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When Every Minute Counts: How Smart Businesses Avoid IT Downtime

By
Alec Castleberry
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0
Poverty And Absence Of Money. Upset Indian Man Counting Coins While Leaning On Table At Home, Depressed Young Eastern Man Suffering Financial Crisis And Bankruptcy, Selective Focus, Close Up

By Alec Castleberry

For many businesses, downtime isn’t just frustrating—it’s expensive. Whether it’s a crashed server, a sluggish Wi-Fi connection, or a network glitch that stalls an entire operation, the ripple effects are real. And while these problems might seem unpredictable, most are preventable.

That’s the hard lesson one regional retailer learned when their weekend sales were consistently undercut by unexplained IT failures.

The Slow Burn Before the Crash

It started small. Customers at the checkout line had to wait as card readers lagged or failed. By the third Friday in a row, it wasn’t just an inconvenience—it was a crisis. The retailer reached out to Castleberry Services, desperate to keep the next weekend on track.

Our technicians discovered the cause wasn’t faulty hardware or software—it was a power fluctuation in the server rack that overloaded the network during peak hours. The fix? Strategic surge protection, network optimization, and smarter monitoring tools.

Sales bounced back the very next weekend.

The Bigger Picture: Downtime is Preventable

Downtime is more than a tech issue. It’s a lost sale. A missed deadline. A customer who might not return. Smart businesses are realizing that proactive IT planning is a vital part of their growth strategy.

Some of the best practices we’ve seen include:

✔ Real-time monitoring – Catching problems before they crash systems. ✔ Failover systems and backups – Staying operational even when the unexpected happens. ✔ Simplified vendor relationships – Reducing delays by having one point of contact. ✔ Routine maintenance – Ensuring every update or upgrade works as it should.

East Texas Businesses Deserve Better

From retail to healthcare to logistics, local businesses power our region. And they need technology that works as hard as they do.

Because in business, every minute really does count.

When Every Minute Counts: How Smart Businesses Avoid IT Downtime

By Alec Castleberry

For many businesses, downtime isn’t just frustrating—it’s expensive. Whether it’s a crashed server, a sluggish Wi-Fi connection, or a network glitch that stalls an entire operation, the ripple effects are real. And while these problems might seem unpredictable, most are preventable.

That’s the hard lesson one regional retailer learned when their weekend sales were consistently undercut by unexplained IT failures.

The Slow Burn Before the Crash

It started small. Customers at the checkout line had to wait as card readers lagged or failed. By the third Friday in a row, it wasn’t just an inconvenience—it was a crisis. The retailer reached out to Castleberry Services, desperate to keep the next weekend on track.

Our technicians discovered the cause wasn’t faulty hardware or software—it was a power fluctuation in the server rack that overloaded the network during peak hours. The fix? Strategic surge protection, network optimization, and smarter monitoring tools.

Sales bounced back the very next weekend.

The Bigger Picture: Downtime is Preventable

Downtime is more than a tech issue. It’s a lost sale. A missed deadline. A customer who might not return. Smart businesses are realizing that proactive IT planning is a vital part of their growth strategy.

Some of the best practices we’ve seen include:

✔ Real-time monitoring – Catching problems before they crash systems. ✔ Failover systems and backups – Staying operational even when the unexpected happens. ✔ Simplified vendor relationships – Reducing delays by having one point of contact. ✔ Routine maintenance – Ensuring every update or upgrade works as it should.

East Texas Businesses Deserve Better

From retail to healthcare to logistics, local businesses power our region. And they need technology that works as hard as they do.

Because in business, every minute really does count.

Stop Wildfires Before They Start: Summer Safety Tips

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

The Texas A&M Forest Service advises everyone to take extra care when grilling over the Memorial Day weekend (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Recent high temperatures and reduced rainfall are causing wilting grasses and dry vegetation in areas where small wildfires could occur across parts of the eastern Hill Country, South Texas, Central Texas, and Southeast Texas. In the Trans Pecos region, ongoing drought and dry, dormant vegetation in the mountain ranges continue to pose a wildfire risk.

“Late April and early May rainfall has spurred grass growth and improved vegetation moisture across much of the state,” said Luke Kanclerz, Texas A&M Forest Service Predictive Services department head. “We do not anticipate any large wildfires occurring through the holiday weekend, but encourage everyone to be cautious with outdoor activities that may cause a spark.”

Tips to help prevent wildfires

Keep the following tips in mind to help prevent wildfires this summer:

  • Always check with local officials for burn bans and other outdoor burning restrictions. Pay attention to local guidelines regarding open fires, campfires, and outdoor activities that may pose a fire hazard.
  • Never leave your grill unattended. Wind gusts may blow embers into dry vegetation, potentially starting a wildfire.
  • Ensure your grill is kept clean of excess grease to prevent flare-ups.
  • Place your grill in an open space away from tall or dry grass, shrubs, wood piles or other flammable materials. Also, avoid placing your grill underneath a tree or on a wooden patio deck.
  • After grilling, allow time for the coals to completely cool. Smoldering coals may reignite and release embers, which may be blown into nearby vegetation.
  • If you pull a boat or camper, ensure the tow chains are correctly connected and not dragging on the roadway, creating sparks.
  • Park in designated spaces and avoid driving over and parking on dry grass — the heat from your vehicle can easily ignite the grass.

For more information about protecting your home, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/ProtectYourHome/.

Would you like more information from Texas A&M AgriLife?

Visit AgriLife Today, the news hub for Texas A&M AgriLife, which brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System, or sign up for our Texas A&M AgriLife E-Newsletter.

For more resources including photo repository, logo downloads and style guidelines, please visit the Resources for Press and Media.

Lady Roadrunners, Roadrunners Earn Postseason Honors

By
Gary Stallard
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Davila, Ficarra Named to First Team Superlatives Lists

Angelina College softball and baseball players earned postseason honors following the recent 2025 season, with a total of five Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners landing on Region XIV superlatives lists.

Softball’s Riley Davila and baseball’s Connor Ficarra each earned 1st Team honors, while Lady ‘Runner River Hulsey and Roadrunner Stefano Ramos picked up 2nd Team honors. Baseball’s Ashton Wagner earned Honorable Mention on the list.

Davila, a sophomore outfielder from Angleton High School in Angleton, earned 1st Team All-South Conference and 2nd Team All-Region for the Lady Roadrunners. Davila leaves the program as the all-time leader in stolen bases, both for a season (43) and a career (78). Her ’25 total left her ranked among the top 25 in the nation in stolen bases. Davila also hit for a .418 batting average while scoring 42 runs.

Ficarra, a sophomore outfielder from Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, hit at a .339 clip while driving in 30 runs and scoring 41 more. Ficarra finished the year with a pair of homers, three triples and 13 doubles. 

Sophomore Hulsey, from Longview High School in Longview, hit .351 with a homer and 24 RBI while locking down the catching position for the Lady ‘Runners. Hulsey also spent time at first and third base over her two-year career. 

Freshman Ramos from Trujillo, Venezuela, attended Fulshear High School. Ramos batted .358 – compiling a slugging percentage of .519 – with three homers and 18 RBI while also scoring 23 runs. 

Wagner, a sophomore catcher from Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, batted .333 with a homer and 20 RBI while slugging at a .462 clip. Wagner also posted a solid .993 fielding percentage from his spot behind the plate. 

The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu. 

Are You Making These Common Marketing Mistakes? Here’s How to Fix Them

By
Lee Allen Miller
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0
smiling african american casual businessman looking at camera and holding speech bubble with 'what

Helping Texas Forest Country Businesses Grow Stronger

Marketing can be tricky, especially for small businesses in East Texas. It’s easy to fall into habits that end up costing you customers—and you may not even realize it’s happening! Here’s how to spot and fix some of the most common marketing mistakes local businesses make.

5 Marketing Mistakes to Watch Out For

1. Your Message Isn’t Clear

If folks can’t quickly understand who you are and what you offer, they’ll move on.

Local Tip: Keep your messaging simple, friendly, and consistent—from your business card to your Facebook page.

2. You’re Not Engaging with Customers

Talking at your customers isn’t the same as talking with them.

Local Tip: Reply to comments, thank customers publicly, and create posts that invite conversation.

3. You’re Trying to Talk to Everyone

When you try to appeal to everybody, your message often connects with nobody.

Local Tip: Focus your marketing on the folks who truly need what you offer.

4. You’re Skipping Out on Advertising

Relying only on word-of-mouth or organic posts can limit your growth.

Local Tip: Even a small monthly budget on Facebook or Google ads can help you reach new local customers.

5. You’re Not Tracking What Works

If you don’t know what’s working, you can’t do more of it!

Local Tip: Keep an eye on your website visits, social media stats, and ad results to see what gets the best response.

Helping Your Business Grow the Right Way

At Texas Forest Country Living, we’re passionate about helping small businesses succeed. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can turn your marketing into one of your strongest tools for growth.

Need a little extra help? Reach out to us—we’d love to help you shine brighter in the Pineywoods!

Capitol Update: Lower Taxes, Safer Streets

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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Memorial Day serves as a meaningful moment for us to honor and remember those who selflessly laid down their lives so that our freedom endures. While Memorial Day is one of solemn reflection, it’s also a day to celebrate and cherish the values and freedom our fallen heroes fought to protect. 

As we embrace the long weekend, let’s remember that we’re afforded the opportunity to enjoy our favorite summer activities because of the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price. God bless their sacrifice; God bless their memory; and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…

Capitol Update

This week, the House took action to increase the amount of homestead exemptions that will lower property taxes for millions of homeowners across Texas. Senate Bill 4 provides additional property tax relief to homeowners in Texas by increasing the homestead property tax exemption from $100,000 to $140,000. 

S.B. 4 also provides protections for public school districts against a loss in funds as a result of increased exemptions by entitling school districts to state aid for general funding and debt obligations. 

Additionally, the House passed Senate Bill 23 this week to provide additional property tax relief to elderly and disabled homeowners, along with an increase to the general homestead exemption proposed by S.B. 4. This legislation raises the property tax exemption for seniors who are 65 or older and disabled Texans from $110,000 to $200,000.

Both of these property tax bills will be contingent on voter approval in this coming November’s constitutional amendment election. I am proud to serve as a co-author of both S.B. 4 and S.B. 23 to deliver much-needed relief to Texans struggling under the burden of property taxes while also ensuring our schools remain funded.. 

The House also took up vital measures this week to ensure we keep dangerous criminals off the street and in jail where they belong. Senate Bill 9 reforms Texas’s bail system to ensure that activist judges or “charitable organizations” cannot enable the release of violent offenders back onto our streets. 

Additionally, the House passed Senate Bill 40 to prohibit the use of public funds to pay a nonprofit organization that accepts and uses donations to pay a defendant’s bail. I am proud to have supported both of these measures to keep violent criminals off of our streets.  

The mobile office is on the road again in June and our district director looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: June 4 at the San Augustine County Courthouse from 9:30-11:30 am, June 11 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Court Room in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm; June 18 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 pm.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.

Remembering the Cost: Honoring Memorial Day Through the Lens of Leadership

By
Lee Allen Miller
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0

Today on Memorial Day, our thoughts turn solemn—not to the sales, the summer kickoffs, or the backyard BBQs, but to the men and women who laid down their lives for our freedom. Memorial Day is not a holiday we celebrate—it’s a sacred day we observe. It’s a moment for remembrance, for reverence, and for deep reflection on the ultimate price of liberty.

These are not just names on gravestones or stars on a flag. These were sons and daughters, husbands and wives, leaders and servants. They stood in the gap between tyranny and freedom, between chaos and order. And in doing so, they modeled something all of us—especially those in leadership—should never forget: the power of sacrificial service.

True leadership isn’t about position or prestige—it’s about purpose. The kind of leadership that moves nations and transforms lives always starts with someone willing to carry the weight for someone else. Our fallen heroes didn’t lead from boardrooms—they led from the battlefield, through courage, conviction, and selfless action.

Today, as we honor their memory, we’re also faced with a question: What are we doing with the freedom they fought to secure?

Are we leading with integrity in our homes, our businesses, our communities? Are we standing firm when it’s easier to stay silent? Are we using our platforms—however big or small—to lift others, protect truth, and serve the greater good?

Leadership requires vision, but it also demands sacrifice. And while most of us will never be asked to make the ultimate one, we are called daily to live with that same mindset—to lead not for applause but for impact.

So this Memorial Day, I challenge you: Pause. Reflect. Then lead with honor. Make decisions that would make the fallen proud. Live with such conviction that your leadership, like their sacrifice, leaves a lasting legacy.

Because freedom was never free. And leadership, at its best, always remembers that.

Ready for Summer Heat?

By
Cary Sims
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0
irrigation system watering crops-farm-land
Phoro credit: Envato

As I looked at the weekend weather, the forecast was for highs in the mid- to low-90’s. The summer heat for our part of the world is already here. Is your landscape ready for the heat?

Let us start with our watering systems. It is best to water in the early morning when dew is still on the ground. Setting the irrigation timer during the cooler morning reduces evaporation that will be intensified later in the day. When you add water, water your landscape deep and slow. It is best to allow the water to soak down deep into the ground and provide a ‘reserve’ bank of moisture for the roots to reach. Deep watering also encourages deeper roots which make for healthier lawns, ornamentals, and trees. 

Homeowners can provide the most efficient irrigation in flower beds and around the foundation with a drip or “soaker” irrigation system. When you use a drip system, you allow water to percolate deep into the soil (which prevents runoff) and almost eliminates evaporation that is common with sprinklers and misting systems. 

If you haven’t added mulch, now is high time to do so. Mulch has several benefits and key among those benefits is reducing soil temperature and water evaporation. Barks, wood chips from a local tree-trimmer, and pine straw are all wonderful, viable options. You could use rock or plastics mulches, but the organic materials will break down over time and help enrich the soil even as they suppress weeds and reduce water evaporation.

As you add more plant specimens to the landscape, study which plants are heat resistant. There is a wide variety of native and well-adapted species that tolerate our weather fluctuations quite well and can thrive will little extra water once they are established. 

Provide extra attention to container-grown plants. The wonderful clay terracotta pots we often use will certainly wick water away from the soil inside if it is not glazed or lined with a water-proof membrane. You can not only move these pots to an area that receives more shade in the summer, but group them together to create their own shady oasis. 

Last is the largest part of most everyone’s landscape- the lawn. Set your mower blades higher during the warmer times of the year. The extra leaf matter will provide a small measure of shade to the soil and the leaf matter below it. In addition, leaving more leaf material above the soil will encourage a larger root system below the soil. This larger root system will, in turn, allow your turfgrass to reach more moisture deeper in the ground that you provided when you watered more deeply.

Warm weather is upon us and is a very normal part of our climate. Setting up your irrigation, mulch, plant selection, and lawn maintenance to handle the heat is completely in your hands.  

First Responders Gather in East Texas for Annual Wildland Fire Training Academy

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0
Wildland firefighters practice mock training exercise of putting out a spot fire in the woods.

LUFKIN, Texas – More than 200 emergency responders attended the 26th annual East Texas Wildfire and Incident Management Academy at Angelina College in Lufkin May 13-21, 2025, to grow their knowledge, skills and interagency coordination for combating wildfires and managing common complex, large-scale Texas disasters.

The East Texas Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy is held annually in East Texas as a joint effort by Texas emergency response agencies to provide training to all levels of firefighters and incident managers.

East Texas Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy Command and General Staff poses with Texas A&M Forest Service Director Al Davis at the Incident Command Post.

Academy students represented emergency response backgrounds including paid and volunteer fire departments, state and federal agencies in Texas and other first responders from four additional states.

“Training is critical for Texas A&M Forest Service and all Texas emergency response agencies to ensure we are equipped to respond to a wide range of disasters and are coordinated in our response efforts,” said Meredith McNeil, Texas A&M Forest Service Training Program Leader. “Additionally, continued education and training are essential for first responders to meet certification requirements, expand their expertise and remain current in emergency response techniques.”

Fifteen course options were available throughout the academy, including instruction on fire behavior, equipment operations, air operations and various incident leadership situations.

Instruction for the academy’s classes was provided by Texas A&M Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and other state and local cooperators.

On right hand side of the image: Texas A&M Forest Service Director Al Davis wearing black polo shirt and green pants, along with Texas A&M Forest Service Department Head Jon Motsinger, wearing agency tan collared uniform shirt with agency patch on left sleeve and green pants, are observing the 130/190 class as they are learning about the Type 6 engine. On left-hand side of the image: Six students from the 130/190 class facing the instructor who is facing the camera as he describes the US Forest Service mint green Type 6 Wildland Fire engine.

To conclude the academy, participants of the Firing Operations Course conducted a 40-acre prescribed fire at Needmore Point on Lake Sam Rayburn. This course and associated prescribed fire introduced the roles and responsibilities of a firing boss and other personnel who engage in firing operations. Prescribed fire is the planned application of low-intensity fire to the landscape by fire and fuel specialists to maintain healthy, resilient landscapes.

A stand of pine trees with smoke filtering up from the low intensity flames on the ground can be seen in the image. The angle of the photo is looking up from the ground which is green grass at a distorted angle to view the tops of the pine trees at the top of the image.

Through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (HB2604) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS), Texas A&M Forest Service provides reimbursement to qualifying fire departments to attend the academy.

“I’m passionate about protecting natural resources, supporting my community during emergencies and being part of a strong, team-oriented environment,” said Kaylie Wheeler, Davy Crockett National Forest. “This academy is a valuable opportunity for me to learn from experienced professionals, improve my physical and mental readiness and prepare me for a long career in wildland fire service.”

Texas A&M Forest Service also hosts additional internal and external nationally accredited wildfire and incident management training throughout the state including the Capital Area Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy, all hazard incident management training and wildland fire training.

Learn more about Texas A&M Forest Service Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academies and other training opportunities: https://ticc.tamu.edu/Training/default.aspx

My Five Cents: A Weekly Column by Sen. Robert Nichols

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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0

Session is coming to a close and, as it does, critical deadlines have to be met for legislation to pass. Those deadlines fall throughout the next week and if bills do not pass those benchmarks, they won’t become law this session. It’s a sprint to the finish, but we’re almost there!

Here are five things happening around your state: 

  1. Lottery overhaul passes Senate

This week the Senate unanimously passed a bill to reform the Texas Lottery by moving governance to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and abolishing its current governing body, the Lottery Commission. The bill also requires the Sunset Advisory Committee to conduct a review of lottery games by August 2027 and prohibits the purchase or order of a lottery ticket by telephone, internet application, or other courier-type service. Initial concerns stemmed from the Lottery Commission’s decision to alter rules to allow the sale of tickets by courier services, which essentially allowed for the sale of tickets online. The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets uncovered a scheme by an international gambling ring to take advantage of the Texas Lottery and, in coordination with a nearly-defunct courier service, purchase almost every ticket combination to effectively rig the lottery for their benefit. Reforms and additional oversight of the lottery at TDLR are necessary to ensure the integrity of the Texas Lottery.  

  1. Governor seeks waiver to prohibit unhealthy food purchases with SNAP 

Last week, Governor Abbott sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins requesting a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service to ban unhealthy food from being purchased using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP serves more than 3 million Texans every year and provides more than $7 billion to reduce food insecurity, especially for low-income Texans. SNAP was created to increase access to nutritious foods, but SNAP benefits are often used to buy foods with little nutritious value. States now have the opportunity to regulate the foods that SNAP benefits are used to purchase. The Governor’s letter is the first step to ensure that tax dollars are used to make healthy food more accessible to all Texans. 

  1. Bail reform passes House, goes to Governor 

This week, the Texas House passed a package of bail reform bills that take significant steps to protect Texans from offenders accused of violent crimes. These bills passed out of the Senate in the early weeks of session. Bail reform was one of the emergency items that the Governor declared in his State of the State Address. One of the central pieces of legislation, SJR 5 by Senator Joan Huffman, is a constitutional amendment which would require judges to deny bail for offenders accused of certain violent crimes like murder, rape, and kidnapping. Upon passage by the legislature, this measure will be placed on the November ballot. This legislation has been an emergency item for three sessions and the passage of these bills will ensure the safety of our communities. 

  1. Legislature develops proposal for school finance

The House and Senate have been collaborating for months to develop a comprehensive plan for school finance. The most recent proposal is an $8.5 billion dollar infusion of funds in critical areas. This includes roughly $4 billion specifically for teacher pay raises. Additionally, $500 million will be dedicated to other school employees’ salaries and $100 million will be dedicated for windstorm property insurance for coastal districts. The most recent changes to the plan will help districts address costs other than teacher salaries, like building repairs, the purchasing of school buses and district vehicles, and district support staff salaries. 

  1. Broadband Development Office announces BEAD funding opportunity

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provides funding to help increase high-speed internet access. The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) has released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the state’s allocation of the BEAD Program and the Texas Match Assistance Program (TMAP). The NOFA provides nearly $4 billion in combined federal and state funding to expand broadband infrastructure. Local governments, internet service providers, non-profits, utility companies, institutions of higher education and other entities may apply for these funds. Interested parties will have until May 29 at 2 p.m. to submit any questions or request information regarding the funding. Responses to these inquiries are estimated to be made available by June 12th, 2025. 

My Five Cents… A Weekly Column by Sen. Robert Nichols

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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0

Today is the first of many deadlines the legislature will reach over the next two and a half weeks. It’s the last day for the House to pass House Bills on second reading. After today, the House will only pass Senate Bills until the Legislature adjourns Sine Die on June 2. Historically, only about one in five bills filed actually become law.  

Here are five things happening around your state: 

  1. Bill creating Dementia Prevention and Research Institute goes to the Governor

In the first weeks of this legislative session, I voted for Senate Bill 5 by Senator Huffman, which establishes the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT). DPRIT will bring together researchers to create and expedite innovation in dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s treatment and invest $3 billion over the next ten years. The money will be used to award grants for research in these areas. The Institute will work collaboratively with institutions of higher education in this state to further it’s goals. The House has also passed SB 5 and now the bill will go to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. I am grateful that our state has made such a significant investment in this program. DPRIT will bring together researchers to develop critical resources for enhanced dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s care.  

  1. State prohibition on foreign land ownership bill passes both chambers

Many Texans have expressed concerns regarding the purchase of Texas land and natural resources by entities from foreign nations, many of which have been designated as a threat to the country or state. Senate Bill 17 by Senator Kolkhorst, which passed the House this week, aims to end ownership of Texas land by hostile foreign actors. The U.S. Director of National Intelligence maintains an updated list of nations who qualify as a threat to the U.S. That list currently includes China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Senate Bill 17 would prohibit governmental entities, corporations, and individuals from countries on that list from purchasing property in Texas. In June, the New York Times reported that the federal government was taking similar steps as foreign actors have increasingly bought land in close proximity to military bases or other locations important to national security. The House and Senate passed slightly different version of SB 17, so those differences will have to be reconciled before the bill goes to the Governor to become law.  

  1. Port Neches-Groves High School’s Unified track team wins state

Port Neches-Groves High School is leading the way in inclusion with their Unified Sports Program. The program is a joint venture between University Interscholastic league (UIL) and Special Olympics Texas. The program brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete together. On April 25, the Port Neches-Groves Unified Track and Field Team won their first-ever state title. So far, Port Neches-Groves is the only team in the area with a unified team. Students testified to their growth both athletically and personally. I would like to commend Port Neches-Groves on the success of their program! 

  1. Senate considers bill to relocate the “Travis Letter” to the Alamo

Representative Cody Harris, from Palestine, filed HB 1397 which establishes custody and display for several of Texas’ foundational documents. This includes the Texas Declaration of Independence, the Texas Constitution, and the “Victory or Death” letter by William B. Travis. Under current law, the custody and care of these documents are not expressly granted to one entity. This bill designates “care, custody, and secure display” of these artifacts to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). The bill also directs TSLAC to work with the Texas Historical Commission and State Preservation Board to coordinate an appropriate location for display at the Capitol Complex and when feasible, the Alamo complex. The bill has passed the House, and this week passed committee in the Senate. 

  1. Financial Crimes Bill signed by the Governor

This session I have authored a package of bills related to the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center or FCIC. The FCIC is a statewide task force based out of Smith County. The FCIC combats growing issues including card skimming, fuel theft, check fraud and other organized financial crimes. One of the bills I authored expands the statutory scope of the agency to include all forms of payment fraud. This week the Governor signed SB 1499 into law after successful passage in both chambers. The FCIC has investigated and brought to justice criminals who have defrauded Texans from across the state. I was honored to work with this agency and appreciate their commitment to prevention, investigation, and deterrence of organized financial crimes. 

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