by Dan Eakin In the late 1970s I was in the office of Joe Murray, editor of the Lufkin Daily News who had gone out on an errand, when a man whom I later came to know as James Baker III walked into the office and introduced himself to me. I think he thought I was the editor and I don’t think I told him different, at least not right away.

by Dan Eakin Jimmy Carter’s family reported earlier this month that he would no longer be in a hospital but that he would live out his last days on earth with Hospice care at home. His family said he is still alert at age 98 and able to carry on conversations with family members.

TheTexasSenatelastweek unanimously approved a $16.5 billion package to lower property taxes and inject billions of dollars into public schools. As reported by the Texas Tribune, the three separate bills require the state to send at least $5.38 billion to public schools while at the same time raising the state’s homestead exemption from $40,000 to $70,000, with an additional $20,000 exemption for homeowners 65 and older.

The death of a Leander High School graduate from a fentanyl overdose has prompted state Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, to file a bill that would require 10 hours of education annually concerning the dangers of the drug to students in sixth grade and up, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

(Editor’s note: This is the third in a series about Texas politicians in the 1960s and 1970s. Last week’s was “Remembering Preston Smith,” and the one the week before was “Remembering Price Daniel Jr.” This week’s is about “Remembering Ben Barnes.”) Ben Barnes once apologized to me for having to interview him so much. I worked for the Tyler Morning Telegraph in the late 1960s and early 1970s and any time he came within 50 miles of Tyler my editor would send me out to interview him.

Dear Silsbee Community Leaders, My name is Courtney Champagne, and I am one of the Ag Teachers at Silsbee High School. The Silsbee FFA is growing each year. We have more and more students wanting to participate and it’s very exciting. Students are becoming very involved in horticulture and livestock. The future of agriculture is bright at Silsbee, but there is a side to our student’ that I don’t think the community gets to see shine as much as they should. That’s our livestock exhibitors. These students purchase animals and wait all year for this one moment to shine in the auction ring.

Capital Highlights Under legislation prioritized by House Speaker Dade Phelan, every Texas school would have an armed police officer, and aspiring teachers would receive extra support. The Dallas Morning News reported the bill would also provide $15,000 in annual funding for safety measures for each school in the state.

(Editor’s note: Last week the topic was “Remembering Price Daniel Jr. This week’s topic is “Remembering Preston Smith.) Preston Smith served as governor of Texas from 1969 to 1973.

From the Editors Desk For many years I have been toying with the idea of writing a book titled “Politicians Make Strange Dinner Guests.” I guess I’ll never get around to it. But if enough readers tell me they find this interesting, I might do a series, remembering some of the Texas politicians of the past.

Capital Highlights Texas once again has topped the list for new and expanded corporate facilities added in a year, according to Site Selection Magazine. With 1,028 new projects in 2022, the state had more than the next two states combined – Illinois and Ohio.