Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Benjamin Hanil Song, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the July 4, 2025, attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas. During this attack, an Alvarado police officer was shot and wounded. The Texas Department of Public Safety has added Song to their 10 Most Wanted Fugitive List.
On Monday, July 14, the Texas Association of Business (TAB) will launch the “Texas Business Minute” – a daily 55-second, non-partisan news segment available to all Texas media outlets. Available in both audio and video formats, this ready-to-air clip will be delivered free of charge to local Radio and TV outlets across the state. The Association’s purpose is to champion the best business climate in the world, unleashing the power of free enterprise to enhance lives for generations.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows created the Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding, which will meet jointly. The first hearing will take place at the Capitol on July 23. The second hearing will take place the following week in Kerrville to give residents an opportunity to have their voices heard. The date of that hearing will be announced soon. The Lt. Governor and the Speaker will each appoint 9 members to their chambers’ select committee.
To help prevent fraud, Attorney General Ken Paxton is issuing a consumer alert to ensure that charitable gifts are efficiently and responsibly used to the maximum benefit of those recently impacted by the tragic flooding in Texas. For additional tips and guidance to aid with charitable giving, visit the Attorney General’s website. Report suspected fraud to the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
Across the political left, from orthodox Democrats to Antifa in the streets, the opposition to President Donald Trump has lost its collective mind. The House minority leader and now self-styled tough guy, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, poses with a baseball bat to show how dangerous he is in opposing Trump's budget bill. Jeffries harangued Congress for eight hours; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker went on for 25 -- both to no effect.
Governor Greg Abbott today ordered Texas flags across the state to be lowered to half-staff to honor those who lost their lives due to the devastating floods that impacted Texas over the July 4th holiday weekend. Flags should be returned to full staff at sunrise on Monday, July 14, 2025. The Governor urges everyone to continue to pray for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of these communities, and for the first responders.
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced today that the agency will begin accepting applications for more than $3.8 billion in available funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and the Texas Match Assistance Program (TMAP). Administered by the Comptroller’s Broadband Development Office (BDO), the BEAD and TMAP Programs combine federal and state dollars to support broadband infrastructure projects in eligible areas.
As your Agriculture Commissioner, my heart aches for the families shattered by the Independence Day floods in Kerrville and across our Hill Country. The loss of life, especially our precious children at Camp Mystic, is a wound that cuts deep. These floods, with the Guadalupe River rising 29 feet in mere hours, have left our communities reeling, with over 100 lives lost and many still missing.
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) allocated $244,100,000 for the Homeowner Assistance Program to help repair and reconstruct owner occupied single-family homes. The GLO also allocated $43,100,000 for the Homeowner Reimbursement Program to provide eligible applicants with reimbursement for out-of-pocket home repairs between $3,000 and $75,000 for stick-built homes and $3,000 and $50,000 for Manufactured Housing Units.
If you live in Manhattan or Brooklyn – anywhere in New York City – get ready to be socked with higher taxes... and possibly see your home's resale value drop. Business leaders are already doing the math – adding up massive costs of Mamdani's promised universal childcare, transportation & more. The clincher? Mamdani's promised to increase Property Assessments in what he calls "richer and whiter" neighborhoods. Isn't such racism against the law in America?
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is now accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) as a result of recent severe storms and flooding that impacted Texas. Under President Donald J. Trump's Major Disaster Declaration, workers and self-employed individuals in Kerr County who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from severe weather may be eligible for DUA benefits.
Leftists and the media are ramping up their attacks on the "One Big Beautiful" tax cut bill with claims – as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said last week – that "People will literally die" from the GOP "work requirements." The liberal Center for American Progress claims deaths will number in the "tens of thousands of Americans each year." And, they add: "These estimates aren't hysterical." We're having deja vu all over again.
"In times like these, the last thing Texans should have to worry about is taxes. As State & Federal relief efforts move forward, we encourage Merchants & Property Owners to apply for the extensions and property tax savings they may be eligible for during recovery," said Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock earlier today, announcing that businesses in state-declared disaster areas may be granted an extension to file certain tax reports.
The Salvation Army Austin is calling on the Austin Community to help young students living in their two-family emergency shelters. On Saturday, July 12th, The Salvation Army will host a "Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive" in partnership with a local Walmart Store. As customers enter the store, volunteers will provide a list of needed school supplies — including notebooks, backpacks, pens, pencils, and more.
We know many Democrats were stunned when Donald Trump won a second term as president. We know many are still angry about it – but we're just now learning how angry some of them are. And, it's not just grandstanding Democrat lawmakers. Axios reports that "at town halls in their districts and in one-on-one meetings with constituents and activists," moderate Democrats are "facing a growing thrum of demands to break the rules, fight dirty – and not be afraid to get hurt."
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that President Donald J. Trump approved federal disaster assistance as part of a Major Disaster Declaration, following deadly and destructive flooding that impacted Texas this past week. Qualifying Texans in Kerr County are eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance program. Additional counties may be added at a later date.
Everyone knows that the "big, beautiful" tax bill signed into law on the 4th of July lowers the tax burdens on Families & Businesses. It also averts a $4 trillion dollar tax increase starting next year. That's enough reason to celebrate heartily – but expect the U.S. Economy to grow over 3% in the years ahead, which will lighten the burden of our National Debt. Is it the most significant consecutive victory in modern times? It may just be.
I voted YES to prevent the largest tax increase in American history. This legislation secures critical reimbursement to Texas for Operation Lone Star and extends the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, which is tasked with rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs. This is a major step toward protecting taxpayer dollars, securing our border, and putting hardworking Americans first.
