Opinion

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever Border Mounted Patrol Unit, a dedicated team of highly trained Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Troopers paired with equine partners who are equipped to address the unique challenges of patrolling Texas’ rugged border terrain. Today, DPS celebrated the launch by graduating the inaugural 3E Mounted Horse Patrol Class, which will continue to enhance border security through strategic on-the-ground efforts.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan withdrew last week from seeking another term leading that chamber. After three rounds of voting on Saturday, Dec. 7, state Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, emerged as the preference of most House Republicans. However, his opponent, state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, claims to have enough support from both Republicans and Democrats to clear the 76-vote threshold.

The state’s construction industry is voicing concern that President- elect Donald Trump’s vow to deport millions of undocumented immigrants would cause major labor shortfalls, according to the Texas Standard. “It would devastate our industry, we wouldn’t finish our highways, we wouldn’t finish our schools,” said Stan Marek, CEO of Marek, a Houston-based commercial and residential construction giant. “Housing would disappear. I think they’d lose half their labor.”