Don’t panic if you check your voter registration in Texas and see the word “Suspense” next to your name. Despite how dramatic it sounds, being on suspense does not mean your voter registration is canceled, suspended, or revoked, and it does not mean you have been removed from the voter rolls.

What Does “Suspense” Actually Mean?

In Texas, placing a voter on the suspense list is simply an administrative way for election officials to say, “We need to verify your address.”

Every two years, county voter registrars send out new voter registration certificates. If one of those certificates or another official piece of election mail, like a jury summons, is returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable, the county places that voter on the suspense list.

This frequently happens when voters:

• Move to a new home or apartment and forget to update their voter registration.

• Have an error or missing detail in their mailing address on file.

• Have mail forwarded or returned due to postal delivery issues.

Can You Still Vote If You Are on Suspense?

Yes! Voters on the suspense list are still legally registered to vote. However, depending on your situation, you may need to complete a brief step to confirm your residence.

What Should You Do Next?

Checking your voter profile and resolving your status ahead of an election is quick and straightforward.

• Check Your Status: You can look up your registration details online using votetexas.gov or call the Colorado County Election Office.

• If You Haven’t Moved: If your address hasn’t changed, you can update or confirm your address online via the state’s portal or fill out a simple Statement of Residence form at your polling place when you go to cast your ballot.

• If You Moved: It is best to update your address on your voter registration record as soon as possible. You can find forms and local contact details throughout the county Voter list maintenance, often called a “purge”, is the routine, legally mandated process county election officials use to keep voter registration records accurate and up to date.

Federal laws like the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Texas Election Code set strict rules for how and when a voter’s registration can be canceled to protect eligible voters from being removed by mistake.

Key Triggers for Removal Under Texas law, a voter is removed from the active registration rolls for a few specific reasons: • Change of Residence (Suspense List): If official election mail (like a voter card or jury summons) is returned as undeliverable, or if state records show a voter may have moved, they are placed on the Suspense List. A voter on suspense can still vote if they confirm or update their address. However, if a voter remains on the suspense list and fails to vote in two consecutive general elections for federal office (about a four-year window), state law directs the registrar to cancel the record.

• Deceased Voters: The Texas Secretary of State and local registrars match voter rolls against official death records including those provided by the Department of State Health Services and the Social Security Administration to remove deceased individuals.

• Disqualifying Legal Events: Registrars receive official notices from courts and government agencies regarding individuals who have been convicted of a felony or declared mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a judge.

• Voter Request: A voter may submit a written, signed request to voluntarily cancel their own registration.

Notice Requirements & Protections

Texas law requires voter registrars to send a written notice to a voter’s address on file before canceling a registration for eligibility concerns, giving the voter 30 days to respond and confirm their status.

Additionally, federal law prohibits systematic list maintenance activities within 90 days of a federal primary or general election to prevent accidental removals right before voting begins.

It is a common misconception that voters in Texas can be dropped from the registration rolls overnight, but list maintenance is a careful, multi-year process governed strictly by state and federal law. Before a voter’s record can be canceled for an unconfirmed address change, they are first placed on the “suspense” list and given a generous grace period, to simply vote or update their information. County voter registrars do not initiate list updates frivolously; every notice sent and status change made is bound by strict legal safeguards designed to protect your right to vote while ensuring public voter rolls remain accurate, secure, and up to date.

Dear Editor:

In August, the United States national debt crossed $40 trillion for the first time.

Put that number in perspective: when Donald Trump first took office in January 2017, the debt was about $20 trillion. In less than a decade, America has doubled it.

But this should not be a partisan talking point.

The debt increased by roughly $7.8 trillion during Trump’s first term. It increased by approximately $8.5 trillion during Joe Biden’s. Now, less than two years into Trump’s second term, we have added nearly $4 trillion more. At the current pace, the national debt could approach $46 trillion by the time Trump leaves office.

Republ icans blame Democrats. Democrats blame Republicans. Meanwhile, both parties keep borrowing.

Last year’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is projected by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to add roughly $4.1 trillion to federal deficits through 2034, including additional interest.

Here in Colorado County, farmers, ranchers, businesses and families understand a fairly basic rule: eventually, the bills have to be paid. Washington apparently operates under a different accounting system. Every trillion dollars added to the debt means still more tax dollars going toward interest rather than roads, agriculture, disaster relief and the needs of communities like ours.

Apparently Washington can find trillions for tax cuts and hundreds of millions for presidential ballrooms. What it cannot find is the political courage to spend what it collects.

There are legitimate disagreements about taxes, defense, Social Security, Medicare and the proper size of government. Solving our fiscal problems will require painful choices that neither party wants to make.

But arithmetic isn’t partisan.

Twenty trillion dollars became forty trillion in less than ten years.

The frightening question isn’t which party did it.

They both did. The question is: at what number will we, the people, finally force our politicians to care?

Trey Brantley of Columbus

Welcome to the fray. As the newly appointed General Manager and CEO of the Lower Colorado River Authority, you have inherited an incredibly complex and contentious situation regarding the Fayette Power Project (FPP).

The fun is just starting for you. You come to this position with a good name and a well-outlined history of doing the right thing, specifically your hard-fought victories navigating the transition away from legacy coal assets at CPS Energy in San Antonio. Many of us here have a genuine hope that you will bring much-needed cultural change to this agency. But please, do not let the institutional sewer you have just been thrown into blemish your past hard work.

Because as you settle into your new office, there is a hard truth about Fayette County you need to understand: the pollution leaking from the FPP is an environmental crisis, but the machinery protecting that pollution is a far greater threat to our community.

This institutional contempt for rural Texans is baked into the very foundation of the FPP. It is a bitter piece of local history that when the original LCRA managers chose Fayette County as the site for this massive coal plant decades ago, their arrogant justification was that this county was populated by “old, stupid people” who wouldn’t have the money to fight back, and who would simply die of cancer before they ever saw the long-term effects of the pol lution. They viewed our home not as a community, but as a politically weak sacrifice zone.

That exact same arrogance drives the agency today. For years, citizens here have watched the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) operate less like an environmental regulator and more like a lap dog for the LCRA.

When the LCRA gets caught pol lut ing, the TCEQ does not penalize them. They simply move the goalposts. They either ignore the data or change the rules entirely to make the pollution legal—such as arbitrarily declaring that local county judges and landowners are not “affected persons” so they can ignore our protests while relaxing your pollution limits.

This is not a new oversight. For over 20 years, the LCRA has been fully aware of the total failure of their 23 groundwater monitoring wells at the FPP site. Instead of remediating the unlined ash ponds, the agency continually refuses to conduct undiluted testing at the actual points of discharge, preferring instead to mask the heavy metals using diluted math and regulatory loopholes. And now, the bill has come due: just this week, local authorities publicly confirmed a designated, physical effluent leak point near the Cedar Creek dam itself.

But the LCRA’s abuse of rural communities extends far beyond the ash ponds in Fayette County.

How long can our State leaders tell everyone that Texas is running out of water, when the biggest culprits are quasistate entities like the LCRA? The Authority operates as a money machine and an electric monopoly that is totally out of control.

When bureaucratic maneuvering isn’t enough, the LCRA unleashes its legal department. The Authority loves to jump into court, weaponizing its massive, ratepayer-funded financial power to overwhelm and demolish anyone who fatally falls in their path to the money.

Ta ke the hi stor ic groundwater fight just up the road in the Lost Pines region. When local citizens and groundwater districts tried to stop the LCRA from siphoning 25,000 acrefeet— over 8.1 billion gallons, representing nearly $50 million in municipal water value—from their aquifer, the LCRA didn’t back down. Backed by a $117 million ratepayer-funded infrastructure plan, they dragged local defenders through relentless, exhausting litigation, pushing rural families to the brink of bankruptcy just for trying to protect their own wells.

They operate less like a public utility and more like a group of state-funded gangsters, strong-arming everyone, every time.

The LCRA’s mission statement claims the agency operates as the “stewards of the rivers and waters of Texas.” But to the communities actually living next to your facilities, you operate like an entity that views local groundwater as yours to exploit, and local citizens as nuisances to be sued into submission.

Mr. Garza, you are new to this role. You did not build this combative, litigious machine, nor did you create the leaking ash ponds currently drawing federal complaints at the FPP dam. But you are the one at the controls now.

You have a choice. You can continue the legacy of deploying ratepayer-funded lawyers to crush local opposition while hiding behind the TCEQ, or you can leverage your San Antonio experience to actually become the environmental steward the LCRA claims to be.

The residents of Fayette County are testing their wells, the federal complaints are filed, and the public is watching. We are looking to you to change the culture.

By Jerry Moerbe of Nelsonville

Every two years, county voter registrars across Texas mail out new Voter Registration Certificates to active registered voters. While this official document is widely recognized as a sign that you are ready for the polls, its actual legal roles under Texas law often surprise residents.

Why It Can’t Be Used as Primary Voter Identification

Under Section 63.001 of the Texas Election Code, in-person voters must present one of seven approved primary forms of photo identification:

• Texas Driver License (issued by DPS)

• Texas Personal Identification Card (issued by DPS)

• Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC)

• Texas Handgun License (issued by DPS)

• U.S. Military Identification Card with photograph

• U.S. Citizenship Certificate with photograph U.S. Passport (book or card) This law became into effect in Texas on August 10, 2016.

The Missing Element: Photo Verification The Voter Registration Certificate lacks a photograph and biometric security features. Because it is printed on paper without photo verification, state law explicitly prevents it from standing on its own as primary identification to establish identity at the ballot box.

While your voter registration certificate isn’t a primary photo ID, state law and administrative codes recognize it for several critical uses across state and local government:

In an era where transparency is top of mind, navigating how to access public information can feel daunting. When it comes to local elections, understanding how public records work is vital for community trust. The Colorado County Election Administrator is pulling back the curtain on the Texas Public Information Act to share some surprising facts you might not know about requesting election-related records.

Here is a simplified look at the “hidden rules” of open records requests and how they apply directly to Colorado County elections:

There is no “central hub” for records Many citizens assume that filing a single request with the county courthouse grants access to every piece of election data. In Texas county government, each elected official acts as the independent Public Information Administrator for their specific department.

No department has authority or custody over another department’s files. If you want specific voter registration records or local election data, your request must go directly to the specific Elected Official or Department Head holding those files. Sending it to the wrong office will cause unnecessary delays.

Need help figuring out who to contact? You can reach out to Sharon Marsalia, County Judge Assistant, at (979) 732-2604 or visit Room 107 in the Colorado County Courthouse for guidance.

The government cannot ask why you want the data

Curious about a local election outcome or a specific polling location stat? You don’t have to justify your curiosity.

Under state law, government officials are strictly prohibited from asking you for the purpose of your request. While you can voluntarily share your goals if you think it will help officials locate a highly specific file, you are never required to do so.

Officials cannot create new reports for you If you are looking for a highly specific, customized statistical breakdown of a past election that doesn’t currently exist, the county cannot build it for you.

An Open Records request must strictly be for the inspection or copying of existing documents or records. By law, an agency is not required to generate a brand-new document or conduct custom data synthesis to fulfill a request.

Small staff & daily operations impact turnaround times

A common misconception is that requested files must be handed over immediately or strictly on day 10.

Across the state, the sheer volume of public information requests has surged so dramatically that many larger Texas counties have had to hire dedicated, full-time open records staff using taxpayer dollars just to manage the workload. In a smaller county, existing staff must balance these legal requests alongside their primary day-to-day office operations—such as processing voter registrations, preparing election equipment, and certifying votes. Because these essential operational duties must continue without interruption, complex or extensive record searches may take longer to fulfill.

The “10-Business-Day Rule” is a response window, not a delivery guarantee State law provides a structured timeline for public agencies to respond to requests. The law dictates that the county must officially respond within 10 business days, it does not require all documents to be delivered in that timeframe. If staff are actively using records, if files are stored offsite, or if staff need time to locate extensive materials alongside their daily duties, the county will use those 10 business days to provide formal written notice specifying the date and time the records will be ready. If data is legally protected, officials will use that window to seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General.

Large requests may incur processing & copy fees While looking at documents in person is generally free, larger data pulls or extensive paper copies incur standard, state-regulated fees set by the Texas Attorney General.

Small, routine requests rarely cost anything, but extensive requests requiring significant staff time or physical copies may incur fees for labor, overhead, and materials. To ensure complete transparency, Colorado County will always provide a formal, itemized cost estimate before beginning work on any request where costs are expected to pass standard state thresholds. Requestors are notified in advance so they can refine their request or approve the estimate before any charges are incurred.

The governing laws

All public information requests in Colorado County are governed strictly under Texas Government Code, Chapter 552 (commonly known as the Texas Public Information Act). Under this act, all government information is legally presumed to be available to the public, unless specific state laws or judicial exemptions apply like an open investigation or court order.

For more information on how to submit a request or to download a standard form, visit the Texas Attorney General’s open government portal or https:// www.co.colorado.tx.us/ page/colorado.PublicInformationRequest

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Amid mounting public outcry, the federal government last week halted construction of border barriers through state park property in far West Texas, The Texas Tribune reported.

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott personally stopped construction until he could visit the region.

Hundreds of people showed up at the annual meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, gathering outside its headquarters in what resembled a tailgate party.

The federal government already has sent bulldozers into Big Bend National Park Among those trying to rally people to the cause was former Republican Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

“I have yet to encounter anybody in the Big Bend area who does not oppose a wall,” he said.

While Big Bend is a national park, several state parks could be affected by attempts to build border barriers, including Big Bend State Park and Seminole Canyon State Park.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Chairman Paul Foster addressed the concerns of those attending the annual meeting.

“I think we agree with most of you and are working with the Governor’s Office and the federal government,” he said. “Our goal is to minimize damage to the ecosystem and the natural beauty of not only the parks, but the whole area.

Abbott proposes extending ban on H-1B visas

Gov. Greg Abbott last week proposed extending a ban on H-1B visas used to hire foreign workers to all Texas public school employees, The Texas Tribune reported. A similar ban is already in place for Texas universities.

The governor says he will push for legislation to ensure “exactly zero” of Texas school employers are in the state on federal visas.

“We’re tired of the federal government not putting limits on who can come in under H-1Bs, and because of the federal government’s failure to control H-1B visas, Texas is having to put our foot down, and that means making some tough decisions,” Abbott said.

Texas school districts employ more educators holding H-1B visas than any other state, according to an analysis from the National Education Association.

The Dallas Independent School District leads in the number of educators hired with H-1B visas at 171.

The pol icy change would require legislation to pass during the next regular session of the Legislature, which begins in January.

Patrick threatens schools who retain ‘inappropriate’ books Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatened last week to lower ratings of schools that do not pull books marked as “inappropriate,” The Dallas Morning News reported.

“We’re coming for the books,” Patrick said in a message to superintendents. “We ask that you do it on your own and remove these books.”

Patrick cont rols the state Senate agenda and says school districts may eventually face funding cuts if those books remain in school libraries. He did not say how that would occur.

Abbott last year signed a bill into law that gives school boards the authority to pull books from school libraries if parents or members of the public believe they are indecent or profane. Patrick said new penalties are necessary because school districts are not complying.

Democrats have said stricter oversight over books in school libraries threatens local control and access to books.

Up to 25,000 plugged oil and gas wells could fail, group warns A new watchdog group’s analysis of Texas oil and gas wel l data claims 25,000 plugged wel ls across the state are at risk of failure, threatening to contaminate the aquifers many communities rely upon for their water supply, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The number of so-called “zombie wells” — plugged wells that rise from the dead — is about 50 times higher than previously reported.

Leaking zombie wells are a growing problem in Texas oil fields as a growing number of plugged wells fail, sending toxic wastewater up to the surface and contaminating aquifers.

The group, Future Heist, has created an interactive map to identify the wells at risk.

The group scraped state websites for information. It assigned each well a score based on several factors: the well plug’s age, well construction quality, compliance history and its proximity to oil and gas wastewater injection.

All the information is publicly available on websites belonging to the Texas Railroad Commission.

“I spent 15 years reporting on what oil and gas did to Texas, and the facts were always right there in the public record — just buried where no one could use them,” Saul Elbein, Future Heist’s director, said in a statement. “Future Heist digs them out and makes them impossible to ignore, so people can see what was done to them and decide what comes next.”

Texas crime rate falls for third straight year The state’s crime rate has declined for the past three years, according to data released by the Texas Department of Public Safety, including by 13% in 2025.

The crime rate peaked in 2022 at 2,830.14 offenses per 100,000 people and has declined each year since.

Overal l, the violent crime rate is down 13.19% from 2024. The property crime rate is down 13.31% for the same period.

Abbot t touted a nti- crime measures taken during recent legislative sessions.

“We passed the toughest bail reform package in state history, backed law enforcement and targeted violent repeat offenders,” he said.

Smuggled Texas fuel is bankrolling cartels Fuel smuggling has likely surpassed narcotics as the Mexican drug cartels’ leading income source, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety and reported by the Houston Chronicle.

DPS reports the cartels smuggle fuel worth $12 billion to $17 billion a year from Texas into Mexico.

“Fuel trafficking is a threat that is operating in plain sight,” DPS director Col. Freeman Martin told the state Senate Select Committee on Homeland and Border Security. “They’re loading fuel trucks …. or any container you can think of and hauling it south.”

Car tel s have been known to drive empty trucks into Texas and fill them up with legally purchased and tax-free fuel from licensed terminals. The trucks are then driven to unregulated fuel sites, where cheaper products are blended into the fuel.

Customs documents are forged or changed, and the fuel is taken to Mexico, Martin said.

One possible solution is to make it illegal for trucks carrying hazardous materials to deviate from preplanned routes or to carry more than 80,000 pounds, according to state and industry officials.

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@texaspress.

com.

Have you ever walked into a Colorado County office, ready to cross an errand off your to-do list, only to be told “no” because you lacked a specific form or didn’t meet a certain requirement? It can be incredibly frustrating.

In this installment of our “Things You Didn’t Know” series, Colorado County Elected Officials and employees want to share a behind-the-scenes look at why those barriers exist and how they are designed to protect you.

The absolute truth is that your county employees and elected officials truly want to assist you. They take pride in serving our community efficiently.

However, county staff are bound by strict Texas state laws and local regulations.

When an employee tells you they cannot complete a transaction the way you want it done, it isn’t because they are being difficult; it is because the law legally forbids them from doing so.

Everyday examples of legal safeguards

Common friction points often involve voting, vehicle registration, and vital statistics. While the rules might feel like unnecessary “red tape” at the moment, they are in place to prevent identity theft, fraud, and unwanted or undo actions.

• Voting with a Registration Card vs. Photo ID: It is a common source of confusion at the polls: you received your official Colorado County voter registration card in the mail, you brought it with you to vote, but the election worker still asks to see your photo ID. It can feel redundant, but under Texas Election Code § 63.001, a voter registration certificate alone does not satisfy the state’s strict voter identification requirements for in-person voting. State law mandates that voters present one of seven acceptable forms of photo identification listed under Texas Election Code § 63.0101(a) (such as a Texas Driver’s License or U.S. Passport) to confirm that the person standing at the poll matches the name on the voter roll. The law protects the integrity of your individual vote, ensuring no one else can walk in and claim your ballot.

• Picking Up a Voter Registration Card In Person: If you need a replacement or want to check your status, you can submit an application or inquire by personal delivery at the Elections Office under Texas Election Code § 13.002. However, just like with ballot security, county officials must follow strict statutory verification guidelines before handing out official individual voter records in person to ensure your sensitive registration data remains secure and protected from unauthorized access.

• Vehicle Registration Stickers: If you are running errands in town and decide to pick up a license plate registration sticker for a neighbor, a family member, or even a friend, the Tax Assessor-Collector’s office cannot simply hand it over. Under Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Title 43, § 217.28, vehicle registration renewals must satisfy strict identity verification. To process a registration on behalf of someone else, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles regulations require specific documentation. This includes the official renewal notice or a signed authorization note from the owner, along with a copy of the owner’s current government- issued photo ID, the representative’s photo ID, and valid proof of vehicle insurance. This prevents unauthorized individuals from altering a vehicle’s legal status or intercepting state-issued property.

• Bir th Certificates: Grandparents often stop by the County Clerk’s office hoping to pick up a certified copy of a grandchild’s birth certificate. Under Texas Health and Safety Code § 191.051, birth certificates are confidential, protected vital records that may only be issued to a “properly qualified applicant”. While the law does include grandparents in the biological immediate family line under 25 TAC § 181.1, the state enforces strict identity verification protocols. To protect the minor child, a grandparent must present valid government photo identification and, depending on the specific record, may be required to show formal documentation tracing their direct relationship to the parent or provide a notarized authorization. Without this legal verification, the record cannot be released. This strict rule ensures that a child’s private information never falls into the wrong hands.

We are on your side

Colorado County officials and employees understand that your time is valuable. It is never pleasant to be turned away and told you have to go back home to gather more paperwork or specific identification. But remember: the very same laws that stop you from picking up someone else’s documents or require extra verification at the polls are the exact laws keeping strangers from interfering with your records and your vote.

Before heading to the courthouse or county annex, residents are highly encouraged to visit the official Colorado County Website. Every department has information listed detailing exactly what IDs, fees, and authorization forms are required to successfully complete your task on the first try.

We are here to serve, protect, and guide you through the process—legally, safely, and correctly.

I am Area Editor for The Colorado County Citizen and The Sealy News. I am also a full-time teacher at Rice Consolidated ISD, teaching students at both the junior high and high school campuses.

So, this column isn’t coming from the editor’s desk. It’s coming from the teacher’s desk.

For two years, our junior high campus carried an F state accountability rating.

There is no point in pretending we were proud of it. We weren’t.

But there was something about that F that bothered us beyond the rating itself: Our administrators weren’t failures. Our teachers weren’t failures. And our kids for sure weren’t failures.

Still, we were stuck in a rut. Several of us teach at both the junior high and high school campuses. Our days were already busy. We were tired. Teachers were frustrated. Kids were frustrated. And when you’ve struggled long enough without seeing the results you desperately want, frustration can slowly turn into defeat.

Last year, Dr. Andrew DeWalt arrived as principal of Rice Junior High, along with Assistant Principal Lisa Hoelscher.

The change was felt almost immediately.

That doesn’t mean everything suddenly became easy. Quite the opposite.

Already tired teachers were asked to do more. Our administrators pushed us. We pushed one another. And all of us pushed our kids.

We lesson planned together. We looked at one another’s plans and found opportunities to reinforce content across classrooms. Teachers came early and stayed late to tutor.

And our kids worked.

They came to tutorials before school. They stayed after school. They had WIN time to get extra targeted help. We reminded them over and over to lock in when their attention wandered. We had to remind ourselves to lock in, too. When STAAR testing arrived, we watched them slow down, take their time, buckle down and give us their best.

We didn’t know exactly what the final result would be.

We just knew we were determined to get out of that rut.

A few days ago, we found out. Rice Junior High went from an F accountability rating to a C.

Now, somebody looking at that from the outside might shrug and say, “A C? What’s there to celebrate? A C is average.”

Not this C. This C is anything but average. Let me be clear; I see the year behind that letter. Exhausted teachers, kids who had begun to believe the label, new administrators who refused to accept the status quo, tutorials, WIN time, lesson planning, cross-curricular work and a campus deciding collectively that an F did not define it.

I also don’t want this to come across like a newspaper editor objectively analyzing Rice CISD’s rating. This is unmistakenly me writing as a teacher who lived it.

This C is for confidence. For two years, an F told a story about our campus that none of us wanted told. Now we have tangible proof of what can happen when administrators, teachers, and students decide together that where we are today does not have to be where we stay.

Our kids can stand a little taller. So can we.

We raised the bar for ourselves — and then we reached it.

This C is for courage. It takes courage to admit that something isn’t working.

It takes courage for administrators to walk into a struggling campus and say we’re going to do things differently. It takes courage for exhausted teachers to hear, “We need more from you,” and somehow find more to give.

And it takes courage for kids who have struggled to keep trying.

We did. They did. This C is for concentration. “Lock in.” If you spent any time around our junior high last year, you probably heard some version of those words.

Focus. Slow down. Read it again. Take your time. Ask for help. Try again.

We watched students put in extra time before school, after school and during WIN periods. We watched them take more days seriously. We watched them take STAAR seriously and give the test their best effort.

Their work mattered. This C is for collaboration. Education can become incredibly isolating when everyone closes their classroom door and tries to solve every problem alone.

We didn’t do that. Teachers planned together. We looked at one another’s lessons. We talked about students and where they were struggling. We found ways to reinforce skills across content areas. Our administrators challenged us, supported us and kept the campus moving toward a common goal.

None of us earned that C alone. This C is for community. Being “out there” in Altair, sometimes it felt as though our junior high campus had been forgotten.

That has begun to change, too. We’ve seen increased engagement from families and community members. We’ve felt people taking an interest in what happens inside our school and supporting the people doing the work.

Thank you. Keep showing up. Keep asking about our kids. Keep encouraging them. Keep reminding them that their community is invested in their success.

And finally: This C is for continued success. Are we satisfied with a C forever? Absolutely not. That’s the beautiful thing about this particular C.

It isn’t a destination. It’s evidence. Evidence that improvement is possible. Evidence that our students are quite capable. Evidence that our teachers’ work matters. Evidence that when strong leadership, determined educators, hardworking students, families and a community pull in the same direction, things can change.

We know there is more work ahead. There will be difficult days. There will be tired teachers and frustrated kids. There will be lessons that flop, scores that disappoint us and moments when progress doesn’t happen as quickly as we’d like.

But something is different now. We know we can move the needle - because we’ve moved it.

We climbed from an F to a C. Next? We’ll keep climbing.

For many prope r ty owners in Colorado County, writing that annual tax check can feel like a straightforward, if painful, transaction. But a common point of confusion for local residents is exactly who handles their money, how their property value is determined, and why they have to visit three entirely different entities depending on whether they are registering a vehicle or dealing with a property tax bill or filing to register to vote.

In Texas, the system intentionally separates the people who value your property from the people who collect your taxes. It is a system of checks and balances designed to keep local government fair and specialized.

Colorado County Appraisal District (CCAD)

Think of the Appraisal District as the calculators. CCAD is responsible for discovering, listing, and determining the market value of all real estate and business and personal property within Colorado County. They also process homestead exemptions, agricultural land valuations, and handle property value protests.

CCAD does not set your tax rates, nor do they decide how much revenue local cities, school districts, or the county need to operate. They simply decide what your property is worth on the open market.

Colorado County Tax Assessor-Collector Think of the Tax Assessor- Col lector as the logistics and vehicle hub. Whi le historical ly this office col lected property taxes, in Colorado County, the operations are modern and distinct. The Tax Assessor-Collector’s office handles Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) services, including vehicle registration renewals, license plates, and title transfers for cars, trucks, as well as Texas Parks and Wildlife Service, Titling and registrations of boats and motors.

In Colorado County, actual property tax billing and collection services are contracted out and physically managed by the staff at the Appraisal District office. However, the structural distinction remains: the Tax Assessor- Collector’s traditional domain is primarily state-mandated licensing and vehicle tasks.

Why and how the services are divided The division of these services isn’t a random choice made by the county; it is a mandate born out of Texas history.

Before 1979, Texas property taxation was chaotic. Every individual taxing unit, the city, the school district, the county, had its own independent assessor. A single home could have three or four completely different appraised values depending on who was asking.

To fix this inequity, the Texas Legislature passed the landmark Peveto Bill, creating a central ized, independent Appraisal District in every county starting in 1982. This centralized the appraisal function so that one property has exactly one official market value, ensuring fairness across the board.

While state law mandates that appraisals must be done by the independent Central Appraisal District, Texas Property Tax Code allows local governments flexibility in how they handle the collection side of things.

Counties can divide or contract services based on efficiency and cost to the taxpayer.

Keeping appraisals independent ensures that the appraisers aren’t motivated to artificially inflate property values just to meet a city or county budget goal.

To save taxpayer dollars, local taxing units (l ike the county, cities, and school districts) can enter into agreements to have one centralized office handle the actual billing and collecting. In Colorado County, this is why property tax collections are unified under the Appraisal District’s roof, meaning residents don’t have to send separate checks to the school district, the city, and the county.

Voter registration and the elections administrator

Vehicle regist rat ion isn’t the only administrative area where duties have been divided for opt imization. Historical ly, the County Tax Assessor-Collector automatically served as the county’s primary Voter Registrar. However, under Texas Election Code § 12.001, a county may shift these duties if the position of a dedicated County Elections Administrator is created.

Colorado County util ized this structure to separate duties and maximize efficiency. Under Texas Elect ion Code § 31.043, when a county appoints an Elections Administrator, all voter registration duties, powers, and citizens’ voting files are officially transferred away from the Tax Assessor- Collector. Because of this statutory division, Colorado County residents looking to register to vote, interact directly with the dedicated Colorado County Elections Office rather than the tax office.

Liquor licenses, boats and beyond Whi le property tax billing has shifted to the appraisal office, state law heavily relies on the Tax Assessor-Collector to act as a vital state agency liaison. For instance, business owners hoping to sell alcohol must visit this office to pay local regulatory fees. Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code §§ 11.38 and 61.36, counties are legally authorized to levy a local fee equal to one-half of the state’s Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) fee. The Tax Assessor-Collector is responsible for processing these local county beer, wine, and liquor permits before a local establishment can legal ly serve the public.

Additionally, the office acts as an agent for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to process boat and outboard motor titles and boat registration renewals.

By keeping these operations distinct, Colorado County benefits from special ized state-level compliance and regulatory licensing at the courthouse annex, centralizes property accounting at the appraisal district, and protects the integrity of democratic voting procedures through a dedicated elections office.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

What CEO Elon Musk says will be the world’s largest computer- chip manufactur ing plant is planned for Grimes County, east of College Station, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

The Navasota Examiner has also carried coverage of the issue.

In a joint announcement last week, Space X and Tesla unveiled an initial $16.8 billion investment in a plant cal led Terafab. It is expected to employ at least 3,000 people. Many of those jobs are expected to go to residents of Grimes and neighboring Brazos counties.

“We’re now embarking on the most epic chip- bui lding effort,” Musk, CEO of both companies, said in a statement. “The Terafab is bringing cutt ing- edge manufacturing to America, creating thousands of high-paying jobs in the Lone Star State and enabling us to produce AI chips at scale for use on Earth and in space.”

Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed last week that the project is receiving a $30 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant from the state. Grimes County has previously approved a property tax waiver in exchange for annual payments of $20 million.

The plant would eventually span 100 million square feet.

State Fair of Texas’ gun ban upheld by appeals court

A Texas appeals court upheld a handgun ban at the State Fair of Texas, rejecting the state’s claim that the city of Dallas unlawfully allowed a private operator to prohibit guns on city-owned property, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The 15th Court of Appeals affirmed a Dallas County judge’s dismissal of a case originally filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and three gun owners. It rejected the state’s argument the restriction on cities banning guns doesn’t automatical ly apply to private tenants operating on public property. The ban will remain in place unless the Texas Supreme Court intervenes.

“The decision to prohibit firearms on the fairgrounds is the correct decision to protect the safety of our patrons,” said Karissa Condoianis, a State Fair of Texas spokeswoman. This will be the third year the ban will be in place.

Talarico voted using parents’ address, report says Democrat ic Senate nominee James Talarico voted in five elections using his parents’ address after buying a nearby home for himself, according to The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, a practice that may have violated state voting laws.

The revelation comes weeks after Talarico accused Paxton, his GOP opponent, of voting from his estranged wife’s address despite not having lived there for two years.

Talarico has taken advantage of a state law that allows some publ ic officials to redact personal informat ion, such as home addresses. The news organizations pieced together the information from unredacted records provided by the Talarico campaign.

Texas law requires that residents register to vote where they live. The Talarico campaign declined to answer quest ions about his residency and voting history, saying “right-wing actors” have made threats about trying to locate the candidate and his family.

Talarico’s house is in the same county as his parents’ home. Both residences are located in the same state House district he represents, but in different jurisdictions for some local elections, according to The Tribune.

Wildfire danger increasing as conditions turn dry August is typically the peak month for wildfires in Texas. The Texas A&M Forest Service expects wildfire potential to increase due to dry vegetation, particularly in the Panhandle and North Texas.

The state is deploying numerous wi ldfire response resources as a result, including the state’s mutual-aid system and assistance from a number of state agencies.

There were two active wildfires as of Sunday. The 200-acre Round Up fire west of Amarillo was zero percent contained at that time.

The service recently acquired three mult imission aircraft, adding to its first dedicated, state-managed wildfire aviation fleet. It previously had acquired two wildfire suppression helicopters.

“Every wildfire is different, which is why a diverse aviation fleet is so important,” said Texas A& M Forest Service Fire Chief Jared Karns. “Having multiple aircraft types available, including multimission aircraft platforms that can serve a variety of roles, allows us to respond effectively to the unique demands of each incident.”

Salmonella cases linked to jalapeños The popular jalapeño pepper has been linked to 345 cases of salmonella illness in 27 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The San Antonio Express-News reported three cases in Texas, stemming from peppers imported from Sinaloa, Mexico.

No deaths have been reported nat ionwide, but 36 people have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. Nearly all of the cases were reported by people after eating at a Mexican-style chain restaurant.

Two affected chains, Chipotle Mexican Gri ll and Qdoba, said they had taken steps to remove potentially contaminated peppers.

Talarico unveils his ‘affordability agenda’ Democrat ic Senate candidate James Talarico last week unveiled an “affordability agenda” that would help Texans buy homes, cancel medical debt, raise the minimum wage and expand the child tax credit, according to The Dallas Morning News.

“The top 1% put the American Dream behind a paywall,” Talarico told about 1,300 people at an Arlington rally. “For too many of our neighbors, for too many Texans, the American Dream has become an American Nightmare.”

Talarico also touted the endorsements of former Tar rant County Judge Glen Whitley, a Republican, and Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, a self-described independent.

“He’s the most corrupt politician that Texas has ever seen,” Whitley said of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee.

Paxton has faced numerous ethical and legal chal lenges during his time in office. He has denied wrongdoing and was acquitted by the Texas Senate in his impeachment trial.

At the Arl ington rally, Talarico blamed both parties for economic policies that he said benefit the wealthy at the expense of working families.

“Republicans and some Democrats sold the false Gospel of trickle-down economics,” he said. “Trickle-down economics isn’t a theory. It’s a theft.”

Distracted driving puts school children at risk As the school year begins, the Texas Department of Transportation is urging drivers to pay special attention in school zones. More than 3,200 traffic crashes in school zones involved school buses last year. Distracted driving and speeding were the most common contribut ing factors in these crashes.

“School zones can be chaotic places, with people in a rush and children not always watching for cars while they hop on and off buses or in and out of cars. Drivers can become impatient or distracted, which leads to mistakes,” TxDOT said in a news release.

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.

The nonprofit will help voters check their registration status, provide information on voter ID cards, share a local voters’ guide with specific ballot details, and more.

Adults can practice voting on a real machine with Colorado County Elections Administrator Rebecka LaCourse.

Meanwhile, children can learn about civic engagement by voting for their favorite Texas animal.

The Saturday event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nesbitt Memorial Library, 529 Washington St., Columbus.

This will be one of four Day of Action events in the area for LWV’s nationwide Unite and Rise for Voting Rights initiative for the anniversary.

In an era where information spreads rapidly across the internet, separating fact from fiction during a community event or emergency can be a challenge. In this installment of our “Things You Didn’t Know” series, Colorado County is highlighting how the county communicates official information with the public and why relying on verified resources keeps our community safe and correctly informed.

When a crisis strikes or critical updates are needed, rumor mills on unverified social media channels often unintentionally spread misinformation. Colorado County officials firmly believe that you deserve to know—the facts. To protect yourself from false reports, the county urges all residents to look to established, official county outlets before trusting third-party internet sources.

A common frustration for residents is searching for information during an active situation and finding nothing published on official channels. If you cannot find details about an ongoing event, please know there is typically a highly valid, responsible reason for the silence, such as:

• An active, ongoing investigation where releasing details prematurely could compromise public safety or the integrity of the case.

• County departments are waiting on further, verified information from state, federal, or emergency resources to ensure what we release is 100% accurate.

• There is technically nothing to report yet. In our commitment to facts, Colorado County will not post speculation, guesses, or halftruths.

Colorado County utilizes a multi-layered approach to ensure every resident has access to timely, official, and vetted information:

• Your primary digital hub for all things county-related is www.co. colorado.tx.us. A comprehensive list of every county office that operates an official, verified social media page is maintained directly on this website.

• For real-time updates during unfolding events, trust the verified social media pages operated directly by specific county offices, including the Colorado County Office of Emergency Management and Colorado County EMS.

• Avoid unexpected delays. All official county road closures and construction notices are updated and posted directly on the main county website.

• The Colorado County Sheriff’s Office operates a dedicated mobile application. Residents can download this app on their smartphones to receive direct alerts, press releases, and public safety updates straight from law enforcement.

• For now, urgent, life-safety emergency calls and text notifications, residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for CodeRED. Registration links can be found on the county website.

• Colorado County partners closely with local media resources. Official press releases, required legal notices, and public advertisements are regularly distributed through local newspapers and area radio stations.

Staying informed also means knowing how local decisions are made. The Colorado County Commissioners’ Court meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month. In the interest of total transparency:

• Agendas are posted days in advance on the public notices section of the county website so you always know what is up for discussion.

• Meetings are broadcast live through Zoom for any resident who wishes to watch or listen remotely.

• The links to the Zoom broadcasts and the corresponding meeting agendas are always easily accessible on the Colorado County website.

As election cycles approach, ensuring you have accurate data regarding your ballot is vital. Official election information is continually updated on the Colorado County website. For voters who prefer physical copies, official sample ballots can be picked up in person at the Colorado County Annex or the Colorado County Election Center.

If you have questions regarding a specific public matter and are unsure which county department holds the answers, please contact the Colorado County Courthouse directly at their main line. Staff will ensure you are routed to the verified department expert you need.

By choosing verified resources over unverified social media rumors, Colorado County residents can stay safe, stay informed, and keep our community connected.

There was a time when I could remember a phone number after hearing it once. I could keep up with two deadlines, three kids, school event schedules, a breaking news story and a grocery list—all without writing any of them down.

Now I walk into a room and immediately forget why I’m there.

Half the time, I’m looking for my glasses while they’re perched on top of my head. The other half, I’m convinced I’ve lost my phone, only to discover it’s been in my hand the entire time.

Welcome to 50. Somewhere between raising three boys, becoming a full-time caregiver for my father, teaching journalism, and attempting to remember whether I fed the dog or merely thought about feeding the dog, my brain quietly submitted its two-week notice.

It didn’t leave completely. It just stopped working overtime.

The funny thing is, when I was younger, I thought turning 50 would feel old.

It doesn’t. It feels ... sandwiched; I’m part of the “sandwich generation.”

Sandwiched between raising kids and caring for an aging parent. Between remembering passwords that now require 14 characters, a symbol, and a blood sample, and remembering the ever- growing list of medications for my dad.

Sandwiched between wanting a “hot girl summer” to celebrate turning 50 and the painful reality that every day is a “hot” day for this gal, thanks to hot flashes.

The last time I colored my hair was at the end of 2023, and something unexpected happened.

I stopped caring. Not because I gave up. Because I finally gave myself permission to stop pretending.

Every gray hair on my head has a story.

Some came from late nights waiting up for teenage boys who missed curfew.

Some came from sitting beside my dad’s hospital bed.

Some came from work. And quite a few probably came from trying to explain to high schoolers that no, ChatGPT should not write their entire essay.

Gray isn’t the absence of youth.

It’s evidence of life. I’ve earned every single strand. I’ve cried enough to know healing isn’t linear.

I’ve loved people who are no longer here.

I’ve raised children who are now taller than I am.

I’ve survived chapters I once thought would destroy me.

The gray isn’t the problem. The harder adjustment has been realizing my body and my brain are no longer in the same group project.

My brain says, “Let’s repaint the kitchen, reorganize the closets, and write three feature stories this weekend.”

My joints respond, “Absolutely not.”

My hormones wake up each morning and spin what I can only assume is a Wheel of Fortune.

Today’s prize? Will it be hot flashes? Will it be tears because a dog in a commercial found his forever home?

Will it be irrational rage because someone is chewing too loudly?

Nobody knows! But here’s the surprising part. For all the things I’ve misplaced— my keys, my phone, my train of thought—I think I’ve finally found myself.

Twenty-five-year-old me worried about being liked.

Thirty-five-year-old me worried about getting everything right.

Forty-five-year-old me worried about everyone else.

Fifty-year-old me? I still have ambitions. I still have fears. Maybe that’s what 50 really is. Settling into yourself. So yes, I’m gray, and I forget things.

And if you’ll excuse me...I had a reason for walking into this room. I’m sure it’ll come back to me.

Eventually.

There’s the town you remember, and there’s the town standing in front of you today.

I grew up in Eagle Lake. I remember when there always seemed to be something to look forward to. Festivals. Community events. Gathering in the town square after a Saturday of shopping locally when neighbors caught up, children ran around until dark and nobody needed an invitation because everyone knew they belonged.

Over the last 30 years, those opportunities have become fewer and farther between.

That’s why Friday meant so much to me.

I wasn’t just covering Eagle Lake’s Freedom 250 celebration as a journalist. I was there as a daughter and as a mom.

I pushed my 88-year-old dad through the crowd in his wheelchair. I watched him stop every few feet because someone recognized him and wanted to visit. People he hadn’t seen in years shook his hand, laughed with him and reminded him that he still belongs to this community.

My oldest son, who is autistic, spent the evening enjoying the music, watching the fireworks and simply being part of something bigger than himself. He was safe. He was happy. He was included.

And for the first time in a long time, I realized something.

We didn’t have to drive to Houston, Katy, or Columbus to make a memory.

We made one right here at home.

That matters. It matters because not every family has the time, money, or ability to drive an hour every weekend looking for something to do. Sometimes what people need most is already sitting in their own backyard—they just need someone willing to build it.

Eagle Lake has so much potential.

I’ve always believed that.

Loving a town doesn’t mean pretending it’s perfect. In fact, I think the opposite is true. When you love a place, you expect more from it. You hold it accountable because you know what it’s capable of becoming.

Lately, I feel like we’re beginning to see that potential again.

This summer, Camp Good Ground is giving local children another opportunity to learn, explore, and build friendships. The Freedom 250 celebration brought nearly 1,000 people downtown. Local churches continue looking for ways to bring our senior neighbors who don’t get out and about much anymore together.

They’re all small steps.

But small steps have a way of becoming leaps and bounds.

My hope is that years from now, today’s children won’t remember Eagle Lake as a town where there wasn’t much of anything to do.

I hope they’ll remember fireworks with friends. Summer camp adventures. Festivals on the square. The feeling of growing up in a place where people knew their names and looked out for one another.

That’s the kind of childhood every kid deserves.

And it’s the kind of future Eagle Lake deserves, too.

I am 28 years old and I am still a fan of professional wrestling. Am I embarrassed? Perhaps slightly.

Pro wrestling is experiencing a surge in recent years, so much that there are now two wrestling companies that broadcast their product nationally. Probably the most wellknown of the two is World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

It’s the home of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and one of my all-time favorites, Randy Orton.

The ot her is All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Launched January 1, 2019, they offer a slightly different product than the WWE. The WWE will typically lean more into the pageantry and dramatic story telling methods. AEW relies on good old-fashioned fighting (think a bloody nose) to settle scores and tell stories.

I bet I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t that stuff fake?”

Well...yes and no. It’s true that the outcomes of the matches are pre-determined, but that should not be a reason to not tune in. I mean, with that logic, no show is watchable because every show is scripted outside of the news ... and even that has some scripted elements.

The Bachelorette, Love Island, SpongeBob, heck even movies based on true stories have Hollywood twists to add to the story and dramatic effects. Entertainment’s the name of the game, folks.

The same is true for pro wrestling.

The real magic of wrestling happens when you allow yourself to suspend disbelief for a couple of hours.

Sure, it’s unrealistic to watch someone take a chair shot, crash through a table and somehow kick out just before the referee counts to three.

That’s the point. Professional wrestling has never been about realism. It’s about spectacle, athleticism and storytelling.

Behind every match are athletes who spend years training to perform in front of live audiences while putting their bodies on the line night after night.

That deserves a little more respect than it often receives.

So, the next time Monday, Wednesday or Friday night rolls around, give professional wrestling another chance.

You might just reconnect with the same excitement you had as a kid— and discover it’s still a lot of fun.

The Colorado County Election Office is now able to print replacement voter registration cards again.

Anyone who updated their voter registration in the past few months will receive a new card in the mail. This may be a duplicate of the card mailed in February.

If you need a replacement card, you may visit the Elections Office in person at Colorado County Election Office 1117 Travis St., Columbus, TX 78934. Staff can print a replacement card for you within 24 hours for you to personally pick-up.

This is a great time to verify your voter registration status and address. You can check your information at: VoteTexas.gov (Official Texas voter information site)

“We are bringing the Bible back into schools this week for the first time in 60 years,” SBOE member Brandon Hall, R-Aledo, said during a prayer session outside the hearing this week.

The new standards will be implemented in phases, starting with elementary schools in the 2030-2031 school year.

Republicans favor the new standards as a win for Judeo-Christian values and say the required lessons on Jesus, Abraham and Moses are intended not to evangelize but help children develop moral compasses.

Critics say the board is promoting Christianity at the expense of racial and religious diversity.

“Texas is telling millions of children that one religion deserves the government’s seal of approval, while everyone else is an afterthought,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Cornyn: Closed primaries could backfire on Texas GOP U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is warning Texas GOP leaders that closing party primaries would be “paving the way to minority party status,” The Texas Tribune reported.

The Texas Republican Party and its top elected leaders are pushing to require voters to register with a party, thereby prohibiting them from crossing over in party primaries. Texas is one of 17 states with open primaries.

Cornyn, who was defeated for reelection in a runoff by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, commented on an op-ed published in The Dallas Morning News, sharing its title — “Closed primaries are a threat to Texas voters.”

He added, “Exactly,” and “Democrats haven’t turned Texas blue; Republican’s (sic) might.”

Paxton has joined the GOP’s pending lawsuit to strike down open primaries in court.

Supreme Court ruling could affect 147K TPS recipients The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that the Trump administration can revoke Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from Haiti and Syria means more than 147,000 migrants in Texas under the program face imminent risk of arrest and deportation, the Texas Standard reported.

Texas hosts one of the largest concentrations of TPS holders in the nation, and University of Houston constitutional law professor Seth Chandler said the ruling has dramatic consequences for them.

“It basically streamlines the ability of the Trump administration to revoke TPS status, not just for the Haitians and Syrians who were litigating in the case the Supreme Court decided today, but with respect to Hondurans, Nepalis, Afghans and, perhaps critically for Houston, potentially Venezuelans as well,” Chandler said.

The decision could have economic consequences, since many immigrants in the country under TPS work in sectors already experiencing labor shortages.

“If you look at our plaintiffs in the Syria case, for example, we have a highly sought-after pediatrician,” said Hussein Elbakri, attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project.

He added, “We have somebody who is a special-needs teacher by day and is training to be a nurse at night. We have construction workers. We have people in the food-services industry, and we have many, many people, especially in the Haitian community, who are home healthcare workers.”

Tesla accused of allowing toxin release from refinery Two Texas property owners have filed a class-action suit against Tesla, accusing the company of dumping toxins from its lithium refinery near Corpus Christi onto their property, according to the Houston Chronicle.

They claim that Tesla has violated its state-issued wastewater discharge permit by allowing contaminated water to flow onto their property.

The company’s permit allows it to discharge up to 231,000 gallons a day of treated industrial water into Baffin Bay, according to state records. A review of the water leaking into a drainage ditch by a lab hired by the Nueces County Drainage District revealed two toxic metals — arsenic and the carcinogen hexavalent chromium, as well as elevated levels of other chemicals.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

Majority of Texans oppose data centers in their community A new poll from the University of Texas’ Texas Politics Project indicates a majority of Texans oppose having data centers in their community, according to the Texas Standard. Thestatehasbecome the nation’s top destination for data centers, which provide the infrastructure for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining.

The poll found 43% of Republicans oppose data centers, while 42% support their construction. More than 60% of people who identify as Democrats oppose new data centers.

“I think people are objecting for different reasons,” said James Henson, director of the polling center. “On one hand, lots of environmental concerns about water and resource use. But if you’re living next to these data centers or in the region… they have a big impact on people’s lives.”

Both Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have made regulation of data centers a legislative priority in next year’s session.

Texas GOP elephant lacked mandatory permit When Paige the elephant made an appearance at the recent GOP state convention in Houston, its owner did not acquire the required city permit to bring wild animals into the city, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Public records acquired by the paper indicate Trunks and Humps, the elephant’s owner, has been cited repeatedly for federal animal welfare violations and failed to apply for a permit before bringing Paige to the June 12 convention.

The elephant arrived as the finale to Abbot’s speech. A video of the event went viral after the elephant urinated on the convention floor.

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@texaspress.com.

While reporting the criminal charges filed against a local justice of the peace, I’ve been reminded that obtaining public information isn’t always as straightforward as it should be.

In the last few days, I’ve made more than 20 phone calls — many of them in a single day — to the Colorado County District Clerk’s Office, the Colorado County Attorney’s Office, the Columbus Police Department, the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, the county jail, the district court and even the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

More than once, I heard some version of, “I can’t discuss this. You’ll need to talk to someone else.”

In one instance, a District Office clerk indicated she could answer my question. But after pulling up the case and seeing whose name was attached to it, the conversation ended. My question wasn’t about guilt or innocence. I simply wanted to clarify whether one of the charges remained a misdemeanor or had been upgraded to a felony.

Ironically, some of the most helpful people I spoke with worked miles away from Colorado County at the Attorney General’s Office. Those officials do not know local names, do not cheer at high school football games with anyone around here and do not enjoy Schobel’s or Taco Tony’s.

When public officials are the ones facing court proceedings, public confidence depends not only on the fairness of the legal process, but also on the willingness of government offices to provide information that is legally available.

Transparency shouldn’t — and doesn’t — determine guilt or innocence. What transparency does is allow the public to see the system is working as it should.

I write this opinion piece not to complain about the sometimes tedious nature of the job I love or about this case in particular. This episode will proceed through the courts, and like anyone else, the defendant is presumed innocent unless a guilty verdict is returned.

This is about the trust we have in our leaders to protect, serve and lead us.

Public trust is built one answer at a time. It grows when government offices respond to legitimate questions with openness rather than uncertainty or unnecessary roadblocks.

As journalists, our job is to ask those questions — not because we expect every answer to be convenient, but because the public deserves them.

Seeking the truth starts with one question. I’m asking them. I hope others will too.

Drinnon is the area reporter for the Colorado County Citizen and the Sealy News. She can be reached at allison.drinnon@coloradocountycitizen. com.

This week’s topic is one that is especially close to my heart.

On June 23, ESPN hockey reporter Emily Kaplan reported there could soon be movement on National Hockey League expansion in Texas, with Austin or Houston potentially beginning the process of landing a franchise.

As someone who has played hockey since I was 3 years old, that news immediately caught my attention. While an NHL team in Austin or Houston may seem far removed from small towns like ours, I believe it could have a bigger impact than many people realize.

One thing I’ve learned while covering sports in Texas is that Texans are passionate about their teams, regardless of the sport. Hockey may not receive the same attention as football, baseball or basketball, but the support is here.

Just look at the Dallas Stars. During recent playoff runs, American Airlines Center has been packed with passionate fans. The energy inside that arena proves hockey has a strong following in Texas.

The state’s hockey roots run even deeper than many people realize. The Houston Aeros won an American Hockey League championship in 2003, while the Texas Stars captured the Calder Cup in 2014. Texas has also produced Stanley Cup champions, including Brian Leetch of Corpus Christi, Blake Coleman of Plano and Seth Jones of Arlington.

Adding another NHL franchise would only continue that momentum.

More interest in hockey means more youth programs, more local leagues and, hopefully, more ice rinks across the state. Kids wouldn’t just have another professional team to cheer for—they would have more opportunities to play the game themselves.

That’s why this news matters, even here.

An NHL expansion team isn’t just about adding another logo to the league. It’s about growing the game in Texas and opening doors for the next generation of players.

Who knows? Maybe one day a kid from one of our small towns will lace up a pair of skates because an NHL team inspired them to give hockey a try. I’d love to see that happen.

It’s nice to be back.

For those who may not know me, I’m spending the summer serving as interim editor for the Colorado County Citizen and Sealy News. During the school year, I’m a teacher. During the summer, I get to dust off my reporter’s notebook, chase down stories and remember where I left my AP Stylebook.

I’ve enjoyed getting back into the newsroom. I love teaching, but journalism has always been part of who I am. There’s something special about telling the stories of a community and preserving them for future generations.

As I’ve settled back into this role, I’d like to ask for your help.

Point us toward the news. Church event? Let us know. Is your organization doing something meaningful? Let us know. Did your child earn an award, sign with a college or win a competition? Did your dog take an adorable photo? Is your family celebrating a wedding, engagement, anniversary, or new baby? Let us know.

I realize this may sound oldfashioned. Then again, the kids at school refer to the 1990s as “the late 1900s,” so apparently, I’m old-fashioned now anyway.

Back in the 1900s, newspapers were filled with community news. Many had entire lifestyle sections devoted to weddings, engagements, recipes, club meetings, church activities and family milestones. People shared their lives in the newspaper because that’s how communities stayed connected.

Somewhere along the way, much of that moved to social media.

Now here’s where things get interesting.

Young people are reportedly buying “dumb phones” — phones that make calls and send texts but don’t constantly demand attention. More people are talking about taking social media breaks. Printed books are making a comeback. My 26-year-old is obsessed with vinyl records. People seem to be craving simpler ways to connect and document their lives.

Does that mean we’re headed back to the good old days?

Probably not all the way. I could do without a rotary dial phone. I certainly don’t miss waiting all week to see that one episode of my favorite TV show ... just to realize I didn’t set the VCR to record it.

But maybe we’re remembering the value of tangible things. Things you hold on to and pass down.

That’s where newspapers come in.

One hundred years from now, your grandchildren probably won’t be scrolling through your Facebook posts. They won’t be watching your Instagram stories or trying to recover your TikTok account password.

But they may pull an old newspaper from an archive and discover the story of your wedding. They may find a photo of their parent (your child) winning a championship. They may read about your church fundraiser, your volunteer work, or your family’s contributions to the community.

Those stories matter.

They are the first draft of local history.

We can’t let that tradition end with our generation.

So, if something is happening in your life, your family, your church, your school, or your organization, tell us about it. We want to celebrate and preserve it for you.

After all, years from now, somebody just might be turning the pages and looking for your story.

“Let us save what remains: not by vaults and locks which fence them from the public eye and use in consigning them to the waste of time, but by such a multiplication of copies, as shall place them beyond the reach of accident.” — Thomas Jefferson

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration late last week after the New World screwworm was found in two newborn calves in South Texas, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The cases have been identified in Zavala County, about 5.6 miles apart. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said a strike team was on site and restrictions were in place to prevent the movement of cattle.

“We have, in the past, prevented as well as eradicated this pest, and we can do it again,” Abbott said.

The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in open wounds, nearly always in cattle. In the past, sterile male flies have proven effective in eradicating infestations. The federal government is building a $750 million facility to produce sterilized flies, but it won’t be complete until November 2027.

In the meantime, the government is purchasing sterile flies from a facility in Panama and using federal funds to revamp another facility in Mexico. However, total fly production from those two plants accounts for only 40% of what is needed, The News reported.

State officials have stressed the New World screwworm does not pose a food or disease risk to humans. A widespread infestation could further drive up beef prices, already elevated by a ban on importing Mexican cattle and a drop in domestic production.

Record power demand likely this summer

A hot summer and exponential growth in power-hungry data centers could mean Texas uses more power than ever before, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

ERCOT, which operates most of the state’s power grid, is forecasting demand will reach 92 gigawatts this summer, breaking the previous record of 85.5 gigawatts set during the 2023 summer heat wave, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Despite the anticipated demand, Pablo Vegas, ERCOT’s chief executive officer, said there is a low risk of blackouts this summer.

“As we continue to see (power demand) growth coming on, that profile and picture obviously can evolve, and we expect it to evolve,” Vegas said. “But what we have published at this point is still showing fairly adequate capacity and low likelihood of emergency conditions going into the June and July months.”

ERCOT has the legal authority to order large power users, such as data centers and cryptocurrency miners, to reduce their power draw from the grid if necessary. According to ERCOT, the risk of rolling blackouts has dropped because nearly 11 gigawatts of new power capacity has been added since last summer.

That’s enough to supply more than 2.7 million households on the hottest summer days, Vegas said.

Secretary of State Nelson stepping down Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced last week she will resign effective July 17 from the position she has held since 2023, the Texas Standard reported.

“It has been my goal to ensure that voting in Texas is secure, accessible and fair,” Nelson said in a press release. “We have worked extensively to ensure accurate voter rolls and to educate voters about what they need to know to vote with confidence.”

Abbott is responsible for appointing her successor.

“Secretary Jane Nelson has been a true champion for the people of Texas and an extraordinary secretary of state,” he said.

Nelson served in the Texas Senate for 30 years before being appointed to her current role. That office oversees the state’s elections.

Backers of Texas Dream Act head to court Thousands of non-citizen college students last year lost access to in-state tuition when a federal judge blocked the Texas Dream Act, passed 25 years earlier. Now, a coalition of immigration nonprofits, a student group and Austin Community College are fighting that ruling, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

They have asked the 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeals to overturn that order, issued last June.

The appellate court heard arguments last week that the Dream Act should be restored. The Legislature passed it in 2001, guaranteeing in-state tuition for students who had lived in Texas for at least three years and graduated from a Texas high school. The measure was signed by then-Gov. Rick Perry.

Students without legal status are not eligible for federal financial aid or government loans. The end of the Dream Act means those students must pay much higher tuition rates. For example, at ACC, students who lost access to in-state tuition saw their credit-hour tuition rates nearly quadruple.

Tax break approved for SpaceX’s chipmaking project Grimes County officials approved a tax break for a $55 billion chipmaking facility that SpaceX proposes to build outside College Station. The Houston Chronicle reported the project could create 1,800 jobs, but it has prompted concerns from residents that it could change their rural lifestyle and adversely affect property values.

Four of the five county commissioners voted to waive SpaceX’s property taxes in exchange for SpaceX paying the county $10 million up front and $20 million a year for 35 years. The facility is still in its early stages.

“Texas is where the integrated circuit was born and where the future of the semiconductor industry is being built,” Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Gov. Greg Abbott, said in a statement.

Elon Musk’s company is building Terafab to create chips for its Starlink broadband internet satellites and other future projects. Its hub is expected to be located near the Gibbons Creek Reservoir, previously used to cool a coal-fired power plant.

One commissioner expressed concern about a lack of information ahead of last week’s meeting.

“I don’t think that we’ve had honest negotiation with SpaceX, to this point, to allow the core of our constituency to be informed of what’s at stake,” Commissioner David Tullos said.

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@ texaspress.com.

“We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn.” — Mary Catherine Bateson

“When I was 16, I was convinced my father was the dumbest human on the planet,” a regular at our weekly “coffee committee” recently confessed.

A few of us chuckled knowingly. “But by the time I neared 30,” he continued, “I was astounded by how much the old man had learned in just a few years!”

We laughed. It was funny because it was true.

That anecdote triggered memories of an eye-opening corporate session years ago. We affectionately referred to those meetings as “hostage situations with stale pastries.”

This one was at a gorgeous Arizona resort with thrilling agenda titles such as “Financial Reviews” and “Insurance Open Enrollment.” But tucked away near the bottom was a mysterious listing that piqued our curiosity: “The Key to Sure Success.”

“Brace yourselves for the motivational poster speech,” a cynical sales rep whispered.

I expected a slideshow with soaring eagles and Comic Sans type fonts. Instead, the CEO refrained from a PowerPoint presentation and instead summoned two people to the front.

The first was a fresh-faced university marketing graduate. The second was a grizzled veteran sales rep. Their assignment was deceptively simple.

“Tell me three things about the person at the other end of the table,” the CEO instructed. “Specifically, what you hope they will contribute to our corporate success this year, wisdom you want to share with them and things you look forward to learning from them.”

The room came alive. We weren’t just witnessing a polite exchange of pleasantries, we watched a cross-generational bridge being engineered.

You could feel and see a mutual understanding of the future.

I thought about my dad. He was never the type of parent to drop unsolicited “knowledge bombs” on me. Instead, he quietly dispensed his most profound wisdom in places such as the kitchen, usually over a bedtime snack.

I remembered one night pitching my need for a souped-up hot rod. I explained how this vehicle would improve my life and skyrocket my social standing.

He listened patiently, finished his cereal, then spoke.

“Spending your hard-earned money on that car is not a great idea,” he calmly said. “But you’ll probably have to learn that lesson the same way I did — the hard way.”

And time proved him right, of course.

This exact same scenario is playing out across the modern corporate landscape today. Examples include the rise of “silent weedings” — early retirement buyouts offered to seasoned veterans while favoring younger, techie types; hiring cheaper managers while passing over employees with proven organizational wisdom and backgrounds; and creating workforce models where repeated, expensive mistakes occur rather than tapping into the knowledge of veteran workers.

“Say,” I whispered to the sales guy. “How about this for a motivational poster worth printing? ‘While the view is great from the mountaintop, it’s smart to make the climb with someone who knows where the loose rocks are.’” “Perfect,” he said. “Hey, you think those blueberry muffins are still sitting back there?”

Data from the American Clean Power Association indicates the state has 54 wind projects stalled as part of a nationwide delay affecting 165 onshore wind projects.

President Donald Trump has long opposed wind power.

Energy experts such as Environment Texas Executive Director Luke Metzger say the administration is using the regulations, such as ensuring a wind project would not affect military airspace, as an attack on renewable power.

“It’s hard to see this as anything other than an effort to slow or stop wind power regardless of the consequences for consumers, the environment and grid reliability,” Metzger said.

In a statement, a Defense Department official said the military is still evaluating the projects.

The department’s evaluation of wind turbines “is inherently complex and time-consuming because it involves balancing two critical, and sometimes competing, interests: developing energy sources while ensuring military operations and readiness are not degraded or impaired to the extent an unacceptable risk to national security is created,” the official said.

R&D plays vital role in state’s economy

Texas is one of the top five states contributing to research and development, according to a recent report from the State Comptroller’s Office.

The federal Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates R&D’s contribution to gross domestic product “after accounting for the resources used to produce goods and services, employment and compensation from 2012 to 2023.”

The R&D value added by Texas businesses reached $29.2 billion in 2023, a 131% increase from 2012. Further, R&D in the state supplied nearly 195,000 jobs and $30.1 billion in wages, salaries and benefits in 2023.

Texas has 15 Tier 1 colleges and universities, the most in any state. In 2024, more than 11,800 patents were issued in Texas, the second highest in the country, after California.

“When investments are made in research, the returns multiply — strengthening our competitiveness, securing our future and improving the lives of all Texans,” said Fernanda Leite, interim vice president for research at the University of Texas at Austin.

First case in 2026 of West Nile virus reported The year’s first case of West Nile virus has been reported in a Harris County resident, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported. The virus is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, though 80% of people infected with West Nile never experience symptoms.

“West Nile and other mosquitoborne illnesses are a fact of life in Texas in the warmer months, and all Texans should take precautions against mosquito bites to stay safe and healthy,” said DSHS Commissioner Jennifer A. Shuford.

She advised removing standing water from homes and yards, such as in buckets, old tires and other items.

The symptoms experienced by the unlucky 20% include fever, headache, nausea, muscle and joint aches, and fatigue. Though rare, West Nile virus can be fatal.

In the past five years, there have been 976 cases of West Nile in Texas, according to DSHS, with 106 deaths during that period.

Franklin Mountains State Park grows by 1,000 acres Franklin Mountains State Park, 15 minutes from El Paso, is now 1,054 acres larger to the east as the result of a new land acquisition, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported.

“I am excited about this acquisition,” said Superintendent Cesar Mendez, “which extends the buffer zone all the way to Martin Luther King Boulevard, adding some lower elevation and flatter land to Franklin Mountains State Park and securing access points (trailheads).”

With 28,000 acres — or 43 square miles — the park is one of the largest urban wilderness parks in the world. It has more than 120 miles of trail and is a popular site with birders.

The acquisition helps safeguard the main mountain area of desert bighorn sheep habitat.

Federal aid for Panhandle wildfire victims

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a request for grant funds to assist victims of the Hungate Fire in Randall County, which has merged with the Chocolate Chip Fire, burning an estimated 14,000 acres and threatening more than 1,245 homes. Aid has also been granted for the Stinky Fire in Potter County, which has burned more than 2,500 acres and prompted evacuation of more than 500 acres.

“Texas has secured federal resources to further guard against wildfire threats in the Panhandle,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “With this grant approval, Texas has additional tools to help Texans remain safe from wildfire danger.”

The approval of a Fire Management Assistance Grant makes the state eligible for 75% reimbursement from the federal government for eligible costs associated with wildfire suppression. These grants are available to states, counties and cities to support the mitigation, management and control of fires that threaten to become major disasters.

Broker imposter scams being reported

Several attempted broker-imposter scams over the past few months have prompted the Texas Department of Banking to warn that such ruses could pose a significant threat to financial institutions and consumers.

According to a TDB news release, “consumers are targeted after conducting searches for high-rate investment opportunities. Individuals contacted by the fraudsters are often not existing bank customers and are located across the United States.”

Some red flags to look for are cold calls, an incorrect or bogus email address, low-risk/high-reward offers and unusual funding procedures.

Anyone who is targeted by a broker imposter is encouraged to contact the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority at finra.org.

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@texaspress.com.

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

State officials began sending out the first notices to families awarded education vouchers last week, the Houston Chronicle reported. In the initial round, 42,644 qualified, mostly students with special needs who are considered the highest priority.

More than a quarter- million students have applied to the state’s voucher program, with a lottery determining who gets a spot. Initial funding for the program is $1 billion, and it is projected to support 100,000 students in its first year.

The program offers taxpayer money to help pay for private and homeschool education. The amount of each voucher awarded in the initial round varied, from $2,000 each for the 11,000 children applying for homeschool funding to an average of $15,585 for parents who documented their children’s special educational needs.

Appeals court rules for Ten Commandments in classrooms A federal appeals court last week ordered public school districts to place copies of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, the Austin America- Statesman reported.

Parents and a group of faith leaders in nine school districts sued over a 2025 state law that requires public schools to post donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

By a split vote, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided the law does not violate the U.S. Constitution, overturning a San Antonio federal judge’s ruling last

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

year. The case could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Students are neither catechized on the Commandments nor taught to adopt them,” the judges wrote. “Nor are teachers commanded to proselytize students who ask about the displays or contradict students who disagree with them.”

Six judges on the appeals court dissented, with Judge Lesl ie H. Southwick writing that “(Texas Senate Bill) 10 is facially unconstitutional under the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.”

Smokable hemp ban temporarily blocked A ban on the sale of natural smokeable hemp products has been blocked, possibly unti l the end of April, by a Travis County district judge. A court hearing is set for this week.

The Texas Tribune reported lawyers for the hemp industry argue state agencies overstepped their constitutional authority by imposing new testing requirements that created a 0.3% total THC threshold.

The industry says that effectively eliminated smokeable products by essentially rewriting the statutory definitions of hemp created by legislators in 2019.

Whi le that 2019 law also limited THC levels to 0.3%, manufacturers got around it by cultivating hemp plants with another type of THC called THCA, which produces a high when ignited.

The newly written limits on any type of THC mirror those that will be imposed by the federal government in November.

STAAR ends after this spring After 15 years, this spring marks one of the final times Texas students will take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exams, according to the Houston Chronicle. Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, that end-ofyear assessment will be replaced by three shorter tests.

Backers of the change say it will reduce classroom time spent preparing for the test and be a more accurate measure of students’ progress. Critics say the changes will still place too much emphasis and classroom time preparing for the tests.

“The only evidence is that it will create more testing,” said state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Gov. Greg Abbot t ’s Democrat ic challenger for governor. “We’re going from 15 tests to 51 tests by the time a kid’s done with eighth grade. It’s outrageous.”

The new Student Success Tool will provide three tests through the school year, instead of a single high-stakes test at the end of the year. Results will be available within 48 hours of each test, unl ike STAAR results, which are usually released in mid-June, months after students take the test.

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@texaspress.