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Austin, Investigations, Local, State
Patterns of Negligence: Guzman’s Story at Georgetown ISD
A mother alleged a teacher assaulted her 11-year-old daughter.
Suspended Superintendent Sues Grand Prairie ISD, Alleges Racial Bias
Trustees were set to vote on firing Jorge Arredondo this week but have been temporarily stopped.
East Texans Oppose Proposed Eminent Domain Plan for Reservoir
The Proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir would engulf nearly 70,000 acres.
Patterns of Negligence: Carolyn Confer’s Fight With Georgetown ISD
A mother alleged her daughter was abused by another student, and the school district did nothing about it.
Local Archive
The fleeting joy of tax rate cuts
Tax rate cuts are like bluebonnets - temporary and sometimes non-existent beauties that fade with the season. Even when tax rates are cut in one taxing entity, other entities will often hike your rate, and it is likely your appraisal goes up as well, making any joy...
EPA Regulations in Texas Will Devastate Local Communities
This summer, the EPA released a new regulation regarding coal-fired power plants in Texas. Called the Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), it will devastate mine and other local communities, wreak havoc on already strained power supplies, and cause the loss of...
Open Seat Draws Out Distinctions
Another open Metroplex house district, and another race pitting a candidate boasting support from the House Speaker' cheering squad against a candidate with conservative credentials. Newly redrawn House District 115 in Dallas County includes part of Coppell, Irving,...
Recession Over? It Is For Texas Local Governments
Are we out of recession? Has the economy in Texas, outside the immediate oil-patch, started to boom? If you look at local government decisions across the state you’d think Texas to have an unemployment rate half what it is. Just a review of the past few days of news...
Are school boards powerless in Texas?
Michael Quinn Sullivan of EmpowerTexans.com posted on his Facebook: “The AP is reporting that SAT reading scores have dropped to new low. We've doubled per-pupil spending in Texas, yet test scores are declining. Who'd have imagined that?! Just waiting for the...
Excuse Me, But It Is A Ponzi Scheme
With apologies to Shakespeare, a Ponzi scheme by any other name is still a Ponzi scheme. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is just the first major political figure to have the courage to stand by saying what we all know to be true. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney says...
The Travis County CAD, and Why Appraisals Matter
In my inbox tonight, I found the news that Patrick Brown, chief appraiser in Travis County, is leaving his post effective January 13, citing family reasons. Now the board of directors, an unelected group of people responsible for property appraisals, must look for a...
Katy ISD Takes Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Katy ISD had shown signs of fiscal responsibility in writing a new budget, cutting mostly outside the classroom and not increasing property tax rates. Even local Tea Party groups offered their praises. All of that goodwill might be lost once locals find out about the...
Bad Day For Taxers
You know the burden of big government taxpayers must carry is heavy when the reliably liberal Austin American Statesman questions the need for it. But that's precisely what the editorial board did in today's edition of the paper. The title the editorial board gave it...