Since 2005, Texas has taken a new approach to adult corrections that is still tough, but also smart. By expanding alternatives to incarceration such as evidence-based practices in probation and drug courts, the state has achieved a double-digit reduction in crime while avoiding $2 billion in projected expenses on building new prisons.
Local Government
Small Towns, Big Tax Increases
The city of Whitesboro ignited a firestorm recently when officials suggested adopting a tax rate that would have skyrocketed the average homeowner’s property tax bill by 61 percent. The initial public hearing to discuss the matter drew hordes of angry Whitesboro residents who voiced their discontent. So much so, in fact, that city councilmembers tabled...
September 17, 2025