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When I was a kid, it never occurred to me that teachers were like the rest of us. I assumed they lived in special teacher enclaves. I was in middle school before I learned the truth. My illusions were shattered in the Model Market. Mama was checking out packages of chickens when, to my astonishment, I saw a teacher in the vegetable aisle. Flabbergasted, I whispered, “Mama! Look! There’s Mrs. Novak! She’s a teacher at my school!” Mama smiled, “ Oh, really? Do you have her for a class?” I said, “No, but what’s Mrs. Novak doing in the Model Market? Doesn’t she have her own place to shop?” Mama replied, “ Well, apparently she lives around here.” I was stunned. “ You mean there’s a teacher village around here?” Mama stopped inspecting chicken and looked very closely at me for a long moment. Then she said, “Honey, we need to talk.”

WRITE OF CENTER

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AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved his request for a disaster declaration for communities affected by severe thunderstorms, large hail, and damaging winds that occurred on April 28. Counties included in the declaration are Hidalgo County and its contiguous counties: Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Starr, and Willacy counties.

The popular Christmas carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” traces its history back several centuries. While the lyrics to the song have been attributed to various authors, the text is most often credited to an 18th century English hymnist named John Francis Wade. While Wade may or may not deserve such credit, the earliest known written versions of the hymn, sometimes referred to as “Adeste Fideles,” each include his signature.

You may recall that in February we alerted you about SB 471 by Senator Springer, one of the meanest bills we have ever seen. This bill directs the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to charge a person who files a complaint for the cost of the investigation if, in the same calendar year in which the complaint is filed, the person has filed at least three complaints with TCEQ.

AUSTIN– Senator Donna Campbell, MD ( R- New Braunfels) celebrated final passage of SB 14, the Children’s Gender Protection Act. The bill protects Texas children from medically unnecessary, irreversible gender modification treatments, including hormone and surgical procedures.

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Did you see the results of the recent Boerne municipal election? I continue to be amazed, if not just disappointed that so many citizens (~ 85 percent of registered voters) didn’t vote. They seem to take for granted the development of our republic and the constitution that upholds it.

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