest the ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown in Minnesota has prompted the Texas Education Agency to warn school districts they could face investigations and possible loss of funding, The Dallas Morning News reported.

In a letter sent last week to school districts, the agency warned students must be marked as absent, with schools risking loss of daily attendance funding. It stated that teachers or school systems who “facilitate walkouts” will be subject to investigation and sanctions.

After thousands of students from 14 campuses in the Austin Independent School District left class to protest ICE activity, Gov. Greg Abbott called on Education Commissioner Mike Morath to investigate.

“AISD gets taxpayer dollars to teach the subjects required by the state, not to help students skip school to protest,” Abbott wrote on X. “Our schools are for educating our children, not political indoctrination.”

Besides Austin, several school districts in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth area experienced student walkouts. Organizers pointed out protests are protected speech, with the harshest consequence being an unexcused absence.

STATE BACK IN COURT SOON OVER NO AC IN PRISONS

Texas will soon return to federal court to defend not providing air conditioning in many of its prisons, according to the Texas Standard. The plaintiffs include advocacy groups and incarcerated individuals, who claim heat levels in un-air-conditioned prisons constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice argues the prison system needs more funding and resources. Two-thirds of the state’s 103 prison facilities lack air conditioning in cell blocks and dorms. Temperatures inside those prisons often rise above 90 degrees, according to readings now required by law.

“There is no mitigation measure other than air conditioning that can protect people from death or sickness due to the heat,” attorney Erica Grossman said. “People living in Texas prisons should not be subjected to conditions we won’t even subject animals to.”

County jails are required to keep temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees. Animal shelters also have heat rules.

MEASLES REPORTED IN DILLEY IMMIGRANT CENTER, WEST TEXAS Two detainees at the family immigration center in Dilley, 70 miles south of San Antonio, have “active measles infections,” federal and state officials said. The Texas Tribune reported more than 1,400 people are being held at the nation’s only family-detention center for migrants.

A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman said medical officials were monitoring detainees and taking “appropriate and active steps to prevent further infection.”

“All detainees are being provided with proper medical care,” Tricia Mc-Laughlin said.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is collaborating with DHS to determine the number of vaccine doses needed for the Dilley facility. DSHS has also reported three confirmed measles cases in Reeves and Ward counties among non-Texas residents who spent time there.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease spread through coughing, sneezing or simply being near an infected person. The MMR vaccine is considered the most effective way to prevent measles.

TEA HIRES INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE TEACHERS The Texas Education Agency announced last week it has hired an inspector general to oversee the agency’s growing number of investigations into the conduct of Texas teachers, the Houston Chronicle reported.

He is Levi Fuller, a former chief of staff to state Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur.

“With more than a decade of experience holding bad actors accountable, Levi will help root out the flawed few that (sow) distrust among families and school communities while helping to restore confidence in the teaching profession,” Education Commissioner Mike Morath said.

TEA investigations can result in teachers being placed on the “Do Not Hire” list, dismissal or suspension of teaching licenses. The most serious cases are vetted by the State Board of Educator Certification.

RRC COMPLETES DIGITIZATION OF 100 MILLION RECORDS

The Texas Railroad Commission recently surpassed digitizing more than 100 million oil and gas records, making nearly a century’s worth of documents available online.

“Digitizing 100 million records represents a significant achievement in the Railroad Commission’s ability to better serve Texans, streamlining access to our vast library of files and continuing to expand our modernization efforts,” said Wei Wang, executive director of the RRC.

Digitized records are available on the RRC’s website at https://tinyurl. com/yh4e6bf5.

Borders is an award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texas press.com.

At least 11 people have died in Texas, nearly half of them children, after Winter Storm Fern swept the state last week, the Texas Standard reported. Among those killed were three young brothers who fell through ice on a private pond near Bonham. In the Dallas suburb of Frisco, two teens died after an accident involving their sled while it was pulled by a vehicle.

Several unhoused people died of exposure in Austin, Houston and Fort Worth, according to reports. Nationally, the storm has killed at least 50 people.

Nearly five years after Winter Storm Uri overwhelmed the state’s power grid and left millions without electricity, officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas noted the grid held, though localized outages were reported, especially in East Texas, where at one point more than 91,000 customers were without power. Those outages were largely due to ice accumulation and downed lines.

The storm forced nearly 2,400 flight cancellations at airports in Dallas, Houston and Austin.

NO NEW H-1B VISAS FOR UNIVERSITIES, AGENCIES

Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered universities and state agencies to stop asking for new H-1B visas until next year, the Houston Chronicle reported. The visas are used to hire foreign workers who possess skills in a specialized field and typically last for three years.

Abbott said the H-1B program has “too often been used to fill jobs that otherwise could — and should — have been filled by Texans.”

The order says no state agency. public university or college can petition for new H-1B workers with the written permission of the Texas Workforce Commission. It does not apply to public schools in Texas, which rely on the visas to fill teacher vacancies.

The order is in effect at least until the Legislature meets next January, when it is expected to consider “guardrails” for the program.

Houston immigration attorney Charles Foster said the visas are used to recruit top talent in competitive technical and medical fields.

“You cut off the H-1B, you cut off the line by which the best and the brightest can immigrate,” he said. “We’re just hurting ourselves.”

STATE’S POPULATION GROWTH SLOWS

Census data released last week shows the state’s population growth slowed significantly, though Texas still led the country in adding new residents, The Texas Tribune reported. The state added 391,243 residents in 2025, a 1.2% growth rate – the slowest clip since 2021.

Much of the slowdown comes from a steep reduction in the number of immigrants moving to Texas, driven in part by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The number of newcomers from other countries dropped by 48% from the previous year, with 167,475 moving to Texas.

“I think the implication is our economic growth isn’t probably going to be as hearty as what we’ve seen historically,” said Lloyd Potter, the state demographer.

Texas ranked fourth in pace of population growth in 2025, trailing South Carolina, Idaho and North Carolina.

HHSC ANNOUNCES $44 MILLION FOR RURAL HOSPITALS

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has made $44 million in grant funding available to hospitals that serve rural communities.

The Rural Health Financial Stabilization Grant provides support for rural hospitals determined by HHSC to be at moderate or high risk of financial instability. Each award amount will depend on the hospital’s need.

“Rural hospitals are an integral part of the Texas health care infrastructure,” HHSC Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth said. “These grants will strengthen long-term stability while expanding access to care and improving health outcomes in rural communities statewide.”

SBOE TAKES UP BIBLE-INFUSED REQUIRED READING LIST

The State Board of Education last week tabled a proposed reading list presented by the Texas Education Agency, deciding instead to seek public input, The Dallas Morning News reported. The TEA list includes passages from the Bible to be taught in public schools.

Several teachers at the meeting said the reading list “was overloaded and doesn’t include enough contemporary works or a wide enough array of author perspectives.”

Board member Will Hickman of Houston proposed a pared-down version of the list, which the board will also consider after receiving public input. Hickman said his shorter list would give teachers and school districts more time to select their own books.

The list would create a single required reading list for every public school in the state. TEA officials have said teachers would be free to add any texts they wish. If it is passed, it would go into effect at the beginning of the 2030-31 school year.

The matter will be taken up again at the board’s April meeting.

IT’S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN TEXAS

New census data indicates the state’s housing costs have outpaced income growth, resulting in Texas homeowners and renters spending a larger share of their income for housing, The Texas Tribune reported.

While the state’s housing costs are cheaper than New York and California, affordability has eroded despite the state’s economic growth.

“Texas is in no position to be taking a victory lap right now on housing affordability,” said Ben Martin, research director for Texas Housers, a research and advocacy group.

More than half of the state’s 4.1 million renters are considered “cost-burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent. About 29% of homeowners with mortgages are in the same category.

Lawmakers last year passed a slate of laws aimed at easing the state’s housing shortage by making it easier to build new apartments and housing.

POLICE WRANGLE A RUNAWAY KANGAROO

Police in Cleveland, north of Houston, were kept hopping last week trying to catch a kangaroo spotted bouncing down a road, the Austin American-Statesman reported. With the help of animal-control experts and “some good Samaritans,” the kangaroo was collared and eventually returned to its owner.

Texas is one of 13 states that allows people to own kangaroos.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders @texaspress.com.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

The last day to register to vote for the March 3 primary is Feb. 2, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. Early voting runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27, with Feb. 20 being the deadline for applying for a mail ballot.

Prospective voters can visit the votetexas.gov website to find out if they are registered, discern their polling places, learn what is on the ballot and find other information.

More than 18 statewide elected officials are up for election, with the governor’s race and a U.S. Senate race topping the ballot. All Texas members of the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election, along with state lawmakers, district judges and local elected officials.

Some Texans will have to vote in new congressional districts after the Legislature redrew the map last summer.

NEW POLL HAS TALARICO LEADING, CORNYN TIE WITH PAXTON

A new poll of the state’s U.S. Senate primaries shows state Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, leading U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, by 9 percentage points, 47% to 38%, among likely Democratic voters, The Texas Tribune reported. The Emerson College poll indicates a significant shift since a Texas Southern University poll in December showed Crockett with a similar-sized lead.

In both polls, Talarico leads among white and Latino voters, while Crockett has a commanding lead among Black voters.

On the GOP side, the latest polls show U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton deadlocked, with Paxton at 27% and Cornyn at 26%. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, trailed with 16%. If those margins hold, that race would head to a runoff.

The survey also found Gov. Greg Abbott with a sizable lead over his main Democratic challenger, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, 50% to 42%.

SOLAR POWER SURPASSES COAL IN FEEDING ERCOT GRID

For the first time, solar power supplied more electricity in 2025 to the state’s main power grid than coal-fired power plants, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Solar farms provided 67,800 gigawatt-hours of electricity last year, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which is the power-grid operator for most of the state. Power plants burning coal supplied 63,000 gigawatt-hours of power to ERCOT last year.

The Chronicle report notes that in 2019 solar supplied so little power to the ERCOT grid that it wasn’t even included as a separate category in its annual pie chart of where the grid’s power comes from. It is now the third-largest supplier to ERCOT, behind second-place wind and first-place natural gas. Coal has dropped to number four.

“It’s a remarkable milestone,” said Daniel Cohan, a Rice University professor who studies the state’s energy transition. “I don’t think anyone 10 years ago would have thought that solar would have surpassed coal this quickly.”

TEXAS SET TO BAN SMOKEABLE CANNABIS THIS MONTH Smokable cannabis products currently sold legally in Texas could disappear by Jan. 25 under new rules proposed by the Texas Department of State Health Services. According to the Texas Standard, DSHS has drafted new regulations for the hemp industry, “including child-resistant packaging, stronger warning labels, expanded testing, recall procedures and fee increases of roughly 10,000% for manufacturers and retailers.”

Annual fees for hemp manufacturers would rise from $250 to $25,000 per facility, while retailers would see their registration fees jump from $150 to $20,000.

The proposed regulations would effectively outlaw most smokable hemp products.

DSHS last week heard from dozens of smallhemp business owners and cannabis users, many of whom said they support stricter packaging rules and age limits but oppose the ban on smokable products and the steep hike in licensing and registration fees.

“These proposed fees don’t regulate small businesses, they eliminate them,” Estella Castro, owner of Austinite Cannabis Co., told commissioners. “This proposal would force me to close, despite doing everything right.”

Some speakers spoke in support of the proposed regulations, including a mother who said her son developed psychosis from using cannabis and required medical treatment.

DSHS EXPANDING ANTI-RABIES PROGRAM TO EL PASO AREA

The Texas Department of State Health Services is expanding its 32nd annual Oral Rabies Vaccination Program to the El Paso area while continuing its aerial bait distribution along the Texas-Mexico border.

The rabies vaccine baits will be distributed by hand in targeted areas around El Paso.

“Our mission is to vaccinate wildlife along the borders of Texas to maintain herd immunity against rabies and keep new or previously eliminated rabies variants from becoming established in any part of Texas,” said Kathy Parker, ORVP Director. “However, we continue to monitor all the counties of Texas for outbreaks and/or potential areas of rabies interest.”

The baits do not pose threats to livestock, wildlife or pets. The project costs $2 million annually and is funded by both state and federal agencies. Since the program began, no human cases of rabies attributable to the rabies variants found along the border have been confirmed in Texas.

The program covers 19 Texas counties: El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brewster, Pecos, Terrell, Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, Zavala, Dimmit, Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy.

TEXAS MOST POPULAR STATE TO MOVE TO

Texas is back on top of U-Haul’s list of “growth states,” according to the Austin American-Statesman. The company determines each state’s net gain or loss by recording how many customers used one-way equipment in 2025.

This is the fourth time the state has topped U-Haul’s rankings in five years. In 2024, South Carolina topped the list but fell to No. 5 last year. In second place is Florida, followed by North Carolina and Tennessee.

Coming in dead last in U-Haul’s ranking was California.

CORRECTION: An item in the Jan. 4 Capital Highlights reported the Texas business inventory tax exemption has been raised to $125,000. That exemption applies to all business personal property accounts, not just inventory.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texas press.com.

The psalm continues and provides the reason why we should not fear, and concludes, “Cease striving and know that I am God … that He is with us, and is our stronghold.”

It requires discipline and specificity to apply the truths of this psalm. We are assaulted by reasons to fear, reasons why we must strive and work hard to make things happen.

To control and manipulate life’s details illustrates that indeed. We are “in control,” and this is the American way, right?

Likely you too have heard “life happens,” and yes, it certainly does. Your day, or even life itself, can change with a phone call or text. Trustworthy foundations suddenly seem frail, fragile or unsteady — relationships, jobs, life plans, our health.

Most people in our culture embraced a philosophy that says to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, or we admire the self-made man or woman.

But is this idea truthful, worthy to base your life upon?

It sure places a lot of pressure on people, and sooner or later we face the truth that we do not control life. I think this philosophy sounds good, but it is anti-biblical. God never tells us that and no Scripture supports this idea.

Instead, God’s word says to trust Him.

He is our refuge, our shelter from storms or life dangers, and especially a shelter from deceptive false ideas. He provides safety and a place that we can fully trust.

Many people today tend to trust their personal life experiences rather than God or His word. In a nutshell, these people become their own standard of truth. People change, life changes, situations differ and many things influence our experiences, but God’s word does not change.

God Himself does not change. He is our strength: powerful, strong and firmly established.

Think of a time when you saw God’s power and recognize that He protects you with that power. This is why we can choose trust, rather than embrace fear.

Even when circumstances around us are unstable and completely unpredictable, we are never forced into fear, but instead, we may choose to trust Almighty God.

Take a few minutes to read and think about Psalm 46. God is with us. He IS our stronghold, protector, the One who fights for us.

I’m so grateful, aren’t you? Until next week, Anita

Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

The first debate in the state’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is Jan. 24 in Georgetown, The Dallas Morning News reported. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and state Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock are vying for the nomination.

The seat is now held by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who faces two major opponents in the GOP primary: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston. Cornyn is seeking his fifth term.

The Georgetown debate is sponsored by the Texas AFL-CIO. Crockett describes herself as a progressive and hopes to inspire voters to turn out in November if she wins the nomination.

Talarico is emphasizing electability, noting he flipped a Republican district to get elected state representative. He also said he is the right choice for Democrats to compete statewide.

Early voting in the March 3 Democratic primary begins Feb. 17. The general election is Nov. 3.

WHITE DROPS BID TO TAKE ON ABBOTT

Andrew White has dropped his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor and has thrown his support behind state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, who is widely seen as the frontrunner, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The crowded Democratic primary has 10 candidates vying to take on Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking an unprecedented fourth term, in the Nov. 3 general election.

Abbott has $90 million in his campaign war chest. Political analysts said he faces only token opposition in his own GOP primary March 3.

Besides Hinojosa, who has served in the Legislature since 2017, the Democratic primary field also includes Chris Bell, a former Houston congressman and gubernatorial nominee, and Bobby Cole, a rancher and retired firefighter.

White is the son of former Gov. Mark White. He ran for governor in 2018, coming up 6 percentage points short in his Democratic primary race against former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez. She lost handily to Abbott that year in the general election.

500 MILES OF BUOYS TO BE ADDED TO RIO GRANDE

In a move to increase border security, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to add floating buoys along more than 500 miles of the Rio Grande, The Texas Tribune reported.

Secretary Kristi Noem announced the deployment last week while visiting the Rio Grande Valley.

Texas deployed 1,000 feet of the water barrier along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass in 2023 and added another 1,000 feet in January 2025.

“Texas finally has a partner in the White House,” Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Gov. Greg Abbott, said in a statement last week. “The floating marine barriers deployed by Texas have been a resounding success, and Gov. Abbott is proud to work with the Trump administration and Border Patrol to expand the program.”

Under the Biden administration, the federal government sued Texas over the buoys, citing migrant safety and saying they violated water treaties between the U.S. and Mexico. That case is still before the courts.

“They’ll create a safer environment for agents on patrol, and securing our waterways not only protects Americans, it saves the lives of illegal aliens by deterring them from daring to attempt to cross through this treacherous water,” Noem said.

TEXAS FLU LEVELS ‘VERY HIGH’ WITH NEW STRAIN Flu activity in Texas has reached a “very high” level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Austin American-Statesman reported the state the last week of December recorded 25,000 flu-related emergency room visits, with children ages 5 to 11 accounting for more than a quarter of all ER visits statewide.

“It’s been really, really startling,” said Jeff Shilt, a physician and president of Texas Children’s Hospital in Austin. “What’s most startling to us is the number and the severity.”

The surge is fueled by a rapidly spreading H3N2 subtype of influenza A. Although the flu vaccine has been less effective against this strain, doctors emphasize inoculation still helps protect against severe illness.

Other respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, remain at low levels in Texas, according to the CDC.

TEACHERS’ UNION SUES TEA OVER KIRK PROBES

One of the state’s leading teachers’ unions has sued the Texas Education Agency to block investigations into public educators who commented negatively about conservative activist Charlie Kirk after his assassination, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The lawsuit claims the probe has “unleashed a wave of retaliation and disciplinary actions against teachers” by their local school districts.

TEA launched the inquiry last fall and has yet to issue any disciplinary action. AFT represents about 66,000 educators in Texas.

The agency said in December it received more than 350 complaints from the public, of which 95 are “open and undergoing further investigation and review.” The remainder have been dismissed.

TEA Commissioner Mike Morath warned soon after Kirk’s death that educators who posted or shared “vile content” would be investigated for possibly violating the educator’s code of ethics.

At a press conference last week, AFT President Randi Weingarten called the TEA investigations a “state-sponsored attack on teachers.” She noted only Texas and Florida launched probes.

“Mr. Morath decided to exploit the strategy of Mr. Kirk’s senseless murder,” Weingarten said. “His actions were a transparent effort to smear and shame educators, divide our communities and deny our kids opportunities to learn and thrive.”

NEW WORLD SCREWWORM CASE REPORTED IN TAMAULIPAS A new case of New World screwworm was identified in December in a 6-dayold calf in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, less than 200 miles from the border. The Texas Standard reported this is the northernmost active detection of the flesh-eating larval parasite.

“The continued detections of New World Screwworm near the Texas border are grim reminders of the serious threat this pest poses to our state,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed a five-point plan to address the issue, including building a sterile fly production facility in Edinburg. The parasite was eliminated from the United States decades ago through similar efforts.

“This proven strategy is key to the long-term eradication of New World Screwworm,” Miller said.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.

com.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

A spate of new laws took effect Jan. 1, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Here’s a summary of the most notable new laws now in force:

• County sheriff’s offices are now required to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the passage of Senate Bill 8. Local jail staff are authorized to verify the immigration status of inmates and to honor certain federal immigration warrants. A grant program was created by the state to help sheriffs cover training and implementation costs related to the new law.

• Eviction proceedings involving unauthorized occupants must be held in court from 10 to 21 days of filing. Also, the new law limits legal delays occupants may take to avoid eviction.

• With the rapid expansion of artificial-intelligence systems into many aspects of daily lives, House Bill 149 established a statewide framework for regulating AI and providing transparency. Companies using AI must notify people when they are interacting with an AI system. The law also created a state advisory group to oversee the implementation of oversight and compliance. Penalties can be assessed for violations of the new requirements.

• The business inventory tax exemption has been raised to $125,000, cutting property taxes for small businesses that maintain stock. The previous exemption was $2,500.

TEXAS SMALL BUSINESSES OPTIMISTIC ABOUT 2026 Most Texas small-business owners are optimistic about 2026 and expect their businesses to grow, according to a survey conducted by Comerica Bank of roughly 1,000 small-business owners, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Nearly 80% expect sales growth this year, and about 70% plan to make capital investments, the survey indicated.

“While the headlines about the economy can be disconcerting, small-business owners are telling us that they see much brighter prospects for the part of the economy that touches their business directly,” said Comerica Bank chief economist Bill Adams. “That’s an encouraging sign that the underlying trend for small business is still solid.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the impact of tariffs and a slowing of growth in the national economy, Adams said the recent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve and lower effective tax rates for businesses under the major financial bill passed last summer are encouraging to small-business owners.

The state’s gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 6.8% in the second quarter of 2025, compared to 3.8% nationally.

TEXAS STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS IN DEFAULT COULD SEE WAGES WITHHELD Beginning this month, the Trump administration has threatened to withhold wages from borrowers who have not made a student loan payment in the past nine months or longer, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

An estimated $131.9 billion in outstanding student loans are owed by Texans, according to the Education Data Initiative.

The federal Department of Education confirmed recently that it could begin seizing up to 15% of a person’s disposable income from his or her employer until the defaulted loan is paid in full or removed from default.

Nearly 5.5 million borrowers are currently in default. The pandemic- era pause on repayments was ended by the Trump administration last year.

Critics of the move worry about the effect of garnishing income in the current financial climate, the Express-News reported.

“At a time when families across the country are struggling with stagnant wages and an affordability crisis, this administration’s decision to garnish wages from defaulted student loan borrowers is cruel, unnecessary and irresponsible,” Persis Yu, director of Protect Borrowers, an advocacy group, wrote in a statement.

TEXAS TO GET $281 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE

Texas will receive the largest portion of the first rollout of the $50 billion allocated under the Rural Transformation Program, The Texas Tribune reported. The state will receive $281 million under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which also slashed Medicaid funding by an estimated $1 trillion.

While Texas is receiving the most funds, when its population rank is calculated that amount comes to about $60 per rural resident — the lowest rate in the nation. The funds come as the state’s rural hospitals and clinics face budget shortfalls and rising costs. Fourteen rural hospitals in Texas closed in the last decade, according to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality. Over half of the 82 remaining facilities are at risk of closing.

The funding will be used to strengthen rural health care clinics by educating and attracting health care professionals to work in rural areas, as well as modernizing resources and technology.

PAXTON LOSES BID TO ENFORCE RULES ON LARGE-COUNTY PROSECUTORS A Texas appeals court has again blocked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from enforcing new rules that would require prosecutors in the state’s largest counties to send his office detailed reports, according to the Denton Record-Chronicle.

The Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a lower court order blocking the rules after several district attorneys filed suit. The court ruled that, under the Texas Government Code, Paxton lacks the legal authority to require the proposed reports.

“Based on the plain language of (the code), the Legislature did not expressly grant rule-making authority to the Attorney General, nor can rule-making power be implied where no such authority is expressly granted,” Justice Scott K. Field wrote in the threejudge panel’s opinion.

The rules were adopted last year and mandated that prosecutors in counties with populations of more than 400,000 turn over detailed information from case files from victims and witnesses, including internal emails.

The appeals court ruling stays in place while the case continues in a lower court.

AT LEAST 10 TEXAS INCUMBENTS IN CONGRESS NOT RETURNING

At least one-fourth of Texas’ congressional delegation will not be coming back in 2027, the Texas Standard reported. The massive departure likely will weaken the state’s clout on Capitol Hill. Nine members of Congress from Texas — six Republicans, three Democrats — have already announced they will leave at the end of the year.

Three incumbents in South Texas are facing competitive general election races. In addition, a special election on Jan. 30 in a redrawn Houston district will elect a member of Congress who will then face U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, in the March primary. When the dust settles, between 10 and 17 of the 38-member delegation could end up leaving when this term ends.

“We’re slim right now, (from) what we used to be,” said U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Willow Park, who, with 13 years, is one of the longest- tenured Texans in the House. “But that’s because we’ve had a lot of retirements. That happens. Now you’ve got to rebuild.”

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Luf kin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

Littig is a small, rural area where residents depend on clean air, clean water and safe land for our families, livestock and livelihoods. The placement of a wastewater facility in or near our community raises legitimate concerns about odors, air pollution, water contamination, increased truck traffic, noise and the potential failure or overflow of the system during heavy rains or extreme weather events. These risks are not theoretical; similar facilities across Texas have experienced spills, leaks, and compliance issues that leave nearby residents to suffer the consequences.

Equally troubling is the impact this facility could have on property values and community development. A wastewater plant does not belong near homes, farms, or historically underserved rural communities. It discourages investment, undermines generational land ownership and places an unfair burden on residents who did not create the wastewater problem but are expected to absorb its negative effects.

I am also deeply concerned about whether adequate community engagement and environmental justice considerations have been taken into account. Residents deserve full transparency, meaningful public input and clear answers regarding site selection, environmental impact studies, emergency response plans and longterm maintenance of the facility. Decisions of this magnitude should not be made without the informed consent of the people most affected.

I respectfully urge you to reconsider this proposal and explore alternative locations or solutions that do not place an undue burden on Littig. Protecting public health, preserving our environment and respecting the voices of local residents should be the priority.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I expect and request that my concerns be taken seriously and that further steps be paused until the community’s questions and objections are fully addressed.

Larry and Betty Mayo

Littig

• Homeowners received a break on their property taxes after approving a proposed constitutional amendment in November. The homestead exemption increased to $140,000 from $100,000. People 65 and older were given an additional $60,000 exemption on top of that.

• A major public-school funding bill was passed, pumping $8.5 billion into raises for teachers and support staff and additional operational funding. Lawmakers also approved a statewide school voucher plan with $1 billion in initial funding. Eligible families can use public funds for private schools.

• The Texas Lottery Commission was abolished, with oversight moved to the Department of Licensing and Regulation. Online ticket sales were banned, as were courier services.

• After devastating floods in the Hill Country, especially along the Guadalupe River, killed at least 135 people, lawmakers approved funding to strengthen flood-warning systems, expand river and rainfall gauges, and speed updates to flood-risk mapping.

WARM, DRY HOLIDAY WEATHER ELEVATES WILDFIRE RISK

The Texas A&M Forest Service is warning that unseasonably dry and warm weather conditions are raising the risk of wildfire with the new year.

“We have seen above-normal grass production across large areas of Texas, especially near Abilene, Wichita Falls, Lubbock, Childress and Amarillo,” said Luke Kanclerz of the forest service. “These grasses are now dormant and freeze-cured, which means they dry quickly and can support wildfire activity when wind speeds increase.”

About 90% of wildfires in the state are caused by human activity, with debris burning and equipment use accounting for the majority of mishaps. Before traveling, drivers are urged to inspect their vehicles to make sure tires are properly inflated and trailer safety chains are secure to prevent creating sparks that can cause wildfires.

A total of 103 Texas counties are currently under a burn ban. A list can be found at https:// tfsweb.tamu.edu/.

JUDGE BLOCKS APP STORE AGE-VERIFICATION LAW

A federal judge temporarily blocked a new state law requiring app stores to verify the ages of users and restrict use by those under 18, the San Antonio Express-News reported. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman granted an injunction against the law, which was set to take effect Jan. 1, saying it likely violates free speech rights under the First Amendment.

“The act is akin to a law that would require every bookstore to verify the age of every customer at the door and, for minors, require parental consent before the child or teen could enter and again when they try to purchase a book,” Pitman wrote.

Attorney General Ken Paxton said he will appeal the ruling.

The law would require app store users to be over 18 or to have parental consent before downloading or purchasing an app. Tech companies such as Apple and Google objected, calling the measure a violation of privacy and saying it would affect all apps, including those dedicated to news, sports or weather.

PAXTONS’ DIVORCE FILES UNSEALED

After months of legal wrangling, the files in the divorce case of Angela and Ken Paxton have been released. The files show Angela Paxton contended the marriage has become “unsupportable” in part because of his infidelity, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Several media companies sued to force the release of the files, contending the public had a right to know since both parties are public elected officials. Angela Paxton is a Republican state senator from McKinney. Ken Paxton is leaving his attorney general post in a bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the March GOP primary.

The couple in mid-December agreed to make the files public just before a scheduled hearing on whether the records should remain sealed.

In her motion for divorce, Angela Paxton asked for a larger portion of their assets. Ken Paxton responded that his wife of 38 years should “take nothing.”

SOUTH TEXAS BUILDERS: ICE ARRESTS UPEND INDUSTRY Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested more than 9,100 people in South Texas, The Texas Tribune reported, and builders say the arrests are slowing construction of new homes. The arrests account for nearly one-fifth of all ICE arrests in the entire state.

Mario Guerrero, executive director of the South Texas Builders Association, said ICE agents were operating without arrest warrants — which they can do legally — but are also detaining people who have proper authorization.

“It’s what’s happening across the Rio Grande Valley at construction sites,” he said.

Data from the Federal Reserve of Dallas indicates a 5% drop in construction jobs during the third quarter of 2025.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders @texaspress.com.

The tithe, meaning “a onetenth part,” was part of the ancient pagan suzerain-vassal (king-servant) covenant system that God adopted to establish his salvation-focused relationship with people, starting with Abram.

However, as far as we know, God did not command a tithe until he renewed the covenant through Moses. Then God instructed the 11 tribes who received land to tithe to support the priests, their families and the temple. Eventually, they disobeyed, which led to starvation and disrepair, prompting a sharp rebuke (Malachi 3:615).

Today, there are no physical temples or priests: we are the spiritual temple and a priesthood of believers (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:5), and therefore, do not need a tithe.

So, there was no New Covenant tithe until the Roman Emperor Constantine instituted it again in the fourth century to fund religious leaders and buildings. Previously, money was collected only for charity. For example, Paul sought funds from regional churches to support the beleaguered saints in Jerusalem.

In addition, Tertullian wrote: “Though we have our treasure chest, it is not made up of purchase money, as of a religion that has its price. On the monthly day, if he likes, each puts in a small donation; but only if it be his pleasure, and only if he be able: for there is no compulsion; all is voluntary. These gifts are . . . to support and bury poor people …” Today? Many church leaders misuse Scripture to create guilt or excite congregants into tithing for things God never asked for, ignoring charity and discipleship— things that God and Christ commanded. Beyond misinterpreting Malachi 3:6-15, Luke 6:38 is often distorted to promote a tithing pyramid scheme, where giving more money supposedly leads to receiving more. Read it along with verses 1-37, and you’ll see the context is about judging and the exchange of justice and mercy, not tithing.

Still, little return is seen from today’s tithes. Fewer than 20% of church members engage in spiritual disciplines. Typically, less than 1% of church budgets go to missions, and there’s usually nothing allocated for charity or discipleship—the core things we’re called to do.

The solution? Leaders: Don’t misuse the Scriptures. Be open about church business needs and teach your people to prioritize charity — starting at home, within the Body and finally to others. I could write much more about solving this issue, but I’ve run out of space. Maybe in a future article… In summary, there’s no New Covenant tithe, but loving others is essential. Next, we’ll revisit “Christmas, the Retold Story.”

Blessings and peace.

Braley, a Taylor-based minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

Let’s address the elephant in the room.

How did I come up with the name, “The Czech is in the mail?” There are a few reasons.

My Uncle John — the humorous one in the family — would tell people, “The check is in the mail,” when he would depart from gatherings. Being of Czech heritage himself, I asked him one time if he was “The Czech in the mail.”

During my first tenure with Granite Media Partners, I worked at the Madisonville Meteor and whenever I would send pages to the printing press, I would call and tell the person who picked up, “The check is in the mail.” That was my way of saying the pages were sent.

To this day, I still say “the check is in the mail,” when I send pages to press. Every now and then, I’ll get a reply such as, “Now I can go shopping,” or something of the sort.

When I came to the Elgin Courier, I saw the plethora of Czech names and figured this would be the perfect name for my column. I’ve said for many years Texas 95 is part of the “Texas Czech Triangle,” as I like to call it.

The corridor of Texas 95 between Temple and Yoakum, Texas 36 between Temple and Rosenberg, and U.S. 90-Alternate between Shiner and Rosenberg have many Czech descendants along that triangle. Many towns within that triangle have Czech last names as well, which makes it fitting for it to be called, “The Texas Czech Triangle.”

I’ll very seldom turn down a kolache, kielbasa or beer — all staples in Czech culture. But, as I get older and heavier, I probably should cut back on those delicacies.

Prior to my tenure in Elgin, the name of my column was “Crunch Time.” I was a sports writer then and did not work in Czech-heavy communities.

I hope my column brings awareness or humor to my readers. Just don’t expect a check — or Czech — in the mail anytime soon.

It’s all in the name.

Chlapek is the Area Editor of the Elgin Courier and Taylor Press. He can be reached at jason.chlapek@ granitemediapartners. com.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, entered the U.S. Senate race on the final day to file, pitting her against state Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock. The Austin American-Statesman reported the difference between the two is more of style than substance, with both raising the issues of income inequality, rising prices, corruption and polarization.

Crockett, in her second House term, has made a name by attacking both President Donald Trump and other GOP opponents, such as U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. In her announcement on Dec. 8, she warned Trump, “I’m coming for you.”

Talarico has also gained a large social-media audience with a message far less confrontational in nature. He is a Presbyterian seminary student whose Christian faith is a running theme.

“I am called to love all of my neighbors like I love myself, because despite our differences, we all want the same things: a safe neighborhood, a good job, a quality, wellfunded public school, and the ability to see a doctor when you need one,” he said at his announcement.

The Republican primary also promises to be a spirited race, with incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn facing two challengers: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston.

TAX CUTS MAJOR PART OF ABBOTT’S REELECTION CAMPAIGN

Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking an unprecedented fourth term and is making property-tax cuts the centerpiece of his campaign. He faces 10 largely unknown candidates in the GOP primary and is widely expected to win the nomination.

Abbott wants to make it harder for Texas cities and counties to raise property taxes and has also called for the elimination of school property taxes for homeowners and a slowdown in the rise of property values, according to The Texas Tribune.

Both cities and counties rely heavily on property taxes to pay for services such as public safety, parks, libraries and road maintenance. Lawmakers in 2019 passed tighter limits on how much they can increase property taxes without voter approval.

“Local property taxes are the foundation of essential community services — they keep police and firefighters on duty, streets maintained and trash collected,” said Monty Wynn, who heads the Texas Municipal League.

In recent years, the Legislature has cut school property taxes by billions of dollars, primarily by raising the homestead exemption.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has proposed increasing that exemption by another $40,000 and allowing homeowners at age 55 to take an additional $60,000 off their home’s taxable value. That benefit is now limited to those 65 and older.

TEXAS LEADS NATION IN 12-MONTH JOB GAINS

The state’s job market continues to outpace the rest of the nation, according to labor market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Workforce Commission. The state now has the largest labor force in its history at 15.879 million, gaining 168,000 jobs from September 2024 to September 2025.

“Texas’ job market and labor force continue to grow because we have a dynamic workforce system that fosters opportunity for businesses and workers alike,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “TWC will continue to provide the resources and support needed to keep this momentum and ensure that Texas remains a national leader in economic opportunity.”

The state’s unemployment rate stood at 4.4% in September, nearly identical to the national rate.

STATE PLAN TO BATTLE SCREWWORMS FACES PUSHBACK

As the New World screwworm makes its way to the Texas-Mexico border, potentially endangering livestock and wildlife, the Texas Animal Health Commission’s proposed plan to combat it is facing pushback from agriculture groups, The Texas Tribune reported.

A panel of lawmakers heard from state and federal officials as well as industry groups last week.

“The plan needs significant revision,” said Tim Niedecken, executive director of the Livestock Marketing Association of Texas. He said the draft plan would require animals being moved out of an infested zone to have an ear tag, a vet inspection and receive treatment.

That does not “meet the realities of this industry today,” he told lawmakers.

Lewis “Bud” Dinges, the animal health commission’s executive director, said it will likely publish its response plan in about two months. He said the goal is to align with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure their actions do not harm trade.

The USDA is building a sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas and is also assisting with similar efforts in Panama. The screwworm was detected about 70 miles from the Texas border in September. It infests cattle by laying eggs in open wounds and can be fatal if untreated.

NOVEMBER WAS WARMER AND DRIER THAN NORMAL

A trend that began in August continued through November, with warmer and drier weather throughout much of the state, according to Mark Wentzel, a hydrologist with the Texas Water Development Board. By the end of November, 54% of the state was in drought – up 20 percentage points in about a month.

Wentzel said by the end of next February, drought conditions are expected to improve in the eastern half of the state but get worse in the western half.

South Texas and the Big Bend region of West Texas are experiencing the most severe levels of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

MORE THAN 4 MILLION REAL CHRISTMAS TREES SOLD IN TEXAS ANNUALLY Real Christmas trees are an important contributor to the Texas economy, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, with more than 4 million sold each year. That generated a total economic contribution of $812.7 million and produced more than 6,000 jobs last year.

“Real Christmas trees hold cultural, environmental and economic significance, but the scope of this study was focused specifically on the economic contribution of the real Christmas tree industry,” said Xufang Zhang, Texas A&M Forest Service forest resource analyst.

Tree-production acreage increased from 945 acres in 2017 to 3,565 acres in 2022. The average Christmas tree takes about seven years to reach maturity.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

— 1897 church hymn

I am blessed. The Oxford English Dictionary defines blessings as “God’s favor and protection.” A good friend and mentor once defined blessings as family, friends, shelter, never going to bed hungry, health and happiness. That same person, who knew wealth, said, “Money and material things are not blessings; just yardsticks for those who foolishly think they are.”

My loving mother led me to learn about blessings. While attending services with her at Southside Church of Christ in Mount Pleasant, I read about being thankful to the giver of all blessings. I was blessed and exposed to God’s inspired word with Mom’s oversight.

Over the years I’ve come to believe, however, that I’m still comprehending more every day about how truly blessed most of us really are. And how I need to be increasingly more grateful.

The concepts of blessings in my youth were simple. Like when I just knew I had bombed a test, only to discover that I squeaked by, just above the bare minimum for passing. Or when blessings overshadowed my bad decisions such as when I amazingly dodged jail time or serious damage to my health.

I have no doubt I forced more than one guardian angel to give up on me.

Thankfully, however, not the one riding with me the long-ago night a failed motorcycle tire at 70 mph caused my bike to abandon all natural forces and gravity. I catapulted over the handlebars, sailed through the cold night air and slammed the right side of my head and shoulder into U.S. 67. The impact sent me sliding, grinding away the right side of a perfectly good safety-certified helmet.

Blessings allowed me to get up and walk a quarter mile to find a ride to the hospital. Those blessings also allowed me to go home that night with only scratches, bruises and a separated shoulder.

Some years after that, another poor guardian angel was assigned to bless my ride flying a Piper Cherokee 180 from Center to an Oklahoma destination I’ve since forgotten. The comfort found in the reassuring sound of a Lycoming aircraft engine at full power vanished when the motor faltered, missed and began losing power.

Emergency-procedure training raced through my head, along with an episode of Art Linkletter’s old TV show, “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” When Linkletter asked one youngster who wanted to be a pilot what he would tell his passengers if the engine quit, the little guy thought for a moment and replied, “Now I lay me down to sleep …” That’s when straight ahead, I saw the runway at Carthage. Altitude and airspeed were perfect for a straight-in gliding approach. The airplane’s tires squeaked smoothly on the pavement, as good as any planned landing.

I was also counting blessings not too long ago in a big-city health care facility waiting room, filled to capacity. It was a place where too many of the occupants required canes, walkers and wheelchairs for mobility.

“I knew this day was coming … if I was lucky,” I thought. “Sure got here in a hurry, though.”

Then, when I saw the cardiologist, I added, “Always tried to take care of my health with exercise. Eating properly, sometimes. My doctor said I should come see you. Used that ‘at your age’ thing that isn’t really funny.”

I was still counting blessings while walking on the treadmill.

“Chest pains? Shortness of breath?” the doctor asked.

“Nope,” I responded. I counted a few more blessings as I watched my heartbeat on a monitor as skilled hands and eyes searched for the good, the bad and the ugly.

“Ever y thing looks good,” the physician reported. “Great ... for someone your age.”

Christmas is coming. Decorations are in place. I have family and friends who love and care for me, and whom I love and care for in return. My bed is warm at night. I have more food than I have any business eating. Maybe we’ll sing hymn number 118 Sunday at church.

I am truly blessed. And I’m working harder every day at being more grateful for … “what God hath done.”

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision to reverse a lower court’s ruling and uphold the mid-decade redrawn congressional map for Texas sent candidates scrambling to file or opt to retire with the filing deadline Dec. 8.

The map is likely to give Republican candidates wins in up to five congressional districts previously held by Democrats.

The majority on the court agreed the redistricting was done for partisan purposes, calling it “indisputable,” The Dallas Morning News reported. Those opposing it claim it was redrawn to dilute the voting power of the state’s minorities in Houston, Dallas and South Texas.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement indicating the redrawn maps better reflect the state’s changing voting habits.

SIX TEXAS GOP MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE LEAVING

At least six Texas Republican members of Congress are retiring or seeking a higher office, the Houston Chronicle reported. The latest to announce his retirement is U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Richmond, one of President Donald Trump’s most ardent backers in that chamber.

His brother, Trevor, has announced he plans to run for that seat.

Others planning to leave when their term ends in 2027 include U.S. representatives Jody Arrington, R-Plainview; Morgan Luttrell, R-Magnolia; Michael McCaul, R-Austin; Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, who is running for the U.S. Senate spot now held by John Cornyn; and Chip Roy, R-Hays County, who is running for Texas attorney general.

Republicans currently hold a 219-seat majority in the House, with Democrats holding 213 seats. There are three vacancies.

SUBHED TEXAS FIRST STATE TO INVEST IN CRYPTO After passage of a bill last regular session that gives the state comptroller authority to create a publicly funded cryptocurrency reserve, the state has purchased about $5 million of bitcoin, the Texas Standard reported.

Backers say crypto has been surging in value for the past five years and the state should get involved, especially with the rapid growth of data- mining centers in Texas.

Opponents say crypto is a risky asset with volatile swings.

The state has appropriated a total of $10 million that can be invested in crypto, which is a small fraction of the state’s general fund.

STATE’S ‘BATHROOM BILL’ NOW IN EFFECT Transgender people in Texas will no longer legally be allowed to use multi-stall restrooms that do not match their gender identity at birth, as a new law took effect Dec. 4, the Austin American- Statesman reported. The law applies to all public buildings, as well as public schools and universities.

The bathroom bill passed last September after a decade of failed attempts. When similar legislation was introduced previously, some members of the business community argued its passage would harm Texas’ ability to attract new business and jobs.

Rather than punishing individuals who use a bathroom not conforming to their birth gender, the law requires public agencies to take “every reasonable step” to ensure the law is being followed. Violations can be reported to the attorney general, who could file lawsuits and seek fines.

“The actual legislation doesn’t really tell folks what they should be doing as far as enforcement is concerned,” said Brad Pritchett, CEO of Equality Texas, an LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit. “What it does is it kind of creates a kind of threat to any municipality. At any time, someone could accuse them of being noncompliant with the law.”

The law does not apply to non-public spaces, including private universities or colleges.

PATRICK PROPOSES GIVING TEXAS NEWBORNS $1,000 EACH Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has proposed a state program to give every newborn baby in Texas $1,000 invested in the stock market, The Texas Tribune reported. He said the proposal would be a priority during the 2027 legislative session. It mirrors a federal plan created under Trump’s tax and spending bill.

The initiative, if passed by the Legislature, would cost the state about $400 million annually. The money could not be accessed until the child turns 18.

“If I see a great idea from the president that helps Texans, my first question is always, ‘Why not do it in Texas, too?’” Patrick posted on social media. “This is a great way to return money back to families and to teach the value of savings and compound interest to young Texans.”

Some conservative groups are pushing back, saying it would increase state spending and the growth of government.

“Creating state-run wealth accounts for every newborn violates key liberty principles: It expands government rather than limiting it, replaces personal responsibility with state dependency and undermines free enterprise by turning the state into an investor,” the Texas Policy Research nonprofit posted on social media.

TEXAS HEMP INDUSTRY FEELING EFFECT OF LOOMING BAN

A nationwide ban on THC, the psychoactive ingredient in some hemp products, is already affecting business owners selling products derived from hemp, according to the Houston Chronicle. But the owners are hopeful they can convince Congress to overturn the ban before it takes effect next November.

A state ban was passed by the Legislature and vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott. However, by executive order, he has banned minors from buying such products. The hemp industry in Texas is worth anywhere from $5.5 billion to $10 billion, depending on how it is calculated. About 8,000 retailers are scattered around the state.

“Everybody knows, as a standalone bill, this ban would not have passed, and that’s why I think everybody is pretty much of the mindset that this won’t hold,” said Lukas Gilkey, co-owner of a hemp-product store who led a public lobbying campaign against the state ban.

The president of the Texas Hemp Growers Association said several members are considering pulling out of growing hemp amidst the uncertainty.

“You throw in all this regulatory uncertainty and the rules changing, it gets real tricky, real fast,” Kyle Bingham said. “I don’t think it makes sense for anyone to grow right now, any form of the plant.”

Hemp is also grown to supply the building industry.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.

com.

God with us — three words.

Imagine, the eternal, self-existent God chose to be with us. We did not ask for this — mankind never does.

He chose to be with us. All of us. Not just some of us, not merely His favorites, but with us. And it’s so awesome that His plan began even before time itself.

There are many prophecies about the coming Messiah, and Psalm 118:22-23 is perhaps a strange one to consider. Immanuel had many purposes and provisions for us. In this Psalm passage, Jesus/Yeshua is the stone that the builders rejected. When David wrote, builders inspected building stones, and if they came across a stone that they deemed insignificant or unusable in their estimation, they tossed it aside. It was one “the builders rejected.”

The misguided religious leaders could not accept Jesus as Messiah, those builders rejected God’s cornerstone.

Isaiah 28:16: God says, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.” This prophecy was fulfilled in Matt. 21:42, when Jesus declared that He is the “head of the corner,” the chief corner stone.

In other passages, Mark 12:10 and Luke 20:1718, notice that the Stone changes everyone it touches. As Jesus quoted verses of Psalm 118, he declared to his disciples that He was the most important thing, yet He was treated by religious leaders of His day as an inferior stone being cast away.

He continued, however, to point out that He would ultimately be supreme. He was the cornerstone, but also the rock of judgment.

Everything rests upon the cornerstone.

Here’s another significant reason to celebrate. Read 1 Peter 2:4-10. These verses call Jesus a living stone, chosen and precious. In verses 4-5, He is:

• Living: real life, not dead, true life

• Chosen: God’s choice, appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable • Precious: held in a prized place of honor, the value by which price is determined This cornerstone is the foundation for Christmas.

The precious baby came as the cornerstone for life. The cornerstone for our faith. The cornerstone upon which all other things rest.

It behooves us to examine our faith this Christmas season, and praise God that He established the foundation for our faith.

Celebrate with me today. Until next week, Anita

Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

About 1 million Texans over the age of 45 who receive health insurance coverage through the federal Affordable Care Act likely will face monthly premiums of more than $1,000, the Austin American- Statesman reported. That accounts for onefourth of the state’s 4 million ACA enrollees.

The Republican-led Congress has so far declined to extend pandemic- era subsidies that reduced ACA premiums, a factor in the recent government shutdown. Part of the deal to reopen the government includes a promise to hold a vote on the issue in December, but it appears unlikely to pass.

Texas insurers have raised ACA premiums by an average of 35%, but the hikes have been even higher for older enrollees.

“Price impacts tend to hit older folks the hardest,” said Laura Dague, who is the James M. Griffin professor of health policy at Texas A&M University. That is because insurance companies consider them higher risk, she added.

ABBOTT DEMANDS ACTION ON MEXICO’S VIOLATION OF WATER TREATY

Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have demanded Mexico address its failure to meet the minimum requirements to deliver water to the United States under a 1944 water treaty.

“Mexico must be held accountable for (its) continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement,” Abbott said. “Because of their pattern of neglect, Texas farmers are enduring preventable hardship and an erosion of the agricultural viability of the Rio Grande Valley.”

Abbott said Mexico has failed to supply more than two years’ worth of water — almost 2 million acre-feet. An acre foot is the amount of water needed to cover 1 acre at a depth of 1 foot, or 325,851 gallons.

Abbott said the situation has had a severe negative impact on the state’s agricultural industry.

“Economic losses from delayed water deliveries cannot be recovered,” said TCEQ Commissioner Tonya Miller. “Texas communities across the lower Rio Grande Valley will continue to suffer unless Mexico starts meeting their treaty obligations.”

Under the agreement, the United States has consistently met its delivery obligations on the Colorado River, while Mexico has significantly breached its commitments on the Rio Grande River, Abbott said.

The state’s two U.S. senators, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, have proposed a bill that would hold Mexico accountable for failing to provide water to South Texas under the 1944 treaty.

FINAL RULES ON STATE’S VOUCHER PROGRAM ARE RELEASED

The state Comptroller’s Office has finalized rules for Texas’ $1 billion school-voucher program, the Houston Chronicle reported. Applications for families are scheduled to open in February.

Among the features:

• Families seeking prekindergarten services will be able to access accounts worth $10,500, which can be spent at private pre-K schools or child care centers that have pre-K classes.

• A clarification in the rules means that private schools or charter-school networks already established in other states can open new campuses in Texas. The law says private schools must have been accredited for at least two years. This includes operating a campus in another state.

• The application window opens on Feb. 4 and will last six weeks.

• Students approved for vouchers will not need to reapply in the following years.

POWER-PLANT LOAN PROGRAM MAKING PROGRESS

After a rocky start, a state plan to boost the construction of natural- gas plants has begun loaning money two years after the $7 billion Texas Energy Fund was created, The Dallas Morning News reported. That comes after one of the original loan applicants was selected despite the company’s head having been convicted of a federal crime. Other companies pulled their applications, citing supply-chain issues in procuring the large turbines needed to produce electricity.

However, since June, the Public Utility Commission of Texas has approved about $1.5 billion in loans for six power- plant projects. When completed, they will have the capacity to provide electricity to at least 875,000 homes.

The Legislature created the Texas Energy Fund after the February 2021 ice-storm blackouts killed more than 200 people. The fund was created to build power plants that can produce electricity on demand. One of the companies receiving a loan is Houston-based Calpine.

“This 460-megawatt, state-of-the-art facility is designed to start within minutes and will deliver safe, reliable power exactly when Texans need it most,” Caleb Stephenson of Calpine said in a news release.

$1.2 BILLION HEADED TO TEXAS BROADBAND ACCESS Federal funding included in the 2021 infrastructure law passed during the Biden administration has been slow to reach states, The Dallas Morning News reported. But the Trump administration announced recently it has approved a plan to spend more than $1.2 billion in federal funds to improve broadband access in Texas, delivering high-speed internet to rural areas.

That amount is considerably less than the $3.3 billion allocated to Texas under the original infrastructure law passed in 2021. Texas is the 19th state to win approval of a final plan.

Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said the approved plan will make it possible for nearly every Texas location to connect to highspeed internet.

“The Texas broadband plan reflects our state’s commitment to responsible stewardship and to creating an environment where families, students and businesses can continue to thrive for generations to come,” Hancock said.

PUC PROVIDES MONEY-SAVING TIPS AS WINTER NEARS

The Public Utility Commission of Texas has launched a new website, Ways to Save, to help Texans conserve energy and save money during frigid weather.

“Small changes at your home or business can make a big impact on your electric and water bills,” PUCT Executive Director Connie Corona said. “It’s important to prepare ahead of the cold winter months, especially ensuring you are enrolled in the electricity plan that is right for your home and family.”

The page includes tips on how consumers can prepare their home or business for cold weather and reduce energy and water use to save money on utility bills. Tips range from small lifestyle changes to physical updates consumers can make to prepare their homes for winter.

You can find the site at puc.texas.gov/waystosave.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, San Augustine, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park.

— Standing offer to my children at mealtime

Thanksgiving really deserves more respect.

It’s a revered day of gratitude, making us thankful for things such as family, friends, comfort, security, health, the freedom to express thanks and food. Yes, those glorious 3,000-calorie Thanksgiving dinners.

These are things for which we should be grateful every day.

Yet, that one day is sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas, suffocating under yuletide décor shamelessly shoved on store shelves before Labor Day.

The first Thanksgiving was very different. It was a religious celebration in 1621 of prayer and fasting, not feasting, by British colonists. No turkey. No dressing. No pumpkin pie. Just settlers thankful for crops, weather and simple blessings. They shared the occasion with Native American tribes that helped them survive.

Sarah Josepha Hale, who authored “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” started a drive in 1846 for a national Thanksgiving holiday. Seventeen years later, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday, hoping it would help heal a divided nation at war.

In 1941, Congress ended efforts to move the date by declaring the fourth Thursday of November as the permanent day to reflect on things we picture as blessings.

An early 1940s painting by American artist Norman Rockwell, creator of more than 300 Saturday Evening Post covers and some 4,000 paintings during his lifetime, is the image most frequently associated with Thanksgiving.

Titled “Freedom from Want,” the painting depicts a family gathering around a celebratory meal. It remains today as a favorite picture of Thanksgiving.

Rockwell once said he painted life not as it was, but what he wished it could be. M a y b e that’s what we’re all craving around the holidays — hope for what life should be.

Another American icon offering timeless pictures of America using childhood humor is Hank Ketcham and his cartoon, “Dennis the Menace.” One in particular mirrors Rockwell’s image, with Dennis and his parents sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner, heads bowed. In the caption, young Dennis says, “And I’m thankful the pilgrims didn’t have liver an’ onions for their Thanksgiving meal.”

Let me say, I’m with Dennis. My father liked liver, so Mom cooked it. Too often. And like most kids of my generation, I dared not question any meal Mom prepared, Thanksgiving or otherwise. My sisters and I respectfully ate what was set before us.

“When I left home,” I told a friend last week, “one of the things on my list vowing to never eat again was liver. A promise I have kept.”

“You mean your mother didn’t cook a separate meal for you and your sisters?” the longtime acquaintance said with a laugh.

Quick to affirm we had obviously grown up in the same age, my response was, “Nope! If it was on your plate, you were going to eat it before leaving the table. And leaving a family meal was something you didn’t do without asking, ‘May I please be excused?’” My mother also played the “Mom card” to shame us for wasting food.

“You know there are starving children all over the world,” she would say.

“Same with my parents,” my friend said. “One day my sister and I suggested Mom box up her stewed tomatoes and send them to those starving children. We laughed and laughed until we noticed the deafening silence and parental glares of disapproval.”

“There were times when I felt like my parents didn’t have a sense of humor, either,” I said in sympathy.

Varying only slightly once I became a parent, I gave my kids a standing offer. I told them they didn’t have to eat what I cooked if they didn’t want to.

“Really?” daughter Robin asked the first time. Lee said nothing. He was always good at keeping his mouth shut a little longer than his older sister.

“Sure,” I said, reaching for her plate. “I’ll just put it in the refrigerator and save it for supper tomorrow night.” My kids never questioned whether I had a sense of humor, just how I sometimes applied it.

So, here’s my serious wish for a happy Thanksgiving: May our hearts be filled with genuine gratitude for the things that make this country the best place on Earth to live, Thanksgiving Day and every day.

Oh, and like Dennis, maybe a small nod of thanks the pilgrims didn’t have liver or stewed tomatoes for Thanksgiving dinner.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday blocked a lower court ruling that threw out the state’s new congressional map, allowing the new districts to stay in place, at least for now.

By a 2-1 vote, the lower federal court had ruled a few days earlier in the week the new map was racially gerrymandered.

The Dallas Morning News reported Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito signed the order after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the lower court’s decision, which would have forced the state to revert to the old map of 2021.

Alito asked the full court to issue a ruling this week.

Days earlier, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown, a Trump appointee, had granted a preliminary injunction.

Brown was appointed to his position by President Donald Trump and is a former Texas Supreme Court justice who has long backed conservative policies.

U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry E. Smith wrote a searing dissent.

Lawmakers last summer redrew the map at Trump’s request, making it likely the GOP would pick up five additional congressional seats next year.

The filing deadline for a place on the primary ballot is Dec. 8. Until the issue is settled, potential congressional candidates will not know which position to file for.

JUDGE BLOCKS DISPLAY OF TEN COMMANDMENTS AT SOME SCHOOLS

A federal judge ruled that requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms interferes with the religious freedoms of the 15 Texas families who sued, issuing a temporary injunction against 11 districts across the state, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The ruling has been appealed to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear arguments in both the Texas case and a similar case in Louisiana.

Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Round Rock, Leander and Galveston school districts after board members voted against putting up the displays.

“These rogue ISD officials and board members blatantly disregarded the will of Texas voters who expect the legal and moral heritage of our state to be displayed in accordance with the law,” Paxton said in a statement.

Another lawsuit challenging the requirement to post the Ten Commandments temporarily blocked the move. A total of 25 school districts are affected by the rulings.

DALLAS FED: STATE’S ECONOMY IS COOLING The Texas economy is cooling, according to a recent analysis by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

The analysis concludes that tariffs, inflation and uncertainty about the economy are taking a toll on the state’s businesses.

“Tariffs and the surrounding uncertainty continue to impact the Texas economy,” Luis Torres, a Dallas Fed economist who coauthored the analysis, said in accompanying comments.

He added that nearly half of all businesses surveyed are seeing costs go up because of tariffs, and more than a fourth are passing along those higher costs to their customers.

The survey found modest growth in the manufacturing sector while the services sector saw slight job losses.

Texas has the country’s second-largest state economy, with 9% of overall U.S. gross domestic product.

NEW STATE PARKS PLANNED WITH $1 BILLION FUND After voters in 2023 backed a $1 billion endowment to establish the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is planning development of several new state parks. The largest is the Silver Lake Ranch acquisition from the Moody Foundation, which will be developed with money from the fund, according to the Austin American- Statesman.

Other new parks planned include: Bear Creek State Park, 1,720 acres in Uvalde County.

Post Oak Ridge State Park, 3,170 acres in Lampasas and Burnet counties.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area expansion, 3,700 acres in Llano County.

“This fund allows Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to address the demand for more public lands in Texas while conserving natural and cultural resources for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations,” the Parks and Wildlife Department said on its website.

PAXTON ASKS COURT TO KEEP DIVORCE RECORDS SEALED

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking a Collin County court to seal records in his ongoing divorce case, The Dallas Morning News reported. A hearing has been set for Dec. 19 on a lawsuit filed by several major media companies to make the records public.

“Allegations that might suggest abuse of marital assets, concealment of financial information, or personal conduct inconsistent with public responsibility are not merely private — they are of public consequence,” the plaintiffs’ filing reads.

In response, Paxton called the media companies’ efforts an “unprecedentedly broad and intrusive request.”

Paxton’s wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, filed for divorce in July, citing infidelity, according to Collin County court documents.

Ken Paxton is attempting to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in next March’s GOP primary.

ADD A FLU SHOT TO THANKSGIVING SHOPPING LIST The Texas Department of State Health Services is encouraging everyone to add flu shots to their Thanksgiving shopping lists.

Flu vaccines are widely available at health clinics, doctors’ offices and pharmacies across the state.

“It is especially important for older adults, very young children, people with chronic health conditions and pregnant women to get protection from the flu,” said DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford. “People in those higher risk groups are more likely to get seriously sick if they do get the flu, and some will inevitably need to be hospitalized and even die from their infections.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the flu caused at least 600,000 hospitalizations in the country and tens of thousands of deaths last flu season.

Cooler weather, holiday gatherings and increased travel all increase the risk spreading the flu. Public health officials recommend everyone six months of age and older get vaccinated.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texas press.com.