We are excited to begin the second half of the 2024-25 school year. During this time, our staff reviews each child's academic data. This allows us to monitor their growth, identify needed interventions, and support each student as best as possible. Overall, we are seeing many positive gains. We are proud of the students and staff’s work in the first semester, and we want to continue building upon this success as we move into the spring semester.

The 89th Texas Legislature convened Tuesday at noon, marking the start of the 140day legislative session. A key focus will be the election of a new House Speaker following Dade Phelan's withdrawal from the race. Representatives Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), David Cook (R-Mansfield), and Ana Maria Rodriguez Ramos (D-Dallas) are vying for the position.

Lt. Gov.

Legislative budget writers are proposing nearly $5 billion to increase teacher pay and $1 billion to implement a school voucher program in the next biennium, the Austin American- Statesman reported. The voucher program, also referred to as school choice, would provide public money for private schooling, a key priority for Gov.

In 1947, some of our local folks worked in Texas City, 138 miles to the south of us. You can read about them below.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a column titled, “Excessive Tolerance.” The Editor informed me that he received positive feedback from the community, and I was personally thanked by a few folks for bringing the problem to light. I am grateful for the accolades mind you, but I am disappointed that once the excitement subsided any previously created fervor simply died on the vine.

The Legislature begins its work creating a state budget for the next two years with slightly less revenue available than it had during the previous biennium. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar projects lawmakers will have $194.6 billion available during the 2026-27 budget cycle, down 1.1%.

Gregorio “Gray” Ariola (1827-1906) led a fascinating life, some of which is recorded in Volume 2 of Madison County history, His maternal grandfather, Ignatius Simes, came to Texas in the early 1820s, received a Mexican land grant for a league of land before 1828, and settled with his family on a hill on the Madisonville side of Bedias Creek. A few years later, his daughter Maria married Eduardo Ariola, and they made their home nearby on the bank of Black Lake on Bedias Creek. By 1834, Antonio Rivers settled on the other side of Bedias Creek. For years, those three families were the only white settlers between Midway and Old Washington. For mutual protection, they built a fort around the Rivers’ home, and when they knew of Indians in the area, the families took refuge in the fort.

The Texas Senate’s chief budget writer said state agencies and higher-education institutions have requested nearly $25 billion in funding as the legislative session gets underway. State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, told The Dallas Morning News the requests for new money reflect the growing functions and purposes of state agencies that serve the public.

This month we will discuss the city council’s role in city government. This information comes from the Texas Municipal League Handbook for Mayors and Councilmembers.