Note to editors: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate holiday deadlines. It will be updated on Sunday if events warrant.

Hegar releases biennial revenue forecast

The Texas Legislature begins its work creating a state budget for the next two years with slightly less revenue available than it had during the previous biennium.

I’ve been blessed, over the past 20 or so years, to be able to make a living putting words on pages.

By AUSTIN LEWTER, Texas Center for Community Journalism

I’ve yet to publish a book, and I was reminded recently at a faculty meeting that newspaper columns are not equal to peer-reviewed articles — at least in the eyes of many in the academic world.

Nonetheless, I have published thousands of stories and columns in newspapers across Texas.

In my day job at the university, I teach young people how to put words on pages.

 Agencies, universities seek $24.6 billion in new funding

Capital Highlights subscribers, 

Due to an editing error, the party statistics cited in this week’s Capital Highlights item about the coming legislative session were incorrect. There will be 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats in the Texas House when it convenes next week, rather than 87-63 as we reported. We apologize for our mistake.

Your TPA colleagues

Legislative session begins on Jan. 14

The 89th Texas legislative session begins on Jan. 14 with a still-unresolved race for speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

State Reps. David Cook, R-Mansfield and Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, are considered the frontrunners for speaker, but speculation continues as to whether other candidates will throw their hats into the ring.

This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate holiday printing deadlines. If warranted, an updated version will be sent Sunday. Happy New Year, everyone!

Vehicle inspections no longer required 

This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate holiday printing deadlines. If warranted, an updated version will be sent Sunday. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Abbott unveils new border strategy

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.