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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.