On the misty morning of October 2nd, 1835, fighting broke out at Gonzales between Mexican soldiers and Texas militiamen, signifying the start of the War for Texas Independence. When the Mexican commander received word that Texas settlers refused to surrender a small cannon, he dispatched 100 soldiers to retrieve it. There were around 140 Texan... Read More

With the start of the Fall season right around the corner, we welcome the return of cooler weather and a few of my favorite traditions. Whether attending a local county fair, cheering on the hometown football team under the Friday night lights, or making your way back out to the field for an afternoon dove... Read More

I’d like to start this column by recognizing a dedicated public servant and a true servant leader for our region of the state — my dear friend and colleague, Rep. James White. As you may know, James recently announced his immediate resignation from the Texas House of Representatives so that he could assume a new... Read More

With the start of the new school year, I want to wish our students continued success as they embark on another year of learning, opportunity, and lifelong memories. As students pour into the hallways and classrooms of schools across the state, I also want to acknowledge and sincerely thank the teachers, faculty, and administrators who... Read More

As we enter August and what is typically the hottest month of the year, we are experiencing severe drought and dangerous wildfire conditions across every region of Texas. Please do your part by observing any county burn bans that might be in effect and be on the lookout for any grass fires that might pop... Read More

The Texas Comptroller recently released a new Certified Revenue Estimate for the 2022-23 state budget. Due to steady economic growth and significant increases in tax revenue, the Comptroller projects that the Legislature will enter the 88th Legislative Session with $27 billion in surplus revenue. One of the driving forces behind our historic surplus is our... Read More

AUSTIN – Earlier this week, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar issued an updated Certification Revenue Estimate for the current state budget. Due to steady economic growth and significant increases in sales and severance tax revenue, the Comptroller projects that Texas lawmakers will enter the 88th Legislative Session with a record-breaking $27 billion in surplus revenue, an... Read More

With Summer in full swing and most of East Texas experiencing moderate drought conditions, water is a popular topic right now. Several Texas communities in North and West Texas have already begun curtailing water usage and without some good rain in the near future, water restrictions and curtailment will become commonplace. Closer to home, many... Read More

The Texas House Speaker recently established the Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting to conduct a thorough examination into the circumstances surrounding the tragic school shooting in Uvalde. This investigative committee has been tasked with collecting and analyzing evidence from law enforcement, making comprehensive findings, and reporting the conclusions as soon as possible to... Read More

The tragedy and senseless act of violence that took the precious lives of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas leaves us all with heavy hearts. As Texans grieve over this unspeakable loss, we grapple with the unfortunate reality that something this catastrophic can take place in our own backyard.... Read More