What you need to know about Texas’ school safety policies
By Nina Banks, The Texas Tribune April 24, 2024 In response to the deadliest school shooting in Texas, lawmakers have upped legislation concerning gun and school safety. House Bill 3 passed late last year, which created the requirement for an armed security guard to be present on all campuses and also ramped up mental health resources for students. In Texas, the responsibility for establishing the guidelines for public school safety...
Texas House District 2 Runoff Election Set for January 30, 2024
November 22, 2023 – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has set the date for the runoff election for Texas House District 2 which includes Hopkins, Hunt and Van Zandt counties. After neither candidate received 50% of the votes cast in the November 7th election, a runoff was required and will occur on January 30, 2024. Dutton That office was vacated back in May of 2023 by Royse City representative Bryan Slaton. Six candidates ultimately...
Texas Legislative Special Session To Begin October 9th
October 2, 2023 – Governor Greg Abbott made good on his promise to keep ordering special sessions of the Texas Legislature until an agreement could be reached on some sort of “school vouchers” program. A September 26th letter signed by Governor Abbott and addressed to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan, did not indicate the focus of this special session. But the governor has said repeatedly the...
Paxton Trial Begins
September 5, 2023 – The impeachment trial for embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton begins on Tuesday. Support for or against the impeachment has mostly followed party lines, although the Republican was impeached in May of this year by the Republican led Texas House of Representatives. Capitol Austin, TX The trial is expected to hinge on his relationship with a real estate investor and political donor Nate Paul. The Austin real...
Texas Attorney General Shoots Down Franklin County’s Fight Against Solar Plant
August 17, 2023 – Angela Comenero who is serving as provisional attorney general for the State of Texas dealt a blow this week to nearby Franklin County who has been searching for solutions to fight proposed solar plants. Angry residents in Franklin County have asked their county commissioners to impose restrictions on proposed solar farms in their county, including a 180-day moratorium on commercial solar development. The...
Texas Settles With Marriott International, Sues Hyatt Over “Resort Fees”
May 18, 2023 – On Tuesday The State of Texas and Marriott International INC entered in to a voluntary agreement to prominently display all “resort fees” and to increase price transparency in its advertising and booking process. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that hotel companies are using fraudulent and anti-competitive practices by misleading customers with advertisements which prevent comparative shopping...
Texas To Receive $168M Of $3.1B Opioid Agreement with Walmart — Hopkins County Could Receive Portion of Funds
Another opioid lawsuit settlement was announced Friday. Walmart agreed to a planned $3.1 billion settlement for the business’ “role in the nationwide opioid epidemic.” That amount is to be divided among 17 states, with $168 million designated for Texas, Non-Litigating Threshold Subdivisions, Texas Attorney General’s Office reported in a news release Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Hopkins County is listed among 2,411...
$439 Million Multistate Settlement Reached With JUUL Labs; Texas To Recover $42.8 Million
AUSTIN – Attorney General Paxton has secured a $438.5 million agreement in principle between JUUL Labs and 34 states and territories, resolving a two-year bipartisan investigation into the e-cigarette manufacturer’s marketing and sales practices. The investigation, initially launched in 2020 by Attorney General Paxton, was led by his office, along with the Attorneys General of Connecticut and Oregon. Of the $438.5 million, Texas will...
Tuesday Is Election Day for Party Primary Runoffs In Texas
Tuesday, May 24, 2022, is Election Day for Party Primary Runoffs in Texas. Registered Hopkins County voters may cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic runoff until 7 p.m. Tuesday. Voting has been consolidated to six centers. Registered Hopkins County voters may cast ballots at any of the following six consolidated voting locations: Lutheran Church (Front Foyer), 1000 Texas Street Sulphur Springs, TX 75482;H.W. Grays...
$225 Million Settlement Reached With Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Is Fourth Opioid Settlement For Texas
Feb. 7, 2022 – News Release Hopkins Among Counties Named In Law Suit An opioid settlement in the amount $225 million has been reached with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the fourth opioid settlement the state has reached, Attorney General Ken Paxton reported Monday morning in a press release. Hopkins County is one of the entities named in the suit, and as such should benefit from a portion of the funding. “This agreement is not...
