News

AUSTIN – Motorcyclist Brendan Johnson donated his black leather jacket to TxDOT for use in motorcycle safety messages. Tragically, he never saw the campaign because he was killed in a motorcycle crash in the Austin area on April 15, 2024, when he was just 28 years old.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott appointed Adam Booth and Tara Turk-Zaafran and reappointed Wanda “Jean” Streepey to the State Board for Educator Certification for terms set to expire on February 1, 2031. Additionally, the Governor appointed Latisha Andrews to the board for a term set to expire on February 1, 2029. The board develops certification and continuing education requirements and standards of conduct for public school teachers.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott appointed Mary “Kelly” Green, M.D. and reappointed Devinder S. Bhatia, M.D., Luisa del Rosal, James “JD” Distefano, D.O., Tomeka Herod, Robert David Martinez, M.D., and Jason K. Tibbels, M.D. to the Texas Medical Board for terms set to expire on April 13, 2031. The Board regulates the practice of medicine in Texas.

AUSTIN – Journalism student Athena Tseng of the University of Texas at Austin has been selected to receive the 2025 Ralph Langer Scholarship awarded by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Tseng will receive a $6,000 scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year.

A Texas House bill would eliminate the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness test and replace it with a test comparing students’ performance to one another rather than state-set standards, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Continuing from last time, further criticism that the ancient Roman historian Tacitus was unreliable and showed bias in favor of Christianity is based upon his use of certain words. Critic G.

Last week The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage had another one of her girl days with our daughter and granddaughter. Don’t let this get around, but it is one of my favorite days of the year, including my birthday.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative awarded scholarships to 160 graduating high school seniors across the cooperative’s 14-county service area, totaling $400,000. The $2,500 Scholarships of Excellence will help these students achieve their goal of earning a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree or a trade-and-technical certificate.

A very much needed, low-cost pet spay, and neuter clinic will be held on Sunday, May 18 at the Industry City Hall and Park located at 725 Main Street in Industry. The event is being organized by Nancy Stoorza of Fix My Pet and Maggie’s Foundation.

Austin County Feral Hog Bounty is still going on! The Bounty program is offered with the support of the Austin County Commissioners Court. Participants will be awarded $5 per feral hog harvested in Austin County, with biological evidence provided of harvest in the form of a pair of feral hog ears.