News

The House and Senate established a provision as part of the Senate’s budget that requires passage of a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas oversight bill in order for the group to be funded by the state.  

Early this month Senators passed a set of bills, one authored by Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Dallas, that add a new level of oversight and transparency for the troubled CPRIT.   

Currently drivers are required to put down their cell phone while driving through the areas of a school, which are usually governed by flashing lights and warning signs. 

House Bill 347, which was authored by Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, and sponsored by Sen. Bob Nichols, R-Jacksonville, takes that law two steps further.

The City of New Braunfels will take a final vote on some consumer-friendly ordinances at its next meeting.

In April the city took an initial reading on an ordinance to allow people to bring their dogs with them to dinner or the bar if the restaurant or bar has a patio.

New Braunfels Mayor Gale Pospisil said the ordinance known as "paws on the patio" would require business owners to apply for the permit, which has a few restrictions.

Saturday's city council election wrapped up with several decisive victories for incumbents, but a few races are still to be decided.

District 4 Councilman Rey Saldaña beat his challenger with 84 percent of the vote, East Side Councilwoman Ivy Taylor will be returning for a third term, Ray Lopez of District 6 and Cris Medina of District 7 each won their races handily, as did District 9 and 10 Council Members Elisa Chan and Carlton Soules.

Update: (11:46 a.m.) City officials are expecting an additional 8,000 vehicles in the downtown area for the graduation ceremonies this afternoon and advise people traveling in and around downtown to plan for congestion.

The first ceremony is scheduled to conclude at 4:30 p.m., meaning afternoon traffic congestion on area highways and streets will likely begin earlier than normal.

In the first segment:

An incumbent unseated, and runoffs in District 8 and 5. How does this election change the direction of city hall? We will take a look at the results of Saturday's municipal elections with Gilbert Garcia of the San Antonio Express-News and Texas Public Radio's Ryan Loyd.

In the second segment:

Each week on World Music (Saturday nights from 8-10 on KSTX 89.1 FM), I take a look at celebrations happening around the world. This week, a fragrant festival in Morocco.

ROSE FESTIVAL

With the growing number of drones being used by by law enforcement and the public, Texas lawmakers are taking up the issue to try and set some ground rules.

House Bill 912 would restrict the use of drones, and is inching closer to becoming law.