I just closed out my fifth year in higher education.
While I still maintain ownership of a community newspaper, my full-time job is at the university. It has been a rewarding experience, and I look forward to many more years in the classroom. Along the way, I have met some incredible people who are dedicated to developing the future generation. I’m humbled to keep company with such amazing humans.
By AUSTIN LEWTER, director, Texas Center for Community Journalism
It is so hard to believe we are here at TPA Conference month, which also means the end of my tenure as your TPA president.
Time goes by so fast, too fast. I really had no idea what to expect for this year.
As I sit here and reflect, my first thought is that it really was truly an honor, privilege and a joy to serve all of you, as well as TPA as an institution.
By LISA CHAPPELL, TPA President, 2025-26
Screwworm detection prompts disaster declaration
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration late last week after the New World screwworm was found in two calves in South Texas, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Paxton hopes to unify Republicans after runoff
EDITORS — This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate early holiday deadlines. It will be updated on Sunday if needed.
State’s wind projects at a standstill
Dozens of Texas wind projects have been halted because the Department of Defense has not approved the federal permits required for them to move forward, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Early voting in runoffs ends Friday
Early voting in both the Democratic and Republican runoff races ends Friday, May 22, with the election on Tuesday, May 26.
On the GOP side, the statewide runoffs are:
The statewide Democratic runoffs are:
A legendary Texas newspaper publisher once told me, “Community newspapers will continue to exist as long as there are those willing to staff them.”
This was a dozen years ago, and he saw the writing on the wall then. It was getting harder to hire young talent into the industry.
Today, the problem persists. That is why I’ve dedicated my work to bridging the generational gap among journalists.
By Austin Lewter, director Texas Center for Community Journalism
In the last few weeks I felt inspired and full of hope about the future of journalism and newspapers in general. It came from a most unexpected place.
I recently attended both the NETPA conference and the STPA / TGCPA conference. The speakers were all quite good, the discussions were helpful and enjoyable. It was all wonderful, but what blew me away were the young people who attended.
By LISA CHAPPELL, TPA President 2025-2026
The months-long election season is taxing enough as newsrooms stretch resources to monitor candidates and campaigns in addition to delivering everyday reports. All aspects of election coverage are put under the microscope. Fairness and consistency are paramount in today’s supercharged political environment.
By Jim Pumarlo, Consultant
Newsrooms should brainstorm now to develop plans. The stronger your organization, the better you’ll be in to handle unexpected circumstances that are certain to arise.
Top lawmakers back lifting camp safety law
Top Texas legislators are pushing to waive a new state law that requires camps to install broadband fiber optics in order to legally operate this summer, The Dallas Morning News reported. Scores of camps are struggling to meet the deadline. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows released a statement last week saying they support lifting the law.