News from September 2024
Texas DPS trooper dies after being struck during crash investigation
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 29, 2024
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has announced the death of Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez, who was struck by a vehicle while investigating a traffic crash in Ector County. The incident occurred on SH 302 around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Governor Abbott sends generators for Hurricane Helene recovery in Georgia
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 29, 2024
Governor Greg Abbott announced the deployment of emergency power generators to Georgia to assist with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. This action follows a request from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
TPPF releases study on strengthening families in Texas
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 28, 2024
In collaboration with the Center of Health and Families and the Institute for Family Studies, the Texas Public Policy Foundation's (TPPF) released new research hoping to emphasize the crucial role of family in society and Texas. The study, released on September 30, 2024, advocates for public policies aimed at supporting family formation and outlines several strategies to bolster family structures in Texas.
TASB Division Director: There is ‘a plateau with the most recent scores’ due to an inconsistent ‘assessment system’
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 27, 2024
Dax Gonzalez, the governmental relations division director at the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), said that state-mandated accelerated instruction helped improve test scores initially, but recent data shows a plateau in student performance, partly due to changes in the assessment system. Gonzalez was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
Lieutenant Game Warden: ‘We have to adapt’ to combat poaching
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 27, 2024
Lieutenant Game Warden Aaron Sims, a public information officer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said poaching has evolved to include unauthorized hunting and transnational trafficking, often using advanced technology like night vision goggles, requiring game wardens to adapt and keep pace with these developments. Sims was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
Texas mandates annual continuing education for mortgage loan originators
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 27, 2024
Residential mortgage loan originators (MLOs) in Texas are required to complete a minimum of eight hours of continuing education annually to maintain their licenses, as mandated by Tex. Fin. Code §§157.015(a)(3) and 180.060. This requirement ensures that MLOs stay updated with industry practices, regulations, and ethical standards.
TXOGA, PBPA, TAEP jointly praise Permian Basin Reliability Plan
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 27, 2024
The Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA), and the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers (TAEP) praised the Public Utility Commission of Texas’s (PUC) approval of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan in a joint statement.
Governor Abbott announces $1.2 million job training grant
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 26, 2024
Governor Greg Abbott announced a grant of $1,272,322 awarded to Tarrant County College (TCC) to support workforce training and help businesses upskill their new or incumbent workforce. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) provided the grant, which will allow TCC to offer customized training for over 630 new and incumbent employees of Cummings Electrical for high-demand occupations as electrical contractors.
Texas Rangers solve Ector County cold case; suspect pleads guilty
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 26, 2024
A man has pled guilty to a decades-old cold case murder in Ector County and will serve 20 years in prison. Billy Wayne Ludwigson, 62, was arrested by the Texas Rangers after years of investigation. He admitted to murdering 64-year-old Velma Nesset and was sentenced by an Ector County jury in August.
Texas Center for Book hosts spooky storytime with Bernadette Nason on Oct. 14
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 26, 2024
The Texas Center for the Book has announced a Spooky Storytime event at the Texas State Library on Monday, Oct. 14. The event will feature award-winning storyteller Bernadette Nason and is open to all ages. It will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Public Event Space at the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building, located at 1201 Brazos St. in Austin, next to the Texas Capitol.
Senator Cruz on Bitcoin: ‘we need leaders who will stand up and defend your freedom’
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 25, 2024
In a recent podcast appearance, Texas Senator Ted Cruz argued that the government needs to allow the Bitcoin and crypto industries to develop unimpeded and he made some judgments about why people and institutions oppose the technology.
TEA Commissioner Morath urges Texas Senate to ban cellphones in classrooms
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 25, 2024
At last week’s Senate Education Committee hearing, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner, Mike Morath, urged lawmakers to consider legislation that would ban cellphones in Texas classrooms.
TASB Division Director: ‘A lot of that [state funding] money isn't classroom-dedicated money’
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 25, 2024
Dax Gonzalez, the governmental relations division director at the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), said that much of the state funding for education was allocated to reduce property taxes rather than increasing classroom resources, with only minor adjustments for school safety funding. Gonzalez was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
Lieutenant Game Warden: ‘The majority of our contacts involve compliance checks’
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 25, 2024
Lieutenant Game Warden Aaron Sims, a public information officer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said game wardens mainly conduct compliance checks and rely on respectful relationships with hunters, especially given the limited number of wardens covering large areas. Sims was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
Law enforcement faces ongoing challenges addressing crimes committed by illegal aliens, new TPPF report reveals
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 25, 2024
The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) released a new report stating that the state’s law enforcement agencies are experiencing ongoing challenges in addressing crimes committed by illegal aliens who crossed the border with Mexico.
Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Restaurant Foundation hold board meetings in Galveston
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 24, 2024
The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) provided a five-point recap from its and the Texas Restaurant Foundation’s September 2024 board meetings, which were held in Galveston.
Entrepreneurship, the Texas economy, and online fraud: A discussion with Chris Powers
By Lone Star Standard reports | Sep 23, 2024
Highlights from our interview with Chris Powers, founder & CEO of Fort Capital.
Lieutenant Game Warden: All game wardens have ‘their own interesting tale’
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 23, 2024
Lieutenant Game Warden Aaron Sims, a public information officer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said his interest in the outdoors began in elementary school and led him to earn a bachelor's degree and secure a game warden position. Sims was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
Texas extends access to healthy meals through Child And Adult Care Food Program
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 22, 2024
The Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has urged Texans to explore the benefits of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), this federally funded initiative operates at approximately 13,000 sites across Texas, including adult day care centers, childcare centers, home-based daycares, and afterschool programs. The program aims to promote healthy lifestyles by providing eligible children and adults with nutritious free or reduced-price meals and snacks.
Texas publishes model policy on banned apps including TikTok
By Lone Star Standard | Sep 22, 2024
SB 1893 created Government Code Chapter 620, requiring state agencies, the judicial branch, and local government entities, including cities, counties, and special purpose districts, to ban “covered applications”—which includes the social media service TikTok and any applications or services developed by the Chinese technology company ByteDance. It also directed the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) and the Texas Department of Public Safety to develop a model policy for the prohibition of covered applications.
