Observations
My Five Cents for January 26th
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On January 25, 1839 the official flag of Texas was adopted by the Third Congress of the Republic of Texas. It specified the look of the iconic Lone Star Flag that we know and love today. The colors were chosen to signify certain attributes: red for courage, white for purity and liberty, and blue for loyalty. The Texas flag is the only flag of an American state that previously served as a flag for an independent country.
Here are five things happening around your state:
- Starting pay at state hospitals and state supported living centers increases
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced it is increasing salaries and starting pay at state hospitals and state supported living centers to combat staffing shortages and bring hospital beds back online. HHSC said there are 700 state hospital beds offline due to a shortage of staffers. The commission is hoping to recruit and attract workers, reduce vacancies, and bring more beds back online. There are approximately 1,805 openings in state hospitals and 2,137 openings in state supported living centers. Registered nurses with three years’ experience could have starting salaries as high has $90,000 per year. Psychiatric nursing assistants and direct support professionals would start between $17.50 and $21.00 an hour depending on experience. Current employees are also receiving salary increases.
- Bill filed to make catalytic converter theft a state felony
Senator John Whitmire and Senator Carol Alvarado jointly filed Senate Bill 224 which seeks to increase the criminal penalty for catalytic converter theft. For the past several years, there has been a marked increase in thefts of catalytic converters. Even when thieves are caught in possession of stolen catalytic converters it can be difficult to prove the case. This bill seeks to increase the penalty for stealing catalytic converters to a state jail felony and makes it easier for law enforcement to charge those who possess catalytic converters unlawfully. The bill adds additional penalties for criminals who stole catalytic converters while in possession of a firearm. Criminals engaging in catalytic converter theft have become violent and there have been many stories from around the state of Texans being injured or killed during the theft. It is time to give law enforcement more tools to combat these violent crimes.
- Senate committee assignments announced
This week Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick released committee assignments for the 88th Legislature. I was honored to be reappointed as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and remain a member of Senate Finance, Business and Commerce, Local Government, and Redistricting Committees. The Senate Finance Committee will begin holding hearings next week to start the budget process. Each state agency will come before the committee and discuss their appropriations request with the committee. Members of the committee will have the opportunity to ask questions and get further clarification on details of the budget before further deliberations begin.
- Afghan soldier arrested as US-Mexico border has federal immigration charges dropped
Abdul Wasi Safi is a former Afghan special forces intelligence officer who worked directly with US forces in Afghanistan. During the collapse of the Afghan government, he was unable to escape the country on any of the US military flights out of Kabul. He became a target of the Taliban once they took over the country. He went into hiding for months before he trekked across countries and continents to make it to the US-Mexico border in an attempt to join his brother who lives in Houston as a US citizen. He was apprehended by federal authorities and charged with a criminal misdemeanor. He has spent nearly four months in a detention center, but now an assistant US attorney asked the judge this week to dismiss the case against him in the interest of justice and the judge agreed. He will now continue on his journey toward asylum and will hopefully be released and reunited with his brother soon.
- Jim and Margaret Perkins honored for higher education initiatives
This week it was my pleasure to honor Jim and Margaret Perkins on the Senate floor for all of their contributions to our communities, specific in higher education. This year, they were recognized with the 2023 Texas Higher Education Distinguished Service Award. Leaders from more than 100 institutions of higher education chose them for their work supporting East Texas students, institutions, and communities. Starting in 2014, the Perkins worked with Tyler Junior College to establish a scholarship program for local high school graduates known as the “TJC Promise,” which has supported hundreds of students pursue post-secondary education. Congratulations to the Perkins for this tremendous achievement!
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I won’t even pretend I understand all of the book of Revelation…but I do understand quite plainly that I do wish to spend eternity in Heaven…..
Keep in mind. The rapture comes before the anti christ. I have been reading the Bible and it really does always come down to this. I have been hearing about the second coming of Christ and the events unfolding since I was a child. The “Mark of the Beast” Artificial Intelligence, microchips, no cash/digital currency, Total Government dependency/control. When we are raising a family, working long hours, some two jobs, lots of things go unnoticed or just get ignored.
No one can comprehend how bad it will be, but we see it happening, bit by bit, on the news everyday.
While the devil is preparing people for the Anti Christ, God is preparing people for the Rapture. I don’t know when the rapture will take place but I know that I won’t be left behind when that trumpet sounds!
I also believe right now that God is giving us a chance to repent. We need to get the Gospel message out!!! Until the Good Lord calls me away from this world to go home, I want to make it clear that I believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only True Lord and Savior. Despite the fact that I am human, and I fail a lot, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
This is the best challenge I have seen on Facebook; so, if the Holy Spirit moves you and you’re not ashamed, just copy, and make this your status update.
I’m a believer in God The Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit Amen! 🙏♥️🙏
Submitted by Wendy Garrison of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
As Many of us know, here in southeast Texas, August is the time we focus on the Gulf. Many of us have experienced hurricanes, flooding, tornados, and industrial disasters and we are reminded by our county and city officials to have a plan in these cases. Materials are available online and packets are located at the Orange County Emergency Management at 11475 FM 1442, Orange, TX 77630, and have been distributed throughout the year but remember you may need to modify your plans based on your family’s needs. Registering for the STAN helps us be updated on emergencies and major events happening in our area. If you need more guidance, each of our communities has personnel who train year-round to manage emergencies and assist residents. Contact your local emergency management office for more information.
So, what now? Hopefully, you have a plan to keep your family safe. Pets may be considered by us to be family; however, domesticated animals require other considerations when preparing for emergencies. Some accommodations we seek may not accept or have facilities for our pets. If by chance you need to go to a temporary shelter: identification, leashes, shot records, and if possible, portable kennels are key. Places such as this have limited space and pets will need to be housed in a separate facility from you. If your pet has been separated from you due to unforeseen events, visible identification with your contact information and a microchip may help in a quicker reunion with your pet after an emergency.
Livestock owners who can transport their livestock prior to an emergency should be prepared and know the places and contact numbers of the facilities they choose to go to. Consider the amount of food and water needed to travel with your animal. As with pets, you may be separated from your animal. Visible markings, as well as microchips, will aid in a quicker reunion with your animal.
Make sure your animals are in good health and updated on their vaccinations prior to transport. Best practice, check with your vet about what vaccines are needed to be boarded, or sheltered in a facility with other pets, and keep the records with you.
Here is a list of websites that will help you make a plan that fits your needs:
Texas Animal Health Commission: https://www.tahc.texas.gov/emergency/naturaldisaster.html
AgriLifeLearn.com: https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/global-search/disaster?c__results_layout_state=%7B%7D
Orange County Disaster Rebuild: https://www.ocdisasterrebuild.com/
Texas Department of Emergency Management: https://www.tdem.texas.gov/
Ready.gov: Plan Ahead for Disasters | Ready.gov
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Submitted by State Senator Robert Nichols
It’s Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this week, indicating six more weeks of winter; unwelcome news after ice storms covered much of the state this week. The iconic groundhog made his 137th appearance and records of his predictions go back to 1887.
Here are five things happening around your state:
- Abbott names new border czar
This week Governor Abbott named long-time Border Patrol agent Mike Banks to be the new Texas Border Czar. He will report directly to the governor and ensure border security strategies are fully executed in Texas. He will work collaboratively with the Texas Military Department, the Department of Public Safety, and other relevant agencies to continue Operation Lone Star. Mike Banks was the Border Patrol Weslaco Station Patrol Agent in Charge. He has over 30 years of federal law enforcement experience. He’s worked in multiple stations stretching the length of the US-Mexico border. Before joining the Border Patrol, he was a member of the US Navy Military Police. The unprecedented crisis at our southern border demands action and Governor Abbott has stepped up to the plate to address it. I appreciate his continued leadership on this issue.
- SFA Board of Regents approves change to salaries
At a recent meeting, the SFA Board of Regents approved mid-year salary increases for university employees, an increase in non-resident fees, and an increase to university meal plans and housing. Employees will receive a six percent increase to their base salary after the board approved the $3.5 million expenditure. Interim President Dr. Steve Westbrook said the board requested this increase from the University of Texas System after they decided to affiliate. The SFA board voted last year to affiliate with the University of Texas System rather than remaining independent. The transition requires legislation, which I am excited to carry with Rep. Travis Clardy this session. The legislation will ensure that the university retains the name Stephen F. Austin– a measure of great importance to the university, the community, and to me.
- Comptroller receives $363 million in grants for broadband
Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced this week that the agency will receive $363 million in federal grants to increase access to affordable, reliable broadband to more than 150,000 homes and businesses in Texas. The US Treasury’s award will go to the Bring Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) program. The BOOT program is a competitive grant program administered through the Texas Broadband Development Office. The program is designed to fund broadband infrastructure projects that cover the last few miles to your home or business. Qualified projects will be located in a designated areas, invest in capital assets, and address critical needs in the community it serves. The office will begin accepting applications for the funds later this spring.
- Caleb’s Law filed in Senate
Senate Bill 129, also known as Caleb’s Law, was filed by Senator Drew Springer recently. The bill would strengthen penalties for offenders who possess child pornography. Child pornography laws have not been updated since 1989 and the current laws are ill-equipped to handle changes in modern technology. The changes will work to keep kids safe and strengthen punishments for those convicted. The bill includes degrees of punishment based on the amount of materials possessed. It also has enhancements for materials depicting children under the age of 10 and for those taking care of children and receiving money from the state. The law’s name comes from Caleb Diehl, a high school senior who went missing in March 2015.
- Winter weather resources, TDEM resources
Winter Storm Mara swept through much of Central and Northeast Texas, causing dangerous driving conditions and power outages across the state. Ice accumulated on roadways, tree branches, and power lines, which caused some outages and many fallen branches. Many state agencies monitored the ongoing weather situation and worked to keep Texans safe, including the Public Utility Commission, Texas Division of Emergency Management, and ERCOT. It is important to note that any power outages experienced during this storm were not a result of lack of capacity on the grid. Those were due to power lines being down due to the storm. We appreciate the hard work of all our first responders and everyone who worked around the clock to keep Texans safe and warm. For more information from TDEM about resources available to you, visit https://tdem.texas.gov/disasters/january-2023-winter-storm.
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