I located a treasure, a special section from the September 12, 1940, Meteor, headlined “Modern New Heath Clinic is Opened in Madisonville.” The same section contained facts about Heath Hospital, which preceded the clinic. I learned plenty!

I thought I’d provide a satirical situation with you in the patrol car driver’s seat this week. Dear Reader rest assured; I have been on calls that are nearly identical to this farcical fiction presented.

A bill to implement school vouchers in Texas sailed through the Senate largely on party lines last week and now awaits consideration in the House, the Austin American- Statesman reported. House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, said he believes there are enough votes in that chamber to pass the legislation, which was defeated a half-dozen times in 2023 by a coalition of Democratic and rural Republican members.

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%.