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.
Bill Patterson, TPA President
By now the election season dust is settled and everyone is hunkering down for a long winter’s nap — or maybe just a short one.
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has become increasingly evident in the retail world since Labor Day. Now Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are just around the corner. Before you know it, the holidays will be a blur in the rear-view mirror and 2025 will be here.
Early voting ends on Friday
Texans who wish to vote early in the Nov. 5 general election have until closing time Friday, Nov. 1 to do so. Secretary of State Jane Nelson is encouraging voters to double-check their precinct numbers and candidate selections before casting their ballots.