Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
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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...
One hundred and eighty-five years ago this month, the Republic of Texas passed a piece of legislation that set the framework for education funding to this day. On January 26, 1839, a bill passed that set aside land for public schools in Texas and two public universities. It fulfilled the vision President Mirabeau Lamar had for a public education system endowed by public lands in the state. Though not immediately successful, the program had lasting impacts and earned Lamar the...
Young Cris had been going fishing since he was old enough to walk. Gramps, as he had called him, was raising Chris as best he could, living on a fixed income. Cris’ parents were taken from him in a car crash wen he was only six months old, and his Gramps was just like a dad to him. Gramps had lost his wife to cancer a year before Cris was born, so the two of them needed each other very much. Living within a mile of one of Texas’ largest bays, Cris enjoyed the time he and his g...
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...
On October 25, 1886, the Texas State Fair opened in Dallas. For 137 years, the Fair has operated in Dallas. During the first State Fair, a rival organization opened the Dallas Exposition at the same time. Both fairs were successful and drew crowds of over 35,000 people a day at the time. Eventually the groups merged and became the State Fair of Texas. The current fair grounds in Fair Park were the original location of the Dallas Exposition. The grounds were expanded in 1936...
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...
Summer is in full swing, but back to school is right around the corner. Be sure to stay cool during these hot Texas days! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Property tax relief measures passed, signed by Governor Abbott This month, the Texas Senate and House of Representatives came together and made a deal to deliver property tax relief to homeowners across the state. The $18 billion package is the largest tax cut in Texas history. Senate Bill 2, by Senator P...
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...
My five cents… We have passed the halfway point in session this week, but most of the work is before us. It is full speed ahead for the next two months until Memorial Day. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Bill establishing rural law enforcement fund passes Senate Senate Bill 22 by Senator Drew Springer passed the Senate this week. The bill would establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to sheriff’s departments and prosecutor’s offices in co...
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,...
It’s time to spring forward! Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend. Remember to set your clocks forward Saturday night. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Bill filing deadline This Friday, March 10 marks the end of the bill filing period for the 88th Legislature. After Friday, no more general law bills can be filed. There are exceptions for local bills. After the deadline, the Legislature and the public will have a good idea about the total number of bills...
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...
On February 24, 1836, William B. Travis wrote his famous letter from the Alamo. He wrote the defenders would never "surrender or retreat" and ended with the iconic line "Victory or Death." Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Governor Abbott announces emergency items Last week, Governor Greg Abbott gave his State of the State address. In that address, he listed his seven emergency items that he is asking the Legislature to address this session. Emergency items...
On February 15, 1876, Texas adopted the Constitution of 1876. The document is the sixth constitution by which Texas has been governed since declaring independence from Mexico. Despite having been amended more than 230 times, it remains the basic law of Texas today. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Lt. Governor Patrick releases list of priority bills Earlier this week, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick released a list of 30 pieces of legislation that he would like...
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...
