Columns

More than 16,600 reports of identity and information theft have been submitted to the BBB Scam TrackerSM, with monetary losses continuing to rise, according to a new study by the Better Business Bureau’s International Investigations Initiative.

jackwelch1975@gmail.com I was recently asked about how community colleges fit into how athletes are recruited today. In addition, there is a concern of why some community colleges are experiencing a drop in enroll-ment while many are flourishing.

The Trump administration’s border policies are saving and rescuing the lives of unaccompanied alien children (UACs). Contrary to mainstream narratives driven by Fake News media, President Trump and Secretary Noem are prioritizing safety, security, and humanity for vulnerable minors.

Sunlight is starting to break through at the Capitol in the final month of the Texas legislative session. Open government measures have won passage in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, and more House votes are scheduled on legislation championed by the broad-based Texas Sunshine Coalition.

Coaches play a critical role in shaping not only the athletic success of their players but also their personal growth and life outcomes. Their influence extends far beyond wins and losses.

City of Van Emergency Management Coordinator In February, the Van City Council held discussion and voted to call for a bond election for the purpose of replacing a decommissioned water well. The measure will be on the ballot for city residents on May 3, 2025, in conjunction with the regular city elections Water Well #3, which was drilled in September of 1984, has been in trouble since its inception when a casing fracture began allowing bacteria to enter the well.

In the world of education and athletics, leadership changes are inevitable. New presidents, superintendents, principals, and other school leaders frequently step into their roles with the promise of innovation and improvement.

This proposed bill is about spending our public tax dollars on private school vouchers (please see the article in the Van Zandt News, March 2 issue, page 3). Updates to this proposed bill are summarized here: This bill was recently revised and now increases the basic allotment per student by $220.00 from $6,160.00 to $6,380.00, which is still woefully inadequate, however, it also increases the amount for private school vouchers from $10,000.00 to about $10,893.00 so the loss per student is even greater than the original bill.

In the world of education and athletics, leadership changes are inevitable. New presidents, superintendents, principals, and other school leaders frequently step into their roles with the promise of innovation and improvement.

Van Zandt County Democratic Party Chair The chart below shows what your school district stands to lose with a private school voucher program (SB2). It also shows how much your school district could gain if the State of Texas funded Public Schools at the same $10,000 per student that will be allotted to students in Private Schools if SB2 becomes law. Would you rather have a loss of revenue in your school district or a substantial increase?