Latest news with #OurTexas
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas-wide water cleanup initiative tackles Lake Austin, Colorado River
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several environmental groups are teaming up this weekend to clean trash out of Lake Austin and the Colorado River, as part of a statewide initiative to keep Texas waterways clean and litter-free. The Colorado River Alliance is hosting its third annual Lake Austin Cleanup on Saturday. It's part of a statewide cleanup initiative called 'Trash Free Gulf,' aimed at removing trash from waterways before it can float downstream and into the Gulf. All Water Guides is also hosting a cleanup event at the Colorado River in east Austin as part of the initiative. The Colorado River Alliance's young professionals' group, the River Society, is partnering with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation's Stewards of the Wild to take part in the initiative, which is being led by Gulf Trust and presented by H-E-B's 'Our Texas, Our Future.' Volunteers will work to remove trash from the water and shoreline that feed into the Texas Colorado River and downstream towards Matagorda Bay. There are 160 volunteers registered to clean up Lake Austin by paddleboard and on land, from 10 a.m. to noon, according to a spokesperson for the event. They'll launch from Mozart's Coffee Roasters, which is providing volunteers with access to paddleboards through its paddleboard rental company. The Lake Austin Cleanup has reached capacity and is no longer accepting volunteers, but those interested in getting involved in cleanup efforts can head to east Austin to help out with the Colorado River cleanup. Cleanup the Colorado is happening from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. All Water Guides and Trash Free Gulf are still seeking volunteers to help clean up the river. The meetup location is 6213 Levander Loop. Organizers are asking that volunteers bring canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and rafts, if they have them. If you don't have one of those, you can still show up and borrow a boat from the Texas River School, according to Trash Free Gulf. Gulf Trust is initiating cleanup efforts across Texas throughout the month of May in an effort to protect the Gulf. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Know who firing those IRS agents is great for? The massive number of Texas tax cheats
I retired in December 2024 after 14 years as an auditor with the IRS. Politicians love to vilify the IRS. Never once did I assess tax to anyone who didn't deserve it. Many times, I accepted partial evidence to help the taxpayer. Massive numbers of paid preparers and taxpayers are dishonest. They are interested only in scamming the system. Good, honest people pay more than their fair share because of the enormous gap in revenue created by tax fraud. You can't collect tax revenue when thousands of employees are being laid off. There are members of Congress who know this. Do they have the conviction to stand up, speak out and do what is right for America? - David Jones, Arlington In his Feb. 16 column, 'It's not just 'Fire Nico.' From the Mavs to the Gulf of Mexico, we're losing freedom,' Bud Kennedy laments our supposed loss of freedoms under President Donald Trump. He conveniently forgets about the actual freedoms millions of Americans only recently lost through the left's 'fact checking' on social media, shadow banning and outright canceling of dissenting voices from public discourse. Was Kennedy a champion on this topic while it was provably occurring daily for years? He also feigns concern for the 'freedom to spread the gospel of Christ' after millions were denied the basic right to assemble in our houses of worship during COVID-19. Preposterous. - George Sullivan, North Richland Hills Well said, Bud Kennedy. It is critical that our journalists stand up and keep the public informed. Without oversight, the conservative right will gradually take away our freedoms. The question is, when will they overreach to the point that the public wakes up? - Charlie Stewart, North Richland Hills Yes, please switch to daylight saving time all year. (Feb. 16, 4C, 'Here we go again with daylight-saving switch. Time for Texas to leave the clocks alone') I'm so tired of changing clocks and readjusting the body to time changes. It's very difficult for children and teens. Arizona and Hawaii definitely have this right by not switching back and forth. - Sharon Adams, Rhome Several articles have focused on the attempts to cut government spending and the possible negative implications, but we need some balance. Just how far in debt is the country? What are the ramifications if we become insolvent? Who might benefit from Donald Trump's efforts to eliminate their income taxes? I don't think average Americans realize just how much of a deficit we are running, and I am certain they would not support some of the boondoggles we are funding around the world. It's important to have all the information on the table, not just left-wing anger and railing against the man America elected. - John Michael Holt, Fort Worth The Legislature should pass House Bill 2171, which would require the playing of our state song, 'Texas, Our Texas,' after the national anthem at public school sporting events. Many Texans might think public schools already play the song, but this is not the case. Texas is home to a diverse population that has endured hardship and triumph together, from serving in every major war to supporting one another in times of disaster. Our state is home to the eighth-largest economy in the world. Texas is known for its natural beauty, from the Big Bend to the towering trees of Sam Houston National Forest and the rugged cliffs of Palo Duro Canyon. As John Steinbeck once said, 'Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all, Texas is a nation in every sense of the word.' The eyes of Texas are upon the Legislature. - Logan Treadaway, Ennis
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep Harris pens bill to require students sing state song at school-sponsored athletic events
Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, has introduced a bill to the 89th Texas Legislature that would require school boards to adopt a policy ensuring the national anthem and 'Texas, Our Texas' are played before every school-sponsored athletic event. 'America is an exceptional place and we are all privileged and blessed to call this great country our home. Even more so for Texans. I believe that Texans have a better understanding of patriotism than any other place in the country because we are doubly blessed with a rich heritage of fierce independence and pride in our culture because of our unique history,' Harris said. 'This bill, requiring 'Texas, Our Texas' to be played at all UIL sporting events is a simple acknowledgement of that double blessing. 'It's time to get back to the basics – teaching our kids to honor our flag, respect our country and take pride in the Lone Star State," he said. "We must stand firm in defending our values. God bless Texas, and God bless America.' Logan Treadaway History teacher Logan Treadaway is urging the Texas Legislature to make it a law that all schools should play the Texas state song after the playing of the national anthem. Logan Treadaway, 27, from Ennis said he called on Harris to pen HB 2171. Treadaway, who teaches history and special education in Waxahachie, said his wish for the bill is to encourage state pride, especially in youth. 'This bill would require the playing of our state song, 'Texas, Our Texas,' after the national anthem at public K-12 sporting events,' Treadaway said. 'If we are comfortable singing the national anthem, there should be no controversy in also honoring our state with its anthem. "This is not an unfunded mandate. There shouldn't be any cost to the taxpayers through this bill.' Treadaway believes every member of the Texas Legislature who calls the state home and loves Texas must vote in favor of HB 2171. 'There is no reason a true Texan should oppose this bill,' he said. Treadaway had nothing but good things to say about Harris and his staff. 'I love Cody Harris and I appreciate him and his staff,' he said. Cody Harris is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 8.
