The challenge, which runs from May through July, aims to place more shelter animals in foster homes, reduce their length of stay and recruit new foster volunteers. Winning organizations will receive grant funding to support lifesaving programs.

PAWS officials say the need is especially urgent during kitten season. Since March 1, the shelter has taken in 131 kittens and expects that number to continue growing throughout the summer.

Because of limited shelter space, kittens cannot remain at PAWS facilities and must be placed in foster homes until they are old enough for adoption.

Shelter officials said foster families play a critical role in saving vulnerable animals and helping the organization continue accepting new kittens and other pets in need.

PAWS provides foster volunteers with food, supplies and medical care for foster animals. The organization also offers support from its foster team to assist volunteers throughout the process.

In addition to kittens, PAWS is seeking foster homes for puppies, adult dogs and cats.

Residents interested in fostering can learn more at www.pawsshelter.org or contact PAWS Shelter of Central Texas at 512-268-1611.

The 1871 Bearing Tree in Kyle received a boost from the Hays County Commissioner Court on May 12 when the court unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the historical significance of the LIve Oak and deemed it worthy of preservation and protection.

Located at 1501 North Old Stagecoach Rd., removal of the Bearing Tree has been discussed as part of development and road construction projects in the surrounding area, according to Pct. 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer, sponsor of the resolution.

“If this tree is recognized by the state as a historical landmark, maybe we have a shot of protecting and saving the tree and rerouting a design,” Hammer said.

While the designation of historical markers is not within the purview of the Commissioners Court, this action could “really start the ball rolling,” according to Kate Johnson, president of Preservation Associates Inc., who spoke at the court in support of the resolution.

Johnson, who served as chair of the Hays County Historical Commission from 1999 to 2022, said Preservation Associates will be applying for a historical marker for the 1871 Bearing Tree, and the Preservation Texas organization will be making a state antiquities landmark for the tree.

The historical significance of the tree dates back to early settlements in this area.

“What makes this tree so remarkable is that it's part of our legal and historical record,” said Johnson. “This very tree is specifically referenced in the deed of the Franke family, marking the historic corner that helped establish and define some of the original land grant boundaries here in Hays County.” The Bearing Tree is currently located on the property of Alton and Deanna Franke.

Not only did the tree witness Texas history, it dates back to the founding of the United States, according to Johnson.

“Thanks to the professional research of Surveyor Kent McMillan, we now know this remarkable tree has likely been growing since 1776, the same year our nation was born,” Johnson said.

Bearing Trees, also known as or “witness trees,” were intentionally marked by early Texas surveyors to permanently identify, reference and preserve original land boundaries during the settlement of Texas, according to the resolution. “Surviving examples in publicly visible locations are exceptionally rare.”

“By recognizing this 1871 Bearing Tree, you are doing more than preserving a tree, you are helping preserve a living connection to the people, the land, and the history that built Hays County,” Johnson said.

Another Live Oak which grew along Old Stagecoach Road gained significant media coverage last year after the Kyle city council approved more than $900,000 to relocate it. The city council initially voted to remove the 400-year-old Porter Oak, but later reversed course following public outcry.

Also known as “Jolene,” the Porter Oak was moved in December of 2025 to city-owned land near the Six Creeks subdivision, which also borders Old Stagecoach Road.

“It is a beautiful tree, and is likely a lot happier now not being so close to the road,” Johnson told the Daily Record. “But it does not have the historical significance of the 1871 Bearing Tree.”

The resolution will be sent to the City of Kyle, Hays County departments, the Texas Historical Commission, and all agencies or entities involved in planning or infrastructure decisions affecting North Old Stagecoach Road.

“The Hays County Commissioners Court declares that every reasonable effort shall be made to preserve, protect, and avoid damage to the 1871 Bearing Tree, its root zone, canopy, surrounding landscape, and associated historic context,” according to the resolution.

Dripping Springs resident Matt King is cycling more than 2,000 miles from the Texas-Mexico border to Canada in an effort to raise and distribute $1 million to people and communities in need along the way.

King, CEO of Gobundance, returned to his hometown May 29 during the third day of "theRide," a charitable cycling journey that began May 27 near Matamoros, Mexico, and is scheduled to conclude June 8 at the Minnesota-Manitoba border.

While passing through Dripping Springs, King stopped to visit the Dripping Springs Friendship Club, a social organization for adults with disabilities and their parents and caregivers. He rode alongside club members and made a donation to support the group's mission of fostering connection through friendship, activities, art and music.

According to organizers, King rode 141 miles on May 29 while traveling from Seguin to Evant, overcoming Central Texas heat and challenging terrain.

The visit also provided an opportunity for King to spend time with his family before continuing north on the journey.

Throughout theRide, King is seeking nominations for individuals, families and organizations in need of financial assistance while raising funds that will be distributed in real time along the route. Organizers say the goal is to provide direct support to people facing hardship in communities often overlooked by travelers on major interstate highways.

"We are setting out to raise $1,000,000. Not to sit in a fund, not to wait for the perfect moment, but to place resources directly into the hands of people who need a turning point, when it can change everything," King said in a statement.

TheRide is being organized through the Gobundance Foundation. More information, including nomination and donation opportunities, is available at backtheride.com.

Following nearly 30 minutes of debate, council members voted to reconsider a May 19 decision that had appointed Council Member Geoffrey Tahauhua as mayor pro tem. After reopening the matter, the council voted to reappoint Council Member Taline Manassian to the position.

The discussion was prompted by Council Member Sherrie Parks, who sponsored the agenda item seeking reconsideration of the previous vote.

Parks said she wanted to revisit the issue after reflecting on the council's earlier decision, which was approved with limited discussion at the end of the previous meeting.

"I thought it was super important to have a discussion about who we appoint as mayor pro tem," Parks said. "I appreciate that Council Member Tahauhua is willing to step up and serve in that position. I do have concerns about all he has on his plate right now with a county judge race, his job, a young family at home."

Tahauhua, who is the Republican nominee for Hays County judge, said he accepted the original nomination for mayor pro tem because he believed residents wanted to see new leadership and new perspectives represented on the council.

"When I was elected, I was elected to put forth some change," Tahauhua said. "I think that new leadership and new perspective is helpful."

Tahauhua said that he would support a motion to make Parks mayor pro tem, but that it was important to him that there was new leadership in the position in place of Manassian.

Newly elected Council Member Ana Grace Husted echoed those comments, saying many residents she spoke with during her campaign expressed a desire for change.

"I think one aspect in which we can affect change is by thoughtfully re-evaluating leadership roles on city council," Husted said. "I think we need someone new in the position to sort of challenge us and start thinking in different ways than we might have been leading in the past couple years."

Mayor Bill Foulds disagreed, arguing that the mayor pro tem position carries no additional authority beyond serving as a backup to the mayor when necessary.

"Mayor pro tem does not have any authority, doesn't have any more power, doesn't have any access to council members or staff members that every council member doesn't have," Foulds said.

Foulds also expressed concerns about Tahauhua serving in the role while running for Hays County judge and said he believed Manassian had performed well as mayor pro tem.

The discussion became more pointed when Manassian raised concerns about the council's changing composition following the recent election.

Tahauhua is the president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas, a construction industry advocacy organization, where Husted works. Manassian said she opposed Husted's candidacy before the election because she questioned whether Husted could remain independent while working in the same organization as a fellow council member who is also her supervisor.

Manassian said her concerns extended beyond the mayor pro tem appointment itself. She argued that having two council members employed by the same organization could create questions about independence, transparency and public perception, particularly when the city is regularly faced with development and growth-related issues.

"We now have two lobbyists for builders and contractors on this body and one of them works for the other," Manassian said. "That causes me tremendous concern for us as a city and I think it compromises our integrity."

Tahauhua rejected those concerns and defended both his and Husted's independence.

He said he supported Husted's candidacy because he believed she was committed to serving the community and argued that sharing an employer does not prevent council members from acting independently.

"The reason why I supported Ana Grace was because I felt it was important to have someone who was present and involved and committed to doing the work," Tahauhua said. 

Tahauhua criticized former Council Member Wade King, stating he felt King "abandoned that long ago.”  He also disputed the characterization that he and Husted were advocating for specific developments or projects.

"There are lobbyists who advocate for a specific thing," Tahauhua said. "We advocate for a set of principles.

He said that those ideals were “more holistic and altruistic ideals” and that they are not “lobbying for a specific project or specific entity. So to just say we’re evil lobbyists, or insinuate that, it is extremely frustrating to me.”

Husted also pushed back against suggestions that she was serving someone else's agenda.

"I proved to the public that I'm my own person," Husted said. "I do not listen to others. I do not listen to someone that happens to be my colleague during my day job."

Council Member Travis Crow said he supported reopening the discussion because he believed the council needed to improve working relationships and continue having difficult conversations.

"I don't want us all to agree all the time because I don't think we serve the city all agreeing," Crow said. "I don't mind these hard discussions."

After further discussion, the council voted to reconsider the May 19 appointment. Once the issue was reopened, Foulds spoke in support of retaining Manassian, saying she often provides perspectives different from his own and serves as an important counterbalance during council discussions.

After the council voted to reconsider the previous appointment, Parks and Crow nominated Manassian to continue serving as mayor pro tem. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote, with Tahauhua and Husted opposed, restoring Manassian to the position she had previously held.

The debate highlighted emerging philosophical differences among council members following the recent election and offered an early glimpse into how the newly constituted council may approach future discussions on city leadership and policy.

The five-year agreement is designed to streamline the land development process for district facilities while strengthening coordination between the two entities. The agreement establishes clear development processes and timelines intended to improve efficiency and collaboration throughout project planning and construction.

As part of the agreement, the City will waive most permitting fees for district projects, resulting in an estimated savings of approximately $1.5 million for DSISD taxpayers over the next five years. The agreement also establishes agreed-upon standards for landscaping, signage, and lighting at district facilities aimed at reducing the need for variances.

“This interlocal agreement is a historic win,” said Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz, Superintendent of Dripping Springs ISD. “We appreciate the City’s partnership in streamlining processes, timelines, and fees that will create clarity for the District and deliver meaningful savings to the families we serve,” she added. 

In a separate but related interlocal agreement, DSISD agreed to grant the City of Dripping Springs an easement at no cost for a future access to Rathgeber Natural Resource Park. The future roadway, which will be located adjacent to Wildwood Springs Elementary, represents an important step toward supporting the future public access and use of the park.

“This agreement represents a strong spirit of collaboration between the City and DSISD,” said Mayor Bill Foulds. “We value the District’s partnership and willingness to work through complex issues together, including the roadway easement that will help support future access to Rathgeber Park for our residents and visitors.”

The tournament will begin with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and is being promoted as a fundraiser to honor veterans and support Central Texas charitable causes.

Organizers are inviting golfers to register either as a foursome or as individual players, with solo participants paired with other golfers. In addition to a day of golf, participants can expect food, prizes, auction items and opportunities to support local charitable efforts.

The event is open to golfers of varying skill levels and offers a chance to enjoy Hill Country golf while contributing to community and veteran-focused initiatives.

Sponsorship opportunities and auction participation are also available as part of the fundraiser.

The event is organized by Knights of Columbus Council 11695 of Dripping Springs, whose mission includes supporting charitable programs and assisting those in need throughout the community.

For more information or to register, visit hill-country-golf-shootout.perfectgolfevent.com.

Confirmation of nation’s first case of New World screwworm came Wednesday when animal health officials detected suspect lesions on the umbilical cord of a young calf in Zavala County, just west of Uvalde. This week, more cases were confirmed including one in Gillespie County near Fredericksburg.

The finding was confirmed June 3 by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. By Friday, it remained the only confirmed case in the United States.

News of the detection went out the same day that many Texas cattle industry leaders were making their way to Houston for the summer meeting and trade show put on annually by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the nation’s largest livestock organization based in a state where cattle reign king to the tune of about $15 billion annually.

Organization president Stephen Diebel, a fifth-generation cattleman with ranching interests in Victoria and Goliad counties, issued a statement just moments after the lab confirmation went out.

While screwworms indeed pose what he called “a serious animal health threat, particularly for Texas,” he said, news of a single isolated case shouldn’t be cause for alarm.

“It is not a food safety issue,” Diebel said. “And ranchers and landowners should not panic. For the past 18 months, we have worked alongside our state and federal partners to prepare for the possibility of a positive New World screwworm case, and that preparation now positions us to respond quickly and effectively.”

TSCRA members have worked closely with the U.S. Agriculture Department, Texas Animal Health Commission and Texas Parks and Wildlife to increase surveillance, sterilize fly production and diminish its dispersal capacity since 2023, when animal health officials first became aware of the screwworms’ northward progression from Central America after the screwworm fly had been effectively eliminated from the North American continent in the early 1970s.

Many of the pesticides used in that effort back then were banned in the United States not long afterward.

Officials established a quarantine zone in Zavala County where lab tests confirmed the detection to limit cattle movement and control the spread of the invasive pest, and multiple agencies have been trained in identification, treatment and reporting protocols to enhance preparedness.

“TAHC has been actively preparing for a resurgence of NWS for more than two years,” said Dr. Bud Dinges, state veterinarian and executive director of the state agency. “We are putting these preparations into action, and we encourage all animal owners and caretakers to remain vigilant for the presence of larvae in animal wounds and report any suspicions.”

Dinges reiterated that U.S. food supplies remain safe. USDA’S Food Safety and Inspection Service ensures that the nation’s commercial food supply of meat, poultry and egg products are safe and properly labeled.

Screwworms do not infest fruits, vegetables or other food sources, such as grains or rice. They can, however, infest most any warm-blooded animal, and are most troublesome in the larval stage, as maggots of the NWS fly, known scientifically as Cochliomyia hominivorax.

Flies lay eggs in an animal’s open wound or orifice, and those eggs hatch into dangerous parasitic larvae. While primarily a livestock concern, screwworm cases infestations can also affect pets, humans and wildlife populations such as birds and deer.

Despite assurances from agency forces on the ground, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was still critical of existing gameplans and called on the Trump administration to throw every available resource at halting the screwworm once and for all.

“For months, the screwworm has advanced rapidly through Mexico,” he said. “Even though billions of sterile flies have been dispersed by the USDA, the screwworm has still advanced more than 1,100 miles from Southern Mexico to Texas. Now, it seems, the consequences of those decisions are staring us in the face.”

Miller called on President Trump to take immediate action and lift any bureaucratic barriers existing to initiate widespread pesticide usage in impacted areas immediately.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was planning a press conference on the issue as this story went to press.

Meanwhile, members of the nation’s livestock organization in Houston were set to take up the matter Saturday, the final day of their annual conference.

Diebel urged cattlemen and landowners to stay vigilant.

“We ask ranchers and landowners to regularly put eyes on their livestock and wildlife, maintain a strong relationship with their veterinarians and report suspicious wounds or infestations immediately,” he said. “Early detection, rapid response and limited animal movement when necessary remain our strongest tools for containing and eradicating New World screwworms.”

Mayor Bill Foulds presented DuBransky with a recognition from the city, recounting the events that occurred on April 25 in the Big Sky community.

According to Foulds, DuBransky was approaching a friend's home when he noticed a neighboring door standing open. From a distance, he saw what appeared to be a pool of blood and immediately realized something was wrong.

Rather than ignoring the situation, DuBransky raced home, first on his scooter and then on foot, attempting to flag down help along the way. Once home, he alerted his father and provided the address, leading to a 911 call and a rapid response from emergency personnel.

Foulds said DuBransky's actions allowed first responders to quickly reach the injured resident, who had suffered a serious fall and head injury.

"Trevor's actions reflect remarkable presence of mind, bravery, compassion well beyond his years," Foulds said. "He exemplifies the very best of Dripping Springs, reminding us that heroes don't wait, they act."

In addition to the city's recognition, DuBransky received a Certificate of Heroism from the city's emergency management department. Members of the Hays County Sheriff's Office and North Hays EMS also attended the ceremony to recognize his actions.

Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolito said DuBransky's response demonstrated exactly the type of awareness and willingness to help others that public safety officials hope to instill through the Sheriff's Office Junior Deputy Academy.

Hipolito noted that DuBransky has attended the academy for three consecutive years and praised him for taking action when many people might have simply continued on their way.

"You are a hero, and I can't thank you enough," Hipolito said. "You didn't have to. You could have just walked into your friend's house and not paid any attention, but you saw what happened, took action and got help there."

Hipolito presented DuBransky with the Hays County Sheriff's Office Lifesaver Award and a challenge coin in recognition of his actions.

Deputy Mark Andrews, who works with the Junior Deputy Academy, said the incident reinforced the importance of the program and the impact law enforcement officers can have on young people.

"When I got an email from Trevor's mom about what he did, and he said Junior Deputy Academy, you never realize the impact you have on somebody," Andrews said. "A lot of times it's easy to get calloused and think it's maybe an agency service and it's three days with kids, but we need kids like Trevor."

A representative from North Hays EMS also praised DuBransky's actions, saying that while everyone would hope they would respond the same way, DuBransky demonstrated exceptional maturity in a stressful situation. The representative presented DuBransky with a North Hays EMS challenge coin.

The ceremony concluded with a standing recognition from those in attendance as city officials, first responders and family members celebrated the young resident whose instincts and determination helped save a life.

Air traffic control recordings showed that the airplane departed River Falls Airport in Amarillo about 9:10 p.m., and received clearance to its destination, the New Braunfels National Airport.

While enroute, the pilot reported that his pitot tube was inoperative and requested an altitude check which an air traffic controller provided.

During his descent to the airport, the pilot radioed air traffic control at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 10:58 p.m., and informed them that he was in a descent to 8,000 ft. The Austin controller cleared the pilot down to 4,000 ft.

According to the report, the pilot acknowledged the descent clearance and informed the controller that his pitot tube was iced up and that he was using backup gauges. He wanted to get to a lower altitude to “warm back up.”

Shortly after the pilot’s last radio transmission at 10:59 p.m., ADS-B, the tracking technology that continuously broadcasts an aircraft's exact GPS location, altitude and velocity showed the airplane turned left, made a near 180° right turn, then maneuvered to the south followed by a descending right turn. The plane crashed just past 11:02 p.m.

A homeowner heard the airplane crash, saw the wreckage on fire, and notified first responders.

The Cessna was piloted by Justin Appling, who perished in the crash along with his four passengers. They were Hayden Dillard, Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala and Stacy Hedrick.

Preliminary weather information from the NTSB report found that “during the last 15 minutes of its flight, the plane flew just above the freezing [horizon] with temperatures between 21.2 °F. to 28.4°F. Models

showed the potential for icing with moderate accumulation rates and the potential for supercooled large droplets.”

The BCWPP is an interlocal agreement among Hays County, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the Watershed Association, the city of Wimberley and the city of Woodcreek. The plan, established as a three-year pilot program in 2024, aims to create a permanent framework for watershed protection which emphasizes education, engagement and long-term sustainability.

The agreement provides funding to monitor water quality in Cypress Creek and the Blanco River upstream and downstream of the Wimberley Valley to assess whether surface water is meeting Federal Clean Water Act standards. 
One of the stipulations of the agreement has been the addition of a supervisor within the Hays County Parks and Natural Resources department to oversee the plan. Melissa Wolter will begin her role as the BCWPP watershed coordinator on May 27.

Wolter is a Texas State University graduate with an undergraduate degree in Biology and a Master’s in Aquatic Resources. She was an Aquatic Science teacher at San Marcos High School from 2023 until earlier this year.

Karl Flocke, Hays County Director of Parks and Natural Resources, said that the work of the BCWPP impacts the county even in areas not adjacent to the Blanco River and Cypress Creek.

“Of course, [the agreement] has positive impacts on people and the environment well beyond those two watersheds,” Flocke said. “It is a true partnership, leveraging the resources and expertise of our five organizations.”

The BCWPP includes two of Hays county’s most treasured park areas, according to Jenna Walker, Director of Watershed Studies at the Meadows Center.

“This plan covers some of Hays County's crown jewels, including Cypress Creek and Jacob’s Well, which are also sentinels for the health of our larger watersheds, and they support the identity of our county and attract people from all over the world.

“They're also under increasing pressure from growth, storm water runoff, wastewater, land development, and as we all know, drought,” Walker said.

As part of her presentation to the court, Walker included a photo of the nearly dry Jacob’s Well taken earlier this month to illustrate the dramatic effects of the current drought.

David Baker, Executive Director of the Watershed Association, took that photo. He could not attend the court session due to a conflict in his schedule, but in an email to the Daily Record he described the effect of the drought as depicted in the photo.

“Jacob's Well is the key indicator of overall creek and aquifer health in our region,” Baker said. “The Well now spends long stretches at or near zero flow, with only brief recoveries after major rain events…. Per the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District's most recent drought updates, the Well has been at zero flow continuously since November 2025.”

Baker said the BCWPP's groundwater protection work is a key part of efforts to keep Jacob’s Well flowing, along with rainwater harvesting and on-site reuse. The Watershed Association is also researching alternative water supplies, according to Baker.

The challenges of Hays County water conservation efforts were the focus of Walker’s presentation, which included data on the explosive population growth in the area as well as evolving municipal water supply strategies.

She compared the predicted population growth for Hays county from the 2022 Texas Water Development Board Five Year Plan to the preliminary TWDB report for 2027.

The 2022 plan predicts the Hays County population of 240,000 will grow to 730,000 in 2070. The preliminary draft of the 2027 plan revises the 2070 population estimate to 1,400,000.

“The numbers have doubled with the new plan,” Walker said. “So we have to plan accordingly and smartly…. it's going to take a lot of collaboration and sustained support from the county and the state and all of our partners.”

Walker also showed slides based on TWDB data of the projected municipal water supply strategies for Hays county for the next 50 years, which reflected a decreasing percentage of groundwater in the overall breakdown of the county’s water supply.

In the 2022 TWDB plan, groundwater was predicted to supply 37% of Hays County water over the next 50 years, with 94% of this water coming from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, 5% coming from the Trinity Aquifer and 1% coming from the Edwards Aquifer.

In the 2027 TWDB preliminary plan, groundwater is predicted to supply 8.9% of Hays County water over the next 50 years, dropping behind municipal conservation (27%), new major reservoirs (25.4%) and drought management (9.3%).

These figures emphasize the continuing importance of the Watershed agreement as the collaborative effort to meet these challenges.

Walker proposed that the BCWPP be made permanent and offered the following suggestions:

- Continued partner coordination around the BCWPP

- Support for ongoing water quality monitoring and watershed data interpretation

- Progress toward formalizing implementations roles and responsibilities

- Development of work planning and tracking tools

- Grant development and project identification

- Improved structure for communication among ILA (Interlocal Agreement) partners

Community education is an important aspect of the Protection Plan, according to Baker, a responsibility which includes public presentations like the one made by Walker, the special studies and planning initiatives led by the Watershed Association as well as ongoing efforts by Wimberley, Wood Creek and Hays County.

“The structure is intentionally collaborative so that no single entity carries the load alone, and the work continues beyond any one grant cycle,” according to Baker. “The goals are to protect water quality, sustain spring flow and baseflow and reduce nonpoint source pollution. And help our communities grow without losing the natural systems that make this region what it is.”

As part of the court discussion about the BCWPP, Flocke also announced a $50,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service to utilize tree-based solutions towards water quality.

The BCWPP is an interlocal agreement among Hays County, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the Watershed Association, the city of Wimberley and the city of Woodcreek. The plan, established as a three-year pilot program in 2024, aims to create a permanent framework for watershed protection which emphasizes education, engagement and long-term sustainability.

The agreement provides funding to monitor water quality in Cypress Creek and the Blanco River upstream and downstream of the Wimberley Valley to assess whether surface water is meeting Federal Clean Water Act standards. 
One of the stipulations of the agreement has been the addition of a supervisor within the Hays County Parks and Natural Resources department to oversee the plan. Melissa Wolter will begin her role as the BCWPP watershed coordinator on May 27.

Wolter is a Texas State University graduate with an undergraduate degree in Biology and a Master’s in Aquatic Resources. She was an Aquatic Science teacher at San Marcos High School from 2023 until earlier this year.

Karl Flocke, Hays County Director of Parks and Natural Resources, said that the work of the BCWPP impacts the county even in areas not adjacent to the Blanco River and Cypress Creek.

“Of course, [the agreement] has positive impacts on people and the environment well beyond those two watersheds,” Flocke said. “It is a true partnership, leveraging the resources and expertise of our five organizations.”

The BCWPP includes two of Hays county’s most treasured park areas, according to Jenna Walker, Director of Watershed Studies at the Meadows Center.

“This plan covers some of Hays County's crown jewels, including Cypress Creek and Jacob’s Well, which are also sentinels for the health of our larger watersheds, and they support the identity of our county and attract people from all over the world.

“They're also under increasing pressure from growth, storm water runoff, wastewater, land development, and as we all know, drought,” Walker said.

As part of her presentation to the court, Walker included a photo of the nearly dry Jacob’s Well taken earlier this month to illustrate the dramatic effects of the current drought.

David Baker, Executive Director of the Watershed Association, took that photo. He could not attend the court session due to a conflict in his schedule, but in an email to the Daily Record he described the effect of the drought as depicted in the photo.

“Jacob's Well is the key indicator of overall creek and aquifer health in our region,” Baker said. “The Well now spends long stretches at or near zero flow, with only brief recoveries after major rain events…. Per the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District's most recent drought updates, the Well has been at zero flow continuously since November 2025.”

Baker said the BCWPP's groundwater protection work is a key part of efforts to keep Jacob’s Well flowing, along with rainwater harvesting and on-site reuse. The Watershed Association is also researching alternative water supplies, according to Baker.

The challenges of Hays County water conservation efforts were the focus of Walker’s presentation, which included data on the explosive population growth in the area as well as evolving municipal water supply strategies.

She compared the predicted population growth for Hays county from the 2022 Texas Water Development Board Five Year Plan to the preliminary TWDB report for 2027.

The 2022 plan predicts the Hays County population of 240,000 will grow to 730,000 in 2070. The preliminary draft of the 2027 plan revises the 2070 population estimate to 1,400,000.

“The numbers have doubled with the new plan,” Walker said. “So we have to plan accordingly and smartly…. it's going to take a lot of collaboration and sustained support from the county and the state and all of our partners.”

Walker also showed slides based on TWDB data of the projected municipal water supply strategies for Hays county for the next 50 years, which reflected a decreasing percentage of groundwater in the overall breakdown of the county’s water supply.

In the 2022 TWDB plan, groundwater was predicted to supply 37% of Hays County water over the next 50 years, with 94% of this water coming from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, 5% coming from the Trinity Aquifer and 1% coming from the Edwards Aquifer.

In the 2027 TWDB preliminary plan, groundwater is predicted to supply 8.9% of Hays County water over the next 50 years, dropping behind municipal conservation (27%), new major reservoirs (25.4%) and drought management (9.3%).

These figures emphasize the continuing importance of the Watershed agreement as the collaborative effort to meet these challenges.

Walker proposed that the BCWPP be made permanent and offered the following suggestions:

- Continued partner coordination around the BCWPP

- Support for ongoing water quality monitoring and watershed data interpretation

- Progress toward formalizing implementations roles and responsibilities

- Development of work planning and tracking tools

- Grant development and project identification

- Improved structure for communication among ILA (Interlocal Agreement) partners

Community education is an important aspect of the Protection Plan, according to Baker, a responsibility which includes public presentations like the one made by Walker, the special studies and planning initiatives led by the Watershed Association as well as ongoing efforts by Wimberley, Wood Creek and Hays County.

“The structure is intentionally collaborative so that no single entity carries the load alone, and the work continues beyond any one grant cycle,” according to Baker. “The goals are to protect water quality, sustain spring flow and baseflow and reduce nonpoint source pollution. And help our communities grow without losing the natural systems that make this region what it is.”

As part of the court discussion about the BCWPP, Flocke also announced a $50,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service to utilize tree-based solutions towards water quality.

Cohen received 58.31% of the vote or 6,089 votes. Becerra received 41.69% of the vote or 4,353 votes.

Cohen posted a statement to her Facebook page calling the nomination an “honor.”

“You made a little girl who grew up in Section 8 housing and whose family came to Hays County with the dream of owning land have the honor of becoming a County Commissioner. And now, you are giving me the chance to lead as your County Judge,” Cohen said. “I will not let you down. Now is the time for unity over division. Whether you voted for me, Judge Becerra, in another party’s primary, or did not vote at all, if you are a Hays County resident, I am running to give you my absolute best.”

Two other Democrat candidates will find their names on the November ballot for the County Clerk and County Court at Law #2. For the Republican ticket, there were state races but no local seats for the runoff Election ticket.

For County Clerk, Cynthia A. Millonzi received the most votes and will take the seat at the beginning of next year, as no Republican candidate was vying for it.

Cynthia A. Millonzi received 54.14% of the vote or 5,502 votes. Nicholas “Nico” Costilla received 45.86% of the vote or 4,660  votes.

For County Court-at-Law #2, Chris Johnson received the most votes, 50.88% or 5,040, and will square off with Republican candidate Charmaine Wilde in the November Election.

Thomas Just received 49.12% of the vote or 4,866 votes.

Get more information at hayscountytx.gov/elections.

The city recently released the updated draft plan and launched an online survey that allows residents to review the document, explore interactive maps and submit comments directly on specific ideas and proposed land-use concepts.

According to city officials, the Comprehensive Plan serves as a long-range roadmap intended to guide growth, development and infrastructure decisions over the next 20 years while preserving the character and qualities that residents value most.

"The Comprehensive Plan is the city's visionary roadmap for the next 20 years, guiding how Dripping Springs grows and evolves while protecting the character and qualities that make our community special," city officials said in the announcement.

The draft plan is the result of a multi-year planning process that began in 2022 and included public meetings, stakeholder interviews, surveys and input from a citizen advisory committee.

The plan establishes five primary focus areas: Infrastructure and Facilities, Community Character, Connectivity and Corridor Enhancement, Housing, and Economic Development and Funding.

Among the major themes identified in the draft are the need for additional water and wastewater infrastructure, transportation improvements, expanded housing options and continued protection of open spaces, natural resources and Hill Country character.

The document also includes an updated Future Land Use Map intended to help guide future development within the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Rather than focusing solely on development density, the plan uses a series of place types designed to reflect the desired character of different areas of the community.

Community feedback collected during the planning process emphasized preserving natural resources, maintaining the city's small-town atmosphere, protecting dark skies and balancing growth with quality of life.

The plan's vision statement describes a future in which Dripping Springs continues to grow while maintaining its identity as the "Gateway to the Hill Country."

City officials emphasized that the draft plan is intended to guide future decisions regarding land use, infrastructure and major development projects. The document itself does not change zoning regulations or approve specific developments but will help inform future planning and policy decisions.

Officials are encouraging residents, business owners and property owners to review the draft and provide feedback.

"This plan will help guide decisions that impact our community for decades to come, and the city wants to hear from residents, business owners, property owners, and everyone who cares about the future of Dripping Springs," the city said.

The draft plan and interactive survey are available online at: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/a3c1a78bad1f424d929dbdfe1ffe4bb4/.

Construction continues on Dripping Springs ISD's future Driftwood Springs High School campus, with district officials reporting significant progress across multiple phases of the project. According to a recent construction update, grading work is 99% complete, approximately 75% of the geothermal underground system has been installed and three-quarters of the building slab has been poured. Crews have also completed all foundation piers, finished about 25% of the tilt-wall construction, laid the gymnasium foundation and begun installing kitchen infrastructure. Work is also underway on the main water line that will serve the campus. The new high school is scheduled to open for the 2028-29 school year. Photos courtesy of DSISD

Located at 1501 North Old Stagecoach Rd., removal of the Bearing Tree has been discussed as part of development and road construction projects in the surrounding area, according to Pct. 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer, sponsor of the resolution.

“If this tree is recognized by the state as a historical landmark, maybe we have a shot of protecting and saving the tree and rerouting a design,” Hammer said.

While the designation of historical markers is not within the purview of the Commissioners Court, this action could “really start the ball rolling,” according to Kate Johnson, president of Preservation Associates Inc., who spoke at the court in support of the resolution.

Johnson, who served as chair of the Hays County Historical Commission from 1999 to 2022, said Preservation Associates will be applying for a historical marker for the 1871 Bearing Tree, and the Preservation Texas organization will be making a state antiquities landmark for the tree.

The historical significance of the tree dates back to early settlements in this area.

“What makes this tree so remarkable is that it's part of our legal and historical record,” said Johnson. “This very tree is specifically referenced in the deed of the Franke family, marking the historic corner that helped establish and define some of the original land grant boundaries here in Hays County.” The Bearing Tree is currently located on the property of Alton and Deanna Franke.

Not only did the tree witness Texas history, it dates back to the founding of the United States, according to Johnson.

“Thanks to the professional research of Surveyor Kent McMillan, we now know this remarkable tree has likely been growing since 1776, the same year our nation was born,” Johnson said.

Bearing Trees, also known as or “witness trees,” were intentionally marked by early Texas surveyors to permanently identify, reference and preserve original land boundaries during the settlement of Texas, according to the resolution. “Surviving examples in publicly visible locations are exceptionally rare.”

“By recognizing this 1871 Bearing Tree, you are doing more than preserving a tree, you are helping preserve a living connection to the people, the land, and the history that built Hays County,” Johnson said.

Another Live Oak which grew along Old Stagecoach Road gained significant media coverage last year after the Kyle city council approved more than $900,000 to relocate it. The city council initially voted to remove the 400-year-old Porter Oak, but later reversed course following public outcry.

Also known as “Jolene,” the Porter Oak was moved in December of 2025 to city-owned land near the Six Creeks subdivision, which also borders Old Stagecoach Road.

“It is a beautiful tree, and is likely a lot happier now not being so close to the road,” Johnson told the Daily Record. “But it does not have the historical significance of the 1871 Bearing Tree.”

The resolution will be sent to the City of Kyle, Hays County departments, the Texas Historical Commission, and all agencies or entities involved in planning or infrastructure decisions affecting North Old Stagecoach Road.

“The Hays County Commissioners Court declares that every reasonable effort shall be made to preserve, protect, and avoid damage to the 1871 Bearing Tree, its root zone, canopy, surrounding landscape, and associated historic context,” according to the resolution.

Service Dogs, Inc., a Dripping Springs based nonprofit organization, recently paired Elvis, a dog adopted from the Williamson County Animal Shelter, with Amy, a licensed professional counselor from Ennis.

Amy was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a child and has limited range of motion. After extensive training through SDI, Elvis now assists her with daily tasks including picking up dropped items, retrieving her dressing stick and opening and closing doors.

Those tasks may seem simple, but they allow Amy to maintain her independence and continue helping others through her counseling work.

"Elvis and Amy are exactly why we do this work," said Sheri Soltes, founder and chief executive officer of Service Dogs, Inc. "We turned Elvis from a stray into a star, helping Amy live her best life. We want to do the same for Texans across the state looking for that same kind of partner. We want them to apply."

The nonprofit has opened applications for Texas residents with disabilities who may benefit from a service dog. According to the organization, there is no cost to approved applicants for either the dog or the extensive training provided.

Founded 38 years ago, Service Dogs, Inc. rescues and trains shelter dogs to assist people with disabilities. Programs include mobility service dogs, hearing service dogs, psychiatric service dogs for people with post-traumatic stress disorder and facility dogs that serve first responders and courthouses.

The organization said all dogs and training are provided free of charge through donor support.

For information about eligibility requirements or to begin an application, visit www.servicedogs.org/apply.

More information about Service Dogs, Inc. is available at www.servicedogs.org.

The Hays County Commissioners Court unanimously passed a proclamation designating May 13 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in recognizing officers in Hays County who have lost their lives or become disabled in the performance of duty. The proclamation also recognized the week in which this date falls as Police Week.

Peace Officers Memorial Day is sponsored at the nationwide level by the National Fraternal Order of Police and is implemented by the FOP Memorial Committee. The holiday was created on October 1, 1961, when Congress authorized President John F. Kennedy to designate a day to honor peace officers.

”It is important that all citizens know and understand the problems, duties and responsibilities of their law enforcement agencies, and that members of these agencies recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property, protecting them against violence or disorder, and shielding the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression or intimidation,” the Hays County proclamation states.

Seven officers in Hays County have been killed in the line of duty, according to the proclamation, which recognized those officers as well as others who have who have become disabled while on duty:

“We will never forget the sacrifices of:

- Deputy Sheriff Henry C. Banks (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Night Watchman Henry H. Joslin (Kyle Police Department)

- Deputy Sheriff John S. Davis, Jr. (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Trooper Randall W. Vetter (Texas Department of Public Safety)

- Officer Kenneth M. Copeland (San Marcos Police Department)

- Officer Justin Putnam (San Marcos Police Department)

- Deputy Constable Manuel Phillipe De La Rosa (Hays County Constable’s Office, Precinct 2)

- Deputy Sheriff Dustin Speckels (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Correctional Officer James Henry (Hays County Sheriff's Office)”

Shane Smith, Captain of Support Services Law Enforcement Bureau for the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, appeared at the May 12 meeting to speak on the proclamation.

“This profession is not easy,” Smith said. “The men and women who wear the badge carry burdens most people never see, long hours, missed holidays, difficult calls, the weight of making critical decisions at a moment's notice. Yet every day, they continue to show up and serve. It is both a responsibility and privilege to protect the community we call home. Our deputies and officers do this work because they care deeply about the people in this county and the safety of our families.

“And while we recognize those who serve, we must also recognize the spouses and families who stand beside them. They carry the stress, the sacrifice and the uncertainty that comes with the profession, often without recognition, they support,” Smith said.

In their discussion of the proclamation, the Commissioners Court members emphasized the essential role of law enforcement in safeguarding rights and freedoms, as well as the importance of community support and recognition.

Judge Ruben Becerra praised the role of law officers as not only community members, but also citizen leaders.

“I thank you all for being not only the front line of our community defense and protection through the lens of public safety, but being embedded in our community in the way that you are, because that shows a capacity of accountability, which I think is the pinnacle of our public safety.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith discussed the role of the Commissioners Court in sending law officers to the national observance of Police Week in Washington D.C. to support the Hays County families of deceased officers. The Court had used ARPA funds in previous years, but last year added continuous funding into the base budget to support those families,” Smith said.

“We’ve sent along a group of constables to act as escorts for families who have lost their loved ones,” Smith said.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsby talked about the ongoing importance of peace officers to the county. ”I want to thank you and honor the courage, sacrifice and commitment of the men and women who serve our communities every day,” she said.

Later in the court session, Leticia Solis and Martin A. Espinoza were sworn in by Commissioner Ingalsby as regular full-time Deputies in the Hays County Constable's Precinct 1 Office.

The Hays County Commissioners Court unanimously passed a proclamation designating May 13 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in recognizing officers in Hays County who have lost their lives or become disabled in the performance of duty. The proclamation also recognized the week in which this date falls as Police Week.

Peace Officers Memorial Day is sponsored at the nationwide level by the National Fraternal Order of Police and is implemented by the FOP Memorial Committee. The holiday was created on October 1, 1961, when Congress authorized President John F. Kennedy to designate a day to honor peace officers.

”It is important that all citizens know and understand the problems, duties and responsibilities of their law enforcement agencies, and that members of these agencies recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property, protecting them against violence or disorder, and shielding the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression or intimidation,” the Hays County proclamation states.

Seven officers in Hays County have been killed in the line of duty, according to the proclamation, which recognized those officers as well as others who have who have become disabled while on duty:

“We will never forget the sacrifices of:

- Deputy Sheriff Henry C. Banks (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Night Watchman Henry H. Joslin (Kyle Police Department)

- Deputy Sheriff John S. Davis, Jr. (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Trooper Randall W. Vetter (Texas Department of Public Safety)

- Officer Kenneth M. Copeland (San Marcos Police Department)

- Officer Justin Putnam (San Marcos Police Department)

- Deputy Constable Manuel Phillipe De La Rosa (Hays County Constable’s Office, Precinct 2)

- Deputy Sheriff Dustin Speckels (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Correctional Officer James Henry (Hays County Sheriff's Office)”

Shane Smith, Captain of Support Services Law Enforcement Bureau for the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, appeared at the May 12 meeting to speak on the proclamation.

“This profession is not easy,” Smith said. “The men and women who wear the badge carry burdens most people never see, long hours, missed holidays, difficult calls, the weight of making critical decisions at a moment's notice. Yet every day, they continue to show up and serve. It is both a responsibility and privilege to protect the community we call home. Our deputies and officers do this work because they care deeply about the people in this county and the safety of our families.

“And while we recognize those who serve, we must also recognize the spouses and families who stand beside them. They carry the stress, the sacrifice and the uncertainty that comes with the profession, often without recognition, they support,” Smith said.

In their discussion of the proclamation, the Commissioners Court members emphasized the essential role of law enforcement in safeguarding rights and freedoms, as well as the importance of community support and recognition.

Judge Ruben Becerra praised the role of law officers as not only community members, but also citizen leaders.

“I thank you all for being not only the front line of our community defense and protection through the lens of public safety, but being embedded in our community in the way that you are, because that shows a capacity of accountability, which I think is the pinnacle of our public safety.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith discussed the role of the Commissioners Court in sending law officers to the national observance of Police Week in Washington D.C. to support the Hays County families of deceased officers. The Court had used ARPA funds in previous years, but last year added continuous funding into the base budget to support those families,” Smith said.

“We’ve sent along a group of constables to act as escorts for families who have lost their loved ones,” Smith said.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsby talked about the ongoing importance of peace officers to the county. ”I want to thank you and honor the courage, sacrifice and commitment of the men and women who serve our communities every day,” she said.

Later in the court session, Leticia Solis and Martin A. Espinoza were sworn in by Commissioner Ingalsby as regular full-time Deputies in the Hays County Constable's Precinct 1 Office.

According to the city, The Zone opened in 1996 and has grown into one of Texas’ most respected recording studios, hosting numerous prominent Texas and Americana artists through the years.

Artists who have recorded at the studio include Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jerry Jeff Walker, Parker McCollum, Jack Ingram, Dave Alvin and Jimmy Dale Gilmore.

The city also recognized Mike Morgan, Pat Manske and others who have contributed to the studio’s success and impact on the local music scene over the past three decades.

In its announcement, the city described The Zone as an important part of Dripping Springs’ cultural identity and praised the studio’s legacy of creativity, collaboration and music production in the Texas Hill Country.

Following weeks of community discussion and feedback, the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees voted 6-1 on Monday night to name the district’s new campus Driftwood Springs High School. The school is scheduled to open for the 2028-29 school year and will become the district’s 10th campus.

The decision came after months of work by a naming committee made up of students, parents, staff and community members. The committee reviewed survey results, discussed branding concepts and ultimately presented five official recommendations to the board for consideration.

The top two recommendations presented to trustees were Driftwood High School and Driftwood Springs High School. The committee also recommended the Wolves mascot with navy blue, gold and white colors for both concepts, though trustees only voted Monday on the school’s name. Mascots and colors remain under consideration and have not yet been finalized.

Other recommendations presented by the committee included Bear Creek High School, Sycamore Springs High School and Cypress Springs High School.

During Monday’s meeting, trustees repeatedly emphasized the amount of public feedback they received and the difficulty of balancing community identity, district traditions and future branding considerations.

Several trustees spoke in favor of retaining the “Springs” naming tradition used throughout the district while also acknowledging strong public support for the Driftwood name.

Trustee Mary Jane Hetrick said she believed the district could preserve both ideas.

“I feel like we can do both,” Hetrick said. “We can keep the Springs naming tradition.”

Trustee Rob McClelland said he believed the final name balanced district tradition with the opportunity for the new campus to establish its own identity.

“I believe Driftwood Springs High School strikes the right balance,” McClelland said. “It honors the history and heritage of a broader community that helped build this district over 150 years, while also giving students at this new campus the opportunity to create traditions and a legacy uniquely their own.”

The district’s naming committee had previously identified Driftwood and Driftwood Springs as the consistent front-runners throughout committee discussions and survey results. District administrators told trustees the committee also discussed a wide range of mascot and color concepts during the process.

The new high school is being constructed off Darden Hill Road east of Cypress Springs Elementary. The approximately 506,000-square-foot campus is designed to serve 2,500 students in grades 9-12 and carries an estimated project cost of $298.8 million.

Planned facilities include baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, practice fields, a band practice lot, an agriculture barn and a sub-varsity competition stadium. The district has said the campus will not include a varsity football stadium, with varsity football games and graduation ceremonies continuing to be held at Tiger Stadium.

The campus was approved by voters as part of the district’s May 2023 bond package.

This article has been edited to a remove a quote that was misattributed. We apologize for the error. 

The study was approved by the Hays County Commissioners Court in January. It is the county’s first major water study since 2011 and is being conducted by HDR Engineering.

County officials say the study is meant to provide a clearer picture of how water moves through the county, where infrastructure gaps exist and what challenges may lie ahead.

According to the county, the study will examine water supply planning, wastewater management, flooding concerns and regulations that impact water use. The project also includes flood assessments in all four county precincts and a review of possible centralized sewer options in the Hillside Terrace neighborhood.

Last week, Hays County Precinct 4 Commissioner Walt Smith hosted one of several public stakeholder meetings connected to the study. Smith said the meetings are designed to gather local information from residents, water providers and environmental groups while HDR remains in the data collection phase.

Smith said the county’s previous water study is now outdated because of major growth and development over the past decade.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer said West Hays County has faced water challenges for years.

“There have always been challenges in West Hays County,” Hammer said. “There are so many factors at play, and every part of the county is different, so this study will help us clearly see what’s really going on.”

Smith said county leaders expanded the study beyond water supply concerns to also include flooding and wastewater issues.

“We are really trying to take a look at where the water is coming from, where it’s being used, what the sources of that water are, what impact it has, especially in flood situations,” Smith said. “And then what happens to it once it’s been used within the system?”

Smith said county officials also hope the study will provide data that can support future discussions with state lawmakers about local planning and development authority.

A wide range of groups were invited to participate in the meetings, including groundwater districts, watershed associations, environmental organizations, regional planning groups and licensed water system operators.

He said many residents may not realize how many licensed public water systems exist in the county.

“For example, in my precinct, there’s roughly 140 licensed public water systems,” Smith said.

Smith said even some small businesses can qualify as public water systems under state regulations. He pointed to a gas station at the corner of Nutty Brown Road and FM 1826 as an example. Because the business serves food while operating on a well, it must be licensed and regularly test its water supply.

Smith said public meetings are important because residents often know about local flooding or infrastructure problems that may not appear in maps or official data.

“There are things, especially when we look at the flood portion of the study, that only local residents with knowledge of the area would know,” Smith said.

Smith said residents have already shared concerns about low-water crossings, flood-prone areas and water systems dealing with well failures or enhanced monitoring by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

County officials said the study is expected to take about 11 months to complete and will cost no more than $542,360.

Smith said the county is currently focused on gathering information and conducting stakeholder interviews.

“We’re collecting the paint right now,” Smith said. “We’re trying to get all the input that we can, and then once we get that and the data is analyzed, that’s where you paint the picture of what’s actually on the ground here in Hays County.”

Additional public meetings are expected as the study moves forward. He also said county leaders want the final report to remain an active planning tool rather than a one-time study.

“This is not a study that should be put on a shelf,” Smith said. “The county itself and the commissioners court must use this data in the most effective way possible.”

The sounds of blacksmithing, live music and children digging through mock archaeological sites filled the grounds of the Pound House Farmstead this weekend. It was a lively return for a historic event that was held for the first time in years this weekend.

Pioneer Day at the historic farmstead in Founders Memorial Park marked the revival of a longtime community tradition that had not occurred since the COVID-19 pandemic following major restoration work at the property. Organizers said the event served both as a fundraiser for the museum and a way to reconnect the growing community with its history.

“We celebrated Pioneer Day 2026. We haven’t had one since I think 2018,” Jeanne Polk, president of the Friends of the Pound House Foundation, said. “It’s nice to slow down and see that this is a part of the actual history of Dripping Springs.”

Throughout the day, visitors stepped into what organizers described as a living snapshot of 19th century Texas Hill Country life.

The event featured historic demonstrations, candle dipping, quilt making, loom weaving, blacksmithing and children’s activities. Guests also toured the historic house, took hayrides and visited vendors selling food, sweets and vintage items. A Buffalo Soldier reenactor showcased historical artifacts and interacted with children throughout the day. 

The Pound House Farmstead traces its origins to 1854, when Dr. Joseph Pound and his wife Sarah settled in what would become Dripping Springs. The original log room of the house still stands today.

According to the museum’s historical records, Joseph Pound first came to Texas in 1847 during the Mexican-American War before returning with Sarah in the early 1850s. The Pound family became one of the founding families of Dripping Springs and helped establish many of the area’s earliest community institutions. Polk said the property once stretched across roughly 700 acres and served as far more than just a family home.

“The house served as a community meeting place, it was a church, it was a hospital,” Polk said. “It served as a school.”

The farmstead is believed to be the last remaining historic farmstead in Dripping Springs. Today, about five acres remain preserved as a museum property.

The house never underwent major modernization during the decades it remained occupied by descendants of the Pound family. According to the museum, indoor plumbing was never added, and electricity was not installed until 1947.

The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Texas State Historical Landmark in 1965. It officially opened as a museum in 2003. Polk said Pioneer Day had historically been one of the community’s signature heritage events before a series of setbacks interrupted the tradition. A 2019 event was canceled because of rain, followed shortly afterward by the pandemic and a lengthy roof replacement project at the house.

“We’ve been trying to get back in the community’s presence, trying to get folks to remember,” Polk said.

She said organizers hope the return of Pioneer Day will help reconnect residents, especially newcomers, with the area’s roots as Dripping Springs continues to grow rapidly.

“People have to get connected with history again, with the history of the community, especially as large and fast growing as Dripping Springs is,” Polk said.

The Pound House Farmstead is open Saturdays and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organizers said the museum relies heavily on admissions, donations and grants to continue operations and preservation efforts. Visit phfmuseum.org to get involved with the history of Dripping Springs.

Volunteers, community members and supporters gathered Sunday as Dripping Springs Hometown Missions dedicated and blessed a newly constructed home for longtime area resident Melody Snell as part of the nonprofit’s “Home in a Month” project.

The ceremony took place at Snell’s property on Signal Hill Road near Dripping Springs, marking the completion of a monthlong volunteer effort to replace her aging mobile home with a new “stick-built” tiny home.

According to Hometown Missions, Snell had lived in her previous mobile home for nearly 40 years. Built in the 1970s, the structure had become unsafe and no longer provided reliable protection from storms and deteriorating conditions.

Snell, a longtime member of Gateway Church Dripping Springs, spoke about the emotional transition as she prepared to leave the home where she had spent much of her life.

“Tonight is the last night I will spend in this shelter God has provided me for the last 39.5 years,” Snell said in a statement shared before the dedication ceremony. “Strong storms have made my mobile home shake and groan like a sinking ship. Yet, the hand of God always kept it upright for me.”

She also reflected on the support she received from the community and her faith throughout the process.

“I am seeing the prayers of my father being answered,” she said. “Our Father heard his many prayers and has not forgotten them. He has not forgotten me.”

Organizers said volunteers spent the past month building the home through donated labor, materials and community support. The project was designed to provide Snell with a safer and more stable living environment while allowing her to remain in the community she has called home for decades.

Snell’s life story includes years spent in Peru as the daughter of missionaries who worked translating the Bible into native languages, according to Hometown Missions. The organization also noted that she has faced serious health challenges, including cancer, while remaining active in her church community.

During the dedication ceremony, volunteers, supporters and friends gathered to celebrate the completion of the project and recognize the community effort behind the build.

Dave Edwards, president of the Hometown Missions Board of Directors, said the organization’s work reflects a broader mission of community service and faith.

“At Hometown Missions, we believe that when churches, businesses and individuals come together in service, we are living out God's call to love our neighbors,” Edwards said. “To every volunteer who has ever swung a hammer, painted a house, served meals or simply shown up, you are not just building homes — you are building a community that reflects God's love.”

Hometown Missions is a faith-based nonprofit organization focused on providing safe and stable housing for local residents through volunteer-driven home construction and renovation projects.

A total of 11 people around the world have had either confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus tied to the cruise outbreak, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ph.D., said at a recent news conference.  

According to current reports, 18 Americans who were aboard the cruise ship linked to the deadly hantavirus outbreak are now being monitored at specialized healthcare facilities in the United States. One passenger is receiving care in a biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska, while 15 additional individuals are under quarantine at the university’s National Quarantine Center. Two other passengers have been transferred to a biocontainment unit at Emory University in Atlanta. One of those individuals developed symptoms; however, testing was negative for the Andes variant of hantavirus.

Rodney Rohde, Chair of the Medical Laboratory Science Program in the College of Health Professions at Texas State, answered the following questions on hantavirus. 

As a microbiologist and virologist who studies infectious diseases and public health preparedness, I often get questions when rare viruses suddenly make headlines. Here are five important questions—and answers—about the current hantavirus outbreak. 

1. What exactly is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses primarily carried by rodents. Humans usually become infected after breathing in tiny particles contaminated with rodent urine, droppings or saliva. In the Americas, hantaviruses can cause a severe disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS, which affects the lungs and can become life-threatening.  

The strain associated with the cruise ship outbreak appears to be the Andes virus, a hantavirus found mainly in parts of South America, especially Argentina and Chile. Unlike most hantaviruses, Andes virus is unusual because it can sometimes spread from person to person through close, prolonged contact.  

That distinction is important because it changes how public health officials respond. Instead of focusing only on environmental exposure, authorities also must consider contact tracing and monitoring of potentially exposed travelers. 

2. Why is a cruise ship outbreak so concerning?

Cruise ships create ideal conditions for infectious disease spread. People live in close quarters, share dining and recreation spaces, and often spend days or weeks together with limited medical resources onboard.

Most cruise-related outbreaks involve gastrointestinal viruses like norovirus. A hantavirus outbreak is highly unusual.  

In this case, investigators are trying to determine whether the outbreak began with exposure to infected rodents before boarding, contamination somewhere on the ship, or limited person-to-person transmission involving Andes virus. Reports suggest the voyage began in Ushuaia, Argentina—an area where Andes virus is known to circulate. Argentine investigators suspect a Dutch couple may have first contracted the virus while on a bird-watching trip before they boarded the cruise ship in Argentina on April 1. Bird watchers routinely use sites like landfills because a diverse number of birds will feed in these sites. Importantly, landfills offer prime real estate for rodents which are known to shed hantavirus.

Patient Zero (the likely index case) in the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak has been identified as ornithologist Leo Schilperoord, whose passion for birds may have cost him his life.

The 70-year-old man and his wife, Mirjam Schilperoord, 69, were on a five-month trip to South America. On Nov. 27, they landed in Argentina. They traveled through Chile, Uruguay and then back to Argentina in late March, where they went on a fateful birdwatching adventure.

Another challenge is the international nature of cruise travel. Passengers and crew often come from multiple countries and may disperse quickly after disembarking, complicating contact tracing and quarantine efforts. 

3. What symptoms should people watch for?

Early hantavirus symptoms can resemble influenza or COVID-19. People may develop:

Fever  

Muscle aches  

Fatigue  

Headache  

Chills  

Nausea or abdominal symptoms  

As the illness progresses, some patients develop coughing and severe shortness of breath as fluid accumulates in the lungs. This stage can rapidly become critical and is often referred to as acute respiratory distress (also known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome).

One reason Hantavirus is dangerous is that symptoms may worsen suddenly after several days of what appears to be a routine viral illness. Signs and symptoms of HPS due to Andes virus appear 4-42 days after exposure.

Anyone who recently traveled on the affected ship—or had close contact with a confirmed case—should seek medical care immediately if respiratory symptoms develop. 

4. Is the public at risk of a larger outbreak?

Right now, public health agencies say the broader public risk remains low.  

Although Andes virus can spread between people, transmission appears to require close and sustained contact rather than casual exposure. This is not considered an easy airborne virus in the same way measles or COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) can spread.

Health officials are taking the outbreak seriously because Hantavirus infections can be severe and because cruise passengers travel internationally. The CDC has already outlined monitoring plans for Americans returning from the voyage, including symptom monitoring and quarantine recommendations in some situations.  

The CDC is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and health departments about a new cluster of hantavirus disease cases caused by infection with Andes virus.

The situation is also a reminder that emerging infectious diseases continue to pose global risks in a highly connected world. 

5. Are there treatments or vaccines for hantavirus?

Unfortunately, there is currently no approved specific antiviral treatment or widely available vaccine for hantavirus infections in the United States. Medical care mainly focuses on supportive treatment, especially oxygen therapy and intensive care for patients with severe lung involvement.  

Researchers have explored experimental antibody therapies and vaccines, but progress has been limited by funding challenges and the relatively small number of cases seen globally each year.  

The cruise ship outbreak may become a wake-up call for renewed investment in emerging infectious disease preparedness. Scientists have long warned that environmental disruption, climate shifts and increased human interaction with wildlife can increase opportunities for zoonotic diseases—infections that jump from animals to humans.

For now, prevention remains the best defense: avoiding rodent exposure, improving sanitation, and maintaining strong disease surveillance systems capable of detecting unusual outbreaks quickly.

The current outbreak also highlights an important public health lesson from the past several decades: infectious diseases do not respect borders, and rapid international coordination remains essential when rare pathogens emerge unexpectedly.  

Closing Thoughts

As this outbreak continues to unfold, it serves as another sobering reminder that zoonotic diseases remain one of the most unpredictable threats to global health security. Hantaviruses may be rare, but rare does not mean insignificant—especially in an era of rapid international travel, ecological disruption, and increasing human interaction with wildlife reservoirs.

The scientific and public health communities must continue investing in surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, emerging pathogen research, and public communication grounded in evidence rather than fear. Preparedness is not simply about responding to the next outbreak; it is about recognizing that our interconnected world requires constant vigilance, collaboration and scientific literacy to protect lives before localized events become global crises. 

Rodney E. Rohde, Ph.D., is a Global Fellow, Regents' Professor in the Texas State University System, University Distinguished Professor, and Chair of the Medical Laboratory Science Program in the College of Health Professions at Texas State University. Dr. Rohde holds certifications as a specialist in virology, specialist in microbiology and molecular biologist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

He served as a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist for the Texas Department of State Health Services – Bureau of Laboratories and Zoonosis Control Division for a decade (1992-2002), including two stints as a CDC Visiting Scientist. Dr. Rohde joined Texas State University in 2002 and is an internationally recognized subject matter expert in microbiology and infectious diseases.

Rohde and Professor Ivan Castro (Texas State University, Biology Department) authored this article on hantavirus.   

Castro teaches classes on “Problems in Biological Sciences” (BIO5390) and “Ecology of Infectious Diseases in Wildlife” (BIO7414). He received his Masters and PhD degrees from Texas A&M University. 

On the GOP side, the statewide runoffs are:

U.S. Senate: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton

Texas attorney general: Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy

Texas Railroad Commission: Jim Wright and Bo French

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3: Alison Fox and Thomas Smith

The statewide Democratic runoffs are:

Lieutenant governor: Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Vélez

Attorney general: Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski

There are also runoff races for several House seats, the State Board of Education, and Texas Senate District 19, which runs along the U.S.-Mexico border. Voters who cast ballots in the March GOP primary can’t vote in the Democratic runoff races, and vice versa. Registered voters who did not participate in the March primary can vote in either party’s runoff election, but not both.

Texas oil industry at war with itself

The GOP runoff race for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission is pitting oil industry leaders against each other. Many small-scale oil companies are supporting former Tarrant County Republican Party chair Bo French because of incumbent Jim Wright’s efforts to lead reforms at the commission, the Houston Chronicle reported.

“I can't support Jim Wright, because Jim Wright makes rules that are silly for lots and lots and lots of operators,” said Lance Thomas, manager of Albany-based Stasney Well Service. His company is suing the Railroad Commission over new rules about how oil operators manage onsite waste pits.

A political action committee associated with oil billionaire Tim Dunn, a conservative megadonor, has contributed at least $350,000 to French’s campaign. On the flip side, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and other major oil companies have contributed to PACs backing Wright.

French has drawn controversy for public comments he has made about Muslims and DEI.

Paxton steps up investigations as runoff nears

Attorney General Ken Paxton has steadily increased his lawsuits, investigations, and public threats around many of the conservative causes that energize Republicans, The Dallas Morning News reported. More than 100 news releases announcing such actions have been issued since early January.

Critics say he is using the attorney general’s office for political gain rather than enforcement. Supporters say Paxton is pursuing the issues Texas conservatives elected him to champion.

“He's been suing the pants off people. I like that,” said Laura Oakley, president of the Grapevine Republican Club.

The topics since the March primary included immigration, Islam, China, visa fraud, election maps, birthright citizenship and foreign influence, according to The News report. A spokesman for Paxton’s campaign called the review of Paxton’s investigations “garbage” and not “worth printing.”

Lottery Commission, ex-director face criminal charges

Former Texas lottery director Gary Grief and the Texas Lottery Commission have been charged with misusing their positions in a 2023 Lotto Texas drawing worth $95 million, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The criminal charges assert the agency helped international gamblers engineer a guaranteed win.

Agency officials helped professional bettors purchase nearly every possible six-number combination — more than 25 million tickets — assuring they would win the $95 million jackpot, according to the charges. However, Grief’s attorney issued a statement saying, in part, “When all facts are revealed in court, the public will see that Gary’s leadership at the Lottery Commission generated millions of dollars for Texas schools and veterans and there was no crime.”

Grief and the commission are charged with abuse of official capacity, a broadly worded offense alleging “intent to harm or defraud another” by misusing “government property, services, personnel or any other thing of value belonging to the government,” the Statesman reported.

Texas’ migrant deportation law likely to be blocked

A new law allowing state officials to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants took effect last week, but it appears likely a federal judge will soon move to block it, according to the Houston Chronicle. U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra has previously called the law “patently unconstitutional,” but delayed making a ruling.

Senate Bill 4 has been stymied since its passage by legal challenges arguing that immigration enforcement is under the purview of the federal government, not state governments.

“Gov. Abbott is the sovereign governor of the state of Texas. He is not the president of the United States,” Ezra said. “DPS officers are not ICE agents.”

The GOP majority in the Texas Legislature passed the law during an immigration surge during the Biden administration. That surge has since receded, and few GOP lawmakers have been pushing for the law to be implemented, according to the Chronicle.

Grimes County residents question proposed chip facility

Elon Musk’s bid to build what he calls the world’s largest computer chip manufacturing facility in Grimes County, southeast of College Station, is drawing opposition from some residents, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Musk is seeking tax breaks to build the facility, dubbed Terafab.

Supporters say the initial $55 billion investment would later double in subsequent phases, which is too good to pass up. Opponents question the track record of Musk’s businesses, such as SpaceX, and whether the huge company needs tax breaks.

“I believe it would be immoral to give this company tax abatement when we have serious concerns about health issues and safety issues,” county resident Jacqueline Ross told Grimes County commissioners.

SpaceX was fined nearly $150,000 in 2024 for breaking clean water laws after a fuel spill at its South Texas launch site. It also was cited for illegally discharging wastewater into wetlands near its Boca Chica facilities.

The company is seeking a $1.75 trillion valuation when it goes public in a few months, prompting some residents to question why it needs a tax break.

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, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

According to Dripping Springs Independent School District, the students will pursue studies in theater, music, dance, visualization and related arts fields.

Honored students included Leela Bertram, who will study scenic design at the University of Cincinnati; Keller Breland, commercial music at Liberty University; Shelby Cluck, theater production and performance at Texas State University; and Haleigh Darlington, who will study political science while participating on the dance team at the University of Cincinnati.

Additional students recognized were Oliver Engels, theater at Texas Tech University; Adrian Fisher, technical theater at Texas State University; Aubrey Hall, musical theater at Webster University; Evan Murphy, music performance at University of Rochester; Annie Reale, piano performance at The University of Texas at Austin; Eva Somerville, visualization at Texas A&M University; Liliana Turba, technical theater at Texas Tech University; and Aiden Vanwalleghem, music at Texas State University.

The district congratulated the students and wished them success as they continu

While the latest advisory was issued by Austin Public Health for Austin and Travis County, Hays County officials have also dealt with confirmed West Nile virus activity in recent mosquito seasons, including positive mosquito trap tests in areas near Dripping Springs and Wimberley last year. 

Mosquito season in Central Texas typically runs from May through November, especially during warmer and wetter months when mosquitoes breed more rapidly.

According to Austin Public Health, mosquitoes can carry diseases including West Nile virus, Zika, dengue fever, encephalitis and canine heartworm.

“While we’re all getting ready to enjoy the summer, let’s be sure to bring mosquito repellent and appropriate clothing anytime we plan on spending time outdoors,” Austin Public Health Environmental Health Services Division Chief Marcel Elizondo said in the advisory. “We've consistently seen West Nile virus for years, and this year shouldn’t be any different.”

In 2025, Austin-Travis County reported 41 mosquito pools that tested positive for West Nile virus, along with five preliminary human cases pending final confirmation by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Hays County officials also reported multiple positive mosquito traps during the 2024 and 2025 mosquito seasons, including detections in unincorporated areas near Dripping Springs and Wimberley. 

Health officials recommend residents follow the “Four Ds” to reduce mosquito exposure:

• Dusk and dawn — Mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus are most active during early morning and evening hours.

• Dress — Wear long sleeves, pants and loose-fitting light-colored clothing outdoors.

• DEET — Use insect repellents containing DEET or other EPA-approved ingredients.

• Drain — Eliminate standing water around homes, including flowerpots, clogged gutters, birdbaths, old tires and outdoor containers where mosquitoes can breed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with West Nile virus experience no symptoms, though some may develop fever, headaches, body aches or rash. Severe illness is more likely among older adults and people with weakened immune systems. 

Hays County operates a mosquito surveillance program that monitors mosquito activity and tests traps for mosquito-borne illnesses throughout the county. 

More than two dozen Texas school districts must provide documentation to Paxton’s office “regarding the display or lack thereof of the Ten Commandments and their policies,” Paxton said in a statement Thursday. 

The districts must also show that their school boards voted on whether they would set aside time each day for students and staff to pray. A new state law required school board members to vote on prayer time in school by March 1. 

“I will always fight for students’ fundamental right to pray in our schools and work to ensure that Texas kids are able to learn from the Ten Commandments daily,” Paxton said in a statement. 

Paxton is investigating the following districts: Alamo Heights, North East, Austin, Cypress-Fairbanks, Lackland, Lake Travis, Fort Bend, Houston, Dripping Springs, Plano, Northside, Conroe, Galveston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, McAllen, Amarillo, El Paso, Corpus Christi, United, Texarkana, Victoria, Waco, Abilene, San Angelo, Brownsville, and Beaumont. 

Here’s what we know: Texas can enforce a state law requiring public schools to display posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms after an April 21 federal court ruling.

A 9-8 majority of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas' law requiring public schools to display posters of the Ten Commandments did not violate the Constitution, which prohibits governments from establishing an official state religion.

"It does not tell churches or synagogues or mosques what to believe or how to worship or whom to employ as priests, rabbis, or imams," the ruling stated. "It punishes no one who rejects the Ten Commandments, no matter the reason."

Sixteen families from across Texas sued over the law, alleging that it amounted to state leaders promoting their interpretation of Christianity over other faiths.  

All 17 active judges on the court listened to the case —Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District — alongside a similar challenge in Louisiana, the first state to pass a Ten Commandments requirement for its public schools. The court cleared the way in February for Louisiana to fully implement its law. 

After the decision, the civil rights organizations representing the families expressed disappointment. 

"The court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority," the groups said in a statement. "The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights.”

The case is playing a central role in the national debate over whether the laws violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which prohibits governments from endorsing or promoting a particular religion. The civil rights organizations said they plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the decision.

Background: The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 10 in 2025, with Gov. Greg Abbott signing it into law that June. It requires public schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments, sized at least 16 by 20 inches, in a visible space on classroom walls.

The families — represented by a coalition of civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas — sued 11 school districts to block what their lawyers called “catastrophically unconstitutional” legislation.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery agreed, blocking the law from taking effect in the districts named in the lawsuit: Alamo Heights, North East, Lackland, Northside, Austin, Lake Travis, Dripping Springs, Houston, Fort Bend, Cypress-Fairbanks and Plano.

Biery concluded the law improperly favors Christianity over other faiths and said it would likely interfere with families’ “exercise of their sincere religious or nonreligious beliefs in substantial ways.”

Paxton asked the 5th Circuit Court to overturn Biery’s ruling and allow all 17 active judges on the court to hear the Texas and Louisiana cases together.

A federal judge blocked Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law from taking effect in 2024, a decision unanimously upheld last year by a panel of three judges on the 5th Circuit Court. Twelve of the appeals court’s judges were appointed by Republican presidents. The court is considered one of the most conservative in the nation.

The arguments for the case did not include two other prominent Texas lawsuits challenging the Ten Commandments law.

One lawsuit resulted in a federal judge blocking 14 more school districts from complying with the law. The other asks a federal judge to block all Texas schools from following the law and is pending.

Why the families sued: They argued that the law subjects children to a state-imposed Protestant version of the Ten Commandments that many religious and nonreligious Texans do not recognize.

The families believe the law seeks to pressure students into observing and adopting Texas officials’ preferred religious principles.

They say the law will inflict harm by alienating children of those who do not follow the state’s preferred religion and that parents’ authority to direct their children’s religious education is undermined.

“Posting the Ten Commandments in public schools is un-American and un-Baptist,” Griff Martin, a pastor, parent and plaintiff in the lawsuit, said in a statement last year. “S.B. 10 undermines the separation of church and state as a bedrock principle of my family’s Baptist heritage. Baptists have long held that the government has no role in religion — so that our faith may remain free and authentic.”

The families’ lawyers argue that because children are legally required to attend school, they have virtually no way of avoiding Texas’ required version of the Ten Commandments.

The U.S. Supreme Court found public school displays of the Ten Commandments unconstitutional in 1980. Civil rights attorneys argue that only the Supreme Court can overturn its previous rulings.

What the state argued: Paxton and attorneys from his office say the Ten Commandments played a significant role in the nation’s history and heritage. State leaders have said previous rulings from federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court did not examine that historical significance.

State lawyers also note that the Supreme Court recently eliminated a test, established by a previous ruling, that determined when a government had unconstitutionally endorsed or established a religion.

“There is no legal reason to stop Texas from honoring a core ethical foundation of our law, especially not a bogus claim about the ‘separation of church and state,’ which is a phrase found nowhere in the Constitution,” Paxton said last year.

Lawyers with the attorney general’s office see the Ten Commandments requirement as requiring only a “passive display on the wall” that does not rise to the level of coercion because students are free to ignore the posters. The law might cross the line if it sought to incorporate the Ten Commandments into lessons or assignments, they argued.

The posters must go up in Texas classrooms only if donated by someone. The law does not specify what would happen if school leaders choose not to comply. The state views that as evidence no threat or harm is posed to families. However, Paxton threatened legal action if schools do not comply and sued three districts for alleged noncompliance.

What happened during oral arguments: Some judges questioned state officials from Texas and Louisiana about their decisions to use a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments and how that would affect families who do not follow those religious principles. 

Lawyers for the states argued that the laws do not ask children to subscribe to a particular belief and urged the judges to consider legislators’ intent to teach students about important documents in U.S. history.

The judges questioned how children would know the posters have anything to do with American history. They also asked for historical evidence showing the use of the Ten Commandments in public schools. 

Lawyers for the states pointed to early textbooks that referenced the Ten Commandments but acknowledged those materials were largely used in religious settings prior to the establishment of public schools in the 1800s. 

Public schools used the materials through the early 20th century. However, a prominent historian who testified in the case noted that the Ten Commandments were not significant aspects of the texts and that it is unclear how much teachers relied on those specific lessons. 

“A legislature in Louisiana, a legislature in Texas, is absolutely well within its right to say: We want to actually teach our students about founding documents,” said Ben Aguiñaga, the attorney representing Louisiana. 

Judges asked the lawyers representing the families why they consider the Ten Commandments posters problematic when students recite the Pledge of Allegiance and learn about the Declaration of Independence and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail — all of which refer to God. 

King’s letter and the Declaration of Independence may reference religion, the lawyers replied, but they’re about more than religion.

Some judges noted during arguments that the Supreme Court’s 1980 ruling heavily relied on a test that courts no longer use. The families’ lawyers countered that removing the test did not overturn Supreme Court precedent preventing the Ten Commandments from going up in public classrooms.

If students do not follow the religious principles in the state’s mandated version of the Ten Commandments, judges asked, can’t they ignore the posters? 

“They can't just look away, your honor,” said attorney Jon Youngwood, representing the families. “Not for 13 years. Not in every class. Not every minute of every day.”

What the court ruled: A court majority concluded that the U.S. Supreme Court's 1980 ruling in Stone v. Graham is no longer valid. That case found a Kentucky law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments unconstitutional. 

The Supreme Court recently abandoned the test established in Stone that determined whether states had illegally endorsed or promoted a religion, the 5th U.S. Circuit judges noted. That means "there is nothing left of Stone," they noted in the ruling.

They concluded that Texas' Ten Commandments law does not establish an official state religion. Among reasons, they noted that it “levies no taxes to support any clergy. It does not co-opt churches to perform civic functions."

The judges ruled that the law is not coercive because it does not require students to learn the Ten Commandments or give teachers authority to undermine students' religious beliefs. 

"Yes, Plaintiffs have sincere religious disagreements with its content," the opinion reads. "But that does not transform the poster into a summons to prayer."

An opinion written by judges who opposed the decision argued in response that it is insignificant that Texas’ law does not require schools to teach the Ten Commandments. 

The law poses a threat to children’s religious beliefs and undermines what parents may want their kids to learn about religion, they wrote in dissenting statements.

The opposing judges agreed with the argument of families who sued that the Supreme Court has not overturned its Stone v. Graham ruling. Lower courts are bound by Stone even if the test established in it is no longer in use, they added. Taking into account the historical-based approach courts must now use, the dissenting judges said Texas’ law still violates the Constitution.

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.

The Hays County Commissioners Court proclaimed April 29 as “Fentanyl Awareness and Overdose Day” last week, prior to a discussion featuring Janel Rodriguez, founder of the nonprofit Forever 15, and Texas State fentanyl education advocate Kelly Clary. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office also provided data on the decreasing number of fentanyl deaths in the county since 2022.

“Collaboration among local government, law enforcement, public health agencies, educators, higher education institutes and community partners is critical in addressing the fentanyl crisis,” according to the proclamation. “Alongside our community partners, families, educators, and organizations throughout the county continue to demonstrate leadership and commitment to increasing awareness and expanding access to resources in Hays County.”

Matthew Gonzales, Hays County Health Department Director, speaking following the reading of the proclamation, stressed this collaboration between the county and local organizations.

“Part of the mission behind the Behavioral Health Division is to be that lighthouse helping highlight resources for the community,” he said. “But part of Public Health's mission is also social marketing, which is helping change the behaviors of our residents towards positive outcomes. And we can really accomplish that work through the work with our partners that are nonprofits, but also academia.”

Janel Rodriguez started the Forever 15 project after her 15-year-old son Noah died of fentanyl poisoning in 2022.

“We were losing so many kids that year here in Hays County, and I grew up here, and I knew that I didn't want any more of our kids to die,”  Rodriguez said. “We wanted Hays County to be known for something more than just losing all of these kids.”

“Because of this tragedy, we started the Forever 15 Project to spread awareness and to provide resources for those who are at risk or who know someone at risk and to honor those who have been lost,” according to the Forever 15 website.

Chief Deputy Brett Bailey of the Hays County Sheriff’s Office provided an update on fentanyl poisonings in the county in a letter submitted in conjunction with the proclamation:

“2022 marked the highest number of poisonings, with 31 incidents and six resulting in death. In 2023, there were 25 poisonings with eight fatalities. In 2024 that number dropped significantly to nine poisonings, six of which were fatal. In 2025 we saw just four poisonings and notably zero deaths.

“Over the past year, from April 1, 2025, to April 1, 2026, we have documented only two poisonings, both early this year, with none reported since January,” according to Bailey.

Bailey also praised the work of Rodriguez and Noah’s father Brandon.

“Our agency has been fortunate to partner with Janel Rodriguez and Brandon Dunn through the Forever 15 project initiative that has made a profound and measurable impact, not only in Hays County, but across the country and beyond.

“Since its inception in 2022 Forever 15 has reached more than 10,000 students, along with countless parents and community members through conferences and presentations. Their work has extended far outside of Central Texas, even internationally, as keynote speakers at a major drug conference in Mexico City,” according to Bailey.

Commissioner Walt Smith said that the Forever 15 project started as a request by Rodriguez to put up a billboard on I-35 to make people aware of the dangers of fentanyl.

“We've come a long way from that,” Smith said. “I want to thank our DA’s office for being so proactive, going after the highest sentences they can for the people who are dealing this in our community. I think there is an understanding in our community now that if you deal or If you deal in fentanyl, you could get charged with murder.”

Kelly Clary, Associate Professor at Texas State University, spoke in support of the proclamation. Clary's current funded projects include a $1.9 million SAMHSA grant supporting Hays County in implementing fentanyl education for middle and high schoolers.

“Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. What makes fentanyl especially dangerous is not just its potency, but its presence where people don't expect it,”  Clary said “It is increasingly found mixed into counterfeit pills and other substances, often without a person's knowledge. Many individuals who experience an overdose never intended to use fentanyl at all.”

Clary emphasized that fentanyl awareness is not just a public health issue, but a community responsibility.

“It requires collaborations between school districts, healthcare providers, first responders, policymakers as well as families. It is about making sure that every person, especially our youth and young adults, have access to accurate information, practical tools and the confidence to act when it matters most,” Clary said.