Hill Country News 3160
Texas Senators Take Up Bill Blocking Release of Unsubstantiated Complaints Against Police
A Texas Senate committee took up a renewed push to protect certain police personnel records from public disclosure, including unsubstantiated complaints against officers, but opponents say the bill would make law enforcement less transparent and accountable to the public. Filed by state Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford), Senate Bill (SB) 14 is a revised version of
Kerr County Proposes Maintaining Tax Rate with Increased Salaries for County Employees, Officials
The Kerr County Commissioners Court is getting closer to publishing a proposed budget that will be adopted on August 25. The August 4 commissioners court meeting was recessed until Tuesday, August 5 to allow more information to be gathered about likely disaster road and bridge repair costs that might be lower than expected. × This
‘Bathroom Bill’ Banning Biological Males from Women’s Spaces Passes Texas Senate Committee
Legislation requiring individuals to use gendered private spaces according to their biological sex passed the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday afternoon after six hours of public testimony — re-hashing a policy that’s been through the legislative ringer since 2015. State Sen. Mayes Middleton’s (R-Galveston) Senate Bill (SB) 7, also known as the “Texas
Exploring the Bold Spirit of Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery in Spicewood
This past weekend, my wife, Lu, and I embarked on an adventure to Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery, a hidden gem in Spicewood, Texas. Since opening its doors in 2017, this distillery has gained recognition for its diverse range of handcrafted spirits. One of the distillery’s standout creations is Hotscotch, a smooth whiskey with a
Texas House Priority Flooding Response Set for Committee Hearing Despite Quorum Break
After two meetings of the Joint Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding, lawmakers in the Texas House will take up bills to address a multitude of issues related to communication systems, planning requirements, and response training — despite lacking a quorum on the House floor. State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) is the author of
Texas House Republicans Enact ‘Call of the House,’ Issue Arrest Warrants for Over 50 Quorum-Breaking Democrats
Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), and what’s left of the Texas House membership after Sunday’s ceremonial quorum-breaking flight to Illinois, issued a formal order for all absentee members to return, accompanied by arrest warrants for more than 50 absentee Democrats. On Sunday evening, Democratic legislators flew out of state to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts to
Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Named President of New York Stock Exchange Texas
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Texas announced it has appointed Bryan Daniel, a former Gov. Greg Abbott senior staff member and chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), as its new president. Daniel was announced as the new president of the NYSE Texas on Monday. The stock exchange branch made its move from Chicago
Try This For Specks On Piers
Catching speckled trout – specks – from piers in Texas is a mix of timing, tide, technique, and patience. The coast offers numerous public piers—places like Galveston, Port Aransas, and Corpus Christi—where locals and traveling anglers alike try their luck, especially during the warm months when trout push closer to shore. The bite tends to
New Texas Congressional Map Passes House Redistricting Committee Along Party Lines After 15-Hour Hearing
The Texas House committee tasked with redrawing the state’s congressional map passed the projected GOP five-seat gain along party lines on Saturday morning after a 15-hour public hearing the night before. Republicans believe they’ll gain five new seats in Congress under the proposal, filed by state Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) on Wednesday, which has
Texas ESG Collusion Lawsuit Against BlackRock, State Street, Vanguard to Move Forward
A Texas federal judge will allow a lawsuit to proceed wherein a coalition of states, including Texas, sued the world’s largest asset managers for allegedly engaging in antitrust violations and consumer protection practices. Texas and 12 other Republican-led states filed suit against BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street, accusing them of using their “collective power —
Special Session Bill Banning Biological Males from Women’s Spaces Gains Majority Support in Texas House
Legislation banning biological males from using women’s publicly-funded private spaces has a majority of support in the Texas House, with 81 total authors. House Bill (HB) 32 by state Rep. Valoree Swanson (R-Spring) was filed during the first special session of the 89th Legislature — per Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to place the item on
Texas Lawmakers Called to Revamp ‘Judicial Omnibus’ Bill Vetoed by Abbott in Regular Session
Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the special session now underway includes not just high-profile issues related to the July 4 floods, redistricting, and regulation of THC products, but also a re-examination of a vetoed “judicial omnibus” bill that would have created much-needed new courts throughout the state. Senate Bill (SB) 2878 introduced by Sen. Bryan
