Dear Editor, Way back when, there was a game called “20 Questions.” It didn’t require a console or a joystick. No electricity or batteries. No board, no dice, no tokens, and no fake money. You didn’t even have to wind it up. It just required a few kids to sit around and play.

But there were preliminaries. Somebody had to be “it.” If you were “it,” you got to sit in the driver’s seat – at least for the first round. The point was for the “It” kid to think of a person, place, or thing and for the other kids to guess what it was. The trick? You had to suss out whatever “it” was thinking, and do it in 20 questions or less – questions that could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. And whoever guessed the secret would be crowned the new “it” – at least for the next round.

It was a good way to learn deductive reasoning – even if those two words described a concept we wouldn’t learn about in the classroom until long into the future. And it was a good way for the kids who liked to spend time with books to win more than their fair share of rounds. After all, they were picking up new words that the rest of us never heard before.

That was one of the reasons I dove into the Hardy Boys as soon as I could pry the astronomical price of $1 a book from my folks. (For some reason I still don’t understand, the local library didn’t offer the Hardy Boys or, for that matter, Nancy Drew books.) But since I was reading a real book – and without any prodding – my folks were totally down with it. “Oh, mighty bookstore,” I thought, “open wide your door, because I’m on my way!”

I thought about 20 Questions the other night when I was watching the latest meeting of the San Marcos City Council. Not because anybody was trying to be crowned “it,” but because the actual intent of some of the agenda items seemed to be as much of a riddle to them as it was to me when I was trying to win a round of 20 Questions way back when.

I’m speaking about two agenda items in particular, both having to do with making San Marcos water – treated water – available to the City of Kyle. As Mr. Howe, the high school teacher who had the thankless task of trying to teach me Latin would say as he passed out the regular Friday quiz, “Boys, we’re about to find out if the material is clear as glass or as clear as mud.” In my case, it was usually the latter. Or, as they say in Latin, “clarus quam lutum,” So it seemed with these two agenda items. The back and forth, the questions and the responses, and the clarifications of the participants: the Mayor, the Councilmembers, a representative of the San Marcos utility department, and Kyle’s representative was a fascinating process. In fact, simply reading the agenda item raised more questions than answers.

The first of the two would approve an Emergency Water Supply Agreement for the sale of the water to Kyle. The second would have resulted in an agreement providing for the city to sell a portion of the city’s groundwater rights – at least on a temporary basis – to Kyle.

Initially, there seemed to be some skepticism as to Kyle’s motives. “Wait,” our home team wondered, “Kyle wants us to sell them water when we’re at a higher drought restriction level than they are? What’s that all about?”

Understandably, that didn’t play well at all. Further questioning revealed that Kyle is at what it calls “Amended Stage 2” drought restrictions. San Marcos, though, is at a higher Stage 3. Case closed, right?

Nope. It turns out that Kyle’s drought restriction scale differs from ours. And the restrictions, according to Kyle’s representative, despite divergent numerical scales, actually exceed those of San Marcos in some areas. It also turns out that Kyle is working to revise its drought contingency plan. Since that process has not been completed, the second of the two agenda items, regarding groundwater rights, was postponed until the July City Council meeting when members expect the regulatory playing field to be leveled.

And the issue did not appear to signal an imminent, ongoing emergency on the part of Kyle, despite the agenda’s “Emergency Water Supply Agreement” language. Rather, the agreement would provide water to Kyle in an emergency situation. In addition, Kyle reported that it is developing a system of strategically placed wells, expected to come online in 2028, to meet its future water needs.

More questions brought more answers. Who knew that San Marcos has already been supplying water to Kyle? Who knew that a temporary threemonth agreement with Kyle, beginning late last year could – and would – be extended for an additional three months without the need for any action by the San Marcos City Council?

Despite the apparent concerns that Kyle would drop a giant straw into San Marcos’s water supply, take a mighty gulp, and leave San Marcos high and dry, it turns out that we supplied water to Kyle only once during the six-month period following the expiration of the previous sale agreement.

Bottom line? After tabling the issue to provide staff with the opportunity to provide additional information in response to earlier questions, Council voted in favor of a limited period of emergency water sales to Kyle. While the original proposal called for a 10-year agreement with two five-year extensions, an amendment was offered that would have brought that down to a two-year agreement with two additional two-year extensions.

Ultimately, following discussion, Council approved a one-year agreement with a one-year extension – not out of a lack of concern for Kyle’s situation, but to provide the parties with the opportunity to develop longer- range solutions, recognizing that the current drought situation clouds the long-term picture significantly.

Not mentioned was the fact that Kyle’s population has ballooned since 2020, from 46,000 then to almost 76,000 today. Over the same period, San Marcos grew from 68,000 residents to 77,000. We’ve reached a point where both cities are now about the same size. So, with its growth boom, Kyle’s been busy trying to lock down water resources.

This, of course, raises questions about growth. Kyle reported that it is developing a system of strategically placed wells, expected to come online in 2028, to meet its future water needs. But the larger issue is the risk faced as growing communities bump up against very real water limitations. This is not a NIMBY issue; rather, it’s about sustainability. It’s also about the fact that we don’t abandon our neighbors when times get hard.

Both Kyle and San Marcos are fortunate that they could reach an agreement. Credit is due to the Mayor and Councilmembers who brought the necessary focus to these issues. And they did it by asking the right questions – perhaps more than the proverbial 20 – but they were able to bring some clarity to what had been some very muddy water.

Frank and Joe Hardy, along with Nancy Drew, would be proud of their sleuthing.

Sincerely, Jon Leonard San Marcos

As a resident of San Marcos, I’ve noticed that many of our bus stops are just signs—no roof, no shelter, no bench.

Recently, I saw a mother and her child waiting in the rain, both completely soaked before their bus even arrived. Moments like that are hard to ignore, and it really bothered me. Many people rely on public transit and exposure to rain and extreme summer heat isn’t just uncomfortable—it can become a real health concern. In addition, the bus stops are plain and difficult to spot. This can make navigation difficult for people unfamiliar with our city.

As San Marcos continues to grow, we should be thinking about basic infrastructure like bus stop shelters. A simple roof can make a meaningful difference for the people who depend on these services every day.

Taizahn Rusher San Marcos

To Community Leaders and Public Safety Partners, We are living in a time where acts of violence and unexpected medical emergencies can occur without warning. While we continue to work toward preventing these events, we must also confront a critical reality: The first person to respond is rarely a professional. It is someone already there. In the minutes before emergency services arrive, lives are won or lost based on immediate action. Severe bleeding, cardiac arrest, and airway obstruction do not wait. Seconds matter. This is not solely a public safety issue. It is a community readiness gap.

THE OPPORTUNITY Across our cities, we have concentrated environments where large numbers of people gather; bars, restaurants, venues, and public events. These spaces are often the first point of impact during emergencies, yet many lack consistent access to:

• Trained individuals in CPR and AED use

• Basic trauma response knowledge (such as bleeding control)

• Readily available emergency medical supplies At the same time, there is a strong and undeniable truth: For every act of harm, there are far more individuals willing to help. They simply need the knowledge and tools to do so.

A COMMUNITYBASED SOLUTION This letter calls for the development and implementation of a Community Emergency Readiness Initiative. This would be a coordinated effort to prepare civilians to act effectively in critical moments.

This initiative would include: 1. Expanded Access to Training Partner with organizations such as the American Red Cross and American Heart Association to provide:

• CPR and AED certification • Bleeding control train- ing (“Stop the Bleed”)

• Basic emergency response education

• Target audiences:

• Bartenders and service industry staff

• Security personnel and venue staff

• Community members and patrons 2. Emergency Equipment Accessibility Encourage or require the placement of publicly accessible emergency stations in high-traffic environments, including:

• AED devices

• Bleeding control kits (tourniquets, gauze, gloves)

• CPR masks and basic first aid supplies These tools should be as visible and normalized as fire extinguishers.

3. Public-Private Collaboration Create partnerships between:

• Local and county law enforcement

• Fire departments and EMS

• City leadership and councils

• Active duty and veteran communities

• Local businesses and venue owners This collaboration ensures training is standardized, accessible, and aligned with best practices.

4. Recognition and Incentives Establish a visible designation for participating venues (e.g., “Emergency Ready Certified”) to:

• Encourage participation

• Build public trust

• Promote safer environments

WHY THIS MATTERS Violence should never be accepted. Prevention must always remain the priority.

However, preparedness is not acceptance, it is responsibility. When someone collapses, when someone is injured, when someone cannot breathe, the outcome depends on who is willing and able to act in that moment. We cannot rely solely on response times. We must strengthen the response before responders arrive.

A CALL TO ACTION This is a call to leaders, first responders, business owners, and community members:

• Invest in training

• Equip our shared spaces

• Empower individuals to act Because the difference between tragedy and survival is often not determined by chance. It is determined by preparation.

In Closing, we cannot always control the actions of one individual. But we can define how a community responds. Let us build a culture where people do not stand by helplessly; but step forward with the knowledge, tools, and courage to save a life.

Be prepared. Be equipped. Be the reason someone makes it home.

Thank you for your time, Delihah Medrano San Marcos

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance that has been recognized since 1949, but its message has never been more urgent. In the United States, nearly 1 in 5 adults is living with a mental health condition, and more than 1 in 20 experience a serious mental illness that significantly interferes with daily life.

Behind these numbers are our neighbors, coworkers, friends and family members – people whose struggles are often invisible, but deeply real.

At San Marcos Treatment Center, I have the privilege of working alongside dedicated professionals who care for individuals and families navigating these challenges every day. We see both the weight of unmet need and the extraordinary resilience of those who seek treatment. In every story, there is strength – and there is hope.

Yet the gap between those who need care and those who receive it remains significant. Recent data shows that tens of millions of Americans require mental health treatment each year, but many do not access it due to stigma, cost or uncertainty about where to turn. At the same time, we are seeing concerning trends: rising rates of anxiety, depression and suicide, particularly among young people, alongside increasing demand for crisis services across the country.

The message is clear: mental health can’t wait.

Encouragingly, there are also signs of progress. Awareness is growing. More people are talking openly about mental health than ever before, and innovations such as telehealth have expanded access to care. Integrated, trauma-informed treatment approaches – addressing mental health, substance use and physical health together – are helping individuals achieve more sustainable recovery. And importantly, we know that treatment works. Positive outcomes are not just possible; they are happening every day.

Mental Health Awareness Month is more than a moment – it is a call to action. Each of us has a role to play in breaking the silence and igniting change:

• Listen and show understanding. If you suspect a loved one is struggling, start with compassion. Listening without judgment can be the first step toward healing. Encourage them to seek professional support.

• Share resources that save lives. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24/7 via call, text or chat.

• Act in an emergency. If someone is in an acute medical emergency or immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

• Support the future of mental health care. We must inspire and invest in the next generation of mental health professionals who can meet the growing need for care. San Marcos Treatment enter is proud to support training and mentorship opportunities that strengthen our workforce and our community.

Let’s commit to speaking openly about mental health. Let’s replace stigma with understanding, silence with conversation and barriers with access to care.

*Source: National Institute of Mental Health Andy Herod is the CEO of the San Marcos Treatment Center, located at 120 Bert Brown Road. For more information, call 512.396.8500 or visit sanmarcostc.com.

Note from Cargill: The opinions here are those of Candy Cargill. They do not reflect necessarily the views of any employees of the City of Blanco, or committees or council members.

Not long ago, I said the Hill Country is in danger.

Now, I’m saying something even more direct: We are out of time for polite concern.

Across the region — from Blanco to Fredericksburg, from Wimberley to Marble Falls, from San Marcos to Comfort and places in between — people reached out.

Farmers. Ranchers. Residents. Business owners.

They are seeing the same thing: Water disappearing. Land disappearing. The heritage of the Hill Country they love disappearing. And here is the truth we can no longer ignore: This is not happening by accident. It is happening because we are allowing it. We are allowing developments without proven water.

We are allowing fragmentation of ranch land that has held this region together for generations. We are allowing shortterm decisions to dictate a long-term future.

And while groups like the Blanco County Conservation Initiative and the Hill Country Alliance continue to educate and advocate — they cannot carry this alone. This fight belongs to all of us.

So here is the shift: No more awareness without action.

No more meetings without outcomes. No more silence.

If you are a legislator — we need water policy reform now, not someday. If you are a county leader — require infrastructure before expansion, not after damage is done.

If you are part of an environmental organization — turn up the volume.

If you are a farmer or rancher — your stewardship is the backbone of this region, and we stand with you.

If you are a business leader or landowner — think beyond the next deal.

If you are a public figure or celebrity who loves this place — your voice can move mountains. Use it.

And if you are simply someone who calls the Hill Country home: Show up. Speak up. Stay engaged.

In Blanco, we are not stepping back. Protecting our river, our water, and our way of life is not optional — it is our responsibility. And we are ready to work with anyone — any city, any county, any organization — willing to stand up for this region.

Because this is bigger than any one town.

This is about whether the Hill Country remains the Hill Country.

Or becomes something unrecognizable.

The line in the caliche is being drawn right now — not years from now, not someday. Right now.

And history will remember who stood up… and who stayed silent. For the love of Blanco. For the future of the Hill Country.

Candy Cargill Mayor, Blanco, Texas

Dear Editor, When I was a kid, I thought I had pretty good ears. Well, maybe not to look at. After all, they were kind of big, stuck out a bit, and if I had to honestly describe them, I’d have to say they looked goofy. I wasn’t alone there: the kids in school agreed.

On the other hand, they did what they were supposed to do: they heard things. Loud things. Soft things. Happy things. Sad things. Nice things. Angry things.

I seemed to hear everything around me, even things I shouldn’t, like those whispered conversations between my parents. Not those yucky romantic “sweet nothings” when they called each other “Baby” and “Honey.”

No, it was more like those tense, clipped disagreements, often shot through with words I wasn’t supposed to know – the ones I learned in the school yard – the ones that I was definitely not supposed to hear at home. Those were the talks where “Jimmy” gave way to “James,” and “Evie” was replaced by “Evelyn.”

When I’d hear things get that formal, I knew it was time to skedaddle. Or at least hide under my bed so I could listen without getting caught.

That’s why I was always confused when my mother would accuse me of not listening. That made no sense to me. After all, I heard everything she said. “You may have heard me,” she’d explain, “but you didn’t listen.”

“Yes, I did,” I’d protest. “Then why didn’t you take out the trash cans to the curb when I asked you to?” she challenged me.

I didn’t have a good answer. In fact, I had none at all – and that’s when I started to get it. Hearing and listening are two different things. Yes, I heard her, but it went in one ear and out the other. And the trash didn’t go anywhere.

I thought about that during last week’s San Marcos City Council meeting. More talk about Data Centers. Talk. Talk. Talk. Talk. Talk.

I may be exaggerating just a bit, but it seems that Data Centers have been the primary topic of conversation by the City Council since they first got on its radar screen last August – almost a full year ago.

And as long as the Council has been tossing around the Data Center issue, the people of San Marcos have been turning it right back to them – meeting after meeting after meeting – and explaining to Council and to city commissions – sometimes patiently, sometimes politely, sometimes with exasperation, sometimes with impatience and, more and more often, with frustration.

They’ve been pretty clear about where they stand: they don’t want Data Centers in San Marcos. Period. Full stop. End of story.

We all understand the big issues driving much of that opposition: water consumption here in a place where water is scarce. Electricity consumption where generating capacity and transmission infrastructure are lacking. The huge direct and indirect costs of buildup. Environmental degradation.

And there’s the growing awareness of the extent to which Artificial Intelligence – AI – is dependent on Data Centers. This is driving a growing squeamishness about both of them.

We’ve reached a point where there’s an emerging understanding that the promised benefits of AI may not fully outweigh the potential downsides – and there are many.

Some, pointed out by experts, include job displacement and loss, social manipulation, privacy violations, AI ”hallucinations,” data quality issues, financial risk, bias resulting from bad data, and potential manipulation of users by AI systems or by unscrupulous system operators.

At this point in their development, along with almost everyone I know, I’ve made a firm decision against supporting Data Centers – facilities that may be politely described as the Pandora’s Box of the 21st century – operating here in our own back yard. We’re not alone in this. Nationwide, community after community do not want Data Centers.

The City of San Marcos has been in a confusing dance with Data Centers since 2025. Originally, the Planning and Zoning Commission turned the concept down. That meant that the Council had to deliver a supermajority of 6-1 to give the green light to Data Centers. But it could only muster an approval vote of 5-2. At every step of the way, residents of San Marcos objected. Loudly. Vociferously. And in great numbers.

But that was then and this is now. As someone much wiser than me once said, “You can’t keep a bad idea down.” In January, P&Z agreed, revisiting the issue and reversing itself, voting in favor of permitting the development of Data Centers.

The issue was on the agenda of last week’s City Council meeting as part of a larger land-use package. The Council passed amendments that focused on Data Centers’ place in the Land Use Matrix. their use of water and other utilities, noise and setback issues, development criteria, and permitting. Again, the residents of San Marcos objected. Just as loudly, just as vociferously and, again, in great numbers.

Mayor Jane Hughson was in favor of the amendments, explaining that she didn’t want to close the door completely “because there may be technological changes in the future that will make this, I’m not going to say, desirable, but will make it less objectionable.”

I understand her position, but I do wonder why would we want to embrace something that, while “less objectionable” is still objectionable?

I find myself in much closer agreement with City Council member Amanda Rodriguez, who made it very clear that while she initially thought placing Data Centers in the Land Use Matrix’s “Heavy Industrial” category would be sufficient, “That was not what people wanted.” Consequently, she proposed that Data Centers not be allowed in any category of the Land Use Matrix. She was outvoted, despite the clear support she had from virtually all members of the public who spoke at the meeting.

As one speaker said, “This is the fourth time that Data Centers and public comment have been before you. Each time we think we have made progress, that we’ve killed a proposal, or convinced council members – you – to understand or believe that these Centers represent a serious problem and threat to our community, we find ourselves back here, again.”

If my mother were here to speak to the City Council herself, I’m confident she would tell them, “You may hear us, but you’re not listening.”

Sincerely, Jon Leonard San Marcos

To the Editor, I read with much interest your article about Pennington Funeral Home. It brought back many fond memories. In 1967, I visited what was then Southwest Texas College, to see if they would accept me into a Master’s program. While at the registrar’s office, I told them I would need to find a job and a place to live before I could confirm my attendance.

Imagine my surprise when about a week later I received a phone call from a Mrs. Albright at Pennington Funeral Home. She offered me a job which included a small monthly payment and utilities paid, rent-free apartment. I started working for the Albrights in January of 1968, when I enrolled for my Master’s degree. I did not find out until a few weeks later that Ms. Edra hired college students to help them so they could get their degree.

What makes my story a little different is the fact I lived in Searcy, Arkansas, at the time and had never heard of the Albrights or Pennington Funeral Home. When she called, she had never seen me. Evidently someone in the registrar’s office knew her and gave her my name. She called and offered me the job before she ever saw me.

The apartment I lived in was the one above the funeral home in which Bill had been raised. I worked for Pennington’s for two years until I completed my graduate program, and was continually surprised by the compassion and generosity of this precious couple. My last semester, I had to do a practicum at a rehab hospital, and had no hours, except weekends, to work. I went and told Ms. Edra the situation and her words to me were: “You’re here to get your degree. You do what you have to do. We’ll give you work hours on the week- ends, so you can stay here until you graduate.”

I don’t know if she ever knew how many students she helped complete their degree, just by giving them the part-time job they needed in order to stay in school. I will always be indebted to the Albrights, and will never forget the education I received, in addition to my studies in college, by working in a funeral home.

It was an experience that impacted me greatly, made possible by the care and generosity of three wonderful people, Edra and Willard Albright and Edra’s son, Bill Pennington. The world could use a lot more people like them. Lynn Wilson Gonzales, Texas

More than a quarter- million students have applied to the state’s voucher program, with a lottery determining who gets a spot. Initial funding for the program is $1 billion, and it is projected to support 100,000 students in its first year.

The program offers taxpayer money to help pay for private and homeschool education. The amount of each voucher awarded in the initial round varied, from $2,000 each for the 11,000 children applying for homeschool funding to an average of $15,585 for parents who documented their children’s special educational needs.

SMOKABLE HEMP BAN TEMPORARILY BLOCKED 

A ban on the sale of natural smokeable hemp products has been blocked, possibly until the end of April, by a Travis County district judge. A court hearing is set for this week.

The Texas Tribune reported that lawyers for the hemp industry argue that state agencies overstepped their constitutional authority by imposing new testing requirements that created a 0.3% total THC threshold. The industry says that effectively eliminated smokeable products by essentially rewriting the statutory definitions of hemp created by legislators in 2019.

While that 2019 law also limited THC levels to 0.3%, manufacturers got around it by cultivating hemp plants with another type of THC called THCA, which produces a high when ignited. The newly written limits on any type of THC mirror those that will be imposed by the federal government in November.

APPEALS COURT RULES FOR TEN COMMANDMENTS IN CLASSROOMS 

A federal appeals court last week ordered public school districts to place copies of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, the Austin America-Statesman reported. Parents and a group of faith leaders in nine school districts sued over a 2025 law that requires public schools to post donated posters of the Ten Commandment in classrooms.

By a split vote, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided the law does not violate the U.S. Constitution, overturning a San Antonio federal judge’s ruling last year. The case could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Students are neither catechized on the Commandments nor taught to adopt them,” the judges wrote. “Nor are teachers commanded to proselytize students who ask about the displays or contradict students who disagree with them.”

Six judges on the appeals court dissented, with Judge Leslie H. Southwick writing that “S.B. 10 is facially unconstitutional under the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.”

STAAR ENDS AFTER THIS SPRING 

After about 15 years, this spring marks one of the final times Texas students will take the STAAR, according to the Chronicle. Beginning with the 20272028 school year, that end-of-year assessment will be replaced by three shorter tests.

Backers of the change say it will reduce classroom time spent preparing for the test and be a more accurate measure of students’ progress. Critics say the changes will still place too much emphasis and classroom time preparing for the tests.

“The only evidence is that it will create more testing,” said state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Gov. Greg Abbott’s Democratic challenger for governor. “We’re going from 15 tests to 51 tests by the time a kid’s done with eighth grade. It’s outrageous.”

The new Student Success Tool will provide three tests through the school year, instead of a single high-stakes test at the end of the year. Results will be available within 48 hours of each test, unlike STAAR results, which are usually released in mid-June, months after students take the test.

WORKPLACE FATALITIES DIPPED SLIGHTLY IN 2024 

The Texas Department of Insurance has reported that 557 workplace fatalities were reported in 2024, the latest year for which statistics are available. That is down slightly from the 564 workplace fatalities reported in 2023. More than 90% of the fatalities occurred in the private sector.

The most fatalities were reported in the trade, transportation and utilities sector at 175; construction fatalities, with 128, followed. The most common occupation involving fatalities was motor vehicle operators A total of 75 fatalities were due to violent acts in 2024.

Men accounted for 92% of the 557 total incidents in 2024

TEXAS ECONOMY HITS RECORD $2.9 TRILLION 

The Texas economy expanded to $2.9 trillion in 2025, growing faster than the nation as a whole at a 2.5% rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The state maintained its ranks as the world’s eighth-largest economy, based on preliminary estimates from the International Monetary Fund.

“The Texas economy expanded to a record high of $2.9 trillion thanks to the productivity of our skilled workforce and the entrepreneurs and businesses investing here with confidence,” said Greg Abbott.

The state’s economy has grown by 46% over the past 11 years.

WILDFIRE RISKS IN PANHANDLE, WEST TEXAS RISE 

Dry windy conditions across West Texas and the Panhandle are rising, the Statesman reported, leading to increased risk of wildfires. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings from Canada to Mexico, including those areas in Texas.

“A red flag warning means a combination of warm temperatures, very low humidity, dry vegetation, and strong winds. These conditions can quickly spark and spread wildfires, and in this environment, even a small fire can grow rapidly, so extra caution is critical,” Mary Wasson, meteorologist with the San Antonio Express- News reported.

The Texas A&M Forest Service reports that 9 out of 10 wildfires in Texas are human-caused and therefore preventable. Burn bans are now in effect in 102 Texas counties, and wildfire preparedness is at Level 2, with Level 5 being the highest risk.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress. com.

When someone we admire is accused of abuse, it can be hard to accept. Instead of considering the survivor(s), people often defend the person they like over the people that were hurt.

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

When anyone receives consistent positive attention from media or in community, we’re encouraged to assume they’re good people in every way. When we’re taught the things we like, believe in, or are connected to are part of our identity, it’s harder to change how we think or feel about those people, beliefs, or things. When we’re told someone we admire has caused sexual violence towards others; it can change how we see our lives, relationships, and even ourselves – making it easier to blame rather than believe survivors seeking support.

Awareness of these problematic dynamics in our society doesn’t fix them. Critical thinking, self-reflection, and centering care are necessary for responding appropriately to outcries of abuse.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

Remember that many things can be true at the same time. Someone could be an incredible nurse, saving multiple lives each day, and at home pressure their partner to have sex. Believing someone can do no wrong or shouldn’t experience consequences for their actions hurts us all. Facing the truth of sexual violence, that anyone can choose to harm someone else, can be painful and scary. However, ignoring sexual violence just leads to more harm.

It’s not about having to cancel celebrities or end admiration. It’s about staying open to the truth, supporting accountability, empowering survivors, and creating safe communities together.

Grady Early overlooked at least one apparently reliable history treatise in discussing Ed J. L. Green in the April 19 San Marcos Record.

“A Brief History of Hays County and San Marcos Texas,” published by the San Marcos Record in 1948 and written by Dudley R. Dobie, includes the following about Ed J. L. Green at pp. 40-41: “The Ku Klux Klan was sweeping over the Southern States. Hays County was one of many Texas counties that had a Klan organization. It had such law-abiding men as Ed J. L. Green, Judge W. W. Martin, James Hewett, W. W. Wolfork, William Adair, Captain C. Standifer, and many others as members. So far as is known the Klansmen did not kill anyone, but they administered the ‘wet rope’ with great vigor.”

This would indicate that the KKK in Hays County was more than just “a fraternal organization where old vets could reminisce about their Civil War experiences.”

A thesis by Barbara Lean Clayton, “Lone Star Conspiracy: Racial Violence and Ku Klux Klan Terror in Post-civil War Texas, 1865-1877” published in 1986, explains that “Prior to 1865 whites targeted European and Mexican immigrants and Unionists for violence. Those same whites had kept black slaves in check despite emancipation. After 1865 Anglos transferred their hatred and aggression to all who were not ex-Confederates, white Southern Democrats, or ‘true’ Texans. . . . With the birth of the Ku Klux Klan, the hooded disguise of the secret organization gave many white Texans sanction to intimidate, terrorize, and even murder. By doing so they hoped to regain control of their state at least politically. Socially and economically, the Klan managed to keep the freedpeople subservient and to maintain them as a source of cheap, often free, labor.”

It strains credulity to believe that using “wet ropes” against former slaves was some benign fraternal practice. The history of the aftermath of the Civil War is replete with reports of violence done to former slaves. To suggest that members of the KKK merely held coffee klatches ignores the violence and intimidation directed at former slaves and their allies. It appears that Ed J. L. Green was one perpetrator of such violence.

Lamar W. Hankins San Marcos

Texas has embarked on a massive, billion-dollar experiment using public tax dollars through its new school voucher program. The initiative was sold to the public on a simple premise. It promised to provide a lifeline for struggling public school students seeking better educational options.

But as the program rolls out, the early data tells a different and deeply concerning story. With billions in public funds at stake and the future of neighborhood schools in question, the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency (TXCVT) is necessary. This initiative, from the nonprofit Our Schools Our Democracy, goes beyond being a helpful resource; it is a civic necessity.

To understand a policy’s true purpose, we must look at who benefits. Texas voucher application data revealed a staggering reality: 76% of voucher applications came from families whose children are not enrolled in public schools. Instead of helping public school students escape failing systems, the program is largely subsidizing families whose children already attend private schools, are homeschooled, or have never set foot in a public classroom.

The applicants’ demographics do not match those of the state. Texas public schools are roughly 54% Hispanic. Yet, white families made up the vast majority of voucher applicants. Nearly 30% of applicants reported incomes above 500% of the federal poverty level. Without strong oversight, Texans are being forced to subsidize private tuition for affluent families who can already afford it. Essentially, we are providing a coupon for the wealthy.

The financial threat to the state is huge. The Legislative Budget Board estimates the Texas voucher program could cost up to $7.9 billion by 2030 and 2031. Every dollar spent here is a dollar taken from local public schools that educate over 90% of Texas children. For a price tag in the billions, taxpayers deserve strict accountability. Yet in other states, accountability is dangerously scarce. We have seen what happens when voucher programs go wrong: taxpayer funds used for Disney vacations in Florida, or a million dollars spent on LEGOs in Arizona. Without strict guardrails, public money is vulnerable to misuse.

Adding insult to injury is the illusion of “school choice.” This term is often touted by the media and voucher proponents. The reality is different: a voucher does not guarantee a classroom seat. Private schools remain the final decision-makers. They can reject applicants based on faith, academic test scores, behavior history, or special education needs. We are already seeing discriminatory fallout. Muslim parents are suing, alleging that Islamic private schools were excluded from the Texas program. When public money goes to schools that pick and choose students, it is not school choice. It is the school’s choice.

The Texas Comptroller’s Office is officially tasked with monitoring the program and its funds. Relying solely on a state agency to police a billion-dollar, politically charged initiative leaves gaps. This is why the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency is vital. Led by their director, Dee Carney, the TXCVT acts as an independent, nonpartisan watchdog. It tracks data, detects trends, and flags misuse of public funds. Through its Voucher Watchdog Reporting Portal, it empowers citizens to hold the system accountable and watch those who may illegally profit from the $1 billion in voucher funds.

Fellow Texans, we cannot look away. We must stay vigilant about where this money goes and who is benefiting. As taxpayers, parents, and community members, we must support independent oversight, such as that provided by the TXCVT. We must demand total transparency. Refuse to let tax dollars be quietly diverted from the public good into unaccountable hands. The future of Texas public education depends on our willingness to keep our eyes on the billion-dollar blind spot.

Dr. Brandon Enos is the proud superintendent and lead learner at Gunter ISD in Gunter, Texas. He serves as the chair of the legislative committee for the Texas Rural Education Association (TREA) and is a strong advocate for public school teachers and students.

The draft report, released by the Texas Water Development Board, says the increased costs are due to a number of factors: inflation in construction costs, more frequent droughts, and a decline in existing water supplies as the state’s aquifers become depleted.

The state last year earmarked spending $20 billion over the next two decades for water infrastructure and supply projects — an amount that falls far short of what will be needed, according to some experts.

“This figure validates concerns that $1 billion a year is not going to be sufficient to meet the infrastructure needs to ensure our water supply,” said Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, a construction trade coalition for water projects.

The state water plan is created with input from 16 regional planning groups that identify future water needs in their regions and how to meet them. The draft plan is open for public comment and can be accessed here: tinyurl.com/3ktz5fpm.

TALARICO RAISES RECORD $27 MILLION; CORNYN LEADS PAXTON IN FUNDRAISING 

State Rep. James Talarico raised a record $27 million in this first quarter of this year, the largest- ever sum for any Senate candidate in any state in the first quarter of an election year, The Texas Tribune reported.

“Winning in Texas will require unprecedented resources,” said Seth Krasne, Talarico’s campaign manager. “This grassroots fundraising haul puts our movement in a strong position to spread our message in some of the most expensive media markets in the country. But we can’t take our foot off of the gas.”

Talarico has raised more than $40 million since entering the race last September from more th 540,000 individual contributors.

On the Republican side, where incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is heading to a May 26 runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Cornyn outraised his opponent by fourfold, pulling in $9 million in the first quarter. Paxton raised $2.2 million “The Cornyn campaign continues performing at a high level, building off the over performance in the March 3rd primary to announcing a massive fundraising haul in the first quarter of 2026,” Cornyn campaign manager Andy Hemming said.

JUDGE ORDERS CAMP MYSTIC TO PRESERVE CABINS WHERE GIRLS DIED 

An Austin state district judge ordered Camp Mystic’s owners not to alter, repair or demolish cabins that housed campers and counselors who died in last year’s July 4 flood along the Guadalupe River, southwest of Kerrville. The flood killed 25 girls, two counselors and one of the owners of the camp.

The camp’s owners are being sued by the parents of 8-year-old Cile Steward, the only victim whose body has not been recovered. Other parents of children who died in the floods also have lawsuits pending.

“This finding is supported by facts tending to show that defendants owed a duty of care to Cile Steward and other minor campers, which they breached by operating Camp Mystic in a high-risk zone without adequate flood protections,” Judge Guerra Gamble wrote.

The injunction remains in place until the lawsuit is resolved or the court rules otherwise. The judge set a trial date of May 3, 2027.

SNAP RULE CHANGE FORCES RECIPIENTS TO READ FOOD LABELS 

Changes in what can be purchased under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are now in place in Texas, and consumers are spending more time examining the ingredients label, the Texas Standard reported.

SNAP benefits can no longer be used to buy candy or sweetened beverages, under Texas Senate Bill 379, passed last year. That includes drinks with more than five grams of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener.

The ban does not include baking sugar or sweet cereals, however. The guidelines do not provide an itemized list, so retailers must interpret them and apply them to the food items they sell.

“You use Google a lot to get the internet’s interpretation. You look at the law and how it’s written,” said John Robertson of Austin’s Fresh Plus grocery stores.

DATA CENTER OWNERS GRILLED BY LEGISLATORS 

Texas lawmakers grilled data center developers, energy companies and grid officials recently on the impact of the state’s data center boom, the Houston Chronicle reported. Grid officials say they are proposing regulations that will ensure Texas can handle data centers without raising electricity costs for consumers or risking power blackouts.

Officials from various Texas energy companies said data centers could help upgrade the state’s grid infrastructure.

“If we have an opportunity to have new customers coming to the state pay for that, we’ll have done some really good work,” said Brian Lloyd, with Dallas-based Oncor, the Texas utility with by far the most data centers seeking to connect to its system.

Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission, told lawmakers his agency is working with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the grid operator, on rules to encourage data centers to bring their own power generation to help prevent price spikes.

“I honestly don’t think on the generation side you’re going to see a large increase in costs at this point, because we have so many renewables and batteries on the system,” Gleeson said.

AMOUNT OF STATE IN DROUGHT INCREASES AGAIN 

Near the end of March, 89% of the state was in drought, according to hydrologist Dr. Mark Wentzel with the Texas Water Development Board. That is the largest extent of drought in nearly four years, Wentzel wrote. In addition to continued dry conditions, average March temperatures were 66.8 Fahrenheit, beating the previous record by more than one-and-a-half degrees.

Wentzel said there is some reason for optimism with a wet, cooler start to April and a forecast of drought contraction in much of the state, except for the Panhandle and West Texas by early summer.

“Also note that we’ve set a new monthly record every year since 2021. In 2021, we set the record for the hottest December. In 2022, it was the hottest July, hottest September in 2023, October in 2024, and November in 2025,” he wrote.

Now we can add March 2026 to that list.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

April is both Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness month. The following article is the fourth article of a fiveweek series focusing on raising awareness about sexual assault and child abuse. Locally, HCWC served 639 community members that experienced sexual assault or abuse and 877 children that suffered abuse and their protective caregivers.

Artificial Intelligence has quickly entered our everyday lives, allowing us to outsource simple tasks such as creating grocery lists, and designing workout routines. This has allowed us to quickly adapt to our ever-changing world by saving time and energy on tedious and mundane tasks. However, adults and youth are also turning to AI for more complex, emotional tasks such as emotional support, relationship guidance, conflict resolution, and more often taking the place of personal relationships and even licensed, human therapists.

Although the low cost and easy accessibility of chatbots may seem particularly appealing to youth, there are concerns, such as delayed social skills, attached to their increasing and continued usage.

AI is designed to attract users and keep them coming back. Alternatively, licensed therapists are trained to maintain boundaries and encourage independence.

Additionally, when using chatbots, many individuals experience validation, or an echo chamber of their own beliefs. Human therapists, unlike chatbots, are trained to encourage self-reflection, challenge and hold individuals accountable for their actions.

Youth may also seek out AI because talking to another person can feel uncomfortable at times, or even awkward. However, building a relationship with another person, such as in a therapeutic setting, can allow for youth to acknowledge, address and unpack feelings, build resiliency, while practicing and developing emotional and social skills long term.

Learning about AI is essential to helping us understand best practices to utilize this tool to our benefit, as well as making sure youth are informed and supported.

Throughout the month of April, in addition to this article series, HCWC will be sharing content across all our social media platforms as well as participating in community events. Be sure to follow HCWC on social media for updates on upcoming events. You can find us using the @HCWCenter handle on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Dear Editor, I clearly remember the first time I voted. It was a long time ago.

In those days, voting actually involved stepping into a booth the size of a small walk-in closet. Once you stepped inside, you’d pull a big lever that drew a dense green curtain over the entrance so that nobody could see how you voted. And you pulled the same lever back when you were finished. That registered your vote and drew back the curtain. Then you’d walk out of the booth feeling like you had accomplished something.

I used to watch as the machines were unloaded from the back of big delivery trucks at the polling location. I’d always offer up a quick prayer that the delivery guys didn’t drop one. It wasn’t that I thought the machines would be damaged; after all, they were built like battleships. It was the delivery guys I worried about. If one of them lost their footing or their grip on a machine, there was no telling what would happen. Fortunately, that was never a problem – at least not that I knew of.

Today? Those old Shoup machines are tucked into the corners of museums – if they’re anywhere at all. But when you voted on one of them, you knew you had voted. Today’s machines, the size of an old portable record player (I still wonder who made off with my 45s), do the same job, and a poll worker can wrangle two at the same time, maybe three or four with some creative carrying technique.

Efficient? Yes. Accurate? Yes? But in their sterility and compactness, they’ve removed much of the drama from voting. The whirring and grumbling sounds they make as they ingest your ballot just don’t compare to the industrial strength banging and clanging and clicking and clacking of the old machines.

The first time I used one was in 1971. I had just turned 21 the week before Election Day and I was excited that I could actually cast my first ballot. But I was also kind of peeved. Earlier that year, the 26th Amendment to the Constitution had been ratified, lowering the voting age to 18. That was a good thing, something many in my generation had been agitating for as part of our louder and more frequent protests against the Vietnam War. After all, we argued, if we were old enough to fight, we were definitely old enough to vote.

So I still had to wait until I was 21, but I voted. As I did, I thought about my high-school classmate, a kid named Leonard Keller. He never got to vote. He was an infantryman killed in South Vietnam’s Thua Thien province the previous year. He was only 19 years old. “This one’s for you, Lenny,” I said quietly as I stepped into the voting booth. While I hoped that my choices could help end the war, it dragged on for another four long and bloody years.

Voting means a lot to me. It’s important. It can change the course of history and it can prepare young students to make history. So I usually put a lot of effort into helping to get out the vote in every election.

Unfortunately, I can’t do that in what would have been the upcoming San Marcos School Board Election. Here in San Marcos, the May 2 election has been cancelled. Only two candidates filed for the three positions that are up this year. So they’re automatically elected.

For the seat that drew no candidates, District 2, the San Marcos CISD advertised for applicants for a one-year appointment. I was happy to learn that a number of applications have been received. This will kick off a public process that is expected to result in an appointee by the time the seat becomes vacant next month. Plans are for that seat to go back on the ballot next May to fill the remainder of the term.

I’m grateful to Board Vice President Jessica Cain and Board Secretary Sandra Sepulveda Lopez for their willingness to serve another term on the Board of Trustees. And, as she prepares to leave the Board next month, I salute Trustee Margie Villalpando for her many years of dedicated service.

The San Marcos CISD is operating through an extremely difficult financial situation, with a budget expected to result in an $8 million shortfall. As Board President Ann Halsey explained going into the current cycle last March, the District had not received an increase to the State’s per pupil finding rate since 2019.

Despite stringent belt tightening, costs continued to rise during that period and are rising even faster today. The war in Iran, which no level of planning or belt-tightening could have anticipated, has brought the cost of oil to some of the highest

I grew up in a tiny town. We didn’t have much, but we had an airport. That’s where I learned, as the saying goes, a mile of highway will take you a mile. A mile of runway will take you anywhere.

I’ve spent 25 years as a pilot and the better part of the last decade advising clients on aircraft acquisitions and management. As Vice Chair of the South Texas Business Aviation Association, a regional affiliate of the National Business Aviation Association, I work with the operators, flight departments, and businesses that depend on general aviation airports every day.

Business aircraft often operate beyond the major commercial hubs, and small airports need that traffic and investment to stay viable. That relationship runs in both directions. But the case for these airports goes well beyond corporate flight departments.

Across Texas, general aviation airports support a vast network of essential services. The state has 482 aerial application aircraft, more than any other state in the country, and every one of them operates out of a general aviation airport. Texas also has 101 air ambulance bases, also the most of any state, moving critically ill patients from rural communities to major hospitals in minutes rather than hours. The Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, with more than 3,100 volunteers and 30 aircraft, conducts roughly 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions in the continental United States.

Flight schools at airports like San Marcos and Burnet are training the pilots who will fly the next generation of aircraft. Hunters, ranchers, surveyors, and energy workers rely on these airports across a state too large to drive.

The economic impact is substantial. The Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Economic Impact Study found that general aviation airports support 48,089 jobs and $9.3 billion in economic output across the state. Burnet Municipal Airport alone supports 38 jobs and $5.7 million in output. San Marcos Regional supports 664 jobs and $82 million.

When commercial airports are included, the full Texas aviation system supports 778,955 jobs, $30.1 billion in payroll, and $94.3 billion in total economic output. These numbers come from surveys of airport managers, businesses, and visitors. They are not projections. They describe what is already happening, quietly, at airports most people drive past without slowing down.

Yet funding for these airports already lags behind what they need. Some proposals in Washington would privatize air traffic control, shifting resources toward the busiest commercial hubs while leaving smaller community airports behind. But Texas aviation is not just DFW and Austin-Bergstrom. It is a network of 289 airports and heliports across this state, and 210 of them are part of the national system eligible for federal funding. Decisions that treat only the biggest airports as worth protecting will hollow out everything else.

The Hill Country floods showed exactly why small airports are so vital. More than 120 people died, dozens went missing, and roads washed out across entire communities. Within hours, Burnet Municipal Airport became a command center for the response. More than 60 aircraft flew in carrying chainsaws, shovels, water, and protective gear. The nonprofit HELO ran more than 100 helicopter flights in the first days

Without that unity, Patrick said that state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, could win, The Dallas Morning News reported.

House Speaker Justin Burrows said he believes the GOP will keep its majority in the chamber but agreed unity is critical.

“We’ve got to be on the same page,” Burrows said. “We’ve got to be working and rowing in the same direction.”

Democrats, who have not held a majority in either chamber in more than 20 years, would have to flip 14 Republican seats to achieve a majority in the 150-member House.

DATA CENTERS SET TO GET BILLIONS IN TAX BREAKS 

An exemption for the state’s booming data center industry means Texas will lose $3.2 billion in sales tax revenue over the next two years, The Texas Tribune reported.

Lawmakers say they will consider proposals to either limit the tax break or eliminate it altogether when they meet in January for the next legislative session.

“These new numbers are extremely concerning, and I will say they’re unsustainable,” said state Sen. Joan Huffman, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. “I plan to look at filing legislation to either repeal the exemption or take a very close look at it and see.”

The tax break was approved by lawmakers in 2014, when there were far fewer data centers and they were much smaller. If nothing changes, exemptions could reach $1.75 billion annually by 2030.

The state already has more than 300 active data centers, with more than 100 additional projects either under development or planned.

TEXAS COULD FACE $700 MILLION IN SNAP PENALTIES 

New federal rules designed to cut waste in the nation’s food stamp program means Texas taxpayers will have to pay $700 million more each year to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, The Tribune reported. Officials with Texas Health and Human Services disclosed this to lawmakers at a recent committee hearing.

Almost 9% of the state’s SNAP payments had an error, slightly better than the national rate of 11%. Texas has until October 2027 to bring the error rate down below 6%. The error rate is based on unintentional mistakes by either the agency or the client receiving the benefits that result in an overpayment or underpayment Nearly one-fourth of the state’s population gets some type of assistance from Texas Health and Human Services.

“We are dealing today with a health care epidemic, but not from a disease or virus,” said Sen Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, the committee chair. “With scandals in places like Minnesota and California drawing national attention, we, as Texans, must examine our own system and see how we measure up to other states.”

COURT PAUSES SMOKABLE CANNABIS BAN, HIGHER FEES

A Travis County district judge has temporarily lifted a statewide ban on the sale of smokeable hemp products, The Texas Tribune reported. The temporary restraining order is in effect until at least April 23, when another hearing is scheduled.

Texas hemp companies sued to block new state rules that have wiped out a huge portion of the legal cannabis market, the Texas Standard reported. The rules took effect March 31 and prevented stores from selling smokable hemp products and vastly increased licensing fees. Smokable products make up the vast majority of hemp sales in the state.

“I estimated that flower is about half the market and smokable products put together including vapes are about two-thirds of the market,” said Robin Goldstein, a University of California economist who researches cannabis markets. He said the Texas market had about $4 billion in retail sales annually.

The plaintiffs are also suing over a jump in annual licensing fees for manufacturers from $250 to $10,000. Retailers must now pay $5,000 per store, up from $150.

“These provisions function not merely as regulatory tools, but as significant economic barriers not authorized by statute,” the lawsuit contends.

The suit was filed by the Texas Hemp Business Council, the Hemp Industry and Farmers of America, and eight Texas- based hemp companies.

STATE TO LAUNCH STATEWIDE FOOD PERMIT JULY 1 

The Department of State Health Services will begin offering statewide operating permits for food trucks in Texas beginning July 1, the Austin American- Statesman reported. Food truck owners currently must pay each city’s permitting fees to operate there, which discourages them from traveling to other places to sell their food.

“It’s a hassle to take time off to go and do that where we have to stop what we’re doing and lose money that day,” food truck owner Eloisa Schessler, of Dallas, said.

Some cities opposed the new law, fearing they may lose control of how mobile food trucks operate in their jurisdictions. They will still be able to control where and when food trucks operate, but they will not be able to collect permit and inspection fees.

TEXAS’ JOB GROWTH CONTINUES TO OUTPACE NATIONAL RATE 

Texas added 40,100 nonfarm jobs in January to reach 14,379,500 positions, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.6 percentage points, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

“Texas employers continue to spur our state’s economic momentum, adding more than 40,000 jobs across a wide range of major industries,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “TWC remains committed to supporting Texas’ pro-growth policies and world-class talent pipeline that make Texas the best place to do business.”

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the state remained at 4.3%, which is below the national jobless rate of 4.7%.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@ texaspress.com.

After the deaths of our father and mother, we made the reluctant and sad decision to sell the home. A wonderful woman named Barrie Breed bought the house and renovated it beautifully into a gathering place for families and friends.

Again, thank you for reliving treasured memories for us with the delightful history of Moore Manor.

Laura Weatherford Longtime resident of San Marcos

One of the greatest issues of social media is the unrealistic standards that it sets. The user is constantly shown well thought out images of wealth, joy, prosperity, and beauty. It is these painstakingly staged life scenes which often make the viewer feel that everyone is living a better, more interesting life than he/ she is. The comparisons of these imaginary images with real people have left many young people feeling inferior. Various studies have concluded that heavy use of social media contributes to anxiety, despair, and low self-esteem.

Another severe problem with these platforms is their addictive design. The corporate social media intentionally creates algorithms that force the user to spend hours scrolling through material. Notifications, likes and unlimited content activate the dopamine reactions of the brain, and it becomes difficult to disconnect and especially when it comes to teenagers. This constant engagement may impair sleep, productivity and interpersonal relationships. Social media often replaces superficial online acknowledgment with substantive dialogue instead of enhancing social bonds.

Though, social networking is not necessarily harmful. When used properly, it can assist people to stay connected with one another, create communities, and create awareness. People actively use these platforms to spread educational resources, discuss mental health, and raise awareness among society about important problems in society. The problem here is the lack of regulation and proper usage of technology, rather than technology.

Users and technology companies should take responsibility for fixing these problems. Platforms should implement stronger protection of younger users, including limits on addictive functionality as well as increased transparency in terms of algorithms. Education on digital literacy and proper use of social media should be taught to young people by parents and in school settings. These harmful effects of these sites can be significantly reduced by mastering to utilize these sites in a meaningful and not compulsive manner.

Social media will be one of the main aspects of life in the modern world, and we cannot turn a blind eye to its effects on mental health. Despite the opportunities and connections that are offered by these platforms, society should recognize that they have disadvantages as well. The key to ensuring that social media has turned into a means of connection instead of a cause of harm is health use, tighter regulations, and more education.

Thank you for your time and consideration Sincerely, Tony Hernandez San Marcos

April is both Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness month. The following article is the third article of a five-week series focusing on raising awareness about sexual assault and child abuse. Locally, HCWC served 639 community members that experienced sexual assault or abuse and 877 children that suffered abuse and their protective caregivers.

The wide revelations of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes that have come since 2019 have reinforced that those who harm children are often individuals in positions of power and trust. Wealth, status, and influence can create environments where child sexual abuse is more easily hidden, victims feel less able to speak out, and accountability is delayed or denied. To date, Epstein himself was the only American to face legal consequences for his sex crimes, though many other wealthy politicians and business leaders have been named and implicated in them.

At our children’s advocacy center, we see firsthand how power imbalances shape abuse. Whether the offender is a respected professional, community leader, or someone known to the family, their position can make it harder for children to be believed and for loved ones to recognize warning signs. Our work centers on making a space where children feel heard and their stories respected without intimidation. We will always put victims first and seek to hold their abusers accountable, regardless of status.

Communities must remain vigilant of those in power. Abuse is often enabled by authority and silence. We can protect our children by learning the signs of abuse, reporting concerns to proper authorities, and keeping a skeptical eye on people in positions of power with access to children. Most importantly, we must believe kids when they disclose inappropriate behavior or sexual abuse by anyone.

Throughout the month of April, in addition to this article series, HCWC will be sharing content across all our social media platforms as well as participating in community events. Be sure to follow HCWC on social media for updates on upcoming events. You can find us using the @HCWCenter handle on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

In February, the Trump administration waived more than two dozen environmental laws in order to clear the way for a 150-mile-long wall through West Texas, including Big Bend and the adjoining state park. Opposition quickly arose from people and politicians from both parties.

The sheriffs of Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Presidio and Terrell counties — a mix of Democrats and Republicans — wrote an open letter that said: “Based on decades of combined experience working with this terrain, we believe that construction of a continuous physical border wall in the Big Bend region would not represent the most practical or strategic approach to border security in this area.”

Now, a map on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website no longer indicates plans to construct a physical wall in the Big Bend region. It is unclear if those plans are final, since the map has been changed several times in the past few weeks.

The rugged area historically has been the leastbusy of the nine Border Patrol sectors, accounting for just 1.3% of the 237,538 apprehensions recorded along the entire U.S.-Mexico border during the last fiscal year.

STATE ON TRIAL FOR UNAIRCONDITIONED PRISONS

The state of Texas is now on trial in an Austin federal court to determine whether it must provide air-conditioning in state prisons, kut.org reported. Inmates and their attorneys have argued for decades that summer conditions — where temperatures can reach 110 degrees — constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

“The Constitution requires living conditions that are not exposing individuals to high heat levels, and the evidence has consistently shown that what TDCJ has done as an alternative has just not been effective,” attorney Brandon Duke said. “It’s not a solution.”

The state counters that it is bringing more AC online at its prisons. Plaintiff attorneys say at least five inmates have died in Texas from heat-related illness since 2023.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says it would cost $1.5 billion to install air-conditioning systems at all its prisons, and that state lawmakers must approve the funding.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman is expected to rule from the bench after the trial concludes.

CAMP MYSTIC FILES APPLICATION TO REOPEN THIS SUMMER 

Camp Mystic has filed an application with the state to reopen this summer, the Houston Chronicle reported. More than two dozen children and two camp counselors were killed in the July 4 flash floods that swept the camp. The Texas Department of State Health Services, which oversees camp licensing, said it has received complaints about the camp and that it will be “investigated for violations of the laws and rules governing youth camps.”

DSHS has been sued by the parents of nine victims who contend the camp was wrongfully licensed just two days before the disaster last summer, even though it lacked an evacuation plan. In a separate case, a Travis County judge has ordered Camp Mystic to preserve for future examination the cabins and grounds damaged in the floods.

Camp leaders are asking for permission to open its Cypress Lake campus, which they said is “in compliance with all aspects of the state’s new camp safety laws and has implemented additional safety measures that exceed the requirements of those laws.”

TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER PAY DROPS 

A new report from the University of Houston Education Research Center indicates average pay for Texas public school teachers has dropped about $5,000 over the past decade, the Chronicle reported. The decrease comes even as the cost of living has increased during that time span.

“When we look at those regional differences, there are some increases across the state, but really what we’re seeing is that average teacher salaries haven’t kept up with inflation,” said Toni Templeton, the Education Research Center’s senior research scientist.

Average base pay for the state’s most experienced teachers, those with 11 or more years of experience, has declined from about $73,000 to about $66,000 in 2024-25, according to the report.

The Texas Legislature approved pay increases based on teachers’ years of experience, and those raises could show up in future studies.

SPACEX PLANNING WHAT COULD BE BIGGEST-EVER IPO 

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is confidentially planning to sell shares to the public in what could be the largest initial public offering in history, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

It has filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission that indicates it could raise as much as $75 billion in an IPO by July.

The confidential filing allows companies to get feedback from regulators without revealing information to competitors. However, Space X will have to release a public filing at least 15 days before its IPO “road show,” when it presents its financial plan to potential underwriters and institutional investors.

SpaceX has become the world’s leading commercial rocket launch company. Over the past five years, it has secured $6 billion in contracts from the federal government.

TDI HELPS STOP $400 MILLION MEDICARE SCHEME 

A Texas Department of Insurance investigator and crime analyst played a key role in arresting a Russian national who submitted $400 million in fake Medicare claims. Nikolai Buzolin established a durable medical equipment company in Houston in 2025. He is charged with stealing patients’ and doctors’ identities to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare Part C.

“A few of the patients checked their explanation of benefits and noticed that they were getting medical equipment that they didn’t need. And it was coming from doctors they’d never met,” said TDI Fraud Unit investigator Sgt. Kevin Mannion.

FBI agents arrested Buzolin as he was boarding a plane in Los Angeles to Russia. He faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

“TDI works with federal, state, and local partners to follow cases wherever they go, whether it’s California or right here in Texas,” said Mannion. “We track them down, we shut them down, and we help dismantle these criminal activities.”

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

When I was 21, a man punched me in the face. It was at the holiday party of the Forestry Club at the University of Montana. His name was Mike, and he had been flirting with me but also forceful. I told him I wasn’t interested and went back to chatting with my friend. A few minutes later, a fist came out of nowhere and knocked me to the ground.

I couldn’t let him hurt me like that without consequences, so after giving the other party attendees a heads up, I called the police. They came, interviewed me, and arrested Mike. He pled guilty to assault and did probation. I was satisfied. But the Forestry Club and that group of friends? Most of them began avoiding me, and I no longer felt welcome at their events. Over the next few months, I floated away from that community entirely. I didn’t realize I’d broken a secret, unspoken rule: Speaking up against a problem often gets you labeled the problem.

But we can’t live that way. People do bad things, and we must have the courage to talk about it. Cultures of silence and punishing those who speak up only protect bad actors, those who lie and who treat others with disrespect.

We’ve come a long way from college but not far enough. Recently, an odd game that Judge Ruben Becerra has been playing came to a head. He, in his eighth year in public office, decided to engage on water issues. He brought a proposal to the Commissioners Court on water and data centers that had not been posted publicly or had legal review. Unfortunately, his proposal came with unintended consequences–it would have allowed industrial water users to sidestep the county development process entirely. When the legal team, other commissioners, and I (through a letter to the Court) pointed this out, the judge tabled his own proposal.

Then the judge announced a water summit and pointedly said he expected attendance from every Hays County state legislator…except me. The omission stood out to many Hays County residents, because I have been working on water issues consistently and fighting to bring more resources to our groundwater districts. When constituents asked why I was left off, he lied and said I declined to attend. I corrected the record and said I was not invited. Then he publicly invited me, and I said my office would try to participate. My staff RSVPed via an email to both the judge and one of his staffers.

But when my staff and I showed up, we were told we weren’t on the list and that the venue was at capacity despite folks inside saying there were several empty seats. The judge’s story for why has continued to change. Sometimes he says my RSVP slipped through the cracks, and sometimes he defends excluding me, saying I’m an agitator because I dared to criticize his approach on water issues. I have no reason to believe my exclusion was anything but intentional.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened with Judge Becerra. In 2020, when we were all scrambling to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the judge held conference calls for local leaders with briefings from the epidemiologist. I asked to be included to help bring needed state resources to the county. At first the judge acted like I was included but the information for the calls never arrived. When other elected officials sent me the call in information, he changed the call in time at the last minute. The judge implied in texts to me that I had nothing of value to offer and told me not to text him. When mayors and commissioners advocated for me, he yelled at them. He instructed county staff to not communicate with me.

I felt disrespected and angry, but it was a global pandemic, and the work was more important than one badly-behaved elected official. I pulled together medical experts and did virtual town halls for the community. The judge’s then chief of staff and I developed a backchannel about mask orders and federal relief money, which I believe he largely hid from the judge. I fought to get the state to bring the National Guard to Hays County for testing sites, going around the county to get the first week organized. I worked with mutual friends who still had a relationship with the judge to feed him information and ideas without my name attached.

I made myself smaller to make it work and to try (not entirely successfully) to avoid public disagreements between myself and the judge. But it was three times as much work for everyone to tiptoe around the judge’s utter refusal to work directly with me, and we accomplished less for the people of Hays County because of it.

When the judge exhibited such similar behavior last week, I wasn’t willing to make myself smaller anymore. Some of my fellow Democrats, even some of my friends, have criticized me for being divisive. But I can’t believe that calling out lies, gaslighting, and bullying is more divisive than the bad behavior itself.

This is the sad truth: Judge Becerra’s bullying and dishonest behavior has been an open secret in Hays County for years. You’re either with him or against him, and he publicly attacks those whom he considers to have opposed him. County staff and contractors report fear of retribution if they speak out. Local nonprofits, elected officials, business owners, and even many within the Hays Democratic Party have the same fear.

Just because someone is theoretically on the same side of an issue or in the same political party doesn’t mean we should accept bad behavior. Bullying and lying make true unity and collaborative work impossible in a time when we need everyone’s talent and time at the table. We must break the culture of silence, of using the idea of “everyone getting along” as a shield from accountability. I hope that my speaking out gives others the courage to do the same.

In Central Texas, we share more than county lines. We share the water that sustains our homes, our families, our economy, and our future.

For generations, people have said that whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting. But with the pace of growth our region is facing, we can no longer afford division. If we want a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren, we must choose cooperation over conflict. I am deeply grateful to the many leaders, water providers, and regional partners who joined us for this first-of-its-kind water summit in Hays County. With representation from Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Hays, and Travis counties, and participation from leaders as far as Bexar County, it was clear that the desire for regional stability reaches far beyond any one jurisdiction.

This summit is a beginning, not an ending. It brought together the people responsible for water supply, planning, and stewardship for a serious conversation about one of the most important issues facing our region. And it is already clear that when the right people come together, good things happen. Conversations at the summit generated practical ideas, including shared regional well monitoring so providers can better track conditions, plan ahead, and respond with greater precision.

That is the value of collaboration. It moves us from isolated concern to shared responsibility.

The work continues. I am encouraged that attendees expressed a clear desire to continue these conversations quarterly, and my office will work with regional partners over the next 90 days to coordinate the next meeting and agenda.

Water may be a difficult issue, but our response to it does not have to be. If we stay grounded in serious, productive conversation, we can build the kind of regional solutions that protect Hays County and our neighbors for decades to come.

That is the path forward, and I remain committed to it.

Dear Editor, First off, a big tip of the ol’ Leonard hat to the San Marcos Daily Record for its in-depth coverage of efforts related to the shall we say – spirited – debate between Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and Texas House Representative Erin Zwiener regarding contentious groundwater issues here in Hays County. I was particularly impressed with the front-page headline in Wednesday’s issue, “Water Wars Boil Over.”

Pithy. Clever. Punny. Direct. And with the subhead, “Zwiener denied entry to Becerra’s water summit,” no need to guess what was going on.

I grew up reading the New York Daily News and the New York Post, whose sales are primarily newsstand driven. Both papers rely on clever, sometimes provocative, and sometimes hilarious headlines to catch readers’ eyes, hoping they’ll drop a couple of bucks and pick up a copy on their way to the bus or subway.

My favorite? The New York Post’s classic “Headless Body in Topless Bar.” It told the story of a murder in a bar the night before – a gin mill whose entertainers didn’t face a particularly stringent dress code. A customer shot and killed the owner and held the customers hostage. Learning that one was a mortician, the killer took it a step further, ordering him to cut off his victim’s head. And – Voila! – a classic headline. Not so good for the dead guy but, hey, he’d probably never been the talk of town before his big night on the town.

And then there was the time back in the mid‘70s when New York City couldn’t meet its financial obligations and was looking for a federal bailout. Gerald Ford, who was president at the time, gave the request two thumbs down. The Daily News positioned it like this, “Ford to City: Drop Dead.”

But clever wasn’t always the rule of the day. There was the time when a Daily News reporter – a very enterprising reporter – was granted access to the execution chamber to witness the electrocution of notorious murderer Ruth Snyder. He strapped a forbidden camera to his ankle and secretly snapped her photo at the moment the electricity coursed through her body. The resulting photo took up most of the next morning’s front page under the one-word headline “Dead!”

My point? Wednesday’s headline in the San Marcos Daily Record was a classic, as well – one that could easily hold its own when measured against the pithy front page of a New York tabloid. I just hope the recruiters from the big city don’t come a-knocking at the Record’s door.

As happy as I am with the Record’s handling of this water story and its headline, I’m equally unhappy with elements of the story itself: an elected official locked out of a “private” meeting by another elected official on an issue in which both have a strong and active interest.

Why? Hard to say; there are a couple of competing stories here. One has the locked-out official RSVPing to an invitation to the event. But the response went to the email of an employee who was on vacation, so no one saw it in time. The other? Banned from the meeting because she’s an “agitator.” I’m still scratching my head, trying to figure out which it is.

Either way, I happen to like agitators, and wish we had more of them.

It took a bit of agitation for American colonists to break away from Great Britain. It took a bit of agitation – a Civil War, in fact – to extend freedom, citizenship, and voting rights to formerly enslaved Americans. It took a bit of agitation to curb the robber barons in America’s socalled “Gilded Age.” It took a bit of agitation to overturn Plessy v. Ferguson and replace it with Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. It took a bit of agitation to get a 40-hour work week, workplace safety laws, free public education, employee health benefits, Obamacare, Social Security, safer vehicles, pure food and drug laws, and an end to child labor. I could go on and on, but a bit of agitation is frequently what it takes to move things forward.

Heck, my grandmother was an agitator. She was a lovely but (at least I thought at the time) timid woman – an immigrant who didn’t want to do the wrong things in her new country. But I remember her walking a picket line calling for passage of Medicare. I’d never known her to do anything like that, but at the time she was pushing 70 and she had no health insurance and no prospects of being able to qualify for it or pay for it. But her agitation – and that of so many others – got the job done. And more than 60 years later, I’m enjoying the benefits that she fought so hard for.

When it comes to agitation, I think immediately of former Congressman John Lewis who famously said, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble,” when working for positive change.

To be fair, there’s been a bit of grumbling on both sides here. Representative Zwiener, has been pretty candid about what she describes as years of issues involving Judge Becerra and herself. But finger pointing, no matter which side it’s coming from, doesn’t solve a thing. It just makes solutions harder to come by.

I do not question the sincerity of both of them in their efforts to address serious groundwater issues in Hays County. A burgeoning population, the continued expansion of roadways and other impervious, paved surfaces, a seemingly never-ending drought, sensitive and stressed aquifers, and the threat of industrial water users, such as Data Centers, to elbow aside smaller users, creates a dangerous situation.

Becerra and Zwiener may have different approaches to dealing with the problem. That doesn’t necessarily make one right and the other wrong. But it does make it harder to effectively protect our precious water resources.

As long as both are pulling in different directions or pointing fingers, any solution will remain elusive. It’s time for all the players to realize that as long as our leadership is fighting, the people of Hays County are losing.

There’s no room for pride here. There’s no room for ego. There’s only room for cooperation and collaboration and laboring toward a shared vision. Anything short of that is an abdication of leadership.

We can address our water needs — today and in the years ahead — but only by working together.

Sincerely, Jon Leonard San Marcos

Sexual coercion within intimate relationships is not always marked by physical violence, but that doesn’t make it harmless. When one partner uses pressure, manipulation, or subtle threats to obtain sexual activity the other person is not comfortable with, the experience is not fully consensual or freely chosen.

Even without physical force, sexual coercion can have serious emotional and psychological impacts, including fear, guilt, confusion, and lingering discomfort. Many survivors describe consenting to avoid conflict, emotional withdrawal, or anticipated consequences, which can make the harm difficult to name, both for others and for themselves.

A pressured yes is not genuine consent, and it can be an important indicator that a relationship may be unsafe or unhealthy. Healthy relationships require ongoing communication, respect for changing boundaries, and space for growth over time, including within marriage.

Sexual coercion has been normalized through ideas of obligation or meeting a partner’s needs, but this narrative causes real harm. Understanding consent, coercion, and healthy sexual behaviors is essential to building authentic, respectful relationships where choices are truly honored.

Throughout the month of April, in addition to this article series, HCWC will be sharing content across all our social media platforms as well as participating in community events. Be sure to follow HCWC on social media for updates on upcoming events. You can find us using the @HCWCenter handle on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

“Kelly Hancock was rejected by Texans because he failed to do his job. He failed to take me down during impeachment, and his career is over,” Paxton wrote on X. “It’s time for him to be fired.”

Before his appointment as acting comptroller, Hancock served in the Texas Senate and was one of two Republican state senators who voted to convict Paxton in his impeachment trial. Paxton was acquitted.

The latest dispute comes after Hancock sent a letter to Paxton and to federal officials, calling for stripping the Houston Quran Academy of its charter because of alleged ties to CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights advocacy organization. Abbott has designated that group a foreign terrorist organization. The academy is suing to overturn the designation.

TEXAS POISED TO LEAD NATION IN DATA CENTERS 

Texas is poised to lead the nation by 2030 in the number of data centers, the Austin American- Statesman reported, surpassing Virginia. The state currently has 6.5 gigawatts of data center capacity under construction, accounting for 20% of the capacity added to the U.S. pipeline last year. One gigawatt can power about 750,000 homes on average.

Data centers provide the infrastructure to support both crypto currency facilities and the growth of artificial intelligence. The centers require huge amounts of power and water to operate. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates most of the state’s power grid, said the continuing growth in data centers will increase Texas energy demand by 71% in the next five years.

Central Texas has become the top data center market in the country. The American-Statesman identified at least 55 completed or planned projects between Temple and San Antonio in 2025.

$116 MILLION IN FIFA SAFETY GRANTS ANNOUNCED

The city of Houston and the North Central Texas Council of Governments, areas that are both hosting FIFA World Cup events, will receive $116 million in grants to provide for safety personnel, equipment and other public safety needs, the governor’s office has announced.

“The FIFA World Cup coming to Texas gives our state a premier opportunity to showcase all it has to offer,” Abbott said in a news release. “These public safety grants will help ensure that travelers visiting and traveling throughout Texas can enjoy our great state safely, will bolster Texas’ efforts to combat crime, and help prevent potential acts of violence.”

The money is coming from the federal government under the omnibus budget bill passed last year. The budget provides $625 million in federal funding to host cities across America. The funds are allocated for recipients to provide extensive security to protect venues, players, staff and attendees against potential terrorist attacks.

LICENSE SEEKERS WILL HAVE TO PROVE THEY’RE IN COUNTRY LEGALLY 

Anyone seeking a professional license in Texas, from barbers to dog breeders, will have to prove they are in the country legally after May 1, The Texas Tribune reported. The state’s Commission on Licensing and Regulation last week adopted a new rule that could affect thousands of workers.

A long line of speakers at a hearing urged the commission not to adopt the rule, arguing it will hamper the state’s economy and push people to work without a license. The commission oversees the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

“TDLR has long been evaluating verification of license eligibility in line with federal law. With the transfer of the Texas Lottery to TDLR, the recent launch of our licensing system modernization project, and increased focus on combatting human trafficking, the department is moving forward with lawful presence verification,” Caroline M. Espinosa, a TDLR spokesperson, said.

TDLR attorney Derek Burkhalter told commissioners that some non-citizens will still be able to get licenses if they are here legally; for example, if they were granted asylum or admitted as a refugee.

“The proposed rules do not impose a citizenship requirement,” Burkhalter said. “Individuals who are not U.S. citizens may still be eligible for licensure if they meet the eligibility criteria.”

PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLIST FATALITIES CONTINUE TO INCREASE

With spring and warmer weather here, there are more pedestrians and cyclists out on the road.

More than 20% of all Texas traffic fatalities involve either pedestrians or cyclists, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, which is urging drivers to know and follow the rules for sharing the road.

In 2024, 852 cyclists and pedestrians were killed in crashes on Texas roads. There were 6,095 crashes involving pedestrians and 2,761 crashes involving bicyclists. In 2025, there were 1,372 traffic crashes involving pedestrians in Texas and 527 traffic crashes involving bicyclists. In these crashes, 186 people were killed.

“All of us share a responsibility to watch out for each other, but people on foot or riding a bike are most at risk for serious injury or worse in a crash with a car, which means drivers must be extra vigilant,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said.

SLIGHTLY LESS ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON PREDICTED 

Hurricane season is a little more than two months away, and weather media outlet AccuWeather is predicting a slightly less active season this year than in 2025, the Houston Chronicle reported. However, Texas and the Gulf Coast are still at risk of being hit.

AccuWeather is forecasting 11 to 16 named storms, including four to eight hurricanes. Of those, one to three are expected to become Category 3 or strong hurricanes, with winds of at least 111 mph. Three to six storms could directly hit the United States, including one to three along the Gulf Coast, putting Texas and neighboring states at risk.

Last year was the first since 2015 without a hurricane making a direct U.S. landfall. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

April is both Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness month. The following article is the first article of a five-week series focusing on raising awareness about sexual assault and child abuse. Locally, HCWC served 639 community members that experienced sexual assault or abuse and 877 children that suffered abuse and their protective caregivers.

As a community, we can’t ignore the reality that sexual violence is a major public health problem. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds, taking many forms, including any unwanted sexual behavior or contact.

Public health isn’t just about hospitals or vaccines; it’s about creating conditions where people can live safe, healthy lives, and sexual violence threatens that safety in a deep and lasting way.

A shocking fact: more than 1 in 3 women and about 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced some form of sexual violence involving physical contact in their lifetime. Survivors often experience long-lasting mental and physical consequences, such as depression, anxiety, and difficulty in school and work. Harming not only the survivor but also families, friends, schools, and workplaces. When a problem affects this many people, it becomes a community-wide concern, thus a public health concern.

April is both Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and it’s time for all of us to take action!

Because sexual violence affects so many people, public health experts emphasize that prevention is key. Prevention means stopping sexual violence before it happens, and that requires all of us. Awareness is the first step, but not the last. I invite you to speak up, challenge harmful behaviors, and take action. Together, we can build a culture where respect and consent are the norms, one where sexual violence has no place.

Throughout the month of April, in addition to this article series, HCWC will be sharing content across all our social media platforms as well as participating in community events. Be sure to follow HCWC on social media for updates on upcoming events. You can find us using the @HCWCenter handle on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Dear Editor, I don’t mean to get personal here, but I’ve never been this old before. And I’ve heard, on good authority, that I’ll never be this young again. Interesting conundrum.

So what does it mean? Well, it all depends on the day of the week and, sometimes, the time of day. On a purely physical level, some days hurt more than others. The thumbs, the knees, the back, the hips, the neck. Oh, my aching joints. They snap at me, “No! No! Let’s not go there; let’s not do that. Stop!”

When that happens, it’s straight to the aspirin. Sometimes it does the job. Sometimes it doesn’t. On those “doesn’t” days, I just put the world on hold and try to catch up with my reading. Unfortunately, that’s usually a losing battle: it’s tough to ignore the desperate pleas from my joints. Or maybe I just grit my teeth and grin and bear it. Either way, I know I’m not going to get much done.

Other days, the world looks a little brighter and feels a little better. I can hop in the truck and drive over to one of the restaurants offering an Early-Bird dinner discount. I don’t have to try to remember the name of my orthopedist, or scare up the phone number of my physical therapist to make an appointment. I can forget for just a bit that there’s less and less hair up top for my barber to cut and the bags under my eyes keep getting bigger and bigger, while my eyes themselves seem to take in less and less.

I read something the other day about a famous magazine editor, Norman Podhoretz. Sitting for an interview when he was 95 years old, he explained why he kept a photo of himself – taken when he was 22 – on his coffee table. His response? “I think that’s what I look like.”

I feel the same way, despite what the mirror tells me every morning when I take my life into my hands and scrape the stubble off my face. That guy in the mirror can’t be me. Ask me and I’ll tell you – as far as I’m concerned, that senior yearbook photo is spot on. Springsteen called them “Glory Days.” On a good day, I can convince myself that they’re still here. A few character lines since then? Sure. But nothing to get worked up about.

Not every day is good. What you want to do and what your body will let you do can be two entirely different things. Sometimes you need someone to cut you a break. Sometimes you need a little accommodation to get something done – especially something important.

Like voting. That’s where mail ballots come into the picture. They make it possible for many folks – voters who might not be able to get to the polls – to participate in the electoral process. Universal suffrage, the right of every qualified citizen to vote, is something we take for granted. It’s definitely something that was a long time a-coming. It took a few amendments to the Constitution over the course of 132 years to reach that point. It wasn’t until 1870 that the right to vote was expanded to include Black men. It took another 50 years for women, no matter what their race, to be included.

Voting rights were not expanded freely or generously. It took a civil war before the United States granted emancipation, citizenship, and voting rights to the formerly enslaved. The struggle of women to vote, remarkably, lasted well into the 20th century.

Even after the expansion of voting rights, the promise of post-Civil War reconstruction was stymied by the implementation of the Black Codes and Jim Crow laws that erected barriers to full participation in American democracy.

In some of our own lifetimes, poll taxes, literacy tests, and the allwhite primary were used as tools of voter suppression. Not long ago, a friend here in San Marcos showed me his grandfather’s poll tax receipt. That opened my eyes wider than any history lesson every could.

The purpose of the tax? “To improve the quality and ‘responsibility’ of the electorate,” according to Texapedia. (This makes it sound like some weird effort in support of the disgraced pseudoscience of eugenics.) The net effect? “It was a codified effort to keep the ballot in the hands of white men and upper middle class and affluent white women,” explains the Texas Women’s Foundation.

President Lyndon Johnson, a Hill Country native who studied in Hays County and represented Hays County in Congress, finally pulled the plug on official roadblocks to voting with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I wasn’t old enough to vote back then, but if I had been, and knowing what I know now, I’d have been saying, along with a majority of 1964 voters, “All the Way with LBJ!”

I’ve been fortunate to be able to vote by mail. So were about 5,000 other Hays County voters – voters of both parties – in the 2024 Presidential election. On average, somewhere in the neighborhood of about four percent of Hays County voters cast their ballots by mail. Some, like me, because of age, some because of illness or disability, some are away serving in the military, some are within weeks of giving birth, others are absent from the county at election time, and still others are in custodial care. But all of them are voters who want to be sure their voices are heard.

Despite the progress we’ve made when it comes to voting, it seems you can’t keep a bad idea down.

The President, who this week voted by mail himself, wants to pull the plug on mail ballots. His claim? Preventing fraud. I did a lot of digging into that, but it’s just not supported by the facts. Time Magazine, just days ago, cited a study by the National Statistical Association finding that there is “no evidence that voting by mail increases the risk of voter fraud overall.” Other studies have come to the same conclusion time and time again.

Makes me wonder if the real fraud here is the unsupported charge that mail voting is “corrupt as hell” and “rigged.” Talk about fake news!

Bottom line? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Sincerely, Jon Leonard San Marcos

The judge also ordered the application deadline for families be extended to March 31, citing concerns that no Islamic schools had been approved for the program.

“We received an invitation to register yesterday from Odyssey. We were able to register, and we got approval immediately upon finishing the registration form,” Hamed Ghazali, principal of the Houston Quran Academy, said. “In addition, our school appeared on the parents’ portal and some of our parents were able to register, choosing our school.”

The voucher program gives as much as $10,400 for tuition reimbursement and other fees to parents who send their children to private school next year, up to $30,000 for parents of children with disabilities, and up to $2,000 for homeschooled children.

TEXAS SENATE RUNOFF BALLOT DEADLINE PASSES 

The deadline for Republican candidates to withdraw from the May runoff ballot has passed, and both U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remain in the race, The Texas Tribune reported. Soon after the primary President Donald Trump promised to endorse one of the candidates “soon,” but has yet to do so.

Cornyn, who held a narrow lead in the primary but not a majority, recently wrote an op-ed piece reversing course on his opposition to ending the filibuster, which requires 60 votes for Senate approval of legislation. The Senate last week started floor discussion of the SAVE America Act, a bill Trump claims would “guarantee the midterms” for Republicans. Both Cornyn and Paxton now back the bill, which restricts voting access.

There is little chance of the bill passing the Senate because of the filibuster, since all 47 Senate Democrats oppose it, calling it a modern-day poll tax. There also does not appear to be enough support for ending the filibuster, which would allow the bill to pass with a simple majority.

Whoever wins the GOP Senate runoff will face state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, in November.

CHÁVEZ OBSERVANCE SCRAPPED AFTER ABUSE ACCUSATIONS 

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to no longer observe César Chávez Day and said he plans to ask lawmakers to remove the holiday from state law, The Dallas Morning News reported. The move came after The New York Times reported Chavez, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, groomed and sexually abused girls and women who worked in the movement.

In addition, many Texas cities and school districts are considering renaming streets and schools and removing monuments to the famed labor leader.

“Let me be clear – no political affiliation, legacy or historic contribution should ever shield sexual predators from scrutiny or excuse the harm inflicted on survivors,” Dallas City Council member Bazaldua said in a Facebook post.

The co-founder of the UFW, Dolores Huerta, now 96, said Chavez forced her to have sex and raped her at one point. Huerta said that she kept silent to protect the farmworker movement.

DRAG SHOW BAN FINALLY TAKES EFFECT 

A ban on certain public drag shows passed in 2023 finally took effect last week after a federal appeals court reaffirmed its constitutionality, The Tribune reported. The law prohibits performers from performing on public property or where children are present.

Paxton cheered the ruling in a news release, writing “I will always work to shield our children from exposure to erotic and inappropriate sexually oriented performances.”

The plaintiffs and the ACLU of Texas, which represents them, said they plan to continue fighting the ban.

“The law’s vague and sweeping provisions still create a harmful chilling effect for drag artists and those who support them, while also threatening many types of performing arts cherished here in Texas, from theater to ballet to professional wrestling,” ACLU Texas attorney Brian Klosterboer said in a statement.

$16 BILLION GAS POWER PLANT PLANNED IN EAST TEXAS 

One of the nation’s largest energy projects is coming to East Texas, according to The News. It is part of a $550 billion investment package that Japan pledged last October and will be built in Anderson County in East Texas.

The $16 billion natural gas-fired power generation hub will be able to serve up to five gigawatts of energy demand and will be operated by NextEra Energy Resources, a wholesale electricity provider based in Juno Beach, Florida.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Trump at the White House last week. The administration has previously said the East Texas project will provide power to meet booming electricity demand, particularly as new data centers come online across the state.

147 MEASLES CASES IN TEXAS THIS YEAR 

The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported at least 147 cases of measles in the state this year, with most occurring in federal detention facilities, The Tribune reported. The largest outbreak, with 99 cases, is at the West Texas Detention Facility, which is privately operated in Hudspeth County.

A DSHS spokesperson said the “state’s role inside federal facilities is very limited,” so detailed information on contact tracing, vaccine response, or any demographic information on infected individuals is not available.

Another 20 cases have been reported in El Paso, Bexar, Bandera, Kendall, Lubbock, and Rockwall counties, according to DSHS, and were contracted from a variety of sources, such as international travel.

Measles is highly contagious and is especially dangerous to unvaccinated children, pregnant women and adults with compromised immune systems. It also has a long incubation period.

AGENCY LAUNCHES LOW-COST PAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM ACROSS STATE 

DSHS has launched a new sterilization program for dogs and cats after receiving $13 million in state funding to support the initiative for two years. The funds are allocated to 38 applicants to perform these procedures across the state. Grant recipients had to demonstrate the ability to provide highvolume, high-quality, and low-cost spay and neuter services.

“The program is designed to maximize sterilization impacts across both urban and rural communities in Texas. Receiving funding were animal shelters and rescue entities, veterinary clinics, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations that perform sterilization procedures,” the news release said.

To discover which entity is serving your area, visit this link: tinyurl. com/5zkzu5bm.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@ texaspress.com.

School shootings do not begin in classrooms they often begin at home. Long before tragedy strikes, there are frequently warning signs: a change of behavior, unsettling anger, violent threats or easy access to an unsecured firearm. While national debates focus on gun laws, school security, and mental health systems, one critical factor is too often overlooked, adult responsibility in the household. When parents ignore warning signs or fail to properly secure weapons, the consequences extend beyond their front door.

The recent conviction of a father connected to the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia reflects a shift in how society understands that responsibility. The jury determined that providing a firearm to a teenager who has exhibited warning signs was not simply poor judgement, it was criminal negligence. This decision sends a clear message: when an adult enables access to deadly weapons despite known obvious risks, accountability doesn’t stop with the person who pulls the trigger.

This case is not isolated. In multiple school shootings across the country firearms were obtained from the shooter’s own home. In some instances parents purchased or gifted guns despite knowing their child expressed violent thoughts, displayed aggressive tendencies, or

SEE struggled emotionally. Providing access to a lethal weapon while ignoring clear red flags is not a parent oversight, it is a preventable failure whose decision places other children’s lives in danger.

Parents should be held accountable because they are the primary gatekeepers of access within the home. Minors cannot legally purchase firearms on their own, they rely on adult supervision and control. When a parent decides to give a gun or leave it unsecured despite clear warning signs, that decision increases the risk of violence. Holding parents accountable reinforces a basic system of public safety, with rights comes responsibility. Firearm ownership carries a duty of care especially when children are involved.

Critics argue that prosecuting parents will not prevent tragedies. We hold adults responsible when children are endangered in other areas of life because consequences encourage precaution. If we are serious about protecting students, we cannot continue treating preventable negligence as an unfortunate coincidence. Parental accountability alone will not end school shootings. However, refusing to address adult responsibility leaves a dangerous gap in prevention. Prevention begins long before a child walks into a school building. Accountability begins at home.

Angelina Alvarez Gonzales

Dear Editor, When I was a kid, oh, way back in the ‘50s and early ‘60s, I found myself entranced by a magazine called “Famous Monsters of Filmland.” That’s where I learned about the classic Universal horror movies of the early 1930s. “Dracula,” “Frankenstein,” “The Wolf Man,” “The Mummy,” “King Kong” (and their brides, and sons, and daughters, and curses, and mad scientists, and creepy laboratories, and frightened, enraged villagers).

Those articles were accompanied by black and white still photos from the films themselves. But it was rare when we got to watch the actual movies. In those days, there were no revival houses. There were no film festivals. It was before Blockbuster Home Video. Before Beta and VHS. Before DVDs and before streaming. You either saw the movie in a theater, or you waited for it to show up on a local TV station. Or, like me, you only read about it in some pulp movie magazine.

At my age at the time, the 30 years that had elapsed between when those movies were made and when I first heard about them, I considered them relics from Thomas Edison’s “Black Maria” studio not far from my New Jersey hometown, long before film production moved to sunny Hollywood. And when you’re only 10 years old, 30 years represents three lifetimes – more years than I could actually imagine. (And so many years ago that I can scarcely recall.)

On the movie front, some weeks I lucked out, and something I had missed or only read about, but lamented being born too late to catch when it was new, showed up on “Million Dollar Movie” or “The Late Show.” This was long before there was a guy named Stephen Colbert hosting a late-night show of the same name and devoting his monologue to latter-day monsters with different names and different – but no less destructive – powers, still making us scream and terrifying us, but for completely different reasons.

Of course, back then, we stared at our TVs, rapt, hoping to be scared out of our wits by those grainy, black and white features, with the flat, tinny, slightly-out-ofpitch background music, and the echoey British accents. We’d scrub through “TV Guide” every week, putting a check mark next to every movie described as a “melodrama.” We thought that word was synonymous with Monsters! Destruction! The undead! The incantations, tools, and, as Poe wrote, the “quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,” associated with these creatures of the darkness mesmerized us.

I think of Bela Lugosi, the title character in 1931’s “Dracula,” offering a glass of “very old” wine to his guest, Jonathan Harker, after staring, fascinated, by the blood running from a small cut in Harker’s finger. Harker asks him, “Aren’t you drinking?” Dracula answers, in his thick Transylvanian accent, “I never drink – wine.”

Even if we weren’t exactly afraid, there was still something indescribably haunting and off putting about Dracula’s world. It made me uneasy. The story was, after all, based on myths and folk tales that originated in a shadowy, almost forgotten past. Who could say with any conviction what was real and what was not?

And then there was “Frankenstein.” Or, more correctly, the character called only “The Monster,” and played by Boris Karloff in Universal’s “Frankenstein,” also from 1931. The irony is that the real monster in the movie was its creator, Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The creature was a victim of circumstances – shaped by the pride, ambition, and hubris of the man of “rationality” and “science.” But its creator, “divinely proud,” as he has been described, took no responsibility for the actions of his creation and, in fact, turned on it.

Dr. Frankenstein purloined the power of creation, imagining himself a god, by fashioning a creature from scavenged parts of the buried dead, and imbuing them with something resembling life only by lashing them together and raising them on a platform to the heavens where the power of nature, in the form of a violent electrical storm, passed along the spark that animated the creature.

So why all the monsters?

I was talking to my sister last week about the first movie my parents let me go see on my own. It was a 1958 creature feature called “The Thing That Couldn’t Die.” The advertising tag line was, “The grave can’t hold it! Nothing human can stop it!”

That got me thinking about the recent Data Center fight. We villagers, armed with pitchforks and torches, ran them out of town as the bright moon was eclipsed by the dark clouds of night, and celebrated our victory. We stopped them cold. Or so we liked to believe.

But, like the thing that couldn’t die, it seems that the Data Centers can overcome what would vanquish a mere mortal. Inhabiting, as they do, a vast reinforced stone necropolis, as Karloff ’s mummy Kharis did in ancient Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, there is little that can stop them.

While the city put up a barrier, halting their advance, this simply gives the Data Center sponsors six months to regroup to plan and implement a more effective assault. And while the County has attempted to erect its own defenses, Texas law makes it difficult for counties to effectively do so in a situation like this.

We all know the problems. Like Dracula’s constant need for fresh blood, the Data Centers cannot live without a seemingly endless supply of water. The vampire must have its blood, even at the cost of the life of its donor. And the Data Centers must have water – to the tune of an estimated 70,000 gallons a day, at a time of intense drought and in an area dependent on fragile aquifers.

Just as Dr. Frankenstein’s need to have the heavens produce the huge energy jolt necessary for the heart of his creature to begin beating, the Data Centers have an insatiable taste for electricity, becoming power-hungry monsters, consuming what some calculate as two and a half times the City of San Marcos’s peak energy usage.

John Maberry, a landowner seeking to change San Marcos’ land use policy to open the door to Data Centers, says “This is the best path forward for the city of San Marcos and its residents.” It may be the best path forward for John Maberry, but not for the city of San Marcos.

Jonathan Harker does not need a glass of John Maberry’s wine.

Sincerely, Jon Leonard San Marcos