Hill Country News 3160
Texas Lawmakers File Artificial Intelligence Legislation for 89th Session
The sheer ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has exploded in recent years, and the Texas Legislature has filed a bevy of bills to address the growing industry. Gov. Greg Abbott has already established an AI advisory council for Texas, which he said was important to make sure Texas took full advantage of the “revolutionary
Texas House Member Files Bill to Raise Minimum Death Penalty Age to 21
State Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso) filed a bill that would alter the Texas penal code by raising the age to receive the death penalty from 18 to 21. House Bill (HB) 2055, filed by Moody 10 days after the start of the 89th Texas Legislature, states that Section 8.07 of the Texas penal code
More Than 2,000 Acres Added Near Colorado Bend State Park
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) laid the groundwork for a new state park in Central Texas with the purchase of 2,020 acres in Burnet County. The property includes two miles along the Colorado River and is located across the river from Colorado Bend State Park. Its purchase solidifies phase one of a potential two-phase
So What Did the Freeze To To Texas Coastal Fisheries?
The recent winter freeze along the Texas coast has prompted widespread monitoring of fish populations. So far, reports suggest that fish kills have been relatively limited compared to previous events, though certain species have been affected to varying degrees. Tarpon from last week’s freeze. (Photo Courtesy Kills & Spills Team) Key Observations Species Impacted: Initial
Texas Deploys Over 400 Soldiers to Border in Collaboration With U.S. Border Patrol
Texas has deployed over 400 soldiers from the Texas Tactical Border Force to the Rio Grande Valley in collaboration with President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure the border, per a directive issued by Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday morning. The troops took off from Houston and Dallas, along with C-130 aircraft and Chinook helicopters, on
Fishing Legends To Be Inducted Into TX Freshwater Fisheries Hall of Fame
The Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame announces two inductees to its class of 2025 — Ann Thomasson-Wilson of Jasper, Texas and Rick Clunn of Ava, Missouri. Thomasson-Wilson is a two-time bass fishing World Champion, fishing tackle innovator and owner of Ann’s Tackle Shop which she opened in 1986. Clunn is a member of the Bass Fishing
Passing the Gavel: The Brawl for the Texas House Speakership
Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) is now speaker of the Texas House after a year-long, bruising internal fight between House members as well as the freshmen soon to join their ranks. The race for speaker became something to a degree it never was before: a very public flagellation under a sun-bright spotlight. A near-constant barrage of slings
Texas Land Commissioner Rebuts Discrimination Claims Levied by Exiting Biden HUD Officials
Texas General Land Office (GLO) Commissioner Dawn Buckingham lambasted outgoing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials Thursday for reigniting claims that the state agency had discriminated against minorities in awarding flood mitigation funds related to Hurricane Harvey. Just days before President Trump was sworn into office, HUD officials resubmitted a recommendation to
Gov. Abbott Requests Border Wall, Security Funding Reimbursements from Federal Government
Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump have a history of working together to bolster border security. Now, Abbott is asking the U.S. Congress to “reimburse” Texas for its border wall construction under the outgoing administration. Two letters were published by Abbott this week. The first was directed to both Republican and Democratic leadership in
North Central Texas Council of Governments Approves $1 Million to Prepare for Litigation Over High-Speed Rail Route
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Regional Transportation Council approved $1 million in funding for potential litigation costs associated with the proposed Dallas-Fort Worth high speed rail route. The funding will comprise four $250,000 tranches, with each being approved by the RTC before it is disbursed. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is
Texas House and Senate Both Allocate $1 Billion for School Choice in Draft Budgets
The fight over school choice and public education funding has encountered its first development with the release of both the Texas House and Senate biennium budget proposals. Senate Bill (SB) 1, filed by Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman (R-Houston), would allocate $1 billion for an education savings account (ESA) program — the same amount as
Tyler Commissions Study for Light Rail, Proposed Connection to Interstate 20 Route
The City of Tyler is planning to study the feasibility of a light rail system with the possibility of connecting to a proposed high-speed rail route along the Interstate 20 corridor. On January 22, the Tyler City Council approved $150,000 in funding for the Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to contract with Kimley-Horn for
