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The Texas Senate on the first day of the Legislature’s second special session unanimously passed a tax bill last Wednesday that increases the homestead exemption and includes a pay hike for teachers, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The first special session ended with the Senate and House unable to agree on how to provide property tax relief. The Senate bill provides a $2,000 pay increase for teachers in urban districts over the next two years, and a $6,000 hike for teachers in rural areas. It increases the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan are set to meet in an attempt to come to agreement on the property tax issue, after Patrick texted the best way to resolve debt differences between House and Senate versions would be to meet face-to-face. “They have responded; we’re looking forward to a meeting. ... Whenever that is, I believe we can get this resolved quickly,” Patrick told the Statesman. During the first special session, the House passed its version of a property tax package on the first day and immediately adjourned for the remainder of the 30-day session.

It is important to note that an arrestshouldnotbeconsideredas evidence of guilt. The defendants arepresumedinnocentuntilproven guiltyinacourtoflaw.

From a small oasis in the West Texas desert to the towering skyscrapers of one of the world’s “Most Livable Cities,” Andres Madrid has seen it all. Madrid recently completed a whirlwind trip to Melbourne, Australia to represent Fort Stockton at the 2023 Rotary International Convention. Madrid is the incoming president of the Fort Stockton Rotary Club.

Much of the money the Fort Stockton Independent School District – or any other district - spends every year goes to salaries, and the district approved the compensation plan for the 2023-2024 school year at its June 26 meeting.

When most new physicians complete their residency, they move on to bigger and better things. After completing his residency at Pecos County Memorial Hospital, Dr. Cristian Medina discovered at PCMH and Fort Stockton was the best thing for his family.

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On the morning of June 23, 2023, the Fort Stockton Police Department with the assistance of the Pecos County Sheriff’s Office, the Pecos Police Department SWAT, Homeland Security Investigations, and Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division Special Agents, executed a Search Warrant at 1300 N Colpitts following a narcotics investigation.

Water well owners in Terrell County who have not registered that well with the Terrell County Groundwater Conservation District, the District requests that you obtain a Water Well Registration Form by contacting Debbie Deaton, President of the District, at 972-345-7895. Please complete the form and return it to the district at your earliest convenience at P.O. Box 927, Sanderson, Texas 79848.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that a woman was killed in a 2-vehicle collision at the intersection of State Highway 18 and Farmto- Market Road 1776 in southern Ward County on June 25. Troopers reported that a 2015 Nissan Sentra, driven by Anna Gabriela Galindo, 35, of Presidio, was stopped at a stop sign On FM 1776 and attempted to turn north onto Highway 18 into the path of a southbound 2018 Toyota 4-Runner driven by Juanita Acosta Brandenburg, 52, of Grandfalls, and the vehicles collided.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be increasing the number of Troopers on the road through Sunday, July 9, as part of the Intoxicated Driving Mobilization (IDM) - Specific Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). This program will run in conjunction with Operation CARE (Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort) July 3rd thru July 4th for the Fourth of July holiday Week.