The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 5, 2024

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Thursday, September 5th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Marketing and Media Manager Daniel Friend, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has added former Governor Rick Perry to his team as a senior advisor until the next legislative session begins in January. Phelan said in a release, quote, Governor Perry's legacy of service to Texas is unparalleled, and I am honored to have him join our team as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session, end quote. Perry will join on a volunteer basis through the rest of the interim, coinciding

Starting point is 00:00:40 with a protracted fight over the speakership itself. The former governor stumped for Phelan during the primary and runoff, which he survived by 366 votes back in May, and was the most notable surrogate for the speaker during a race where most other top Republicans either stayed out or directly targeted him. Perry said, quote, I'm honored to have the opportunity to support Speaker Phelan and the Texas House at such a pivotal time in our state's history, end quote. The move comes after Phelan hired lobbyist and former state representative Mike Toomey as his new chief of staff and made public his support for passing school choice next year, despite spending last year in a more

Starting point is 00:01:14 publicly neutral position. Next, embattled Kama police chief Holland Jones has submitted his resignation as the city continues a lengthy legal battle to keep the details of an investigation into his leadership hidden from the public. Jones announced his resignation on Social Media Sunday, posting a five-page letter thanking select members of the city council for their support and listing his accomplishments during his three years as the head of the police department in the tiny Galveston County tourist town. Jones wrote, quote, It is with deep regret that I must announce my resignation. Throughout my tenure, I have been devoted to promoting transparency, accountability, and community

Starting point is 00:01:47 engagement within our department and the community at large. In his letter, Jones did not offer a reason for his resignation and made no mention of controversies surrounding his leadership, which include formal complaints, legal challenges, and an investigative report at the center of a pending lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. In April 2022, 15 current and former police officers, including former Assistant Police Chief Mark Hinson, submitted formal complaints in reference to Chief Holland Jones' unbecoming conduct and behavior, leading the city council to hire law firm Louis Brisbois Bisgarden-Smith and attorney Bill Helfland to investigate at taxpayer expense. In other news, Tarrant County approved

Starting point is 00:02:25 an increase in pay for election poll workers and judges as it prepares for the November 5th general election organized by the county. Poll workers will now be paid $15 per hour, and election judges will get $18 per hour. Commissioner Alyssa Simmons noted that she wishes the county could increase it even more to get closer to what Dallas County pays, $18 for poll workers and $24 for election judges. The county also approved a list of 347 polling locations for Election Day. However, the 50 submissions for early voting locations did not pass. County Judge Tim O'Hare and Commissioner Gary Fickus voted against the list, while Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks and Simmons

Starting point is 00:03:01 voted to approve it. Commissioner Manny Ramirez was not present at the meeting. O'Hare also was the lone vote against the 347 Election Day locations. Last but not least, the proposed Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail line has had another infusion of cash, this time from the federal government. According to the Federal Register, Amtrak was awarded a $64 million grant by the Federal Railroad Administration as part of the Corridor Identification and Development Program to, quote, help guide intercity passenger rail development throughout the country. The grant is for the final step in the three-step Corridor ID Program. The FRA Funding Opportunity Guideline states, quote, step three is the project development work required to make projects ready for implementation, such as final design and construction. Project development includes the completion of preliminary engineering,

Starting point is 00:03:49 environmental studies, and other documentation for the corridor's capital projects to advance to implementation. Amtrak did not respond to the Texans' request for more details about its planned use of the grant money before the time of publication. Last August, Amtrak announced its effort to reinvigorate the Texas Central High-Speed Rail project between Dallas and Houston after it seemed all but dead. Thanks for listening. To support The Texan, please be sure to visit thetexan.news and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts. Music Music Music Music

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 5, 2024

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