Texans in the Panhandle Recall Towering Smoke as Wildfires Crept Near Their Towns
The fires have left at least two people dead and four injured firefighters. Cattle have been lost and homes and businesses decimated in their wake.
Wildfires across the Texas Panhandle
Firefighters are working to contain the ongoing spread of wildfires as red flag conditions persist.
Denton School District Under Spotlight for Illegal Electioneering
On February 5, 2024, the principal of Alexander Elementary School in DISD sent an email to all staff members encouraging the staff to vote against specific candidates who support certain policies.
Secretary of State Announces New Deputy Secretary of State
Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced that Dave Nelson (no relation to the Secretary) will serve as Deputy Secretary of State beginning March 1, 2024.
Texas A&M University to Close Qatar Campus
The Texas A&M Board cited heightened instability in the Middle East as the reason to end its contract with the Qatar Foundation to run the branch campus.
Lubbock Group Pushes Forward with Marijuana Ballot
The Texas attorney general has sued five other cities that have passed similar policies decriminalizing marijuana.
TEA takes over La Joya ISD After Investigating School Board for Fraud
A TEA investigation found last year that the school board spent $38 million installing LED lights on school campuses, but it turned out the contract to install those lights was part of a criminal conspiracy that involved millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.
UT-Austin Raises $1 Billion for Student Support
The sum is part of a larger philanthropic campaign to raise $6 billion for the flagship university in Austin.
Frigid Weather Caused Industrial Facilities to Release Unplanned Air Pollution
Last week in Corpus Christi, where temperatures ranged from 24 to 42 degrees, a Flint Hills Resources refinery released almost 17,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide after some of its units overpressured and shut down due to frigid temperatures.
Deadline Approaches for NEC All Expenses Paid Trip
The NEC Government-In-Action Youth Tour is open to all high school juniors whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are NEC members.
New FAFSA to Get Aid for College
College hopefuls should fill out the new federal student aid application to as soon as possible to get funds.
Paxton Releases Statement Ending Litigation with Former Employees
Attorney General Ken Paxton released the following statement regarding ending the litigation with former employees.
Shamrock Products Sued for Toxic Spill of Oil and Chemicals
While the toxic chemicals in liquid state were reportedly contained in the immediate area of the spill, Shamrock Products failed to notify the public.
Homelessness in Texas on the Rise
Homelessness rose last year across nearly every demographic group, but strides were made to connect people with new housing.
Houston Still Hasn’t Allocated $200 Million in Relief from Hurricane Harvey
Both the state and the city of Houston say they want to work together to help pay down the remaining funds.
Shamrock Products Caused Foul Odor in the Coastal Bend
On January 3, 2024, a valve on a petroleum product storage tank was damaged at Shamrock Products, LLC facility at the Port of Victoria. This caused a mysterious odor around seven counties in the Coastal Bend area.
Crude Oil Release Confirmed at Shamrock Products
The incident was not immediately reported to local officials in Victoria. Some residents reported strong odors throughout the region and various local and state agencies actively began conducting air quality tests throughout a seven-county area.
Update on Mystery Odor Around the Coastal Bend Area
The Goliad County Emergency Management received confirmation of the source of the odor around Goliad County that extended to the Corpus Christi area.
Quinceañera capital of Texas?
Diboll’s growing Hispanic population has inspired a new economy of party planners and DJs to produce quinceañeras. City leaders are taking notice.
Texas is Beginning to Examine the Potential Impact of Using AI
Amid fears that AI could heighten bias or affect privacy, the state is forming an advisory committee to recommend how the technology is deployed.