Texas Rural Reporter Email Aug 19, 2023

Here are the news stories from Rural Texas that you need to Read.

POLITICS

Rep. Darby: Property Tax Cut a Victory for Rural West Texas

Representative Drew Darby of San Angelo voted for Senate Bill 2, Senate Bill 3, and House Joint Resolution 2 Thursday to deliver the largest tax cut in Texas history. The passage of this legislative package represents a significant victory for the taxpayers of rural West Texas and the Concho Valley, who are seeing their income continually bludgeoned by skyrocketing property taxes.

Congressman Moran files bill aiming to improve weather radar coverage in rural areas

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - An East Texas congressman is working to identify areas where weather radar coverage could be improved. U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Tyler) has filed a bill that would require the government to conduct a study of weather monitoring equipment, like radars, in rural America. “This bill specifically would require the government to undertake a study to see those gaps, to identify those gaps, and to provide specific information to Congress, so that we can then implement and authorize appropriations accordingly, so we can fill those gaps,” Moran said.

SEN. CRUZ PARTICIPATES IN ROUNDTABLE WITH EAST TEXAS ELECTED OFFICIALS

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today met with leaders from the Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic Development District (DETCOG), a voluntary association of local governments in the 11 county region encompassing all of Angelina, Houston, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler counties to discuss the inefficiency and inaccessibility of broadband in these communities. 

DPS Video shows Congressman Ronny Jackson belligerent toward law enforcement officers and first responders

The Carson County Sheriff's office and Texas DPS released reports earlier this week that contain video and audio footage that reveals Congressman Ronny Jackson ignored orders to step away from a medical situation and then showed aggressive, belligerent behavior toward law enforcement, which required him to be forcibly removed from a medical incident at the White Deer Rodeo on July 29, 2023.

Opinion: The Republican War Against Small Towns

For more than a week, my inbox has been full of fundraising emails asking me to “stand with small towns.” They come from the National Republican Congressional Committee, who are looking to capitalize on the backlash to country singer Jason Aldean’s music video for “Try That in a Small Town.” The song is full of anti-Black dog whistles, and the video was shot at the site of a famous racist lynching.