As I write this, most families are readying themselves for the upcoming holiday and new year.
However, many of us in the Texas newspaper industry are readying ourselves for Jan. 12 — the beginning of the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature. 
This session will be different from any session we have seen in the past—but how different? 
Well, this remains an open question.
Initial information coming to us from lawmakers was that we’d have almost no access to the Capitol, and most lawmakers would have their offices closed to the public. 

A live webinar going over the stimulus package and how it relates to the newspaper industry is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 28. The FREE event starts at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28.
The bill includes a potential second draw for PPP loans with expanded definitions of forgivable expenses. Additionally, the bill includes a special set of rules for news organizations regarding eligibility, affiliation, and publicly traded companies.
TPA members are invited to join Scott Sternberg and Keith Naccari, of Sternberg, Naccari & White, to learn more.

From Executive Director Thomas A. Silvestri here is a list of benefits from the Relevance Project, an initiative of Newspaper Association Managers whose trade groups represent collectively more than 8,500 newspapers in North America.
For more information, and to download the free materials, visit www.relevanceproject.net.
Relevant Points blog posts

For five of the Revenue Resource categories — Heating and Air Conditioning Services, Banks, Jewelry Stores, Opticians or Eyeglass Stores, and Continuing Education Services — newspaper publishers can obtain - at no charge - access to household buying research presented in a teaser graphic as well as free creative services that provide up to 10 options for personalized ads that sales reps can take to potential clients.

AUSTIN — Texas Newspaper Foundation announces the selection of four exemplary individuals — Morris Roberts, Charles Moser, Tommy Thomason and Don Richards — as inductees to the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will take place during the Texas Press Association 2021 Convention and Trade Show at Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center in Denton at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22. The Hall of Fame Banquet is sponsored by Explore Branson.

Items are now being accepted for the annual silent auction benefiting the Texas Newspaper Foundation. 
Items will be on display and up for bid during the trade show at the annual TPA convention Jan. 21-23. Bidding ends at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, when winners will pay for and pick up their items.

CLAUDE – Jenna Bichsel has acquired the Claude News from Christiana and Jimmy Mustion, who owned and operated the newspaper for the past five years.
Bichsel has been a resident of Claude since 1990 and graduated high school there. She has experience working with the newspaper. She and her husband, Ben, have three children.
Bichsel studied journalism, English and graphic design in college and has taught English at the elementary and middle school levels.

Alexander Gould has assumed duties as publisher of The Marshall News Messenger following the retirement of Jerry Pye.
Gould also serves as regional publisher for two M. Roberts Media-owned newspapers, the Panola Watchman in Carthage and the Kilgore News Herald.
He previously served as vice president of sales and general manager at the Herald & Review newspaper in Decatur, Illinois and publisher at The Meridian Star in Meridian, Mississippi.
His appointment was announced by Stephen McHaney, president of M. Roberts Media.

Texas Press Association’s 2021 Convention and Trade Show Jan. 21-23 will be an in-person event celebrating the resilience of Texas newspapers as the economy continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center is headquarters for the event. TPA Executive Director Mike Hodges is working with the convention center staff to ensure that health and safety protocols in place at that time will be observed. 

Deadline is approaching for nominations to the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame and for annual TPA awards, including the Golden 50 Award, the Mayborn Award and the Hartman Award for Excellence in Sports Writing.