Citizens convinced Whitesboro city officials to reverse course on a big property tax increase.
Local
Austin City Officials Planning to Build Segregated ‘Black Embassy’
The facility will service based on skin color.
COVID Mandate Stories: Texas Became Like a Communist Country
“I don’t like being mandated to do anything. That’s why I left South Africa.”
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ban Scheduled for Hearing in House
Citizen priority moves forward.
Dickson: Latexo Becomes 23rd City in the Nation to Outlaw Abortion
“Praise God for our dedicated city councilmen that are planning for the future.”
MOST RECENT
Judicial Incumbent Seeks New Election in Controversial Primary
Doss filed a petition for a new election after the 7th Court of Appeals race was left off of the ballot in two counties.
County in Cover-Up After Conservative Judge Punished
County commissioners appeal to Attorney General Ken Paxton to hide public records regarding their controversial decision on Judge Alex Kim.
Houston Gives Luxury Hotel $43M Tax Break
The city council voted 16-1 to approve a special deal for a W Hotel.
Austin Mayor Shuts Down All Dine-In Restaurants, Enacts $1,000 Fine
Amid coronavirus concern, the mayor has ordered vast closures, restrictions, and a harsh penalty.
Pastors Pray and Encourage During Coronavirus Pandemic
Pastors across Dallas-Fort Worth exhort believers as viral pandemic touches their local community and the world at large.
‘Move on’ From Mistakes, Says Democrat Election Official
After initially blaming Republicans, Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman took responsibility for a series of mistakes in the March 3 primaries but says it’s time to “move on to November.”
How Did Dallas County Misplace 9,100 Ballots?
And how are Democrat officials going to avoid the same mistakes in November?
Coronavirus Causes Tarrant District Judge to Postpone Jury Trials
As Trump and Abbott declare emergencies, a North Texas judge is postponing jury trials for the rest of the month.
Candidates in Close Republican Race Left Off Ballot
Results are uncertain after two counties left a close race off of the Republican primary ballot.
Austin’s $10B Transit Plan Could Mean Massive Tax Increase
The city’s costly bus and rail transit plan could raise the median homeowner’s annual tax bill by over $440.
ARCHIVE
Tax-Funded Lobbying: Is a Lobby Firm Really a Bureaucrat?
The City of Grapevine, in North Texas, recently hired a lobby firm, Solutions for Local Control, LLC, to assist “in developing political and legislative strategies.” Behind the firm is mainly one individual, former state Rep. Fred Hill (R-Richardson), who scored only 60% on the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Fiscal Responsibility Index during his final term in the Texas House. In what looks to be a blatant assault on public transparency, and perhaps illegally, Grapevine conducted its meetings about the lobby contract behind closed doors.
Wishful Thinking, or Great Case for Voter ID?
Out here on the border, in Val Verde County, there will be what could be a major “vote harvesting” trial coming up.
Cutting its Nose to Spite its Face? Seriously?
You know, I had a lot of respect for Debra Medina. She really ran an impressive grassroots campaign for Governor, but then she goes and does something ridiculous and I can’t keep my mouth shut.
NW Texas influence in the House & hypocrisy
It would be hilarious if it were not so irritating and costly to West Texas: Once again, even after primary elections have passed, we find the opinion page at the Lubbock Mudslide filled with lament about how the area will suffer by having three freshman state reps.
Texas School Spending Tops $11k Per Pupil
As we close out this school year, taxpayers may wonder want kind of bang we’re getting for our educational buck. Texans now spend more than $11,000 per year on public education – with less than half going toward instructional expenses.
CapMetro Illustrates Its Own Failure
The Austin American-Statesman seems to have finally run out of strength for carrying CapMetro’s water.
In a May 4 article Statesman staff writer Ben Wear painted a grim picture of the CapMetro fiscal situation.
Are All Dallas-Area Democrats Ethically Challenged?
Democratic State Rep. Helen Giddings and Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson are getting massive no-bid contracts from Dallas Love Field. And they are shocked — outraged, even — that some are a little worried about it. If you’re going to hold an office of public trust, and then make big bucks off of no-bid, sweetheart-deal contracts, I guess the only option is to be loud and proud.
Dallas Morning News Calls Projected Shortfalls “Deficits”
The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board wrote an Op-Ed about projected budget shortfalls the Texas Legislatures will face next year, misnaming them deficits.
Build It and They Will Pay
State wide area transit authorities have been making headlines for their poor budgeting and planning. That means they are operating business as usual and taxpayers are going to be left holding the bill.
Is Home Where The Tax-Break Is?
Less than a month remains until the special election to fill the unexpired term in Senate District 22. The candidates are just now filing, but race is getting hot. The latest entry comes word that former senator-turned-lobbyist-turned senate-candidate David Sibley may have just copped to a misdemeanor.