Editors: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate early holiday deadlines. It will be updated Sunday if needed.
Less than a week remains in legislative session
Editors are regularly challenged: What mix of stories and photos will collectively make this edition a “must see” for readers and advertisers? There is no universal formula.
The first step in any market, however, is to know your community. Fundamental to providing pertinent coverage is living in the neighborhoods where your readers work and play.
By JIM PUMARLO, consultant
It is that time of year.
The bluebonnets are in bloom, the hummingbirds are on the move, the days are longer and the afternoons are warmer.
By Austin Lewter, director, Texas Center for Community Journalism
Spring of the year is upon us, but in the newspaper business that means a whole lot more than just the blooming of the cotton woods.
It’s convention season.
Press associations and trade groups are holding their summits and trade shows and awards dinners.
By BILL PATTERSON, TPA president 2024-25
Recently we have had several “hot button” issues come up with Texas publishers. It has been great to see the use of the publisher listserve to discuss various situations and feedback from your peers.
Your Texas Press Association was established for a number of reasons, one of which is interaction regarding market situations. At the same time, TPA members help each other deal with other important issues.
Abbott signs voucher bill into law
Gov. Greg Abbott last week signed a $1 billion private school voucher bill into law in front of a large crowd at the Governor’s Mansion, the San Antonio Express-News and other media outlets reported. Abbott called the new law the biggest legislative win of his time in the governor’s office and touted the new program as the largest in the nation.
House bill proposes new standardized test
A Texas House bill would eliminate the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness test and replace it with a test comparing students’ performance to one another rather than state-set standards, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
House Bill 4 would also create benchmark tests to measure students’ academic performance throughout the year.
TEA releases 2023 A-F accountability ratings
After a prolonged delay because of a lawsuit filed by about 100 school districts, the Texas Education Agency has released the 2023 A-F accountability ratings, indicating the share of campuses that received a passing ranking dropped by 14% from 2022.
House passes school voucher bill
Paxton, Cornyn gear up for primary battle
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made it official last week, announcing he will challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in next March’s Republican primary. The fireworks already have begun, the Austin American-Statesman reported, with Cornyn calling his rival “a con man and a fraud.”
Appeals court: TEA can release A-F school ratings
A judge with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the Texas Education Agency can release its 2023 A-F school accountability ratings, the Houston Chronicle reported.