Agency seeks $300 million to bolster Medicaid

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is seeking a $300 million transfusion of funds to bolster the state’s Medicaid application process, The Texas Tribune reported.

By AUSTIN LEWTER, TCCJ Director

And just like that, 2024 comes to an end.

It has been a whirlwind and we’ve been busy at the Center, and we’re looking ahead to an even busier 2025.

As such, it behooves me to reflect upon the year at the Texas Center for Community Journalism and be grateful for the connections we have made.

We started out 2024 with exciting news at Pilot Point and Iowa Park.

The Post-Signal has a new owner and Denton County’s oldest newspaper continues to print every week.

Phelan drops bid for speaker; no clear winner yet

House Speaker Dade Phelan withdrew last week from seeking another term leading that chamber. After three rounds of voting on Saturday, state Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield emerged as the preference of most House Republicans. However, his opponent, state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, claims to have enough support from both Republicans and Democrats to clear the 76-vote threshold.

Deportation vow alarms construction industry

This is an early release of Capital Highlights for the week of Nov. 25 - 29 to accommodate early press deadlines during the week of Thanksgiving.

Abbott issues orders targeting China

Gov. Greg Abbott issued three executive orders last week targeting the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, The Dallas Morning News reported

Note to editors: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 28, Capital Highlights for the week of Nov. 25 - 29 will be released early - on Friday, Nov. 22.

More than 1,500 bills filed as session approaches

By Jim Pumarlo, Consultant

Elections are over, and you breathe a sigh of relief. The exhaustive campaign season has concluded, and newsrooms can return to some level of normalcy.

Not so fast. The most substantive aspect of election coverage may loom. Your pages have been filled with campaign promises detailed in stories, letters to the editor and ads. The next logical step: Are the winners keeping their promises?

This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate newspapers with early deadlines because of Veterans Day. An updated version will be sent Sunday if events dictate.

GOP win raises stakes for Cornyn’s leadership bid 

Insurance hikes make affordable housing tougher

A growing number of Texas homeowners are forgoing buying homeowners insurance as premiums skyrocket, according to a recent report from the Texas comptroller.

By TCCJ Director Austin Lewter

Charles Baum was a friend of mine. He was born in 1917.

He was the grandfather of a childhood friend, and he was a lifelong public servant. 

Charlie was in the Philippines when Bataan fell. Subsequently, he was captured and spent most of World War II as a prisoner of war.

He was one of few Americans who survived the Bataan Death March before being liberated in September 1945.