Viewpoints

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

One day, my older sister, Nadia, came to my house and showed me a video about Texas ChalleNGe Academy on Facebook. After watching it, she and my mom asked me if I would like to attend TCA.

Executive Director, Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas

My name is Angel Bell, and I am currently a candidate at Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake. We started here in January, and at first it was very rough as we are in acclimation, a four week process that prepares us for what we need to complete the program.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is providing more than $345.9 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits for the month of February as the final extension of benefits. Congress recently passed legislation to establish February 2023 as the last month eligible households can receive emergency SNAP benefits. The allotments are expected to help about 1.6 million Texas households.

This article is dedicated to acknowledging examples of “positives” that express the community spirit of Columbus-our town.

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

AUSTIN – State Representative James Talarico was joined by Democratic colleagues, teachers, and public education groups from across the state to announce House Bill 1548, providing Texas teachers with the largest pay bump in state history.

AUSTIN – On Jan. 25, Governor Greg Abbott urged all Texans impacted by recent severe storms and winter weather to self-report property damage by using the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s iSTAT damage survey, as the damage assessment process begins.

AUSTIN – The Lower Colorado River Authority on Tuesday announced it will build a new peaker power plant in Central Texas to provide an additional 190 megawatts of dispatchable power to the Texas power grid.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Dear Editor:

This year World Spay Day takes place on Feb. 28th, 2023. World Spay Day is an annual campaign that shines the spotlight on the power of affordable, accessible spaying and neutering to decrease the number of animals put down in shelters or living on the street. Humane organizations and rescue groups, veterinary clinics and individuals all across the U.S. and around the world are organizing reduced cost spay/neuter clinics, hosting fundraisers and bringing awareness to the importance of spaying and neutering.

AUSTIN – Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today the release of the Texas Broadband Development Map, which uses data collected from internet service providers (ISPs) to show the availability of various types of high-speed internet access across Texas.

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Dear Editor:

Today I attended the unearthing of the time capsule buried in 1973 during Columbus’ sesquicentennial celebration. Absolutely beautiful day; perfect conditions. When the capsule was buried, I was a Columbus Elementary School third-grader. Today at the dig up and opening, it was wonderful to reminisce with classmates and so many others who were at the 1973 burial ceremony and to watch the removal of the contents by the former sixthgraders. I felt transported back in time by it all, and I can’t have been the only one who felt that way. On my drive back to Houston, I replayed the afternoon in my mind, smiling the whole way and gratefully realizing that, even if just for an afternoon, it seems you CAN go home again.

A View Of Columbus Through Rose-Colored Glasses

Average gasoline prices in Texas have risen 7.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.90/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 31.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 0.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 7.2 cents in the last week and stands at $4.56 per gallon.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, told The Dallas Morning News and other media outlets that he is open to bringing resort-style casinos to Texas. But don’t expect to find slot machines in 7-Eleven stores if casino gambling is legalized.