Texas leads nation in jobs added

The Lone Star State continues to lead the nation in jobs added with 58,200 new positions in February, bringing the state to nearly 14 million total nonfarm jobs, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. February also marked two full years of uninterrupted job growth in the state.

Recently I visited with a newspaper friend in Florida who has the audacity to turn the industry on its ear.

“I want to build a bigger business,” he says.

He pauses.

“Why not?”

And much like a scene from Star Wars, you find yourself nodding in total agreement to the words of the Jedi Warrior.

By Leonard Woolsey, TPA President 2022-23

Senate passes tax cut package

The Texas Senate last week unanimously approved a $16.5 billion package to lower property taxes and inject billions of dollars into public schools.

Bill would require fentanyl education

The death of a Leander High School graduate from a fentanyl overdose has prompted state Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, to file a bill that would require 10 hours of education annually concerning the dangers of the drug to students in sixth grade and up, the Austin American-Statesman reported. 

Editors often raise red flags – or at least hesitate – at requests for business news, and often for good reason.

By Jim Pumarlo, consultant

House pushes armed officer at all schools

Under legislation prioritized by House Speaker Dade Phelan, every Texas school would have an armed police officer, and aspiring teachers would receive extra support.

Texas again leads state in new corporate projects

Texas once again has topped the list for new and expanded corporate facilities added in a year, according to Site Selection Magazine. With 1,028 new projects in 2022, the state had more than the next two states combined – Illinois and Ohio. 

Newspaper swagger comes in part by being a driver of thoughtful discussions and conversations in your community.

Doing so, however, can be tricky.

Good newspapers are thought-leaders in their community — an institution where courage and action sit side by side. A place where news events can migrate from the front page to editorial page, with the newspaper making important observations and asking key questions.

Street takeover spurs governor’s action

 Gov. Greg Abbott has created a statewide task force after several “street takeovers” recently took place in Austin in which motorists obstructed intersections, shot off fireworks and drove recklessly.

Abbott lays out seven top priorities