Latest news with #TexasTribune
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TribCast: Did lawmakers improve Texas' infrastructure?
Texas legislators gaveled out yesterday, but not before passing bills that will impact Texas' infrastructure for years to come. Matthew and Eleanor are joined by Texas Tribune environmental reporter Alejandra Martinez and Permian Basin reporter Carlos Nogueras Ramos for a closer look at the major changes coming to Texas' water and electrical systems. Plus, the TribCast gang experiences our own poetically timed power outage. Watch the video above, or subscribe to the TribCast on iTunes, Spotify, or RSS. New episodes every Tuesday. Today's episode of the TribCast is sponsored by the City of Corpus Christi, Texas REALTORS and Water Grows. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
CNBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Musk's SpaceX town in Texas warns residents they may lose right to 'continue using' their property
Starbase, Texas, has notified some residents that they might "lose the right to continue using" their property as they do today, according to a memo obtained by CNBC. The town, home to Elon Musk's SpaceX, is considering a new zoning ordinance and city-wide map. The notice, sent to property owners in a proposed "Mixed Use District," would allow for "residential, office, retail, and small-scale service uses." Starbase plans to host a public hearing on Monday, June 23, 2025, about the proposed new zoning and map for the town. The notice was signed by Kent Myers, a city administrator for Starbase and radiation test specialist at SpaceX according to his LinkedIn profile. Representatives for Starbase and SpaceX did not respond to requests for further information on Thursday. A "type-C municipal corporation," Starbase was officially formed earlier this month after Musk's aerospace and defense contractor prevailed in a local election. It is now run by officials who are SpaceX employees and former employees. As of early this year, the population of Starbase stood around 500 people, with around 260 directly employed by SpaceX, the Texas Tribune reported. Most other residents of Starbase are relatives of SpaceX employees. The company town includes the launch facility where SpaceX conducts test flights of its massive Starship rocket, and company-owned land covering a 1.6 square-mile area. Starbase is holding its first city commission meeting on Thursday, two days after SpaceX conducted its ninth test flight of the massive Starship rocket from the Texas coast facility. The rocket exploded during the test flight, marking a catastrophic loss and a third-consecutive setback for the aerospace and defense contractor. Following the incident, Musk, who also leads Tesla, focused on data and lessons to be learned from the explosions. The FAA said there had been "no reports of public injury or damage to public property" on Wednesday. The Starship system was developed to transport people and equipment around Earth, and to the Moon, and Musk envisions the rocket someday being used to colonize Mars. Musk's rocket maker has taken in more than $20 billion in government contracts since 2008, and is poised to take in several billion dollars annually for years to come. Establishing Starbase as a company town helps SpaceX attain nearly unfettered permission to build, test or launch from its industrial complex on the Texas Gulf Coast. The town is still trying to win the ability to close a main road and beaches for launch activity during the week without seeking municipal or other authority. Here's the text of the zoning memo sent to Starbase residents:
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
Texas Lawmakers Look to Make Child Vaccine Exemptions Easier for Parents as Measles Outbreak Continues
Texas lawmakers have approved a bill to simplify the vaccine exemption process for schoolchildren—just as the state contends with its worst measles outbreak in decades. On Sunday, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 1586 in a 23-9 vote. The legislation, authored by Rep. Lacey Hull, doesn't alter the state's vaccine schedule but makes it easier for parents to opt out by allowing them to download exemption forms online rather than requesting them through the mail, as reported by the Texas Tribune. Since 2003, Texas law has allowed parents to claim vaccine exemptions for their children based on medical, religious, or conscientious grounds. Over the years, demand for exemptions has surged, doubling from 45,900 in 2018 to over 93,000 in 2024. The move to make vaccine exemptions easier comes as the state is currently experiencing a major measles outbreak, with 729 cases reported since January and two confirmed child deaths. Supporters, including groups like Texans for Vaccine Choice, hailed the bill as a win for parental rights and government efficiency. Meanwhile critics, including public health advocates and The Immunization Partnership, warn the bill will lead to a drop in vaccination rates and a rise in preventable diseases. They argue that easier access to exemptions will compound current health risks, especially as the state grapples with an ongoing measles crisis. Gov. Greg Abbott now has the final say on whether the bill becomes law. Originally published on Latin Times
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Texas House passes school library bill, intensifying US battle over who decides what students read
The Texas House gave preliminary approval on May 27, 2025, to a bill that would shift significant control over public school library materials from professional librarians to school boards and parents. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The bill, known as Senate Bill 13, was passed in an 87-57 vote and now heads back to the Senate for final approval. The legislation is part of a growing national debate over what books students should be allowed to access in public schools. Supporters argue the bill gives parents and local communities more say in their children's education, while critics warn it could lead to overbroad bans on important literary and historical works. Bill gives school boards final authority on book removals Senate Bill 13 would grant school boards, rather than librarians, the final authority to approve or remove books from school libraries. As reported by the Texas Tribune, the bill establishes a process for responding to complaints about library materials and allows school boards to either make final decisions themselves or delegate responsibility to local school advisory councils. These councils could be formed if 20% of parents in a district sign a petition — a requirement added in a House committee. The original Senate version had mandated the creation of such councils outright. The bill also includes detailed definitions of 'harmful material' and 'indecent content,' which prompted concern among Democratic lawmakers. They warned that vague language could lead to the banning of classic titles such as The Catcher in the Rye, Lonesome Dove, and even the Bible. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Debate over 'community values' and censorship risks During House floor discussion, Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, warned the bill's language requiring that approved books align with 'local community values' could enable small but vocal groups to drive decisions. 'If your answer to 'could Romeo and Juliet be banned,' if it is anything other than 'of course not,' then that is a serious problem,' Talarico said, as quoted by the Texas Tribune. Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood, expressed concern that what may be considered inappropriate for a five-year-old may not be for a 17-year-old, highlighting the danger of a one-size-fits-all approach. According to the Texas Tribune, she warned the bill could result in sweeping bans based on inconsistent standards. Amendments fail, while parental rights are emphasized Several proposed amendments to soften the bill's language around profanity and indecency were rejected. Rep. Brent Money, R-Greenville, unsuccessfully proposed reducing the threshold for creating advisory councils from 20% of parents to just 50 signatures, and restricting membership to petition signers only, the Texas Tribune reported. Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, the bill's House sponsor, defended the legislation, saying it prioritizes children over controversial books. 'We should cherish and value our kids more, and Senate Bill 13 will do exactly that,' Buckley said, as quoted by the Texas Tribune. He dismissed fears of banning classics as a 'red herring.' Bill linked to broader effort to restrict explicit content The bill builds on House Bill 900, passed in 2023, which aimed to keep 'sexually explicit' materials out of school libraries. That law was partially blocked by a federal appeals court over its proposed book rating system. Opponents, including library advocates and civil rights groups, warn that SB 13 could create administrative delays, as school boards will be required to rule on each book within 90 days of a complaint. During the 2023–24 school year, Texas schools banned roughly 540 books, according to PEN America. SB 13 is among the legislative priorities of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. With its approval by the House, the bill now returns to the Senate for final passage.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas lawmaker abruptly spiked his bill to punish cities that don't deal with homeless encampments
A proposal in the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature to enhance a statewide ban on homeless encampments met a spectacular demise late Monday when the bill's sponsor effectively ended debate on the bill. After several attempts by Democrats to weaken the bill and challenge its legitimacy through other procedural tactics, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, asked for debate on the bill to end and resume on June 3, one day after the session ends. Senate Bill 241, which had already passed the state Senate, would have forced Texas cities and counties to beef up their enforcement of a statewide ban on homeless encampments. Critics had argued the legislation won't help reduce homelessness. Capriglione, who carried the proposal in the House, told The Texas Tribune he withdrew the bill to avoid a protracted procedural process that would have ultimately killed it. Capriglione, who authored the state's ban on homeless encampments, said he plans to work on similar legislation when the Texas Legislature convenes again in two years. State lawmakers have shown exasperation with visible homelessness four years after Abbott signed the state's ban on homeless encampments into law. 'Whether it's in my area, in Fort Worth, or in Dallas, or here we're in Austin, everybody knows that these camping restrictions on homeless camping restrictions have not been enforced,' Capriglione said. The number of unhoused Texans has grown in recent years as the state's housing costs have ballooned. Almost 28,000 Texans experienced homelessness last year, federal estimates show — about 8% more than before the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 12,000 people experienced unsheltered homelessness, meaning they slept outdoors, in their cars or in other places where people aren't supposed to live. The bill from state Sen. Pete Flores, a Pleasanton Republican, would require cities and counties to allow residents to make formal complaints if they suspect a violation of the camping ban. The Texas attorney general could declare that city or county a 'violating local entity' if local officials don't resolve that complaint within 90 days. The state could then step in to clear encampments and recoup the costs from that city or county's sales taxes. House lawmakers made some tweaks to the bill Monday, requiring the attorney general's office to give cities and counties a 45-day heads-up that they're at risk of becoming a 'violating local entity.' They shot down other amendments, like a Democratic proposal to make it clear that cities and counties could resolve complaints about homeless encampments by finding ways to rehouse people camping there. Texas lawmakers enacted the statewide camping ban after Austin officials in 2019 relaxed restrictions on public encampments. The number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness grew in following years, and Austin voters restored the city's camping ban through a public referendum. Shortly after, state lawmakers enacted the statewide camping ban — making sleeping outside or camping on public property a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine. Austin has issued more than 1,300 citations since 2021 for violations of the camping ban and related violations, according to city data. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld bans on homeless encampments last year. Homeless service providers and advocates have long argued that ticketing people experiencing homelessness only makes it harder for them to get back on their feet. Compelling local governments to do so, some have worried, might sap resources from strategies that focus on finding new housing for people experiencing street homelessness. They say those initiatives have helped Houston and Dallas reduce unsheltered homelessness by more than 25% since before the pandemic. Texas lawmakers also advanced legislation requiring cities to give neighbors a heads-up if it wants to convert a property to house homeless people. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
