Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
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Last week we celebrated one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving. Enjoyed food, family, and football – including the return of a historic in-state rivalry. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Comptroller announces awards for broadband programs The Broadband Development Office (BDO) announced it has notified the first wave of awardees for its Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) II program. This represents $580 million in funding that will connect alm...
The holidays are fast approaching and we’re busy gearing up for the next legislative session. It will be here faster than we know it! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Texas Veterans Commission awards over $1.4 million in grants to 8 East Texas organizations Last month, the Texas Veterans Commission presented over $1.4 million to eight East Texas organizations that provide services for veterans and their families. Those grants include: • A $300,000 gra...
Fall is just around the corner! Which means the 2024-2025 hunting season is here. Dove hunting season opens this weekend. Be sure to get a license from Texas Parks and Wildlife and as always be safe. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Business and Commerce Committee discusses Artificial Intelligence, Texas Energy Fund This week, the Senate Business and Commerce Committee held a hearing on two interim charges, one regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and...
This month Houston and the Gulf Coast were devastated by Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall Monday, July 8 near Matagorda. Thirty-six Texans died during and after the storm and 2.3 million were left without power, some for almost two weeks. Hearings were held in Austin to assess the response and hold utility companies accountable that did not perform well, including CenterPoint Entergy. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. BDO accepting proposals for broadban...
We celebrate our Independence Day on July 4th. Have a safe holiday and enjoy the fireworks! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Texas Energy Fund oversubscribed The Public Utility Commission of Texas announced this month that the newly created Texas Energy Fund (TEF) has received 125 notices of intent to apply for the In-ERCOT Generation Loan program. The notices request almost $40 billion in financing for new dispatchable power generation projects. This...
On April 21, 1836 the Battle of San Jacinto was fought and won by Sam Houston and the Texas army in a matter of minutes. Only nine Texans were killed while 630 Mexican soldiers died in the battle. Santa Anna was captured after the battle and with the victory, the Republic of Texas began. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. East Texas law enforcement agencies receive grants The Comptroller’s office announced this month it has delivered nearly $126 million in g...
For the first time since 1878, Texans will see their first total solar eclipse next month. Total solar eclipses are rare because the sun, the moon, and the Earth must align such that the moon moves in between the sun and the Earth. Only people who are within the path of totality will be able to see the full effects of the eclipse. The path of totality encompasses a large swath of Texas including the DFW metroplex, Tyler, Austin and the Hill Country, and Del Rio. The eclipse wi...
Here are five things happening around your state: 1. TEA announces opening of Texas Student Heroes Award nominations This month, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced that nominations for the annual Student Heroes program are open. The program recognizes Texas public school students in prekindergarten through high school who do an outstanding volunteer service that benefits their fellow students, schools, or communities. One student from each of the 15 State Board of...
The year is coming to a close and the holidays are fast approaching. Have a fun and safe holiday season! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Texas still number one for domestic in-migration Last year, Texas again was the number one destination for Americans moving to another state, according to State-to-State Migration Flows data from the Census Bureau. The most signification migration flows occurred between Texas and other high-population states, like...
It’s officially fall! September 22 marked the official start of autumn. Hopefully that means some cooler weather. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Port Arthur LNG obtains approval to expand gas plant project The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the permit that authorizes the Port Arthur Liquid Natural Gas plant project to expand into Phase 2, including the addition of two liquification trains capable of producing up to 13 million tons per a...
This month we remember President Lyndon B. Johnson on what would have been his 115th birthday. President Johnson was born in Stonewall, Texas in 1908 and was elected as a Congressman, Senator, and later President of the United States. His birthday is an official state holiday in Texas. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. TxDOT urges drivers to be mindful in school zones School is back in session for most Texas students and the Texas Department of...
This week, the nation celebrated Independence Day. The Fourth of July commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, establishing the United States of America. Our Founding Fathers made history in declaring our independence from Britain 247 years ago and establishing this great nation. Happy Fourth of July week! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Grand opening of improved Rusk State Hospital This month, I was thrilled to attend the...
On May 18, 1912 the USS Texas, also known as Battleship Texas, launched and quickly became one of the most powerful weapons in the world. It is credited with the introduction and innovation of advances in gunnery, aviation, and radar. She is the last surviving Dreadnought and the only battleship in existence today that fought in both World War I and World War II. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. New fund to support creation of more state parks passes House...
The first few bills have made it to the Governor’s desk for his signature, which signals the end of session is fast approaching. Of the over 8,000 bills filed this session, just over 100 bills and joint resolutions have been sent to the governor and four have been signed into law. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. House Bill 4 passes the Senate This week the Senate passed the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act which sets standards for the collection and use...
Last Friday we celebrated Cinco de Mayo! On May 5, 1862, Mexican general Ignacio Zaragoza defeated French expeditionary forces at Puebla, Mexico. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Ankle monitor bill heads to the governor This week, a bill that would increase penalties for tampering with, disabling, or removing an ankle monitor overwhelmingly passed the House. The Senate passed the measure unanimously in late March. Senate Bill 1004, authored by Senator Joan...
May is here which means we only have a month left in this Legislative session. Deadlines are looming for bills to reach certain benchmarks. It’s a race to the finish! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Bill moving SFA to UT-System passes House, going to Governor This week, Senate Bill 1055 passed the House unanimously, 148-0, with even Speaker Phelan voting for the bill (the Speaker typically votes ‘present not voting’ on most bills in the chamber). I appre...
April 21 was San Jacinto Day in Texas, which celebrates the final battle of the Texas Revolution in 1836 when Texas won its independence from Mexico. The battle was fought in present-day La Porte, Texas and lasted just 18 minutes before General Sam Houston defeated General Santa Anna’s Mexican army. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Beaumont, Orange County award General Land Office grants Last week the General Land Office announced awards in the Beaumont a...
There are only 39 days left in the Legislative session and it certainly shows. The days at the Capitol are getting longer and bills are making their way through the process. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Broadband grant applications due in May The Comptroller's Office is now accepting grant applications to the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) program, which focuses on funding broadband infrastructure projects. The state was allocated $363.8...
I hope you can still take the time to reflect on the meaning of Easter and the miracle of the Resurrection. From my family to yours, hope you had a blessed and happy Easter. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. School safety bill heard in committee This week Senate Bill 11 was heard in the Senate Education Committee. I authored Senate Bill 11 based on the recommendations on school safety that came out of the committee I chaired in the interim, the Special Commi...
One hundred years ago this week, Lamar University in Beaumont originated as South Park Junior College when the Beaumont ISD superintendent sought to develop plans for a junior college. Later that year, the institution’s doors opened, and the name was changed to Lamar College and later Lamar University. I’m a proud alumnus of Lamar University! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Property tax relief passes Senate This week the Senate passed Senate Bills 3, 4,...
On March 2, we celebrate Texas Independence Day! On that day in 1836, a delegate from each of the 59 existing settlements in Texas signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. This document officially declared Texas’ independence from Mexico and created the Republic of Texas. The delegation met at Washington-on-the-Brazos and also organized the interim government, naming Sam Houston commander-in-chief of the republic’s military forces. Here are five things happening aro...
Super Bowl LVII is this weekend and, for the first time in history, both starting quarterbacks are from the great state of Texas. Whichever team you support, it will be a win for the Lone Star State! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Business and Commerce hearing on the electric grid This week the Senate Business and Commerce Committee met to discuss possible redesign of the electric market and the electric grid. Representatives from the Public Utility...
It was Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow last week, indicating six more weeks of winter; unwelcome news after ice storms covered much of the state this week. The iconic groundhog made his 137th appearance and records of his predictions go back to 1887. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Abbott names new border czar This week Governor Abbott named long-time Border Patrol agent Mike Banks to be the new Texas Border Czar. He will report directly...
On January 25, 1839 the official flag of Texas was adopted by the Third Congress of the Republic of Texas. It specified the look of the iconic Lone Star Flag that we know and love today. The colors were chosen to signify certain attributes: red for courage, white for purity and liberty, and blue for loyalty. The Texas flag is the only flag of an American state that previously served as a flag for an independent country. Here are five things happening around your state: 1....
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. The new year brings a new legislative session, so I'll be spending time in Austin working on your behalf over the next 140 days. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Legislature convenes for 88th Legislative Session The Texas Legislature is officially back in session! Both the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives gaveled their respective chambers into session on Tuesday,...
