DPS director says he won’t resign
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw is fending off calls for his resignation in light of his department’s handling of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde last May, in which 19 students and two teachers died.
However, McCraw said “every responding officer needs to be accountable for their actions,” according to the Austin American-Statesman. The Texas Rangers, an arm of the DPS, reportedly are investigating several troopers among the 90 who were on the scene. DPS Sgt. Juan Maldonado was fired recently for his role in the shooting response.
As the Statesman reported, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies delayed confronting the gunman for 77 minutes even as those trapped inside called for help.
McCraw said the Rangers’ investigation will be complete by year’s end.
Texas students lag in math
Like students across the country, students in Texas are struggling to recover from learning losses stemming from the pandemic, particularly in math, the Nation’s Report Card indicates. Officially called the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the test is administered in reading and math for a sample of students in 4th and 8th grade roughly every two years, according to the Texas Education Agency.
The bright side appears to be that students in Texas showed more progress than most in their academic recovery, TEA reported. Reading scores for Texas students are not statistically different than in 2019, the last time the test was administered — and before the pandemic struck. However, math scores are significantly lower than they were in 2019.
“Results from the 2022 Nation’s Report Card highlight the hard work of Texas teachers and students. While we are largely recovering from the effects of the pandemic in reading, much work remains in math,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath
Statewide veterans’ hiring event
Texas veterans, service members and their spouses are invited to participate in this year’s Hiring Red, White & You! statewide hiring event, which began Nov. 1 and runs through Nov. 18 with in-person and virtual events across the state.
Hosted by the Texas Workforce Commission, along with workforce development boards and other agencies, the hiring fair connects veterans, transitioning service members and spouses with Texas employers seeking their skills and experience. The state is home to more than 1.7 million veterans and current military members.
Employers who hire veterans could be eligible for a tax credit of up to $9,600. The event in the past 10 years has worked with more than 20,000 employers, connected more than 144,000 job seekers to job opportunities, and helped facilitate 3,198 same-day hires.
The events are free. Job seekers can find more details at twc.texas.gov/hiring-red-white-you. .
Agriculture still significant economic driver
While the state’s large cities are experiencing considerable population growth, agriculture continues to be a big part of the Texas economy. Farming and ranching operations can be found in every part of the state — citrus crops in the Rio Grande Valley, cotton in the High Plains, rice paddies in the Coastal Plains, cattle ranches in West Texas and timber in East Texas.
The state comptroller’s office reported nearly $25 billion in cash receipts in 2021from the Texas agricultural industry, the fourth-highest among all states — trailing only California, Iowa and Nebraska. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the state has 247,000 farms (ranches are considered a type of farm), more than double the next two states, Missouri and Iowa.
Cattle represent the state’s top ag commodity, with 40.4% of the cash receipts generated. The top three commodities are cattle, dairy and poultry, according to USDA. .
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 and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.