Opinion

Uncle Mort on Keeping Up…

Body
The late Will Rogers claimed that all he knew, he read in the newspapers. My aged Uncle Mort—whose routine includes puttering down the lane to the general store most days—still is an avid reader.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

Body
State Capital Senate passes tax bill as second special session begins The Texas Senate on the first day of the Legislature’s second special session unanimously passed a tax bill last Wednesday that increases the homestead exemption and includes a pay hike for teachers, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The first special session ended with the Senate and House unable to agree on how to provide property tax relief.

Texas Senate Review

Body
SENATE ADDS TEACHER PAY INCREASETO PROPERTYTAX PLAN FOR SECOND SPECIAL SESSION After the House and Senate failed to come to an agreement in the first called special session, Governor Greg Abbott called lawmakers back for an immediate session Wednesday to find a way to deliver billions in property tax cuts to Texans. Again, Abbott limited the agenda to bills that only use tax compression, where state revenue is used to buy down local school property tax rates, but added a second issue: legislation to put Texas on a pathway to eliminating school district maintenance and operations property taxes. The House advanced the same measures as last session, approving $17.4 billion in tax compression in committee, but unlike last session, the House didn’t adjourn

A Life of Service…

Body
Dr. Russell H. Dilday, Jr.—for 16 years president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth—died recently in Dallas, leaving a legacy that deserves more superlatives than space allows.

Where Mats Don’t Welcome…

Body
Before football coaches have gone any distance in the minefieldladen careers they’ve chosen, they learn that the welcome mat— so warmly extended before their first game—often is jerked away before there’s time to leave a footprint.

A Pledge Not Kept…

Body
When I began writing weekly more than two decades ago, I informed readers that they could expect occasional recipes worthy of clipping, putting under magnets on refrigerator doors or placing toward the front of recipe boxes.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

Body
Central figure in Paxton case charged The Austin real estate developer who is at the heart of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment was arraigned on eight federal charges Friday, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Nate Paul was arrested by the FBI on Thursday.

Abbott, Patrick spar over tax relief

Body
State Capital Abbott, Patrick spar over tax relief Gov. Greg Abbott late last week warned lawmakers to be prepared for several special sessions to pass a tax reform bill that he will accept, as well as a school voucher plan that failed to pass during the regular session.