NEWSTALK 860 » texas legislature http://ksfa860.com Fri, 24 May 2013 19:59:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Budget Cuts May Force State Parks to Close http://ksfa860.com/budget-cuts-may-force-state-parks-to-close/ http://ksfa860.com/budget-cuts-may-force-state-parks-to-close/#comments Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:19:00 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=89906 Here we go again. The legislative session is coming in January, and we're hearing the usual predictions of budgetary doom and gloom.  This year we are hearing that if the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department doesn't get the money it needs, nearly two dozen state parks may have to close.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/budget-cuts-may-force-state-parks-to-close/feed/ 0 via Facebook/Texas Parks and Wildlife Trent Ashby Heading for Austin Early http://ksfa860.com/trent-ashby-eager-to-get-to-work-as-state-rep/ http://ksfa860.com/trent-ashby-eager-to-get-to-work-as-state-rep/#comments Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:57:03 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=70288 Lufkin School Board President Trent Ashby won't "officially" become the State Representative from House District 57 until he takes the oath of office in January, when the next legislative session convenes.  But Ashby's not waiting until then to learn his new job.  He's "chompin' at the bit", and ready to hit the ground running.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/trent-ashby-eager-to-get-to-work-as-state-rep/feed/ 0 via Angelina County GOP Lawsuit Challenges School Funding Cuts http://ksfa860.com/lawsuit-challenges-school-funding-cuts/ http://ksfa860.com/lawsuit-challenges-school-funding-cuts/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:15:37 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=19488 Texas school districts are headed back to court in another effort to get more equitable funding for public schools.  A coalition representing more than 150 independent public school districts, taxpayers and parents has filed a lawsuit against the state.  All six school districts in Angelina County are in this coalition.

They claim the state's public school finance system is unconstitutional because it does not treat Texas taxpayers and school children fairly.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/lawsuit-challenges-school-funding-cuts/feed/ 0 via scazon LISD School Board President Running For State Legislature http://ksfa860.com/lisd-school-board-president-declares-as-candidate-for-state-legislature/ http://ksfa860.com/lisd-school-board-president-declares-as-candidate-for-state-legislature/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:14:05 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=17597 Lufkin businessman and LISD School Board President Trent Ashby says he's throwing his hat in the ring and he will run for the Republican nomination for the newly redrawn Texas House District 57.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/lisd-school-board-president-declares-as-candidate-for-state-legislature/feed/ 0 via wiseleyb Texas Redistricting Maps on Hold Pending Federal Court Approval http://ksfa860.com/texas-redistricting-maps-on-hold-pending-federal-court-approval/ http://ksfa860.com/texas-redistricting-maps-on-hold-pending-federal-court-approval/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:10:56 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=16982 A three-judge federal panel has issued a temporary injunction against the state of Texas, saying the state's new redistricting maps cannot be implemented until they are cleared by a federal court in Washington, D.C.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/texas-redistricting-maps-on-hold-pending-federal-court-approval/feed/ 0 via joseluis6000 TSA Pat-down Bill is Dead – For Now http://ksfa860.com/legislature-lets-tsa-pat-down-bill-die/ http://ksfa860.com/legislature-lets-tsa-pat-down-bill-die/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:11:53 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=6498 Texas lawmakers adjourned their special session Wednesday without passing a ban on Transportation Security Administration pat-downs, to the dismay of staunch conservative critics of the agency.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/legislature-lets-tsa-pat-down-bill-die/feed/ 0 Jeff Topping, Getty Images Does New Congressional District Map Treat Angelina County Fairly? http://ksfa860.com/does-new-congressional-district-map-treat-angelina-county-fairly/ http://ksfa860.com/does-new-congressional-district-map-treat-angelina-county-fairly/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:23:42 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=6014 We now know the new shape of the east Texas Congressional District that includes Angelina County. The legislature has redrawn the Congressional District map, and at first glance, it appears nothing will change for Angelina County.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/does-new-congressional-district-map-treat-angelina-county-fairly/feed/ 0 via jogs6000 Texas Senate Passes Bill Making "Sanctuary Cities" Illegal http://ksfa860.com/texas-senate-passes-bill-making-sanctuary-cities-illegal/ http://ksfa860.com/texas-senate-passes-bill-making-sanctuary-cities-illegal/#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:28:00 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=5524 The Texas State Senate has confronted one of the GOP's priority issues by passing a bill designed to make it easier for law officers to corral illegal immigrants.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/texas-senate-passes-bill-making-sanctuary-cities-illegal/feed/ 0 via lorenzolambertino School Superintendents Say Education Will Suffer if School Funds are Cut http://ksfa860.com/school-superintendents-say-education-will-suffer-if-school-funds-are-cut/ http://ksfa860.com/school-superintendents-say-education-will-suffer-if-school-funds-are-cut/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:27:35 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=5047 The Texas Legislature has passed a new state budget that cuts, among other things, $4 billion dollars out of funding for the state's public schools. School Superintendents around the state say that's a recipe for educational disaster.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/school-superintendents-say-education-will-suffer-if-school-funds-are-cut/feed/ 0 via The Rick Smith Show LISD Cuts $1.5 Million Out of Schools' Budget. Many More Cuts Probable. http://ksfa860.com/lisd-cuts-1-5-million-out-of-schools-budget-many-more-cuts-probable/ http://ksfa860.com/lisd-cuts-1-5-million-out-of-schools-budget-many-more-cuts-probable/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 15:11:23 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=4578 The Lufkin School Board is in the process of cutting roughly one and a half million dollars out of the annual budget, and the cuts aren't expected to stop there.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/lisd-cuts-1-5-million-out-of-schools-budget-many-more-cuts-probable/feed/ 0 via yomanimus Texas House OKs New Political Map With Mixed Bag of Changes http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-oks-new-political-map-with-mixed-bag-of-changes/ http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-oks-new-political-map-with-mixed-bag-of-changes/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:03:43 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=4079 The GOP controlled Texas House approved a redistricting plan early Thursday that would all but guarantee a continued - but smaller - Republican majority.

The map was approved on a 92-52 vote after a marathon debate that dragged into the wee morning hours Thursday.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-oks-new-political-map-with-mixed-bag-of-changes/feed/ 0 Jana , Getty Images Redistricting Will Change East Texas Political Landscape http://ksfa860.com/redistricting-will-change-east-texas-politics/ http://ksfa860.com/redistricting-will-change-east-texas-politics/#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:15:43 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=3663 The Texas House is redrawing state legislative districts, as required every ten years.  At first glance, it appears East Texas will lose at least two House seats, and Angelina County will be moved into a different House district and get a new state representative. 

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/redistricting-will-change-east-texas-politics/feed/ 0 Jana Birchum, Getty Images Texas House Votes to Ban Texting While Driving http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-votes-to-ban-texting-while-driving/ http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-votes-to-ban-texting-while-driving/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:15:49 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=3440 Calling it a hazard more dangerous than drunk driving, the Texas House has tentatively approved a bill that would outlaw the practice statewide.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-votes-to-ban-texting-while-driving/feed/ 0 Bruno Vincent, Getty Images 85 MPH Speed Limit? Maybe. But Probably Not in East Texas http://ksfa860.com/85-mph-speed-limit-it-could-happen/ http://ksfa860.com/85-mph-speed-limit-it-could-happen/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:47:40 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=3412 The Texas House approved a bill that would allow the speed limit on some  highways to be raised to 85 mph, which would be the highest in the nation. Not everybody thinks it's a good idea.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/85-mph-speed-limit-it-could-happen/feed/ 0 Rick Scibelli, Getty Images Angelina School Districts Could Lose $1 Million if Budget Passes http://ksfa860.com/angelina-school-districts-could-lose-1-million-if-budget-passes/ http://ksfa860.com/angelina-school-districts-could-lose-1-million-if-budget-passes/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:09:42 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=3365 The state budget bill just passed by the Texas  House would cut state funding of public schools by $8 billion dollars.  Every school district in the state would be affected.  School districts in Angelina County would lose $1 million each, and local school officials say they're worried.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/angelina-school-districts-could-lose-1-million-if-budget-passes/feed/ 0 Wendy Carlson/Getty Images for OfficeMax Texas House Passes Bare Bones Budget http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-passes-bare-bones-budget/ http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-passes-bare-bones-budget/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:35:49 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=3343 The Texas House voted 98-49 Sunday night to slash funding for public schools, nursing homes and college financial aid in a dramatic show by Republicans elected on a limited-government message in the face of a massive budget shortfall.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/texas-house-passes-bare-bones-budget/feed/ 0 Jana Birchum, Getty Images Republican Freshmen Come on Strong in State Legislature http://ksfa860.com/freshmen-republicans-show-their-strength-in-austin/ http://ksfa860.com/freshmen-republicans-show-their-strength-in-austin/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:51:44 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=3316 Newly elected state lawmakers are usually treated like children. Veteran lawmakers remind them they are to be seen and not heard.  They're told to get along they have to go along, and most do. But not this year.  The current freshman class is refusing to just sit and be quiet.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/freshmen-republicans-show-their-strength-in-austin/feed/ 0 Ben Sklar, Getty Images State Senate Considers Using State Funds to Lure Events to "Jerry World" http://ksfa860.com/state-senate-considers-using-state-funds-to-lure-events-to-jerry-world/ http://ksfa860.com/state-senate-considers-using-state-funds-to-lure-events-to-jerry-world/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:52:34 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=3088 A bill coming up for debate in the Texas Senate would expand a state fund now used to lure sporting events to Texas, so it could be used to lure events of all kinds to Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/state-senate-considers-using-state-funds-to-lure-events-to-jerry-world/feed/ 0 Tom Pennington, Getty Images Texas Teachers Protest Cutting Education Funds to Balance Budget http://ksfa860.com/texas-teachers-protest-cutting-education-funds-to-balance-budget/ http://ksfa860.com/texas-teachers-protest-cutting-education-funds-to-balance-budget/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:44:57 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=2667 Thousands of Texas teachers are expected to gather in Austin tomorrow to protest cutting public school funding to balance the state budget.  They say Governor Rick Perry doesn't appear to care that thousands of jobs could be lost.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/texas-teachers-protest-cutting-education-funds-to-balance-budget/feed/ 0 Joe Raedle, Getty Images Governor is Open to Using Rainy Day Fund to Balance Budget http://ksfa860.com/governor-is-open-to-using-rainy-day-fund-to-balance-budget/ http://ksfa860.com/governor-is-open-to-using-rainy-day-fund-to-balance-budget/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:43:00 +0000 Jim Bell http://ksfa860.com/?p=2655 After flatly resisting it since the first day of the legislative session, Governor Rick Perry is sending out clear signals indicating he is open to tapping into the state's Rainy Day Fund to "help" balance the state budget.

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]]> http://ksfa860.com/governor-is-open-to-using-rainy-day-fund-to-balance-budget/feed/ 0 Mark Wilson, Getty Images