High property tax rate presents challenges in attracting businesses to Texas
By Elle Johnson | Dec 22, 2020
With Texas having higher property tax rates, large industrial facilities are presented with a challenge when wanting to locate to the state.
U.S. Commerce Department awards $500,000 to Austin for COVID-19 recovery
By Elle Johnson | Nov 29, 2020
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration has awarded $500,000 to Austin to help recover the city's economy and help local businesses as they struggle throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Haynes and Boone report: Texas hardest hit in Q3 oilfield services bankruptcies
By Elle Johnson | Nov 17, 2020
Bankruptcies in oilfield services have increased this year as COVID-19 impacts the industry. Texas is the hardest-hit state in the third quarter of 2020, with 18 bankruptcies, according to data provided by Haynes and Boone's Energy and Restructuring Practice Group.
Tracking poll: Adults' mental health shows negative impact from COVID-19 pandemic
By Elle Johnson | Oct 16, 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, 53% of U.S. adults have said their mental health has been negatively affected by the stress the coronavirus brings, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) tracking poll.
Boston U. study: Increase in depression, substance use linked to continuation of COVID-19 pandemic
By Elle Johnson | Oct 15, 2020
The continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in depression in U.S. adults, with the number experiencing it tripling, according to a recent study from Boston University's School of Public Health.
Number of U.S. adults reporting depression increases during COVID-19 pandemic
By Elle Johnson | Oct 14, 2020
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 8.5% of U.S. adults reported suffering from depression. With the ongoing pandemic, the amount experiencing depression has tripled to 1 on 4 American adults, according to a study from Boston University (BU) School of Public Health published in JAMA Network Open.
Texas' increased substance use linked to negative affects of the COVID-19 pandemic
By Elle Johnson | Oct 14, 2020
Addiction treatment inquiries in Texas have increased 22% since the beginning of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, according to Lockdowners Anonymous, in conjunction with the state’s economy also severely suffering during the pandemic.
Senate passes Jenna Quinn Law to train caregivers, teachers, students to recognize child sexual abuse
By Elle Johnson | Oct 2, 2020
The Jenna Quinn Law was passed Sept. 17 to allow grant funds for training and educating teachers, caregivers and students who work with children to be able to recognize, prevent and report sexual abuse.
Gallup: Pandemic shakes U.S. families' confidence in public education
By Elle Johnson | Aug 28, 2020
American families are losing confidence in public education, a new Gallup poll shows, with the number of parents satisfied with their child's education declining 10% since last year's poll.
Schools around the world feel their way as classrooms begin to reopen
By Elle Johnson | Aug 28, 2020
Classrooms around the world are beginning to open for in-person education, offering developmental benefits to children beyond what distance learning can provide, while administrators are ensuring that proper safety measures are put in place to protect students and faculty from COVID-19 and stressing that students are at a very low risk of contracting the virus.
Human Trafficking Strategic Plan focuses on providing support for victims
By Elle Johnson | Jun 1, 2020
Texas' Strategic Plan for combating human trafficking throughout the state finishes with the fifth pillar, Provide Support, which uses past knowledge and experience to give human trafficking victims the support they need to recover from their trauma.
Prosecution pillar comes with many challenges, Human Trafficking Strategic Plan states
By Elle Johnson | Jun 1, 2020
The fourth pillar, Prosecute, of the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council's Strategic Plan focuses on prosecuting the traffickers and purchasers involved in human trafficking, which can come with many challenges.
Human Trafficking Strategic Plan used to protect victims after recovery
By Elle Johnson | Jun 1, 2020
As part of the Strategic Plan developed by the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinating Council, the third pillar, Protect, will be used by the council to ensure victims of human trafficking will be protected after being recovered.
Wind and solar energy is unreliable, creates costly subsidies, report finds
By Elle Johnson | May 27, 2020
While the federal government has been handling the COVID-19 crisis, many renewable energy companies have been using this time to extend the Production Tax Credit, which is a subsidy used to help wind and solar companies.
Both Texas Democrats and Republicans encourage citizens to vote
By Elle Johnson | May 15, 2020
Texans are encountering complications when voting this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led both Republicans and Democrats to create new initiatives to encourage people to cast ballots.
Bullet train between Dallas and Houston delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic
By Elle Johnson | Apr 7, 2020
Texas Central, the company building the bullet train between Dallas and Houston, has laid off 28 employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in delays and the timetable for the project now unknown.
Texas' unemployment rate spikes amid COVID-19 pandemic
By Elle Johnson | Apr 1, 2020
Unemployment claims shot up in Texas during the week of March 8, which could only be the start of social distancing and restrictions on public gatherings in the state.
Experts are unsure how oil prices will affect Texas
By Elle Johnson | Mar 13, 2020
Saudi Arabia declared an oil price war on Russia, which has caused oil prices to significantly drop.
Texas ranks No. 7 in highest property tax rates
By Elle Johnson | Mar 4, 2020
Property taxes are being accounted into a buyer's budgets since homeowners have now had several years under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, with Texas ranking in the top ten of states with the highest property tax rate.
Oil production in Texas expected to rise despite slower growth rates
By Elle Johnson | Feb 29, 2020
Fracking activity in the Permian basin is expected to help oil production rise almost every month this year in Texas, despite having the slowest growth rate in the nation, Rystad Energy said in a report.
