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Capital Highlights Week of Dec. 26 - 30

Note: This is an early holiday edition of Capital Highlights. It will be updated on Sunday as events dictate. Merry Christmas to all!

Winter storm called ‘once in a generation’

An arctic storm that swept through the state bringing low temperatures and high winds also affected roughly two-thirds of the country’s population, according to the National Weather Service, bringing the coldest Christmas in decades to parts of the country.

Capital Highlights Week of Dec. 19 - 23

Most Texas pregnancy deaths preventable

A long-awaited state report concludes most pregnancy-related deaths in Texas in 2019 were preventable and disproportionately affected Black women. 

Week of Dec. 12 - 16, 2022

Retiring senator named Secretary of State

Week of Dec. 5 - 9

Patrick lays out legislative priorities

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick outlined his goals for the upcoming legislative session, calling them “general concepts,” according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Robust public affairs coverage requires more than recording meetings

By JIM PUMARLO
Consultant

Week of Nov. 28 - Dec. 2

Changes urged in funding community colleges

report submitted to state leaders ahead of the 88th legislative session’s opening in January urges lawmakers to develop “an innovative new model” to fund community colleges.

Week of Nov. 21 - 25

NOTE TO EDITORS: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights for papers with early holiday deadlines. It will be updated on Sunday as events warrant.

Legislators begin filing bills ahead of session

Texas legislators are off to the races, filing more than 850 bills on Monday, the first day of filing season for the 88th session, which begins Jan. 10. 

Robust public affairs coverage requires more than recording meetings

By JIM PUMARLO, consultant

Week of Nov. 14 - 18

Turnout drops in recent election

 Voter turnout in the midterm elections again dropped statewide, with just over 45% of registered voters either casting ballots early or at the polls on Nov. 8. Republican candidates continued to hold a hammerlock on statewide positions, with incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott handily winning a third term over challenger Beto O’ Rourke.

Week of Nov. 7 - 11

Panic buttons, locked doors for Texas schools

Texas public schools would have to install panic buttons in classrooms and ensure all doors and windows are locked and monitored under new proposed safety standards released last week by the Texas Education Agency.

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