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Week of Feb. 18-24, 2019
Senate panel focuses on funding of public education
AUSTIN — When Texas legislatures meet every two years, lawmakers’ singular, must-do assignment is to produce a state budget.
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TPA members needed to help judge Tennessee Press Contests
Volunteers are needed to help judge the 2019 Tennessee State Press Contests, sponsored by the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Press Association. Judging periods begin March 25 and April 1.
Tennessee Press has two contests with two judging periods:
Editorial contest:
• Judging period starts March 25
• 45 to 50 judges needed
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Week of Feb. 11-17, 2019
Governor gives lawmakers list of emergency items to tackle
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott named as his emergency priorities education reform, teacher pay, school safety, property tax reform, mental health services and disaster response in his Feb. 5 "State of the State" address to a joint session of the Texas Legislature.
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TCEQ extends deadline for recycle newsprint reports to Feb. 28
The deadline for annual recycled newsprint reports has been extended this year to Feb. 28, according to Alex Frame of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Every year, TCEQ collects data on recycled newsprint. Texas law requires that newspaper publishers submit their reports to the TCEQ.
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Week of Feb. 4-10, 2019
Senate committee starts work on property tax reform
AUSTIN — Voters would have the power to prevent their local governmental bodies from increasing property taxes by more than 2.5 percent per year under legislation introduced in the Texas Senate and House on Jan. 31.
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Week of Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2019
Senate Finance panel starts work on state budget
AUSTIN — Jane Nelson, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, on Jan. 22 said she would follow an aggressive agenda to deliver a budget ready for floor debate by the end of February.
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Week of Jan. 21-27, 2019
State’s top elected officials take oaths of office at inauguration
AUSTIN — Public officials and private citizens gathered at the south steps of the state Capitol on Jan. 15 to for a day’s worth of inaugural events, most notably the administering of oaths of office to Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who were reelected to four-year terms in November.
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Week of Jan. 14-20, 2019
House elects new speaker as legislative session kicks off
AUSTIN — The 86th Texas Legislature convened on Jan. 8 with all its customary ceremonies and recognitions — chief of which was the unanimous election of a new House speaker — Angleton Republican Dennis Bonnen.
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Week of Jan. 7-13, 2019
Texas Legislature to convene with list of big issues to tackle
AUSTIN — The 86th Texas Legislature convenes Jan. 8 as the partial shutdown of the federal government that began Dec. 22 enters a third week.
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Build relationships with state lawmakers before you need them
With what could be another challenging Texas legislative session on the horizon, now is the time to be building and cultivating relationships with lawmakers.
Guest opinion by Leonard Woolsey
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Turnover will mean new approaches as 2019 lawmakers reconsider reforms
Turnover among key personnel makes for interesting times in any institution — whether it’s a powerhouse football team or the Texas Legislature.
A number of players will be new to the blood sport of Texas politics — or at least new to their position — when lawmakers convene Jan. 8.
Analysis by Donnis Baggett, Texas Press Association
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EARLY DELIVERY, Week of Dec. 31, 2018, to Jan. 6, 2019
Workforce commission reports continuation of employment trend
AUSTIN — Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in November, remaining at the same 42-year low rate as in October, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Dec. 21.
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EARLY DELIVERY, week of Dec. 24-30, 2018
Whitley succeeds Pablos as Texas secretary of state
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Dec. 17 announced the appointment of David Whitley as Texas’ 112th secretary of state.
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Week of Dec. 17-23, 2018
Texas’ top lawyer cheers court ruling against Obamacare
AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded a Dec. 14 Fort Worth federal district court decision declaring unconstitutional the U.S. Affordable Care Act, widely known as “Obamacare.”
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Week of Dec. 10-16, 2018
Texas, nation mourn death of former president
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Dec. 3 proclaimed Dec. 5 as an official day of mourning across the Lone Star State in honor of former President George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, who died in Houston on Nov. 30.
