By Jim Pumarlo, consultant

A divorce is finalized, but it is not recorded in the newspaper until four months later.
Someone appears in court for a domestic assault, but the sentence isn't reported until weeks after the fact.

The subjects naturally raise two questions: What constitutes these items as news? Why is there such a delay in the report?

These instances, and many more, occurred during my tenure as editor of the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle. Other editors can likely relate.

Texas employment at historic high, but jobless rate is up

For the 30th consecutive month Texas showed job growth, reaching just under 14 million jobs and outpacing the nation in its annual rate of employment growth, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

By Al Cross

Director Emeritus, Institute for Rural Journalism

After local police raided the office of the Marion County Record and the home of its owners, creating a national outcry that was entirely justified, the question was asked in newspaper offices around the country, and sometimes in their pages: “Could this happen here?”

It’s more likely in some places than others, depending on the nature of the paper, the town, its leaders and the police.

Fair warning: Get ready for some major geekage.

We’ve all seen the embarrassing example of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-produced copy in a recent large company sports section. This is what was published (since corrected):

“The Worthington Christian [[WINNING_TEAM_MASCOT]] defeated the Westerville North [[LOSING_TEAM_MASCOT]] 2-1 in an Ohio boys soccer game on Saturday.”

Gannett, the guilty party, recently stopped using AI on its sports desk as the results were just not ready for prime time.

Special session to begin on Oct. 9

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a letter to legislative leaders indicating a special session will begin on Oct. 9 dealing with what he has called “school choice” but is more widely known as vouchers.

Another special session slated for October

Gov. Greg Abbott has called a third special session, this time about school choice, for next month. He is promising retribution for lawmakers who oppose his move to enact school vouchers in Texas, the Texas Tribune reported.

Paxton acquitted on all impeachment counts

Ken Paxton has been reinstated as Texas Attorney General after the Texas Senate on Saturday acquitted him of charges of bribery and misuse of office. Only two Republican senators joined the 12 Democrats in voting to convict him of some of the 16 charges heard by the Senate, with four other charges dismissed by the Senate, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Paxton trial completes first week

The first week of suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Senate ended with his former lead law enforcement officer testifying an Austin developer alleged to have bribed Paxton constructed a “conspiracy theory” that federal officials altered a search warrant for his property, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

EDITORS: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate papers with early deadlines due to the Labor Day holiday. It will be updated Sunday if events dictate.

Hundreds of new laws go into effect

By KEN ESTEN COOKE, 2023-24 TPA President

“Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.”

– John Steinbeck

Ah, the Panhandle plains. Being in the Hill Country, I don’t get to visit “up yonder” frequently, but I was fortunate to attend the Panhandle Press Association’s regional convention in Canyon.