June 4, 2024
Connect and Discover Sale: 25¢ |
|
 | Yasmeen Khalifa, Audience Engagement Producer |
Best of the Bayou
Today we're talking about why H-E-B's Charles Butt backed out of the fight against vouchers...
If you read one thing: Charles Butt, the billionaire H-E-B chairman, has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over decades bolstering public education in Texas. But this year, in a political fight over private school vouchers that public schools fear would decimate their budgets, Butt wound down his political spending.
How much has he spent this year?
Gov. Greg Abbott and pro-voucher groups pumped a record-breaking $15 million into flipping state House seats ahead of the March primaries, while the grocery giant's political action committee spent just under $2 million supporting GOP incumbents.
After bruising defeats in the first round, Butt spent even less in May's runoffs, in which four more pro-voucher candidates won, securing a presumed majority in the House to pass Abbott's plan next year to divert taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools.
What does this mean for the voucher battle?
Beyond vouchers, the rightward lurch of the Texas House following this election cycle could hamstring the political influence of public school leaders and their allied groups.
And it comes ahead of a pivotal legislative session, as Abbott has held up bipartisan proposals to increase public education spending, teacher pay raises and reforms to special education to try and get vouchers approved.
Read Edward McKinley's full story here.
Stay in the Loop
Photo by: Susan Barber
📰 Need to Know
- Houston police detailed efforts to find a man accused of shooting a 9-year-old. An investigator testified that Tony Earls had been sleeping in a tent in the backyard of his uncle's home when law enforcement descended on the property last month to arrest him in the 2022 shooting death of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez.
- Sheila Jackson Lee was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Here's what to know about it. Pancreatic cancer is the nation's third deadliest cancer, with about 51,000 expected deaths this year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Here's what to know about the disease.
- United Airlines removed an aircraft from rotation after Houston-bound passengers became ill. On Friday, passengers on a United Airlines flight traveling from Vancouver to Houston fell ill. There were 163 passengers and six crew members traveling on the airplane.
- Who are Harris County's commissioners, and what areas do they represent? In Harris County, Commissioners Court sets the annual budget that funds the county's key operations and services, and the four commissioners provide services within their precincts, including parks.
💼 Business
- How to prepare financially for a hurricane and why government insurance programs are in trouble. Financial preparation for hurricane season requires the right mix of insurance policies in Texas, writes business columnist Chris Tomlinson.
- Waste Management will acquire a medical waste company for $7.2 billion. The deal gives the Houston-based company a platform in the growing health care market.
🚗 Outside the Loop
- A GoFundMe was created for a woman and child who suffered severe burns at a Lake Conroe campground. A GoFundMe was posted for a 56-year-old woman and 6-year-old boy who were severely injured after encountering downed powerlines at a Lake Conroe campground last week.
- Texas Best Music Fest in Katy will raise funds for child trauma victims. Texas Best Music Fest will take place at live music venue Mo's Place, and all of the proceeds will go to the charity Champions Kids Camp.
- A new $217K mobile pet adoption unit is coming to Fort Bend County. Fort Bend County Animal Services will have an easier time taking pets to adoption events thanks to a new mobile adoption unit.
Point of View
Photo by: Yasmeen Khalifa
We recommend Kyle Scott and Pelumi Adeleke for Harris County Appraisal District runoffs.
Scott, a Republican, and Adeleke, a Democrat, have specific ideas for improving customer service and transparency for the property appraisals, writes the Chronicle Editorial Board.
- Dear fellow Republicans: Enough about abortion. Let's win. Pushing further restrictions in the Texas party platform is a mistake — and one that'll help Democrats. It's time to take back our party, writes Gilda Bayegan, the Republican chair of Harris County Precinct 178.
Houston vs. All Y'all
Photo by: Jon Shapley/Staff Photographer
Astros' Kyle Tucker left the Cardinals game after fouling a ball off his shin.
Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker exited Monday's game with an injury after fouling a ball off his shin.
- Landry Locker announced his departure from Sports Radio 610. The long-time co-host on Sports Radio 610's midday show, announced his departure from the station to focus on his streaming channel.
- Eight Texans players with the most to prove heading into 2024. For those who can't take a roster spot for granted, this week's mandatory minicamp is a chance to bolster their standing.
Get Out
Photo by: Courtesy
Here's where and how to celebrate Pride all June in Houston.
Take a look at our ongoing Pride Guide. Events will be added throughout the month.
- 'Glee' actor Chris Colfer will join Houston book events this week. The New York Times best-selling author and Golden Globe winner will discuss his new book at Blue Willow Bookshop.
The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is inviting the public to view goats "mow" the woodland understory to increase biodiversity starting Tuesday.
Watching goats graze sounds like a great time to me. I'm definitely going to be swinging by sometime this week.
Puzzle of the Day: Flipart
Complete the puzzle by finding a configuration where no pieces overlap, and no empty spaces remain.
Play now
|
Unsubscribe | Manage Preferences
Houston Chronicle
4747 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027
© 2024 Hearst Communications
No comments:
Post a Comment