Community & Opinions

2025 Community Calendar

SPUR VISITOR CENTER, 101 Hill Street at Burlington Avenue, is operated by the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce and open during regular hours Tuesday–Saturday. Visitors seeking information on the area may email spurchamber@gmail.com or call (806) 271-3097.

Redistricting bill heads to Abbott’s desk

AUSTIN— Both the Texas House and Senate have passed a mid-decade redistricting bill that positions the GOP to pick up five additional congressional seats next year. Passage came after House Democrats ended their quorum-breaking walkout while still vowing to pursue legal challenges.

The fine art of giving directions

“Go four blocks south, turn right on Elm St., drive past the second playground with the yellow ribbons tied around the monkey bars, and then turn left on McGregor Ave., and look for the old blue Chevy truck parked in the driveway on the right about 100 yards down the street. That’s our house.

Special session ends; Dems return with new demands

AUSTIN— With a quorum- breaking number of House Democrats still out of state (as of last week), House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gaveled the first special session to an end Friday. Gov. Greg Abbott immediately called a second special session that has already convened.

2025 Community Calendar

SPUR VISITOR CENTER, 101 Hill Street at Burlington Avenue, is operated by the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce and open during regular hours Tuesday–Saturday. Visitors seeking information on the area may email spurchamber@gmail.com or call (806) 271-3097.

White resigns as interim superintendent at Patton Springs ISD August meeting

COMPILED FROM MINUTES In the regular monthly meeting of the Patton Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees on August 11, 2025 the group first held a hearing on the Every Student Succeeds Act 2025-2026 (ESSA) Public Notice for applying for the ESSA Federal Grant fund before the...

What happens in Benjamin…

Shed a Little Light Last week I spent almost three days in Benjamin, Texas, located at the junction of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 82. More than two-thirds of my existence has been living at the junction of U.S. Highway 180 and State Highway 669, so I get the small-town thing.

Paxton sues to remove 13 absent Democrat House members

AUSTIN— Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove 13 of the more than 50 House Democrats who fled the state to break quorum and effectively halt the special session to prevent a mid-decade redistricting plan, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

2025 Community Calendar

SPUR VISITOR CENTER, 101 Hill Street at Burlington Avenue, is operated by the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce and open during regular hours Tuesday–Saturday. Visitors seeking information on the area may email spurchamber@gmail.com or call (806) 271-3097.

State sales tax revenue totaled $4.2 billion in July

Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock today said state sales tax revenue totaled $4.19 billion in July, 4.9 percent more than in July 2024. The majority of July sales tax revenue is based on sales made in June and remitted to the agency in July.