Your financial security is only as strong as your digital security. A single stolen password, convincing scam or fraudulent investment offer can lead to lost savings, damaged credit or hours spent recovering compromised accounts. As our financial lives move increasingly online, protecting your personal information is part of protecting your financial future.

Cybercr iminals are getting smarter, and technology like AI is making their job easier. But fortunately, some consistent habits can help protect you from many of today’s common threats.

Watch out for phishing Phishing is a common way criminals break into accounts and steal money. These attacks often arrive as emails, texts or phone calls that appear to come from your bank, employer or another trusted organization. Fake websites can trick you into typing in your password or financial details.

To protect yourself, verify unexpected requests through a separate channel, such as calling a company directly using a number from its official website rather than one provided in a suspicious message.

Avoid clicking unexpected links and consider using a password manager which auto-fills your login information only on legitimate websites.

Strengthen your accounts Stolen passwords give criminals easy access to your email, banking and social media accounts. Try using a unique password for every account and enable multifactor authentication whenever it’s offered.

When possible, choose phishing-resistant options like passkeys or security keys; they’re harder for scammers to bypass than basic text message codes.

Be skeptical of urgency Scammers increasingly use deepfakes, which leverage AI- generated voices, videos and images to convincingly impersonate trusted people, including company executives, advisors and even family members. These messages often create pressure to send money or share sensitive information immediately.

If you receive an urgent request that feels off, slow down. Hang up and try calling back to the person or organization using a known phone number. Many successful scams rely on emotional pressure rather than technical tricks, so a moment of skepticism can go a long way.

Protect your money and identity

Fraudulent investment platforms and cryptocurrency schemes continue to cost Americans billions of dollars each year. Be cautious of investment opportunities promoted through unsolicited messages or social media contacts and always verify a platform independently before sending money. If you’re unsure whether an opportunity is legitimate, a financial advisor can help evaluate it before you invest.

Data breaches can also put your information at risk, even when you’ve done everything right. It’s smart to check your bank and credit card statements regularly for unfamiliar charges, and to freeze your credit if you suspect your information has been compromised. You may also choose to freeze your credit preemptively.

Keep your devices updated

Software updates often fix security weaknesses that criminals could otherwise exploit. Backing up important files, whether to the cloud or an external drive, also protects you if ransomware ever locks you out of your own data.

Small habits matter. Unique passwords, multifactor authentication and skepticism help stop many scams before they start. Take steps to help safeguard your money, identity and long-term financial goals.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser. Edward Jones, Member SIPC

For my next column to describe the important statewide races on the Nov. 3 ballot and the Democratic vision for that office, I’ll review the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

The OAG serves as the state’s top law enforcement officer. The OAG’s responsibilities include defending the state of Texas and its laws by providing legal representation to the state, its officials, and agencies; serving the children of Texas through the enforcement of the state’s child support laws and the collection of child support; securing justice for Texans by investigating and prosecuting criminal activities; and more The OAG has the power to hold politicians accountable for any wrongdoings and can promote justice and equality by advocating for policies that benefit Texas communities.

A Democrat in this office will champion voting protections, accessible health care and more.

Democrats want to restore the OAG to its true purpose. Current AG Ken Paxton has turned the OAG into a right-wing headline machine, trampling individual rights and freedoms in order to promote the radical MAGA agenda.

Democrats will use the power of the office to defend — and where possible restore — individual rights and freedoms, and to uphold the rule of law and honor the Constitution.

Under a Democrat, the OAG will join other Democratic attorneys general to take the President to court to block the MAGA machine’s illegal actions that harm the economy, tear apart communities and erode the foundations of democracy.

Democrats are committed to “doing the basics” of the office and doing them well. This includes collecting child support, issuing legal opinions that clarify the law and help government run efficiently, working with city and county governments to finance infrastructure, and ensuring government transparency.

Democrats will restore the integrity of the office so OAG employees will care about the people they serve and will feel good about the service they provide. Democrats will also act to ensure that corporations feel the consequences of taking advantage of Texans.

Democrats will root out political corruption and investigate and prosecute officials — regardless of political party — not for revenge or persecution, but to preserve the integrity of public service.

Fighting crime and promoting public safety are other strong Democratic priorities. In Texas, the attorney general can directly prosecute cases of identity theft, cybercrime, Medicaid fraud and, in some instances, human trafficking.

But in Texas, primary prosecutorial authority in criminal matters lies with local district attorneys, with the attorney general’s cooperative support. Paxton’s antagonistic approach to district attorneys diverts resources away from prosecuting criminals, directing those resources instead to dealing with red tape.

Democrats will bring the powers of the office to bear on public safety by working with local district attorneys to keep Texans and their property safe.

Democrats will fight to maintain a secure border, ensuring it’s safe from drug smuggling, human trafficking and all forms of cross-border criminal enterprise.

Though immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction, under the direction of the governor and Paxton, Texas is engaged in unconstitutional, wasteful border enforcement efforts.

Democrats will reject “shock and awe” border policy and tactics that violate the Constitution. Democrats will also refuse to surrender state sovereignty to the federal government.

The attorney general should assist with federal enforcement as appropriate, and block federal actions when they go too far.

Monday is the last day to register to vote in the November election. Visit www.votetexas.gov to check your registration or to register to vote. Note: Texas doesn’t have online voter registration; you must fill out a form and mail it to the Kendall County Elections Office.

Early voting starts Oct. 19 at the Kendall County Courthouse Annex, 221 Fawn Valley Drive in Boerne. For more on statewide offices or to register to vote, call our office at 830-331-1243 or visit www.kcdems.us.

Laura Bray is former Chair of the Kendall County Democratic Party. Nathan Johnson and the OGA contributed to this article.

In 1909 Boerne residents voted to establish a mayor-council form of local government as well as approve the formation of the Boerne Independent School District. The purpose of the ISD was to unify the administration of all the various local schools.

As Boerne grew, the small, scattered two-room schoolhouses proved to be inadequate, and a two-story school, which would serve students of all ages, was built on Blanco Road.

In 1929 a new school just for highschool aged students was opened on Johns Road with all other grades remaining at the school on Blanco Road.

Almost two decades later, a new elementary school was built across the street from the high school. Following its opening in 1948, the district decided to sell the school on Blanco Road, which the city of Boerne purchased in 1951 to serve as the City Hall.

Fabra Elementary School was established and named for Henry Fabra, a longtime member of the school board and respected civic leader. He was the grandson of Julius Fabra, a German immigrant who owned the local butcher shop and smokehouse.

In 2016, Fabra Elementary was relocated one mile further on Johns Road closer to Interstate 10, with the former school being converted to the new district administration offices.

In 1958, a school was built to accommodate fifth- and sixth-grade students. It served in this capacity until a new Boerne High School (at its current location) opened in 1972, and the old high school on Johns Road was converted to Boerne Middle School.

Boerne continued to grow, and its total enrollment exceeded 1,000 students for the first time in the 1966-67 school year.

In 1977, a second elementary school was built on Adler Road. It was originally known as Boerne Elementary. In 1993, the name was changed in honor of its first principal, Charles E. Curington, a graduate of Boerne High School. The current Curington principal still uses the original desk that Mr. Curington used.

Additional elementary schools opened in the following years:

• Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary in 1995, named for the 5,000-acre ranch owned by the Ralph Fair family.

• Kendall Elementary in 2000, named for our county, which in turn was named in honor of George Kendall.

• Cibolo Creek Elementary in 2006, named after the beautiful creek where it is located.

• Van Raub Elementary in 2018, named for the hamlet that used to be located in the area. The original one room schoolhouse is still located on the same site and is still in use for meetings and gatherings.

• Herff ES, named after Dr. Ferdinand Herff, who originally came to Boerne in 1849.

Additional secondary schools were built as needed, with Boerne Middle School South opening in 2000, followed by Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School in 2008, named in honor of the beloved former student, teacher, coach, and principal Captain Mark Tyler Voss Middle School opened in 2019 named in honor of Tyler Voss, a graduate of Boerne H.S. and the United States Air Force Academy who died in the line of duty in Kyrgyzstan in 2013.

When my oldest child entered Fabra Elementary in 1992, Boerne ISD enrolled 3,200 students. Today that number approached 11,200. Boerne ISD today is the largest employer in Boerne.

While Boerne ISD has grown significantly over the years, many strong commitments remain, including working hard to maintain the small town feel that present and past residents find so endearing, honoring our traditions and heritage, as well as a commitment to excellence in educating our youth as they prepare for a bright and successful future.

“Sharing the Past” is a series organized by the Kendall County Historical Commission www. facebook.com/KendallCountyHistoricalCommission.

A federal judge has ordered the state to air-condition its entire prison system by the end of 2029, the Austin American- Statesman reported. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has estimated that could cost the state $1.5 billion.

Nearly two-thirds of the 143,000 prisoners now held in Texas prisons do not have air-conditioning. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said the prison agency had “minimized and misled” the court about the seriousness of the heat problem.

“The data that TDCJ does not collect also paints a picture of an agency that is not attempting to meaningfully understand or document the dangers and impacts of heat,” Pitman wrote.

A TDCJ spokesperson took issue with the judge’s characterization.

“TDCJ has robust heat-mitigation efforts in place to protect the safety of its population and staff,” Amanda Hernandez said in an email.

The state will appeal the ruling.

Voter registration deadline nearing

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election is Oct. 5. Early voting starts Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office.

The last day for an application to vote by mail must be received by Oct. 23. Voters can visit votetexas.gov to confirm they are registered to vote, see what is on the ballot where they live and get other election-related information.

That site is maintained by the Texas Secretary of State.

Meanwhile, The Texas Tribune reported an unknown number of voter registration applications were delayed because of an error by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The agency failed to forward the applications, submitted online through its driver’s license portal, to county voter registrars. Texas Democrats have called on Gov. Greg Abbott to investigate the problem.

With the Oct. 5 deadline approaching, the delayed registrations from DPS could add to processing backlogs at affected counties. A spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s Office said affected voters can still have their ballots counted as long as they submitted their registration before Oct. 5.

The DPS portal accounted for about 6 million voter registrations from 2020 to 2024. Texas has more than 18 million registered voters.

Camp Mystic under criminal investigation

Camp Mystic, the Hill Country girls’ summer camp where 28 people died in the July 2025 floods, is under criminal investigation by the Texas Rangers, kut.org reported.

Fourteen search warrants were served on family and staff members who ran the camp. KUT News obtained a copy of the affidavit filed against Tweety Eastland, whose husband, Dick, was one of the 28 who died.

The affidavit states the Rangers have probable cause to believe the camp’s leaders committed several criminal offenses, including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, injury to a child, deadly conduct and abandoning or endangering a child.

“These offenses were committed against child campers — including both deceased victims and surviving campers of the flood event,” Brant Johnston, an investigator with the Texas Rangers, wrote in the document.

The affidavits are intended to allow the Rangers to obtain electronic data from Eastland and other members of the family who own the camp, as well as camp staff members. A Kerr County state district judge approved it earlier this month.

Camp Mystic’s owners are being sued in civil court by more than a dozen families.

Land commissioner: Use virtual border wall

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told the Houston Chronicle a virtual border wall makes “the most sense” for much of West Texas, where federal plans to build a physical wall have drawn considerable opposition.

“The bottom line is there are places where physical barriers make sense, and there are places where they don’t. And we just want the solution that’s best for Texas,” Buckingham said in an interview with the Chronicle’s editorial board. “I think especially when you get to West Texas, a virtual wall, in my opinion, makes the most sense for most of that area.”

The Trump administration is moving to build a border wall across the more than 13 million acres the state agency controls, most of which is in West Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott has previously questioned the logic of building a physical wall in “rugged, isolated areas like Big Bend.”

Buckingham sent a ceaseand- desist letter in July to U.S. Customs and Border Protection after a contractor for the agency was discovered clearing state-controlled land without permission.

Buckingham is running for reelection against Democrat Ben Flores, a former Bay City council member.

Comptroller’s office fires dozens of employees 

The Texas comptroller’s office recently fired 41 employees after agency leaders were told to submit lists of people to be terminated, The Dallas Morning News reported. Comptroller Don Huffines, appointed to the post by Gov. Greg Abbott last summer and the Republican nominee in November, campaigned on shrinking the size of the state’s government.

In a recent interview, Huffines defended how he is doing his job since taking the helm.

“You’re going to hear a lot about how I’m changing the agency, consolidating different divisions,” he said. “I’m making it more efficient.”

The 41 terminations make up less than 2% of the agency’s nearly 3,000 full-time employees.

Huffines faces Democratic nominee Sarah Eckhardt, a state senator from Austin. Eckhardt was critical of the firings, saying they would have a financial impact on the state’s revenue.

“Not only does a reduction- in-force reduce the comptroller’s ability to collect lawfully levied taxes, but a reduction in institutional knowledge and expertise also significantly reduces their ability to collect,” she said.

Red tide reported off the coast of Galveston

Biologists with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have begun receiving reports of a red tide bloom off the coast of Galveston. They are monitoring fish kills and taking water samples around Crystal Beach and southern Galveston Island.

“Water samples indicate moderate to high concentrations of red tide cells, and beachgoers are reporting mild to severe respiratory irritation resulting from the bloom,” the news release said.

Red tide is a naturally occurring concentration of microscopic algae that produces a toxin. Dense concentrations are known as “blooms” and kill fish by paralyzing their central nervous systems. This can result in dead fish washing up on Gulf beaches.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

Builders, developers, insurers, real estate professionals, land managers and landscapers have the opportunity to help shape a more fire-resilient — and insurable — Kendall County.

As Kendall County grows, more homes and neighborhoods are being built in the wildland-urban interface, the area where homes and development meet or intermingle with undeveloped vegetation.

At the same time, wildfire risk is creating another growing concern for some residents: difficulty maintaining affordable homeowners insurance and, in some cases, receiving notices that their policies will not be renewed.

These challenges are connected and addressing them will require more than firefighters and fire departments.

On Sept/ 30, the Hill Country Fire Coalition of Texas (HCFC) is bringing together builders, insurers, real estate professionals and land managers for “Building a More Fire-Resilient Kendall County: Wildfire Prepared Home Workshop,” from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Boerne City Hall, 447 N. Main St.

The workshop is not simply about wildfire awareness. It is a call to action.

Wildfire is part of the natural environment in which we live. We cannot eliminate drought, high winds, extreme temperatures, lightning or every humancaused ignition. But we can influence what happens when a wildfire reaches a community.

That begins with where and how we build, the materials we use, how structures are designed, and how we landscape and maintain the property surrounding them.

Research into home ignitions has increasingly focused attention on the structure itself and the immediate area around it, particularly vulnerabilities to wind-driven embers.

A home does not necessarily have to encounter a wall of flame to be des t royed. Ember s can travel ahead of a wildfire and ignite combustible materials on, under or immediately adjacent to a structure.

That means decisions made long before smoke appears on the horizon can make a meaningful difference.

For builders and developers, wildfire resilience can begin on the drawing board rather than becoming an expensive retrofit years later.

For landscapers and land managers, the placement, type and maintenance of vegetation and combustible materials around a home can influence its vulnerability.

For insurers, measurable risk-reduction standards may provide another tool for evaluating properties. And for real estate professionals, understanding wildfire-resilient construction can help them better inform buyers and sellers.

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has developed the Wildfire Prepared Home program, which establishes science-based actions intended to reduce a home’s vulnerability to wildfire. That work is particularly relevant as homeowners in wildfire-prone areas confront changing insurance conditions.

For a resident who already owns a home, however, knowing what needs to change is only the beginning. Someone must be able to perform that work.

That is why HCFC especially wants land-management professionals, landscapers, arborists and contractors at the September 30 workshop.

As residents seek to reduce vegetation and combustible materials near their homes, establish appropriate defensible space, address ember vulnerabilities and pursue Wildfire Prepared Home designations, Kendall County needs qualified businesses that understand what wildfire mitigation actually requires.

This represents both a community need and a business opportunity.

Rather than simply removing vegetation, professionals need to understand why particular treatments matter, what should remain, what should be removed or relocated, and how landscaping can remain attractive while reducing wildfire vulnerabilities.

The objective is not to clear the Texas Hill Country of the vegetation that makes it special. The objective is to manage vegetation and other fuels intelligently so that homes and landscapes are better prepared to withstand wildfire.

Insurance professionals are equally important to this conversation.

Mitigation is most powerful when homeowners understand which actions materially reduce risk and insurers have credible, measurable information about those improvements.

The goal should be to create a bridge between wildfire science, construction, mitigation and insurance.

Rather than waiting until a homeowner receives a non-renewal notice, what if builders, developers, homeowners, mitigation professionals and insurers worked together to reduce the property’s risk beforehand?

That is the conversation HCFC wants to begin. Attend the workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Boerne City Hall, 447 N. Main St., and be a part of the

No one likes bullies, whether it be on a school playground or in world affairs.

Bullies have low levels of empathy, a strong need for dominance, and repeated, intentional aggression towards others. In short, they don’t play nicely.

Advice for children facing a playground bully includes staying calm and finding and telling an adult what is going on so that the bullying stops. Failure to deal with bullying only encourages the bully to continue acting out with more dire consequences.

On a more global level, no rational person likes war. However, sometimes it is unavoidable. To counter the madness of Nazi Germany, the allies had to coalesce in order to defeat that maniacal regime which was responsible for the murder of millions of humans.

While the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the free world was often fought through proxies, it represented an inherent battle between good and evil, with communism obviously representing evil.

Sadly, today there are apologists for the evils of communism, and they are rearing their ignorant heads once again at many colleges and universities in our nation. Vladimir Lenin, the first Soviet dictator, referred to these naïve individuals as “useful idiots.”

The answer to dealing with these apologists for communism is to educate people on the sickness of the communist ideology and its violent and bloody history that resulted in the deaths of over 100 million people due to gulags, concentration camps, forced famines, war, and more.

We also must defeat them at the ballot box.

But bullying goes far beyond the growing threat of socialism and communism.

Iran, despite its protestations, undoubtedly is seeking to build a nuclear weapon. Does any sane, rational person believe for a second that if that regime actually developed a nuclear weapon, they wouldn’t use it against the USA or Israel? After all, since they assumed power in 1979, leaders of Iran’s Islamic Republic have consistently called the USA the “Great Satan” and Israel the “Little Satan.”

Over the past 47 years Iran has stirred trouble and been responsible for state-supported terrorism throughout the Middle East and Europe, whether it be in support of Hezbollah, the murderous Syrian dictator Bashir al-Assad, the Houthi in Yemen, the Islamic Jihad, Hamas in Gaza, and more.

Iran uses these groups as political proxies to foment instability, expand the scope of the Islamic Revolution, and carry out attacks against Western targets in the regions.

How can we forget that just one day after President Obama signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (alleged nuclear deal) with Iran, that nation’s Ayatollah Khamenei led a chant of “Death to America” in front of thousands of crazed fanatics.

How exactly do you deal with such people? This is not a school playground where a teacher can effectively deal with a bully who is taunting other students. These Iranian fanatics want to destroy our civilization.

Many apologists for communism are the same people who empathize with Iran. I’ll never forget the 1984 Republican Convention speech that U.N. Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick, a former Democrat, gave that excoriated those who “always blame America first” for all the evil in the world. These America blaming leopards never change their spots. As Proverbs 26:11 says, “Just as a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.”

While I would like to see peace in the Middle East and an end to the current conflict with Iran, I also want to see the situation resolved for good. The crazy mullahs and the violent Iranian Republican Guard, responsible for the deaths of many Americans, must go.

How that is accomplished is not so easy to determine. You can think your initial plan had it all figured out and then things can go awry. Perhaps that is what is happening.

But it is indisputable that the current battle is one of the civilized world vs. those who would bring the world back into the Dark Ages, when there was virtually no individual liberty.

We cannot let the Iranians get a nuclear weapon, period. That maniacal, totalitarian regime must be defeated, and as was the case with the Soviet Union, thrown into the ash heap of history.

UnitedHealthcare’s fourth annual Young Adult and College Student Behavioral Health Report found that more than 6 in 10 (62%) college students and young adults not enrolled in college ages 18–28 reported experiencing a mental or behavioral health concern in the past year — consistent with elevated levels over the past four years.

Among college students, concerns are rising. UnitedHealthcare’s survey found nearly 70% said they have experienced concerns such as anxiety/ stress or depression, reaching the highest levels in four years. 11% of young adults surveyed also reported suicidal ideation and intent.

At the same time, many parents may not fully recognize what students are going through, pointing to an opportunity for more awareness, communication and support.

During National Suicide Prevention Month, it’s a meaningful time to focus on practical ways to support young adults and students. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or navigating these challenges yourself, here are three ways to help support mental well-being: Start with open, honest conversations Frequency doesn’t always lead to understanding. Survey findings uncover that while 39% of parents of college students believed their child felt understood after conversations, only 28% of students agreed, and 26% said they felt misunderstood.

Meanwhile, young adults not enrolled in college report speaking with parents less often, yet their perceptions of mental health challenges were more closely aligned with their parents. Together, these findings suggest that how we communicate matters as much as how often.

Prioritizing meaningful, two-way conversations that emphasize listening, empathy and understanding can make a meaningful difference.

Encourage IA balance Digital tools are playing a growing role in how young adults and students manage their mental health. Nearly one-third (31%) of respondents reported using AI-based platforms to explore symptoms or find coping strategies, and 26% of those users said they’ve turned to these tools for companionship, reassurance or emotional support.

While these resources can be helpful, they are most effective when used alongside guidance from qualified health care professionals.

Help build awareness of trusted resources 

Many young adults are unsure where to turn for help, which can be particularly true when they or their families are navigating mental health concerns for the first time. At the local level, community organizations, nonprofits, and state-based services can provide accessible, often low- or no-cost support — from crisis lines to counseling and peer programs. Raising awareness of these options can make it easier to take the first step.

Health plans can also play a role in helping individuals understand and access available mental health support. For example, some insurers provide digital self-care tools, coaching, and 24/7 support lines for in-the-moment assistance, as well as in-person and virtual care options.

Seek professional help when necessary 

If feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression start to feel overwhelming, reach out to your primary care physician (PCP). If you don’t have a PCP, establish a relationship with one. Your PCP will provide valuable insights and care, and referrals if needed. Getting the right support can guide you toward a more balanced and fulfilling life. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, you can also call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for 24-hour, confidential support.

Supporting mental health is a year-round priority. By improving communication, increasing awareness and helping young adults connect to care, we can better support their mental well-being when it matters most.

Dr. Hiren Patel is Chief Medical Officer with UnitedHealthcare, Texas

He had been called to testify in response to the commission’s recent decision to eliminate public comment from its meetings.

Christian notified the committee’s head, state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, that a prior commitment precluded him from attending. Darby was not happy with Christian’s response.

“A sitting commissioner absconding from his agency’s oversight hearing is nothing more than a mockery of the Texas Legislature and the legislative process,” he said.

He noted the Legislature could abolish the commission with a simple majority vote.

“The Legislature giveth and it taketh. That is not a threat. It is a fact,” Darby said. Christian called Darby’s comments “an attack on democracy.”

The commission decided in a split vote last August to remove public comment from its regular meetings. In its place, the staff would host “listening sessions.”

Medicaid funding restored to hospitals 

Nearly $ 12 billion in Medicaid funding to Texas hospitals will be restored after a nearly ye a r long sta l ema t e between the state and the federal government ended, the Texas Standard reported.

Gov. Greg Abbott hailed the conclusion to the impasse.

“This funding is a major victory for Texas patients,” Abbott said in a statement. “It authorizes nearly $12 billion for hospitals, physicians, rural clinics, nursing facilities and behavioral health providers that serve patients in every region of our state.”

The funds were halted Sept. 1, with some hospitals losing as much as $27 million a day in Medicaid allotments. The fund assists hospitals in closing the gap between what Medicaid pays them and actual costs incurred for treating low-income Texans.

The dispute began last year over concerns about how the state raises more than $4.2 billion in taxes to access those federal funds. Abbott had previously referred to the holdup as an economic “gun to the head.”

GOP pours money into Texas races

Political action committees associated with Republicans have begun pouring money into the high-profile U.S. Senate race between GOP nominee Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, the Houston Chronicle reported.

President Donald Trump’s Super PAC spent nearly $10 million on that race just in September, while a Senate Republican leadership PAC will spend more than $60 million in ads running this month.

Elon Musk’s PAC is chipping in another $2 million for Paxton, who previously had been vastly outspent by Talarico.

“Nobody went into this race, if they had any sense at all, thinking that at the end of the day, Democrats would outspend Republicans,” said Matt Angle, a longtime Texas Democratic operative. “That was never going to be the case.”

The polls indicate a tight race, with Talarico holding a slim lead. No Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas since 1994.

Cornyn, Rove among those condemning French’s post 

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn denounced GOP Railroad Commission nominee Bo French after he disparaged the racial diversity of fans shown celebrating the University of Texas team’s comeback win over topranked Ohio State, The Dallas Morning News reported.

French, a former Tarrant County Republican Party chair, has doubled down on his remarks. The nominee has repeatedly faced backlash for posts targeting racial and religious groups, often decrying an influx of “foreigners.”

Meanwhile, longtime GOP political consultant Karl Rove said he would vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal for railroad commissioner, only the second Democrat he has voted for. In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, he called French’s post “raw, uncut bigotry.”

Cornyn was later joined by state House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Republican state representatives Jeff Leach and Lacey Hull in criticizing French.

Patrick intervenes in ERCOT chief’s contract extension 

A multimillion-dollar contract extension for Pablo Vegas, the CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, was put on hold after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the amount “ shocking,” the San Antonio Express-News reported.

The six-year contract approved last week by the ERCOT board would provide Vegas with a base salary of $ 1.16 million. With potential performance incentives and other benefits, the total annual compensation could approach $6.5 million.

Patrick took to X to express his displeasure.

“During a time of increasing utility costs, this is not the time to give the CEO of ERCOT a multimillion-dollar pay raise on the backs of ratepayers,” he posted. “I am against this increase, and I think the Legislature will agree that the amount is shocking.”

Hours later, the grid operator’s board put the deal on hold. State rules require the Public Utility Commission, which oversees ERCOT, to approve Vegas’ compensation.

Cruz forges ahead with college sports money bill 

Despite being loudly booed during an ESPN “GameDay” interview at Austin’s DKR stadium before the University of Texas- Ohio State game, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said he is pushing forward with his bill to limit player transfers and endorsement deals, a measure he predicts will pass the U.S. Senate.

The Dallas Morning News reported Cruz argues his legislation is needed to bring order to a chaotic environment.

“It cracks down on a booster in a back alley with a bag of cash and it ensures the system can remain competitive and vibrant,” Cruz said.

The measure would allow athletes one “free” transfer during their collegiate careers. It would place limits on any additional transfers, with exceptions for circumstances such as a coach leaving or an athletic program being terminated. Cruz said it has been endorsed by 24 conferences and professional sports leagues across several athletic disciplines.

Opponents of the bill say the talk of “chaos” is exaggerated and is being used to infringe on the rights of student-athletes while financially benefiting schools, conferences and business interests connected to college sports.

Borders is a veteran award- winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30- year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park.

Public education is rooted in a simple belief: every student deserves the opportunity to learn, belong, and reach their full potential, regardless of where they come from or the circumstances that shape their lives.

Public education is a great equalizer because it gives every student access to the teachers, resources, and experiences they need to enrich their learning, achieve their dreams, and attain a bright future.

A few years ago, the state of Texas reclassified Special Education services to be more comprehensive. Seemingly overnight, the number of students served by special education departments increased significantly.

The shift has made conversations around special education more mainstream, which in turn has changed the way these services are viewed. For many, accessing services has shown thousands of new families what educators have known for a long while: special education is public education at its finest.

As educators, it’s our duty to see the potential in our students. Our Special Education team in Boerne does this exceptionally well. Boerne ISD currently services 2,144 students – nearly 19% of our student body – and that number is increasing.

Our Special Education staff coordinate implementation of state mandates and work alongside families, teachers and staff to provide the very best educational opportunities to our students.

Demonstrating a strong commitment to comprehensive education, Boerne ISD serves 85% of its special education student population within general education settings through targeted support practices. This means that the overwhelming majority of our special education students are fully integrated into the fabric of our schools while also being provided individualized learning.

By learning from master teachers, our students have more opportunities to rise to challenges and excel. This approach takes talent — and something you will find no shortage of in Boerne ISD.

In grades 3-12, our students are outperforming the state and region by significant margins as displayed in our Results Driven Accountability report. This doesn’t happen by accident; it’s by design.

Our Special Education staff works tirelessly to ensure that our students are prepared and successful. While the State averages 80.9% graduation rates for students in SPED, Boerne ISD averages 93.7%. STAAR tests scores for SPED students in grades 3-8 are 48.8% for the state; our students average 70.7%. And in Math, Boerne ISD outperforms the state by almost 18 points on STAAR tests.

Education is a calling for many of us. We’re grateful to keep building a strong foundation for our young people. In Boerne ISD, we’re here to serve every child and family who calls our community home.

Kristin Craft, Ed.D., is superintendent of the Boerne Independent School District

As we gather this High Holiday season in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, we are reminded of the beauty and resilience of this land. The rolling hills, clear skies and endless horizons reflect a truth we carry into the new year: even after the harshest seasons, new life always finds a way.

Just as the Hill Country blooms again after drought, so too do we have the power to renew, to hope, and to build a brighter tomorrow.

The High Holidays are a time to pause, to reflect and to reconnect — with God, with our community, and with ourselves. In a world that often focuses on what is broken, what is missing, or what is wrong, we are called to do something different: to look for light, to see the good, and to choose hope.

Each of us has a unique light to share. Just as every person in our community adds to the beauty of the greater whole, so too does each of us have a spark that can bring kindness, strength and positivity into the world.

You don’t need to be a leader or a scholar — you simply need to be you. Your warmth, your smile, your words, your actions — they all matter. When we each bring our light, together we create a community that shines, not just in the Hill Country, but far beyond.

If we ever feel despair or a lack of hope and enthusiasm for the future, we are reminded of the hopeful vision of Ezekiel’s Valley of Dry Bones — a powerful metaphor for our time. In that vision, Ezekiel sees a valley filled with bones; a picture of a people who have lost hope, feeling broken and disconnected. Then, God tells him, “Prophesy to the bones… and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of God.’” (Ezekiel 37:4).

The bones come to life, step by step, as hope returns and they are reconnected with one another. This reminds us that even in our darkest moments, there is always a spark of life.

Even when things feel dry or uncertain, we can choose hope. We can choose to focus on what’s possible, not just what’s wrong.

This High Holiday season, let us be the ones who bring the light, who reach out, who rebuild connections and who believe in a better tomorrow.

May 5787 be a year of renewed hope, deeper connection, and a collective light that fills our homes, our community, and our world.

Gemar Chatimah Tovah — May you be sealed for a good year.

Rabbi Yossi Marrus is executive director and spiritual leader of Chabad of Boerne.

Editor, I want to provide a statement regarding my experience serving as a judge for the Kendall County Fair pageant.

I can confirm that I was not paid, instructed who to vote for, coerced, pressured or manipulated in any way regarding my judging decisions. My scores and my decisions were entirely my own and were based solely on my observations of each contestant throughout the competition. At no point did anyone attempt to influence the outcome or ask me to favor any particular contestant.

I felt that the judging process was conducted fairly, and I personally did not witness or experience anything that would lead me to believe the pageant or its results were rigged or predetermined.

It was truly a great pleasure getting to meet each and every one of the contestants. They were all beautiful young women, and I appreciated the opportunity to be a part of their pageant experience.

I was honored to serve as a judge and wish every contestant continued success.

— Sophia Ramos Miss San Antonio USA 2026

I don’t have a side either way, except yes children should always be treated appropriately by the adults around them. But my question is why didn’t the parents of these girls pull them from the organization right away, when things were not going appropriately.

One of the things I read was that the families did address their concerns to the directors months ago, and the parents felt the girls were retaliated against, since they were not allowed to take part in many events they had planned to attend.

If what is being accused was so terrible, then why did these parents let their daughters still represent the organization?

Isn’t it a scholarship pageant? Did they still get their scholarship and is that why they didn’t pull their girls before this point?

I truly believe all children need to be treated appropriately as I said, but this organization is volunteer run and each year it is criticized for what it does and doesn’t do. As a longtime Boerne resident, I really would hate for the whole organization to end. But with all the criticism and lack of people stepping up to help keep it running, I can see it all folding and ending.

— Michelle Asher Boerne resident

Kendall County Commissioners Court recently voted to move forward with acquiring about 120 acres on and adjacent to North Creek near Comfort, using funds from the voter-approved Proposition A conservation bond program. Because there has been some confusion about what that means, I want to explain it plainly.

Kendall County voters approved Proposition A by a twothirds majority in 2022. In simple terms, it allows the county to use bond funds to purchase land or conservation easements from willing property owners for public benefit, including conservation, open space, natural resources, water quality, wildlife habitat and recreation.

Public dollars are paid to property owners. In return, the public receives land or conservation easements that would otherwise remain privately controlled and potentially subject to more intensive development.

The proposed North Creek acquisition includes approximately 120 acres. Roughly 70 acres lie within the North Creek floodplain and riparian corridor, while approximately 50 acres are usable upland with potential for future public recreation.

Floodplain acreage is not inherently low-value land. Floodplain and riparian areas can provide substantial conservation, water-quality, habitat and public open-space benefits, and Kendall County’s Proposition A program has recognized that value before.

Commissioners Court accepted the recommendation of the Prop A Committee to purchase the Gill Tract, a 48.17-acre property on the Guadalupe River and in the floodplain, for public park access and conservation. Gill cost approximately $1.35 million, or about $28,120 per acre.

By comparison, the North Creek property is proposed at $2.5 million, or approximately $20,833 per acre.

The properties are not identical, and land values depend on many factors. But the comparison makes an important point: floodplain acreage has not been considered without value under Proposition A.

The Guadalupe River Ranch, another major Proposition A investment, combines conservation, river access, open space and future recreation, including potential trail and paddling connections with Kreutzberg Canyon.

North Creek also offers conservation and recreation value. Its 50 acres of upland could support future recreational opportunities for the Comfort area, including youth recreation. Comfort-area residents have expressed a real need for more opportunities for young people, and recreation is one of the public purposes contemplated by Proposition A.

Proposition A funds would not be used to build baseball fields or other recreational facilities, and there is no plan to use county funds for their construction. Local youth sports organizations have private funders interested in helping develop future facilities.

Flooding is a natural part of Hill Country watersheds, but development upstream can increase impervious cover and change how quickly and forcefully stormwater moves downstream.

Higher runoff volumes and velocities can contribute to erosion, loss of riparian vegetation, property damage, greater downstream flooding and, in severe events, threats to life and safety. Preserving creek corridors and floodplain land therefore has conservation value beyond whether buildings can be placed on it.

Likewise, Proposition A funds are not being used to construct a flood-control project. Kendall County has previously commissioned flood studies identifying flood-mitigation needs in the North Creek/Cypress Creek area. Public ownership may create an opportunity to evaluate future measures, but any such project would be separate from Proposition A and require engineering, permitting and separate state or federal funding.

There has also been confusion about groundwater rights. Those rights are not going to a private developer. They will be held by Comfort WCID No. 1, a local public entity serving the Comfort community.

Kendall County is not a water utility or water purveyor, making WCID No. 1 the appropriate public entity to hold them.

The court made its decision to move forward publicly. The contract and closing process come next, as they do in any real-estate transaction, and any further action requiring Commissioners Court approval will occur through the appropriate public process.

Ultimately, the question is whether this acquisition provides meaningful public value consistent with what voters approved under Proposition A.

In my judgment, it does.

It preserves creek and riparian acreage, protects open space, provides usable land for potential public recreation, keeps groundwater rights in public hands, and creates future opportunities for conservation, recreation, and flood-mitigation planning.

This is a public land acquisition for long-term public benefit.

Andra Wisian serves Precinct 2 on the Kendall County Commissioners Court.

Nearly 300 business and community leaders gathered at The Bevy Hotel in Boerne on Aug. 20 for the fourth annual Kendall County Economic Summit, bringing together leaders from education, business, tourism, government and economic development to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping Kendall County’s future.

This year’s summit focused on three conversations that increasingly intersect with economic development in the Texas Hill Country: building the workforce of the future; strengthening the visitor economy; and balancing continued growth with the character and natural resources that make this region distinctive.

“These panel discussions focus on timely and critical topics in Kendall County and the perspectives of our panelists highlight how our community is addressing them,” said Amy Story, President & CEO of the Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corporation.

Building the Workforce of the Future

A strong economy depends on more than attracting new businesses. It also depends on having the people, skills and education pathways employers need to grow.

The summit’s workforce conversation brought together Amy Bosley, Ed.D., President of Northwest Vista College; Kristin Craft, Ed.D., Superintendent of the Boerne Independent School District; and Lance Pettigrew, CEO of SEnergy.

Their discussion underscored the importance of stronger connections among schools, higher education and employers, as well as giving students clearer pathways from the classroom to meaningful careers close to home.

“By continued collaboration among our education partners and local businesses, we can work to fill our workforce pipeline to meet the job demands of the future,” Story said.

Strengthening the Visitor Economy

Tourism is more than a quality-of-life asset for Kendall County. It is an important part of the local economy. Visitors support local businesses, restaurants, retailers, lodging properties and the experiences that help define our communities.

The summit’s tourism and hospitality discussion explored how destination identity, thoughtful growth and strong local businesses work together to strengthen the visitor economy. For communities like Boerne and Comfort, that means creating reasons for people to visit while protecting the qualities that make them want to return.

That connection between tourism and economic development is important. A vibrant destination supports entrepreneurs and existing businesses while also helping tell the broader story of why Kendall County is a desirable place to live, work and invest.

Growing Responsibly

Few conversations are more important to the future of the Hill Country than how we grow.

Ryan Bass, Boerne environmental program manager; Joseph Macaluso, Boerne District 5 city councilman; Kendall County Precinct 2 Commissioner Andra Wisian; and Robert Thornton, Partner with Robert Thornton LLP / Great Homes, discussed the relationship between development, infrastructure, conservation and long-term livability.

The takeaway was clear: economic opportunity, infrastructure, water, land use, conservation and quality of life cannot be treated as separate issues. Long-term prosperity depends on making thoughtful decisions that support economic vitality while protecting the character of the Hill Country.

For the BKCEDC, that means proactively pursuing quality economic development and recruiting businesses that fit our community while creating economic opportunities for future generations of Kendall County students.

A Regional Conversation with Local Impact 

The Kendall County Economic Summit has become an important annual opportunity to bring the people shaping our region’s future into the same room.

For the BKCEDC, conversations like these are an important part of economic development. Supporting existing businesses and attracting new investment requires more than available sites and demographic data.

It requires a strong workforce, vibrant communities, sound infrastructure, regional partnerships and a shared commitment to long-term prosperity.

Continue the Conversation 

The Summit may be over, but the work continues. Stay connected with the BKCEDC and explore the resources helping businesses grow, invest and build in Kendall County.

Amy Story is president and CEO of the Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corporation.

The Ross Fire in North Texas has become the largest summer wildfire recorded in state history, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. As of Sunday, it had consumed 90,400 acres and was 83% contained.

Active wildfires were reported in five other locations in the Hill Country, northwest of Austin and San Antonio.

With hunting season now underway, officials are urging sportsmen and sportswomen to be mindful of activities that could spark a blaze. In August, the forest service responded to 313 wildfires.

“The rapid onset of a flash drought increased fire occurrence and intensity statewide in August,” said Walter Flocke, Texas A&M Forest Service fire analyst. “Under flash-drought conditions, grasses, brush and timber fuels lose moisture rapidly and become susceptible to ignition.”

A flash drought appears and worsens quickly, often over a few days or weeks.

Equipment used by hunters, such as vehicles, trailers and ATVs/ UTVs, is the second-most common cause of human-caused wildfires in Texas, behind debris burning.

“Even a small spark can quickly ignite a wildfire under the right conditions,” said Jared Karns, Texas A&M Forest Service fire chief. “Texans are encouraged to stay alert and be aware of hazards that can cause a wildfire while hunting this season.”

GOP throwing big bucks into Paxton’s campaign

Republican leadership is pouring tens of millions of dollars into the U.S. Senate campaign of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is locked in a tight race with Democratic nominee and state House Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin.

A super PAC affiliated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune last week purchased about $32 million in television broadcast ads across the state’s major media markets, The Texas Tribune reported. In addition, MAGA Inc., a PAC aligned with President Donald Trump, bought $10 million in ads.

Paxton is trailing slightly in the most recent polls. To date, he vastly has been outspent by Talarico and his allies.

Paxton spoke at the Republican midterm convention held last week in Dallas, according to the Texas Standard. He unveiled his economic plan, titled “Protecting the Texas Promise.”

“Everywhere I go, I meet Texans working harder than ever that still worry that they’ll never get ahead,” Paxton said. “Those are the people that I’m fighting for.”

Meanwhile, Talarico was slated to appear on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s network show, but the interview was pulled under concerns the Federal Communications Commission would take punitive action.

The interview was aired on You-Tube instead. Several news outlets reported it received 5 million views in its first 24 hours.

Hunting season: What’s new 

Dove hunting kicked off this year’s hunting season on Sept. 1, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has announced regulatory changes for the coming year. Among the alterations are updated identity-verification rules to combat residency fraud.

Texas residents must provide a valid driver’s license or a personal identification certificate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Non-Texas residents may be required to provide REAL ID-compliant identification. Other regulation changes include:

• “Doe days” expanded in 21 counties from four to 16 days.

• Earlier start for the South Zone Dove regular season.

• Elimination of Special Whitewinged Dove Days.

• Matagorda and Wharton counties now closed to wild turkey hunting.

• Harvest of unbearded wild turkey hens now prohibited statewide.

• Definition of muzzleloader modified to allow for use of new muzzleloading technology.

Several season dates have been changed for the 2026-027 hunting season and can be found at tpwd. gov.

SNAP application backlog skyrockets

Applications to receive SNAP benefits, formerly called food stamps, have ballooned almost 4,000% since January, The Dallas Morning News reported. The backlog of pending applications now exceeds 150,000, according to data from the state Health and Human Services Commission.

“This is alarming,” said Diana Forester, director of health policy at Texans Care for Children. “It is very strange to me — I can’t believe it’s as big as it is.”

The federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 heavily restructured Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility, including adding work requirements and requiring a state to fund part of the program based on its “error rate,” which calculates how much recipients were underpaid or overpaid in a year.

“New SNAP mandates require a thorough review of each case to ensure program integrity and accuracy,” state agency spokeswoman Jennifer Ruffcorn wrote in an email. “HHSC will continue supporting eligible Texas families as quickly as possible.”

About 300,000 Texas households have lost SNAP coverage since September 2025, with the total dropping to 1.33 million as of August, nutrition officials report. Food banks across Texas are reporting higher demand for services.

Cities push back on bid to disband power companies

On the campaign trail, Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed dismantling city-owned utilities, saying it would save customers money by increasing competition.

Two cities that own electric utilities are pushing back, according to the Texas Standard.

San Antonio and Austin have the state’s largest city-owned electric utilities.

Officials with both say they offer some of the cheapest electricity rates in the state because their utilities operate as nonprofit companies.

Abbott said his proposal would save 10% on the average electric bill for Austin and San Antonio residents. Among those disagreeing is Austin Mayor Kirk Watson.

“Fundamentally changing our utility through deregulation would have broad and significant consequences to those we serve,” he wrote in a statement.

There are 72 municipally owned utilities that provide power to 5.1 million Texans, or 15% of the state’s population, according to the Texas Public Power Association.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) basically serves as the state’s accounting office. As Texas’ chief tax collector, accountant, revenue estimator, treasurer and purchasing manager, CPA is responsible for writing the checks and keeping the books for the multi-billion-dollar business of state government.

On the ballot on Nov. 3, the CPA is also in charge of administering the voucher scheme. As the state’s sole accountant, the Comptroller has the “bully pulpit” in how Texas taxes are handled.

Democrats will use this office to strongly advocate for Texas public education, its teachers and their retirement savings.

Public schools provide every child equal opportunity. High-quality teachers are the backbone of an excellent education, and Texas needs to recruit and retain the best and the brightest.

Texas children need access to virtual learning through broadband internet infrastructure. Texas schools must continue to prioritize safety for our teachers and our children. Democrats will protect our schools from state funding cuts.

A Democratic Comptroller will use the power of the office to advocate for Medicaid expansion and to fully expose how much it costs when Texas continues to refuse this expansion.

Texas is No. 1 in uninsured people in the U.S. and has the worst rate of child health insurance coverage in the nation — 1 in 4 uninsured U.S. children live here in Texas, and Texans deserve more.

Texas is one of the only states that has yet to expand Medicaid. If the Legislature expanded Medicaid, more than a million additional Texans would qualify for health insurance.

Access to Medicaid, SNAP and CHIP should be as easy as Venmo or Apple-Pay. We should actively reach out to eligible Texans, trust them and help them get on and stay on Medicaid, SNAP and CHIP as long as needed.

Outreach and easy enrollment pay for themselves in healthy Texans ready to contribute to the prosperity of their families and their communities.

Democrats also want to expand telehealth options through universal broadband. Shockingly, one third of Texas counties do not have public local health departments or hospitals. Through federal, state, and local partnership (particularly with public schools), Democrats will work to expand broadband fiber, equipment, and training so that every Texan, no matter where they live, has an electronic option for healthcare as well as education, training, and teleworking.

Democrats will also work to create a more simple, transparent and equitable tax system. Texans everywhere are seeking real relief from burdensome local property taxes. Real and lasting property tax relief, that doesn’t just shift the burden around, will come from the state meeting its financial obligations.

Democrats believe in converting the local option homestead exemption to a flat rate rather than a percentage.

At the current percentage cap of 20%, Richey Rich with his $1 million home does not have to pay property taxes on $200,000 of his home’s value. Meanwhile, Poor Paul with his $100,000 home is relieved of taxes on only $20,000 in value. the local option Homestead Exemption were capped at a flat $100,000 in value, Richey Rich and Poor Paul would get equivalent tax relief in dollars. But those dollars would mean much more to Poor Paul’s budget than Richey Rich’s.

A Democratic Comptroller will also use the power of the office to stop the awarding of no-bid contracts to wealthy donors and to audit the voucher scheme to make sure the funds are being used as directed.

The last day to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 5. Visit www. votetexas.gov to check your registration or to register to vote.

Texas does not have online voter registration; you’ll need to fill out a form and mail it or take it to the Kendall County Elections Office. For more information on statewide offices or to register to vote, call our office at 830-331-1243 or visit www. kcdems.us Laura Bray is Chair of the Kendall County Democratic Party. Sarah Eckhardt, the CPA, and a former Democratic candidate contributed to this article.

It takes time and energy to keep a close watch on our government, but it’s our right as citizens. Really, it’s a duty. Transparency laws along with liberties granted by the U.S. Constitution help us do the job.

Access to public information and free speech go hand in hand. We can’t effectively speak to and about our government without knowing the facts.

Yet freedom of speech and one of the state’s main transparency laws, the Texas Public Information Act, are in the spotlight amid concerns they are being eroded. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will explore these topics at its state conference “Tracking the Truth, Safeguarding First Amendment Rights” on Sept. 18 in Austin.

Free expression on college campuses is the focus of the conference’s opening session, featuring former KUT News general manager Debbie Hiott, whose recent firing by the University of Texas at Austin ignited a free speech and transparency controversy.

The conference will also include First Amendment experts; a look at access to immigration enforcement information; a keynote address by Garrett Haake, chief White House correspondent for NBC News; and a session on using the Texas Public Information Act.

Despite a weakening of the Public Information Act over the years, the 53-year-old law still allows light to shine on government to answer essential questions about how taxpayer money is spent and how government officials make decisions. At its core, as it was written and intended, the law is strong and protects citizens’ right to know. That’s because government information is presumed to be open, unless a legal exemption to disclosure exists.

This structure gives power to the people by requiring a governmental body that seeks to withhold information to argue why it should be permitted to do so. In most cases, it must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

That means the attorney general fulfills a vital oversight role. It’s a much better system than letting government officials make those decisions themselves, something the opening words of the Public Information Act warn against.

“The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know,” the law states.

But there are problems with the act we cannot ignore.

Some governments abuse the law by delaying information releases. They unnecessarily seek attorney general rulings when information is clearly public or give requesters unfair expensive cost estimates for obtaining records. Some misuse the attorney-client privilege and litigation exceptions and others to try to block disclosure of information.

The act needs stronger enforcement measures. This can take several forms. One method is to ensure that records requestors who must go to court to force the release of information can recover their legal fees from that government. Currently, this isn’t a given in Texas.

The state Legislature should address these areas in its 2027 session. We need a back-to-basics approach to the Public Information Act to remain true to its intent of helping citizens watch over their public servants and tax dollars.

Our information rights give us the ability to track the truth as we use our free speech rights to make our voices heard.

Kelley Shannon is executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, a nonprofit based in Austin. For more information about the organization and its upcoming state conference, which is open to members of the public who register, go to www. foift.org.

A Senate analysis indicates that nearly 40% of Texas homeowners pay no school property taxes. Some legislators hope to increase that share in the upcoming regular session, which begins in January. The Houston Chronicle reported that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick directed a Senate committee to assess the impact of increased homestead exemptions in past years, with the possibility of raising them further next session.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, chairs that committee and has been at the forefront of efforts to expand homestead exemptions. Currently, the first $140,000 of a residence’s taxable value is exempt. For those over 65 or with disabilities, the exemption rises to $200,000.

Patrick hopes to raise the homestead exemption to $180,000 and to lower the age at which homeowners qualify for a senior exemption from 65 to 55. For his part, Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing a constitutional amendment that would eliminate school property taxes for homeowners.

“The state will fully fund public education without you having to pay for it in your homestead,” Abbott said. “The amount you get on your bill from the local school district that you pay in property taxes should be zero dollars for the rest of your ownership of that house.”

Hospitals could lose $27M daily in Medicaid funding

With the state’s new fiscal year beginning Sept. 1, Texas hospitals are expected to lose $27 million per day in additional Medicaid funding, according to the Texas Standard.

The shortfall follows the Trump administration’s withholding of approval for about $9.8 billion in three programs under the Comprehensive Hospital Increase Reimbursement Program, or CHIRP.

The program provides additional funding to cover the gap between Medicaid reimbursement rates and the actual costs hospitals incur when providing health services to Medicaid patients. Four million low-income Texans, most of them children, are enrolled in Medicaid.

“It is impossible for a hospital to take a huge loss on a Medicaid side of their portfolio and not have that impact services across the board, regardless of what type of insurance a patient has,” said Sara González of the Texas Hospital Association.

The federal government is withholding these funds as it questions how local jurisdictions in Texas calculate the taxes they collect from hospitals. Under CHIRP, the federal government matches those funds so the hospitals can cover their actual Medicaid costs.

Gov. Greg Abbott has called the funding holdup an economic “gun to the head.”

Several school districts facing state takeover

More than a dozen Texas school districts could be taken over by the state in 2027 if they do not improve student performance before next year’s A-F accountability ratings, according to The Texas Tribune.

At least 14 districts had at least one school campus with a failing grade, according to this year’s preliminary ratings. Under state law, the Texas education commissioner must take over any district that receives five consecutive failing ratings — or close that failing school.

After a takeover, the district’s elected board of trustees is replaced with an appointed board of managers for at least two years.

Campuses under threat of closure next year are in the following districts: Clarksville, Cleveland, Coldspring-Oakhurst, Elgin, Judson, Kingsville, Manor, Nacogdoches, Poteet, Runge, San Angelo, San Antonio, Spring and Waco.

Districts have until Sept. 11 to appeal a school’s grade rating.

New laws in effect Sept. 1

A bevy of new laws took effect Sept. 1, according to the Texas Standard, including changes to how consumers can repair electronic devices, greater regulation of residential solar sales, and the allowance of certain forms of gold and silver as legal tender.

State House Bill 2963 requires electronics manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with the parts, tools and documentation they need on “fair and reasonable terms.” That requirement applies to consumer electronics with a wholesale price of at least $50, but only to items offered for sale in the state after Sept. 1.

The measure contains numerous exemptions, including many motor vehicles, farm equipment, large home appliances and video-game consoles.

Another legal change requires residential solar system salespeople to register with the state and to work for a registered solar retailer. Consumer advocates said complaints about solar panels submitted to the attorney general increased by 818% between 2018 and 2023.

Another law recognizes qualifying privately produced silver and gold specie as legal tender in the state. The state comptroller is responsible for approving a system allowing electronic payments backed by bullion.

GOP set to gather in Dallas for midterm convention President Donald Trump and other GOP leaders hope this week’s midterm convention in Dallas will help the party win roughly 35 races that could determine control of Congress, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and his Democratic opponent James Talarico is, by all indications, among the biggest.

Trump appeared on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s podcast to promote the convention being held at American Airlines Center, home of the Dallas Mavericks. It is expected to draw 20,000 attendees over two days.

The first-of-its-kind midterm convention is intended to generate enthusiasm for the GOP candidates in what is predicted to be a tough election year for the party.

Talarico accepts CNN debate invitation; Paxton silent State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, last week accepted CNN’s debate invitation, marking the fourth time the U.S. Senate nominee has agreed to debate Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee.

Both are seeking the seat held by John Cornyn, R-San Antonio. Paxton has indicated he would debate his opponent but hasn’t committed to a specific event, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

“I’ve accepted the debate because I answer to the people of Texas — (Paxton) won’t because he answers to his billionaire holders,” Talarico said.

Paxton has not debated an opponent since before he was elected to statewide office in 2014. His senior adviser said in mid-August Paxton would debate Talarico, and expected an announcement to be “forthcoming shortly.”

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

LEON ALDRIDGE

“Being a good neighbor is an art which makes life richer.” — Gladys Taber

The tall, gray-haired man walked toward me from the house next door. I was copying the phone number from a “For Sale” sign on a lot at Lake Murvaul in East Texas.

I had no idea I was meeting one of the best neighbors I would ever have.

This was years ago, before the “art of neighboring” was killed by 5-inch glowing rectangles and buried under a pile of unread texts. Before phone screens replaced the loving attention we once gave to family, friends and folks living next door.

“Looking to buy a place on the lake?” the old fellow quizzed me. “Good fishin’ here.”

His thinning hair and weathered face revealed his age, but his smile, twinkling eyes and curiosity hinted at a much younger heart.

“I love this lake, wouldn’t live anywhere else. Retired and moved here from Dallas 17 years ago,” he said.

I bought the property and that summer while turning it into a new home, “Mr. Bill” made the time and the work tolerable.

“How ’bout a glass of tea?” he sometimes called out.

“Come on, sit down,” he always laughed. “I got a new joke for you.”

No one guffawed louder or longer at Mr. Bill’s jokes than he did.

Then he might offer, “Come over for supper later. Katherine’s fixin’ pork chops. I might save you one.”

After we moved in, Mr. Bill and Miz Katherine quickly “adopted” my children. He timed his afternoon coffee with the arrival of the school bus.

“Y’all better get over here,” he’d call out to my kids. “Katherine just made cookies.”

“Bug” was the name my daughter, Robin, selected for the terrier mutt she adopted, but Bill called the puppy “Bitsey.” The dog soon became Bill’s “bus alert.”

Good hearing was not a requirement for Bill’s fishing, however. You could hear his boat on many mornings, heading out at full throttle before the sun came up on the cove.

“Catch anything?” I’d quiz him later.

“Naw,” he would say with a laugh. “One tried to jump on my hook, but I talked him out of it.”

More than one Saturday morning, he was at my back door.

“Got any coffee? Katherine won’t let me have any more. Says I don’t need it. And if she calls, don’t you tell her I’m over here,” he’d tell me with a grin.

Miz Katherine eventually decided it was time to move closer to family in Fort Worth.

“Crazy woman,” Bill said, shaking his head. “I came to this lake to stay.”

He protested to all, except Miz Katherine, of course. Up went the “For Sale” sign. “Where ya’ going?” I asked one day, seeing him heaving suitcases into the car.

“To see the kids,” he replied. Looking around to make sure Miz Katherine wasn’t within earshot, he smiled and said, “If anyone stops to look at the house, tell ’em it’s eaten up with termites, the roof leaks and the plumbing’s shot.”

“Gotcha,” I said with a chuckle. “Have a good trip.”

The little place next door eventually sold, and they moved away. About that time, opportunity called me to Boerne in the Hill Country.

Even today, however, having been away from that lake for many years, when someone talks about how we used to have good neighbors, I still think about one who made my life richer — a neighbor always looking for another cup of coffee, laughing and saying, “I’ve got a new joke for you.”

Contact Aldridge at leonaldridge@gmail.com. Other Aldridge columns are archived at leonaldridge. com.

Kendall County already chose its Republican nominees. Most of them will be the only names on the local side of the November ballot. That is not a reason to relax. It is a reason to finish the job.

A lot of people assume this county takes care of itself. That assumption is how good years get wasted. The other side is registering voters and knocking on doors. If we treat “safe” as a substitute for turnout, we hand them the margin.

Check your registration this week. If you moved, if you turned 18, if you have never voted here, Oct. 5 is the cutoff. After that, you are watching from the sidelines.

Then decide what you can actually do. One Saturday at a table. One ride to the polls. One conversation with someone who has not decided whether this election is worth their time.

That is the work. It is not glamorous; I certainly understand that. However, it is how counties stay the way they are.

The county has also begun the process to put the Elections Office into a larger building at the old Burdick Center, and I appreciate them getting it finalized, but better space does not vote. People do.

Statewide, Texas will choose a governor, a U.S. senator, and a congressional direction that lasts well past this fall. You do not have to love every nominee to understand that staying home is still a choice with consequences.

I will not list the same values we printed in June. You know them. The question is whether we act like we believe them when the calendar gets short.

Go to the Kendall County Elections site and confirm that you are registered to vote. If you want a volunteer shift, a campaign sign, or a list of candidates, contact us at the Kendall County Republican Party.

Verify your registration, before Oct. 5 turns into a regret. Eight weeks is enough. Waiting is not a plan.

Get involved and make your voice heard.

Traften Werenskjold is Chairman of the Kendall County Republican Party

While it might seem premature, planning your successful exit from your business is one of the smartest moves you can make as an owner.

The reality is that most business owners have 80% to 90% of their net worth tied up in their companies, according to the Exit Planning Institute. That’s a significant investment that deserves careful planning to protect.

Unfortunately, 70% to 80% of businesses put on the market don’t sell, and about half of all business exits are involuntary due to unexpected circumstances like health issues, family emergencies management disputes or economic downturns.

Exit planning is more than preparing for retirement. It’s taking control of your future and ensuring you can transition away from your business when and how you choose.

You can start with the end in mind – a proactive approach that can inform your current business decisions and help increase your company’s value and marketability.

Begin by articulating your personal goals for both the transaction and your life afterward. Maybe you want to sell only a portion of your business, stay on as a paid consultant or use the proceeds to start your next venture. Understanding your vision helps shape everything else.

You’ll want to calculate how much money you’ll need to fund your desired retirement lifestyle, accounting for expenses that may currently be covered by the business, like your cellphone, vehicles, travel and health care. Don’t forget about your legacy goals too – what you want to leave for your family or charitable causes.

Getting sta r t e d requires building a strong professional team. At the center should be a financial advisor who can help you through the planning, execution and post-sale phases. You’ll likely also need a tax professional, legal adviser, commercial banker and business valuation expert.

Depending on your exit strategy, you might later add specialists like business brokers, investment bankers or employee stock ownership plan advisers.

Understanding your business’s current value is crucial. It’s a good idea to get a calculation of value at least three to five years before your planned exit. This isn’t as formal or expensive as a qualified appraisal, but it gives you a realistic range of what your business might be worth.

This step may reveal a gap between what you need financially and what your business could sell for. If so, don’t panic. You have several options: work longer, adjust your spending expectations, save more outside the business or focus on increasing your company’s value.

You can boost value by increasing profits through higher market share, new products, better pric ing or reduced costs. You can also improve intangible assets like employee expertise, operational systems and customer relationships.

Finally, consider who your successor might be. Selling your interest to family members, business partners or employees often provide more control over timing and lower transaction costs, though they may result in lower sale prices. Selling the business to third parties typically bring higher proceeds but less control over the process.

The key message is simple: it’s never too early to start planning your exit. Whether you’re thinking about stepping away next year or in the next decade, taking proactive steps now puts you in control of your business’s future and your own financial security.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Gov. Greg Abbott last week ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras, the artificial intelligence-powered license plate readers, The Dallas Morning News reported. Many Texas cities that use the cameras have relied on state money to purchase them.

The Texas Tribune reported that the state has devoted at least $30 million from a $1 auto insurance fee now imposed on Texans to fund the placement of cameras along the state’s streets and highways.

The cameras have drawn criticism. A Lufkin police officer has been charged with 100 felony counts of alleged misuse of Flock information. Other criminal investigations are also underway.

“To the extent that cities get any funding for those cameras, most of it comes from the federal government. To the extent any funding comes from Texas agencies, those agencies are clarifying that those funds cannot be used for Flock cameras,” Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement.

Industry warns of blackouts over data center opposition The pushback against booming data center construction continues to grow, even as the state’s grid operator warns of rolling blackouts in West Texas if new transmission lines aren’t built, the Texas Standard reported.

Dozens of legislators and state officials have been calling for scrapping the transmission buildout so the Legislature can reassess, while Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement of an audit of all data centers to be connected to the grid has forced the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to pause construction of the lines.

“Whatever the complexities of the policies engaged here — and the degree to which the deployment of these high-capacity power lines and the construction of data centers are distinct issues — in this moment, it’s the politics that matter at least as much as the policy,” said Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Public Utility Commission approved a plan to build 765-kilovolt transmission lines across the state to meet transmission needs following Winter Storm Uri in 2021, which underscored the state’s grid vulnerabilities. Oil and gas operators in West Texas worry the region has far less generation capacity than the eastern half of the state.

“The world’s most important energy basin is currently running on a patchwork of portable generators that just are not equipped for long-term needs or production growth,” said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association.

The final decision on whether to build the lines rests with the PUC; the five members are appointed by Abbott. The governor has not taken a position on the issue.

Wildfires ravage North Texas

The Ross Fire in North Texas scorched 85,000 acres in just three days across Jack and Palo Pinto counties, with it doubling in size in a few hours last week, The Texas Tribune reported. As of Sunday morning, the Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire was 31% contained.

No injuries have been reported, but some rural residents were advised to evacuate.

With much of the state experiencing extreme dry heat, the Forest Service reported 10 active fires as of Sunday that have scorched more than 90,000 acres across Texas.

Fire severely damaged Worth Ranch, an 800-acre historic Scouting America camp along the Brazos River.

Judge blocks drag show ban

A federal judge once again blocked a Texas law banning certain drag show performances, The Dallas Morning News reported. The judge said the law’s restrictions violate the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner last week ruled that Senate Bill 12 is an unconstitutional ban on free speech and permanently barred Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from enforcing the law.

The 2023 law, heavily backed by Republican lawmakers, prohibited “sexually oriented performances” in front of minors or on public property where children might see them. The law did not prohibit all drag shows. In a 36-page ruling, Hittner concluded that the law was both overly broad and unconstitutionally vague. Paxton said he would appeal the decision “immediately.”

Tribe opens temporary casino in East Texas

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe recently opened a new temporary casino in Leggett, just north of Livingston, with plans to build a much larger resort on the site, the Houston Chronicle reported.

“Naskila Casino Leggett is the beginning of new beginnings for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas,” Ricky Sylestine, tribal council chairman, said in a statement. The new 24-hour facility features more than 300 electronic bingo machines as well as gaming rooms and a grill.

The tribe held a groundbreaking ceremony in June for a 685.000-square-foot casino with a large gaming floor, a 366-room hotel and other entertainment amenities. The first phase is planned to be finished in late 2028.

Tribal leaders say the casino will create new economic opportunities and become a significant economic driver for East Texas.

Paxton’s net worth jumps in latest election disclosure Lucrative real estate holdings have allowed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s net worth to increase by hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past year, according to a recent financial disclosure, the Houston Chronicle reported.

One property in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, rose in value from at least $100,001 in June 2025 to between $1 million and $5 million this month, according to Paxton’s disclosure. A vacant piece of land in Johnson County, valued between $15,001 and $50,000 last year, is now reported to be worth between $1 million and $5 million. The law does not require exact valuations; instead, it uses ranges of value.

Paxton is the GOP nominee in the U.S. Senate race this November. His opponent, Demo crat James Talarico, reported much smaller financial holdings, with his income ranging from $84,000 to $97,000.

Abbott backs threeyear college degrees

Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing Texas public universities to offer students three-year bachelor’s degrees, The Dallas Morning News reported. His proposed legislation is part of an effort to cut college costs for Texas students.

The legislation also requires universities to offer at least 10 degrees that can be completed in three years and 90 credit hours, down from typical bachelor’s degrees that require four years and 120 hours.

“Every additional year means more tuition and fees, but also more in housing and living expenses. It’s also more time before students are able to go into the job that they are seeking while they’re in college,” Abbott said at a campaign stop at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.

The Legislature will need to approve Abbott’s proposal before it becomes a reality. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board would work with universities to ensure that the reduced-credit degrees maintain “high academic standards.”

THECB has formed working groups to identify which degree programs and high-demand occupations would be best suited for the accelerated programs.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

What does it take to change our world? One answer is more people like Tom Luce.

Many Texans may never have heard of Tom. Yet millions have benefited from his life’s work and his profound legacy reaches every corner of our state.

Since his passing on July 25, tributes have come from former presidents, business leaders, educators and civic leaders across Texas. Those of us fortunate enough to have known Tom have lost a trusted friend, wise counselor and steadfast champion for Texas.

A successful attorney and trusted adviser to Ross Perot Sr. and other business leaders, Tom could have devoted his career entirely to private practice. Instead, he repeatedly chose public service, taking on challenges that affected generations of Texans. In the 1980s, he helped craft a historic overhaul of Texas public education, introducing reforms that were revolutionary for their time, including strict class-size limits, teacher testing and “No Pass, No Play.”

Tom went on to found and build organizations that transformed math and science education, expanded access to mental health care and strengthened civic leadership. He also created the nonpartisan policy organization Texas 2036.

What is remarkable is not simply the number of organizations Tom helped build. It is the way he approached every challenge. He was never satisfied with short-term fixes for long-term problems. He wanted to create solutions that would continue serving Texans long after he was gone.

Tom observed that leaders must balance what he called “the tyranny of the urgent” with the discipline to “look around the corner.” That was more than a memorable phrase. It was the principle that guided his life’s work.

Whether the issue was education, mental health, workforce development or economic competitiveness, Tom challenged Texas to think beyond the immediate crisis and build the foundation for a better future.

Those convictions led him to found Texas 2036 nearly a decade ago. He recognized that the success of our cities, towns and rural communities depends on decisions made at the state level as well as locally.

With our state’s bicentennial on the horizon, Tom envisioned an organization that would help leaders in every region succeed by offering facts and research. He believed Texas could tackle its biggest challenges if leaders were willing to begin with evidence, listen to one another and focus on what would serve the state over the long term.

Working alongside Tom over the past two years, I came to appreciate something his résumé could never fully capture. His attention was always on the next challenge, the next opportunity for Texas or the next leader who should be encouraged to step forward. He measured success not by personal recognition, but by whether the work would continue after he stepped away.

Every generation inherits a Texas it did not build. The question is whether it leaves behind a stronger one for those who follow.

As Texas approaches its 200th birthday in 2036, the greatest tribute we can offer Tom is not simply remembering what he accomplished. It is continuing the work he began: looking ahead, making investments that will benefit Texans for decades and building a state that offers greater opportunity to those who come after us.

That work belongs to all of us.

David W. Leebron is president and CEO of Texas 2036 and previously served as president of Rice University.

Next in our “statewide races on the Nov. 3 ballot” series is the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Democratic vision for that office.

The Texas Legislature established the TDA in 1907. The agency’s key objectives are to promote production agriculture, consumer protection, economic development and healthy living. The agriculture commissioner oversees the agency and is elected every four years.

TDA’s mission is to partner with all Texans to make Texas the nation’s leader in agriculture, fortify our economy, empower rural communities, promote healthy lifestyles, and cultivate winning strategies for rural, suburban and urban Texas through exceptional service and the common threads of agriculture in our daily lives.

TDA is also the agency leading the charge against the New World screwworm outbreak.

TDA’s mission is broad and touches areas beyond farming and ranching. I’ll highlight four main issues that Democrats will focus on.

* Affordable Food. While corporate profits are sky-high, family farmers are paid pennies on the dollar of what they are owed, and consumers are being price-gouged. Corporate middlemen are both suppressing farm income and raising prices for consumers.

Democrats will fight for cheaper, healthier and more local foods that pay farmers their fair share while also ensuring food remains affordable, by limiting the ability of the greedy few corporate middlemen from monopolizing our food system.

* Stopping AI Data Centers. Data centers, including those for AI, are cropping up across Texas. If we are not exceedingly smart with their design, placement and purpose, they will cause higher water and power bills, run water wells dry, and may hurt jobs.

The TDA can stop these irresponsible AI data centers from causing mass water/power inflation or harming Texans. Democrats will issue “Ag Impact Studies” to force data centers to be honest with their resource consumption.

* New World Screwworm. The New World Screwworm is a serious threat to Texas agriculture, livestock, wildlife and even household pets. If not handled immediately with all available tools at our disposal, this will not only harm Texas ranchers but it will also cause further inflation at the grocery store.

The good news is that we’ve beaten the New World Screwworm before, and we’ll beat it again. Right now, the USDA is not allowing us to use every tool at our disposal. We’re fighting the Screwworm with one arm tied behind our backs.

Democrats will push to deploy the Screwworm Adult Suppression System. Such a system worked with past infestations, so it is the missing tool we will, in all likelihood, need to fight back against the Screwworm.

We’re years away from having anywhere near enough sterile flies. They alone are not the solution. The negative consequences of inaction far outweigh anything else for not just Texas ranchers, but for all those who eat food in Texas.

* Saving Big Bend. Big Bend is a national treasure; bulldozers are coming to ruin it for Trump’s border wall. Democrats will protect Big Bend. We must stop the stealing of private property, harming local communities, and the destruction of Texas treasures just to enrich the corrupt bigshots.

Several Congressional acts, including the Endangered Species Act, were all bypassed by the Department of Homeland Security through waivers to speed through harmful construction.

Tourism is the main source of revenue for the area, and the border wall will cut off access to the Rio Grande and view of the region’s famous “dark skies,” both key tourist attractions.

You don’t need a border wall, or any of the other things they’re building, between two 1,000-foot cliffs. We must stop scarring our natural heritage to enrich the corrupt bigshots.

Other Democratic priorities for the TDA include protecting our scarce water resources for Texas consumers, strengthening rural healthcare, stopping high-powered electric transmission lines, stopping the deployment of Flock surveillance cameras, and more.

The last day to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 5. Visit www.votetexas. gov to check your registration or to register to vote. For details on the upcoming election, call our office at 830-331-1243 or visit www.kcdems.us Laura Bray is for-mer chair of the Kendall County Democratic Party. Clayton Tucker and the Texas Agriculture Department contributed to this article.

In its simplest form, saving can mean putting money into a jar, adding to it and letting it grow slowly. A 401(k), or other workplace retirement plan, is a step beyond that.

It’s more like a garden than a jar. Once you understand the basics of your 401(k), it becomes easier to feel confident in your decisions.

In a jar, your money only grows when you add more. In a garden, what you plant can begin to grow on its own. Your investments can earn returns, and those returns may in turn earn additional returns. That’s called compounding, and it can have a meaningful impact over time. Like a garden, however, growth is not guaranteed. Markets can rise and fall, and investments can lose value.

Most workplace retirement plan contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, which lowers today’s taxable income; you’ll pay taxes when you withdraw it in retirement. Some plans also offer a Roth option: you contribute after-tax dollars and withdrawals in retirement can be tax free. Your plan administrator can provide more information.

Many 401( k) plans include an employer match, either up to a set dollar amount, perhaps $500, or a percentage of your salary, typically 3%–5%. Contributions you make, as well as those from your employer, can grow over time. Try to contribute at least enough to capture the full match; anything less means you’re leaving money on the table.

Now the question is how to invest your contributions inside your 401(k). The menu of investment options may seem complicated, but most fall into a few common categories.

* Stock or equity funds focus on stocks, which represent ownership in companies. Because they’re tied to company performance, they have the potential for higher growth over time, but their value can go up and down in the short term. When you’re decades from retirement, that short-term volatility matters less; you have time to ride out the swings.

* Bond funds invest in loans made to governments or corporations. These tend to be more stable than stock funds but typically grow more slowly. They can help balance the ups and downs.

* Balanced or blended funds hold a mix of stocks and bonds in a single investment.

* Target- date funds combine different types of investments in one fund. As you move toward a specified retirement year, the fund gradually adjusts to focus more on stability and less on growth.

The earlier you start planting, the more time your money has to grow. Even small contributions early in your career can end up as large amounts later, simply because they had more time to compound.

If you change jobs, keep in mind that your employer’s contributions may not be fully yours immediately. It depends on your plan’s vesting schedule, so it’s worth checking before you go.

The most important steps in a retirement plan are getting started, contributing consistently and taking advantage of what your plan offers. With a little knowledge, you can feel more confident moving forward. The garden is yours. Start planting.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Ryan Marquard, your Edward Jones financial adviser at 512 E. Blanco Road, #301, Boerne, at 830-815-1404.

Across industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, construction, professional services, retail and hospitality, these companies continue to expand even as they navigate higher costs, tighter credit conditions, and ongoing workforce challenges. Their ability to grow and adapt will play a significant role in shaping the long-term prosperity and resilience of Kendall County and the broader Hill Country region.

One of the biggest challenges these businesses face is not simply access to capital, but access to the right kind of banking relationship.

Privately owned companies often have complex financial needs, from succession planning and ownership transitions to managing cash flow during periods of growth. They benefit from financial partners who understand the local economy and can provide practical guidance alongside financing.

That means helping business owners evaluate expansion opportunities, plan for future leadership and manage risk, not just approve loans.

As Boerne and surrounding Hill Country communities continue to attract new residents and businesses, supporting locally owned companies must remain a priority. Stronger connections among lenders, business owners and community leaders can help create an environment where businesses thrive.

Continued investment in workforce development, infrastructure and economic growth initiatives will also be essential to sustaining long-term success.

By focusing on the needs of locally owned and privately held middle market businesses, we can help ensure that growth remains local, opportunities stay within the community, and the economic benefits of success are shared throughout the Texas Hill Country.

John Riquelme is the Central Texas Market President for Hancock Whitney Bank

GUEST COMMENTARY

That veto was a serious mistake, and its consequences are becoming increasingly clear.

What began with hemp legalization has developed into a massive commercial market for intoxicating gummies, drinks, vapes and other THC products. These items are now widely available in Texas communities, often from storefronts that bear little resemblance to what Texans envisioned when hemp was legalized.

In my community of McKinney, the proliferation of THC retailers is impossible to ignore. This is no longer simply an agricultural hemp issue. It is a rapidly expanding intoxicant industry establishing a permanent commercial presence across Texas.

The Legislature recognized the problem and passed Senate Bill 3, which would have prohibited retail sales of consumable hemp products containing intoxicating cannabinoids while preserving legitimate non-intoxicating products containing CBD and CBG.

Abbott vetoed it. His decision did more than stop one bill. It signaled to the intoxicating-THC industry that Texas remained open for expansion, lobbying and litigation. The industry now has every incentive to establish more storefronts, acquire more customers, hire more lobbyists and challenge state restrictions in court.

Every year of delay allows this industry to become more deeply entrenched. Businesses secure leases and build customer bases. Trade organizations grow stronger. Political influence increases. Eventually, lawmakers are no longer deciding whether an industry should have been allowed to develop. They are confronting an established commercial constituency demanding preservation of the status quo.

Texas should look at Arkansas. After Arkansas enacted restrictions on intoxicating hemp-derived THC products, businesses sued and initially persuaded a federal judge to block enforcement. Arkansas kept fighting. In 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed that injunction in Bio Gen LLC v. Sanders, rejecting claims that federal hemp law prevented states from imposing tougher restrictions.

That ruling does not control Texas courts, but it provides an important example: federal hemp legalization did not strip states of their authority to regulate intoxicating products.

I am also troubled by the industry’s frequent invocation of veterans.

I am a disabled veteran who served more than two decades in the U.S. Navy, including during the Iraq War. Veterans deserve serious medical care, compassion and evidence-based treatment. Their suffering should never become political cover for preserving a commercial intoxicant industry.

If cannabis-derived medicines have legitimate medical applications, Texas can address them through appropriate medical and regulatory channels. That is fundamentally different from permitting a vast retail market for intoxicating THC products.

I also spent years in law enforcement and saw firsthand what substance abuse can do to individuals, families and neighborhoods. Prevention is far easier than repairing the damage after another intoxicating industry becomes culturally normalized.

Texas must pay particular attention to its children. A generation is growing up surrounded by THC gummies, beverages, vapes and storefronts marketing psychoactive products.

Normalization matters. Availability matters. Potency matters.

Texas lawmakers should enact clear, legally durable restrictions on intoxicating THC products while protecting legitimate non-intoxicating hemp commerce. They should study Arkansas’s legal victory, anticipate industry litigation and prepare a bill capable of surviving judicial scrutiny.

Gov. Abbott should call a special session rather than wait for the next regular legislative session.

The Pandora’s box opened by the veto will only become harder to close.

Texas should close it now. GUEST COMMENTARY

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott personally stopped construction until he could visit the region.

Hundreds of people showed up at the annual meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, gathering outside its headquarters in what resembled a tailgate party.

The federal government already has sent bulldozers into Big Bend National Park Among those trying to rally people to the cause was former Republican Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

“I have yet to encounter anybody in the Big Bend area who does not oppose a wall,” he said.

While Big Bend is a national park, several state parks could be affected by attempts to build border barriers, including Big Bend State Park and Seminole Canyon State Park.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Chairman Paul Foster addressed the concerns of those attending the annual meeting.

“I think we agree with most of you and are working with the Governor’s Office and the federal government,” he said. “Our goal is to minimize damage to the ecosystem and the natural beauty of not only the parks, but the whole area.”

Abbott: Extend ban on H-1B visas

Gov. Greg Abbott last week proposed extending a ban on H-1B visas used to hire foreign workers to all Texas public school employees, The Texas Tribune reported. A similar ban is already in place for Texas universities. The governor says he will push for legislation to ensure “exactly zero” of Texas school employers are in the state on federal visas.

“We’re tired of the federal government not putting limits on who can come in under H-1Bs, and because of the federal government’s failure to control H-1B visas, Texas is having to put our foot down, and that means making some tough decisions,” Abbott said.

Texas school districts employ more educators holding H-1B visas than any other state, according to an analysis from the National Education Association.

The Dallas Independent School District leads in the number of educators hired with H-1B visas at 171.

The policy change would require legislation to pass during the next regular session of the Legislature, which begins in January.

Patrick threatens schools who keep ‘inappropriate’ books

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatened last week to lower ratings of schools that do not pull books marked as “inappropriate,” The Dallas Morning News reported.

“We’re coming for the books,” Patrick said in a message to superintendents. “We ask that you do it on your own and remove these books.”

Patrick controls the state Senate agenda and says school districts may eventually face funding cuts if those books remain in school libraries. He did not say how that would occur.

Abbott last year signed a bill into law that gives school boards the authority to pull books from school libraries if parents or members of the public believe they are indecent or profane. Patrick said new penalties are necessary because school districts are not complying.

Democrats have said stricter oversight over books in school libraries threatens local control and access to books.

Up to 25,000 plugged oil, gas wells could fail, group warns 

A new watchdog group’s analysis of Texas oil and gas well data claims 25,000 plugged wells across the state are at risk of failure, threatening to contaminate the aquifers many communities rely upon for their water supply, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The number of so-called “zombie wells” — plugged wells that rise from the dead — is about 50 times higher than previously reported.

Leaking zombie wells are a growing problem in Texas oil fields as a growing number of plugged wells fail, sending toxic wastewater up to the surface and contaminating aquifers.

The group, Future Heist, has created an interactive map to identify the wells at risk.

The group scraped state websites for information. It assigned each well a score based on several factors: the well plug’s age, well construction quality, compliance history and its proximity to oil and gas wastewater injection.

All the information is publicly available on websites belonging to the Texas Railroad Commission.

“I spent 15 years reporting on what oil and gas did to Texas, and the facts were always right there in the public record — just buried where no one could use them,” Saul Elbein, Future Heist’s director, said in a statement. “Future Heist digs them out and makes them impossible to ignore, so people can see what was done to them and decide what comes next.”

Texas crime rate falls for third straight year

The state’s crime rate has declined for the past three years, according to data released by the Texas Department of Public Safety, including by 13% in 2025.

The crime rate peaked in 2022 at 2,830.14 offenses per 100,000 people and has declined each year since.

Overall, the violent crime rate is down 13.19% from 2024. The property crime rate is down 13.31% for the same period.

Abbott touted anti-crime measures taken during recent legislative sessions.

“We passed the toughest bail reform package in state history, backed law enforcement and targeted violent repeat offenders,” he said.

Smuggled Texas fuel is bankrolling cartels

Fuel smuggling has likely surpassed narcotics as the Mexican drug cartels’ leading income source, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety and reported by the Houston Chronicle.

DPS reports the cartels smuggle fuel worth $12 billion to $17 billion a year from Texas into Mexico.

“Fuel trafficking is a threat that is operating in plain sight,” DPS director Col. Freeman Martin told the state Senate Select Committee on Homeland and Border Security. “They’re loading fuel trucks ... or any container you can think of and hauling it south.”

Cartels have been known to drive empty trucks into Texas and fill them up with legally purchased and tax-free fuel from licensed terminals. The trucks are then driven to unregulated fuel sites, where cheaper products are blended into the fuel.

Customs documents are forged or changed, and the fuel is taken to Mexico, Martin said.

One possible solution is to make it illegal for trucks carrying hazardous materials to deviate from preplanned routes or to carry more than 80,000 pounds, according to state and industry officials.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@ texaspress.com.

CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and the perfect time to consider whether you have adequate coverage to protect your loved ones. While no one likes to think about what would happen if they weren’t around, doing so is an act of love.

Life insurance is fundamentally about protecting your loved ones should something happen to you. If you pass away, your family will not only face the challenges of grief and loss, but they could also find themselves financially strapped. Life insurance can help provide them with financial security in the event you no longer can.

Who needs life insurance. You’re a good candidate if you have a spouse or partner who depends on your income or if there are children or other loved ones whom you support.

Insurance protection can also be a solution if you have outstanding debts like a mortgage, credit cards or a car loan, or if you simply don’t want to burden your loved ones with your final expenses.

Insurance through work. While many people have life insurance through their employers, this coverage may not be enough for you, depending on your situation.

Among employers who offer group life insurance, only 2% offer more than two times the employee’s annual salary — essentially just two years of income — according to the Guardian’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Study.

And remember that it’s only good as long as you’re employed there. With all this in mind, many people purchase individual insurance as a supplement to their workplace coverage.

How much: You might hear that you need life insurance equal to about seven to 10 times your pretax annual salary. That’s not a bad “ballpark” figure, but not everyone is playing in the same ballpark.

To get a true sense of how much of a death benefit is right for you, use the “L-I-F-E” guide to calculate your needs:

• L, Liabilities: Will your family need to pay off a mortgage, credit cards, car loan or other debt?

• I, Income: Will your family need to replace your income for a period of years?

• F, Final expenses: Do you have the resources to cover funeral and burial expenses?

• E, Education needs: Do you need to put children through a private school or college?

You can choose between two basic types of life insurance: term and permanent. As its name suggests, term insurance is designed to provide coverage for a designated period, such as 10, 15 or 20 years. In general, term insurance is quite affordable for most people, especially when they buy policies as young adults.

On the other hand, permanent insurance, such as whole life or universal life, is usually considerably more expensive because in addition to providing a death benefit, your premiums build cash value.

In choosing between term and permanent insurance, you’ll want to evaluate several issues, such as how long you think you’ll need coverage and how much annual premium you can afford to pay.

Life insurance needs can change over time, so it’s important to review your coverage every three to five years or after major life events like marriage or birth of a child. Consider working with a financial adviser who can look at your complete financial situation and help you choose a policy that truly fits your family’s needs.

Taking action sooner rather than later could be one of the most important gifts you give your loved ones.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

When I moved from Utah to Vermont in 1982, the newly elected mayor of the city of Burlington openly called himself a socialist. His name was Bernard Sanders. Vermont itself had been governed by Republicans for more than a century, and Sanders did not seem like a serious public official.

He had never held a real job; he was an “activist.” Many of us laughed him off, thinking he would just go away on his own. After all, there is no place on earth where socialism actually works.

Sanders became known as Bernie, and changed his affiliation to “independent,” although he caucuses with Democrats and nearly won the Democrat presidential nomination in 2016 with 13 million votes. And he still hasn’t gone away.

British icon Winston Churchill said, “Socialism is a political religion whose God is the State and whose priests are the bureaucrats ... it is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy; its inherent virtue is the equal distribution of misery.”

British leader Margaret Thatcher once said, “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”

Our great Republican president Ronald Reagan said, “ Socialism only works in two places: heaven, where they don’t need it, and hell, where they already have it.”

Yet, the American people are faced once again by a loud minority of activists who want socialism in the United States. Republicans won’t abide with it and will storm the polls to prevent it.

Let’s get specific. Across America this year, multiple Democrat candidates have won their party’s primary election by campaigning on platform planks from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). And not just in the whacko big cities on both coasts; a candidate named Abdul El-Sayed won the Democrat nomination for United States Senate from Michigan.

The DSA platform includes these planks: single payer healthcare (“ Medicare for All”), Green New Deal, universal rent control, free college education, government or social ownership of major corporations, a new U.S. Constitution, abolish the Senate, restructure or replace the presidency and the Supreme Court, defund the police and abolish prison systems, eliminate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and open the borders.

Wow. During the fall campaign, Republican candidates will be asking their opponents where they stand on these crazy planks. As future president John Adams said in 1770, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

Of course, Adams could not have envisioned that modern America would have audio and video recording devices, conveniently at the touch of a button on our mobile phones. It enables voters to hold candidates accountable for their own words.

The Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas, James Talarico, will need to explain to voters why he said, “Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes. In fact, there are six.”

He also said, “God is non-binary.”

When he was a state legislator, he argued against legislation that would have set a restriction limiting Texas girls’ sports to female participants. This widely popu lar leg i s lat ion passed, thanks to our Republican legislature and was signed into law by Governor Abbott. But Talarico needs to explain his opposition to this simple, common-sense law.

In 2021, he said, “Radicalized white men are the greatest domestic terrorist threat in our country.” He should explain himself to the 1.5 million of my fellow Texas veterans, many of whom are white men, and who have borne arms to protect our country, not threaten it.

On a podcast in 2023, he said, “ Christianity is just another word for causing trouble.” Most of my fellow Christians are offended by that statement.

These woke positions and weird ideas are totally out of step with Texas voters. With the Nov. 3 general election less than three months away, Republicans need to get fired up for this campaign.

And when early voting and Election Day arrive, do what Kendall County Republican voters are known for – cast a ballot for every candidate with an “R” next to their name, from top to bottom.

Scott S. Kramer is former chairman of the Kendall County Republican Party.