Capital Highlights

Dueling tax proposals in the Lege The Texas House passed a bill promising $17 billion in tax relief, a measure that is at odds with the Senate’s tax break plan, according to the AustinAmerican-Statesman. The House bill would lower by half a home’s cap on appraisal increases.

Capital Highlights

House OKs $302 billion budget The Texas House approved a $302 billion budget last week that included an amendment prohibiting the use of state money on private school tuition — a major setback to Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to establish a school voucher system.

Capital Highlights

Texas leads nation in jobs added The Lone Star State continues to lead the nation in jobs added with 58,200 new positions in February, bringing the state to nearly 14 million total nonfarm jobs, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

My COVID Experience

When I swallow, knives cut my throat. I cough and sometimes can't stop. That's frightening. I caught COVID. Dodged it three years. But this week, I suddenly felt lousy, and a home test said: 'positive.' The thermometer said: 101.8. No big deal, I thought.Almost everyone gets COVID.

Capital Highlights

Senate passes tax cut package The Texas Senate last week unanimously approved a $16.5 billion package to lower property taxes and inject billions of dollars into public schools. As reported by the Texas Tribune, the three separate bills require the state to send at least $5.

Diversity Training Disaster

All big American companies now require DEI training: diversity, equity and inclusion. All big companies! Really. It sounds responsible. But it turns out DEI courses are often useless and sometimes racist. First comes groveling.

Capital Highlights

Bill would require fentanyl education The death of a Leander High School graduate from a fentanyl overdose has prompted state Rep.

Better Flying

Your flight is delayed? Blame your government. OK, it's not always government's fault. Sometimes it's weather or mechanical problems. But often we suffer horrible flight delays because politicians won't relinquish power.

Capital Highlights

Texas Senate passes first bill of session The Texas Senate last week passed a bill that would close a loophole in state law that allowed gun sales to people between the ages of 16 and 18 who have been involuntarily hospitalized for mental illness.

Running Life’s Race...

To describe the workouts he directed as “grueling” might be an extreme understatement if the athletes who ran for late track coach J. H. (Cap) Shelton are consulted. Known as the “dean of Texas track coaches,” he served at Howard Payne University—his alma mater— for 49 years.