Latest News
Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham opposes federal offshore wind turbine auction
By Lone Star Standard | May 9, 2024
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has expressed her opposition to the proposed federal auction of offshore lands for wind turbine construction in a letter addressed to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The letter, dated April 29, highlighted several recent failures of offshore wind projects in U.S. waters.
Texas House investigation on the Panhandle Wildfires issues its findings, recommendations
By Lone Star Standard | May 9, 2024
An investigation into Texas’s largest wildfire in history has released its final findings and recommendations into the causes of the fires and what should be done to prevent and respond to future incidents.
OPINION: Weekend Interview: Tim Dunn on Faith, Governance, and Political Labels
By Lone Star Standard | May 9, 2024
Tim Dunn is a business owner in Midland, Texas, and serves on the boards of non-profit organizations. He and his wife of 46 years have six children and 20 grandchildren. He responded to questions from Lone Star Standard to discuss political labels, his views on Texas politics, and his faith.
Governor Abbott appoints Kent Chambers to Ninth Court of Appeals
By Lone Star Standard | May 9, 2024
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Kent Chambers to the Ninth Court of Appeals, Place 4, effective July 1, 2024, for a term set to expire on December 31, 2024, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified.
Governor Abbott Provides Update On State Ongoing Response To Severe Weather, Flooding In East Texas
By Lone Star Standard | May 7, 2024
Governor Greg Abbott, accompanied by a host of state and local officials, addressed the ongoing response to severe weather and flooding in East Texas during a briefing in Conroe on May 6, 2024.
Teenage Human Smugglers Apprehended Alongside Murder Suspect
By Lone Star Standard | May 7, 2024
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), as part of Operation Lone Star, arrested two teenage human smugglers transporting three illegal immigrants, including one wanted for murder, after a high-speed pursuit in Maverick County.
Speaker Phelan announces creation of Texas House Select Committee
By Lone Star Standard | May 7, 2024
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced the creation of the Texas House Select Committee on Securing Texas From Hostile Foreign Organizations.
Commissioner Miller recognizes school nutrition professionals in Texas
By Lone Star Standard | May 6, 2024
AUSTIN – On Friday Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller invited all Texans to join him in expressing appreciation to the state's dedicated school nutrition professionals on School Lunch Hero Day. These professionals ensure that school meals meet high nutrition standards, offering children some of the healthiest foods. School Lunch Hero Day honors their hard work and serves as a reminder to show appreciation for those who provide over 800 million nutritious meals to Texas students annually.
Texas’ Stiff Resistance Shifts Illegal Crossings To Other Border States
By Lone Star Standard | May 6, 2024
Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) are continuing efforts to secure the border and crack down on illegal activities. Since the inception of Operation Lone Star, over 509,000 illegal immigrants have been apprehended, with more than 42,300 criminal arrests and 37,500 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized a large amount of the deadly drug.
DPS Arrests 31 Illegal Immigrants in Maverick County
By Lone Star Standard | May 6, 2024
On May 3, 2024, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducted a targeted operation that led to the arrest of 31 illegal immigrants in Maverick County. According to DPS - South Texas Region, these arrests were made for criminal trespass as part of Operation Lone Star (OLS).
DPS Announces Featured Fugitive for May
By Lone Star Standard | May 6, 2024
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has identified Marcos Christopher Alonzo, a 46-year-old fugitive from Hutchins, as this month's Featured Fugitive. Alonzo has been wanted since February 2023 for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, following his conviction in 2005 for indecency with a child by contact.According to DPS, Alonzo was also convicted in 2011 for failure to register as a sex offender. The agency described Alonzo as 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing about 250 pounds, with tattoos on his head, neck, chest, and both arms....
The Impact of Incarceration on Families: A Look Inside Texas Incarcerated Families Association
By Lone Star Standard | May 6, 2024
Highlights from our interview with Sharon McKinney, Executive Director of the Texas Inmate Families Association.
Governor Abbott Increases Readiness Level Of State Operations Center Ahead Of Severe Weather, River Flooding Threats
By Lone Star Standard | May 2, 2024
Governor Greg Abbott has taken proactive measures to address the impending severe weather and river flooding threats in Texas. In response to the forecasted challenges, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to elevate the readiness level of the Texas State Emergency Operations Center to Level II (Escalated Response).Abbott emphasized the state's preparedness, stating, "Texas stands ready to quickly deploy all available resources necessary to help communities across Texas as severe weather and flooding impacts our state." He also issued a...
Health Advisory: Cyclospora Testing Urged for Patients with Symptoms
By Lone Star Standard | May 2, 2024
State health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration are gearing up for the annual Cyclospora outbreak season, which typically spans from May to August. In a recent development, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is urging healthcare providers to be on high alert and test patients for the Cyclospora parasite.The intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora is a matter of concern, with Texas alone reporting over 800 cases of cyclosporiasis in 2023. The majority of these cases occurred between May and...
Apply to Join the 2024-25 TPAC by May 24
By Lone Star Standard | May 2, 2024
The Texas Public Accountability Consortium (TPAC) is calling on superintendents to join their district-led network in an effort to transform Texas' A-F accountability system into a Community-Based Accountability System. The application deadline for the 2024-25 TPAC is May 24th.According to the announcement, the upcoming TPAC events for 2024-25 are still being developed by the TPAC Design Team. These events will focus on the needs of school leaders while upholding the principles outlined in the TASA visioning document, "Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas."...
TPPF Applauds Abbott, Paxton on Efforts to Protect Women
By Lone Star Standard | May 1, 2024
The Texas Public Policy Foundation has expressed its appreciation for Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's actions to safeguard female-only spaces and organizations in Texas.
Celebrate Lone Star Día with New Bilingual Storytime Videos from Texas Center for the Book
By Lone Star Standard | May 1, 2024
Austin, TX – The Texas Center for the Book is excited to announce the release of three new bilingual story time videos in celebration of Lone Star Día. These videos feature engaging English/Spanish picture books that are perfect for children from toddlers to second grade students, aimed at enhancing word comprehension in both languages.Carmen Lazo, Children’s Community Program Administrator at Pflugerville Public Library, guides viewers through the pages of the books in the videos. The featured books include "I’m Hungry!/¡Tengo Hambre!" by Angela Dominguez, "Let’s Be...
Governor Abbott Issues Disaster Declaration For East Texas Flooding
By Lone Star Standard | May 1, 2024
Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 29 Texas counties affected by severe storms and flooding. In a statement, Governor Abbott expressed his commitment to providing support to impacted communities, saying, "The State of Texas continues to provide support and assist communities who have been impacted by recent severe weather and flooding."
OPINION: Texas’s Cold War: A Call for “Ceasefire”
By Brian Thornton | May 1, 2024
In Texas, the legal and political tension between state lawmakers and its populous, “blue” urban cities and counties is nothing new, but the intensity of this ongoing power struggle has, by any measure, increased in recent history. Undoubtedly this “Cold War” between state and local governments reached a crescendo during the 88th Regular Session with HB 2127 by State Representative Dustin Burrows. Popularly known as the “Death Star” bill, the legislation was intentionally broad in enshrining explicit language in state law limiting local governments’ historically broad statutory authority to impose regulation within their jurisdictions.
CPS Energy plans to shut down part of the Braunig Power Station
By Lone Star Standard | Apr 30, 2024
CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned provider of electric and natural gas services in Texas, has informed the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the manager of the state's electric grid, of its intention to decommission the three oldest natural gas-fired generating units at its Braunig Power Plant. The notification was issued on March 13.
