This column is written by Paul Watler, Jackson Walker LLP.

Q: How do I recognize a defamatory statement in a letter to the editor? What if non-print and other media have in effect published the same defamatory statement? 

Budget headed to governor’s desk
 
The Texas Legislature sent a $248 billion two-year state budget to Gov. Greg Abbott after the House approved the measure last Thursday.
The 140-day legislative session ended at midnight May 31. Senate Bill 1 is $13.5 billion less than the previous biennial budget, with the difference to be made up from COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government. As previously reported, Abbott plans to allow legislators to decide how to allocate those funds during a special session this fall.

Note: This is a special bulldog edition of Capital Highlights for papers who have earlier deadlines because of the Memorial Day holiday. An updated version will be released at the usual time Monday.

Budget headed to governor’s desk

Special session coming this fall
Texas lawmakers will adjourn the regular session on Monday — Memorial Day — but Gov. Greg Abbott has already indicated he will call a special session in the fall to grapple with redistricting after detailed census results are finally released.

Deaths of unbuckled Texans spike

The main issue facing the country and most of our communities is what it has been for more than a year: the coronavirus. We are in what is almost certainly the last chapter, immunization – but this chapter may last a lot longer than it should, and make the economic recovery slower, because so many Americans are pandemic-fatigued, ill-informed about vaccines, and reluctant to get a shot, or even resistant.

The following is a brief summary, with comments, of a 55-page document. The U.S. Postal Service understands it is not financially sustainable in its current form. It admits to being unable to provide dependable service, and is in need of major capital investment. Their network is described as broken. 
The USPS document provides, with numerous charts and exhibits, a 10-year plan to financial sustainability and reliable service. The plan depends on a series of changes and improvements to be successful. 

Suzanne and I were privileged to attend the first combined regional press association convention between the North & East Texas Press Association (NETPA) and the West Texas Press Association (WTPA) held in Rockwall in April. We are planning to attend the Texas Gulf Coast Press Association convention this month and the other association’s conventions this summer.

‘Constitutional carry’ bill close to becoming law

State shows largest numerical population gain
 
Texas stands to gain two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after results of the 2020 census released last week show the state had the largest numerical gain of any state since the 2010 census