Inside the Austin’s city-run Northbridge homelessness shelter were scenes of squalor—and death. At the urging of Austin City Council member Mackenzie Kelly, the Austin American-Statesman reviewed photos provided by a whistleblower. Those photos showed “housing units strewn with drugs and drug paraphernalia throughout trashed rooms, a gun and employees asleep on the job.” Kelly wants...
Thanks—but no thanks. Texas is doing very well without politically connected labor unions driving public policy. This weekend, we are likely to scroll past social media posts that claim, “if you like your weekends and 40-hour workweeks, thank a union.” Propaganda like this appears to be having some success, as recent polling by Gallup indicates...
On Sept. 12, the Kerrville City Council is expected to meet and consider adopting a tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. And if city hall decides to move forward with what’s been proposed, then the average homeowner could see an almost double-digit increase in city taxes. According to its Notice of Public Hearing on...
Earlier today, a Travis County district court judge found in favor of several left-leaning cities and deemed unconstitutional House Bill 2127, an ambitious new law aimed at stopping the progressive agenda using a concept known as “field preemption.” While the court’s rationale was not entirely clear, the judge was seemingly persuaded by the city of...
After Texas defended itself with a buoy barrier in the Rio Grande, the Biden administration went on the attack against Texans. As Washington, D.C., refuses to defend Texas, and even sides with Texas’ foreign antagonists over a buoy barrier meant to prevent illegal immigration, it brings to mind when Rome abandoned Britain. In the violence...
The city of Fort Worth may soon raise taxes on residents, despite just publishing a study aimed at tackling its brewing affordability crisis. According to the city’s Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase, a public hearing is set for Tuesday, September 19, 2023 to discuss its proposed tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year....
Introduction: STAAR performance labels offer helpful information to parents and policymakers because they indicate students’ success and are also an early-warning sign that students need more support. The STAAR performance labels are: Masters, Meets, Approaches, Does Not Meet. Each label offers an indication of how a child is performing in three categories: a child’s likelihood...
The city of Killeen may soon hit homeowners with a double-digit tax increase. According to the city’s Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase, if the proposed tax rate is adopted, then the owner of an approximately $200,000 could see their city taxes rise from $1,122 per year to $1,254 per year. If it happens,...
Texas history buff J.P. Bryan’s lawsuit against the Texas State Historical Association won’t go to trial; the two parties have come to an agreement on the TSHA’s leftward lurch and the composition of its board. TSHA President Nancy Baker Jones agreed to step down, along with the board secretary. The board will now be rebalanced...
Taiwan needs to stand up a local defense force system that could immediately mobilize to defend nearby key points. China’s supreme leader, Xi Jinping, can’t be happy right now with his mounting troubles at home and abroad. The nation he rules is under increasing economic pressure, much of it made worse by his Bigfooting into...
Is the city of Denton preparing to hit homeowners with a big-time tax increase? It certainly looks that way. According to the city’s recently-published Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase, councilmembers will soon consider the adoption of a tax rate set at $0.565682 per $100 of value, which is a slight increase over last...
Central Texas taxpayers may be funding far-left political causes, whether they like it or not. Earlier this month, officials at Austin ISD, a large-but-shrinking public school district in Texas’ capital city, invited staff, students, and families “to represent Austin ISD in the annual Austin Pride Parade.” And to help get revelers to and from the...