Will Public School Teachers Soon Wear Body Cameras ?
January 23, 2025 – The idea of school teachers wearing body cameras, similar to police officers, is a controversial and thought-provoking topic. Advocates argue that body cameras could enhance accountability, transparency, and safety within educational environments. Cameras could serve as an impartial record of interactions between teachers, students, and even parents, potentially deterring inappropriate behavior or false accusations on all sides. This could help resolve disputes or allegations by providing clear evidence of what transpired, fostering trust among all stakeholders.
Body cameras could also serve as a tool for professional development. Teachers could review footage to reflect on their classroom management and instructional strategies, identifying areas for improvement. Additionally, administrators could use recordings to provide constructive feedback, ultimately enhancing the quality of education.
However, there are significant concerns about privacy, practicality, and trust. Constant surveillance could create a culture of mistrust, where both teachers and students feel they are being monitored rather than supported. This might stifle creativity and openness in the classroom, as students may feel hesitant to express themselves freely, knowing they are being recorded. Teachers, too, could feel their autonomy and professionalism undermined by constant scrutiny.
Moreover, implementing such a policy raises logistical and ethical questions. Managing and securely storing vast amounts of footage would require significant resources and raise concerns about data breaches or misuse of recordings. There are also ethical considerations about recording minors, which could conflict with privacy laws and parental consent requirements.
In conclusion, while the idea of equipping teachers with body cameras has potential benefits, it also presents substantial challenges that must be carefully weighed. Policymakers, educators, and communities must engage in open dialogue to assess whether this approach aligns with the values and goals of education, balancing accountability with respect for privacy and trust.
More Suspects Caught Up in Cattle Theft
January 22, 2025 – Two more suspects will be spending the night in the Hopkins County Jail as two suspects have bonded out of jail in a local cattle theft case.
As the plot thickens on the theft of almost 100 head of cattle, so far, Gabriel Gomez, age 20, and Jeremy Gomez, age 19, are the latest suspects facing theft charges in the cattle case stemming from an investigation on Farm-to-Market Road 3236. The investigation now reveals a total of 95 head of cattle were possibly stolen as 15 head have been recovered and documentation of 80 head of cattle being sold at nearby cattle sales and to individuals outside of Hopkins County.
The search is ongoing as investigators look to return the missing cattle to their home pastures.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Suspected Cattle Rustlers Rounded Up in Hopkins County
January 22, 2025 – Local investigators rounded up two individuals so far suspected of heading up cattle that were not their property and moving them on up to Delta County to be sold. The investigation started with a report from a rancher on FM 3236 in Hopkins County on January 18th of this year that cattle were missing from the property. Texas Cattle Rancher investigators got involved and soon tracked the missing livestock to Delta County. Several individuals associated with the wayward herd were asked to come in for questioning and were informed of their rights, given a Miranda Warning, and interrogated about the cattle crossing county lines.
Two suspects quickly confessed, admitting to poaching the unsuspecting cattle and transporting them to Delta County to be sold. The two 19-year-old suspects, Ricardo Munoz, and Adrian Barajas have each been charged with a second degree felony listed as “Theft of Livestock – Elderly.” Both suspects remain in the Hopkins County Jail awaiting their bond to be set in the matter.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Scammers Exploit Unregulated Bitcoin ATMs, Costing Texans Millions
January 22, 2025 – Unregulated Bitcoin ATMs have become a lucrative tool for scammers, enabling them to steal millions from unsuspecting Texans. An estimated 4000 of these machines in Texas, designed to simplify cryptocurrency transactions, are increasingly being exploited due to their lack of oversight and anonymity. Unlike traditional banking systems, Bitcoin ATMs allow users to deposit cash in exchange for Bitcoin, which is sent directly to a provided wallet address. Scammers manipulate this process by coercing victims into sending funds under false pretenses.
Common scams include fraudulent IRS claims, utility bill threats, and fake tech support calls. Victims, often under duress, are instructed to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin ATMs, believing they are resolving critical issues. Once the Bitcoin is sent, it becomes virtually untraceable, making recovery impossible.
The absence of stringent regulations around Bitcoin ATMs compounds the problem. Many machines lack adequate Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, enabling scammers to operate without scrutiny. This regulatory gap provides a fertile ground for criminal activities, particularly in states like Texas, where cryptocurrency usage is widespread.
Law enforcement and consumer protection agencies are sounding the alarm. The Texas Department of Banking and local law enforcement have urged residents to be cautious, educating the public on how to identify scams and avoid falling prey to such schemes. However, the growing prevalence of these incidents highlights the urgent need for stronger regulations.
Implementing stricter oversight, mandating KYC protocols, and requiring licensing for Bitcoin ATM operators could help curb misuse. Until such measures are in place, Texans and others using these machines must remain vigilant, understanding that legitimate organizations will never demand payments via Bitcoin ATMs. Awareness and proactive regulatory action are essential to combating this alarming trend.
Ag Commissioner Sid Miller Invites Eligible Nonprofits to Apply for Summer Nutrition Programs
Approved agencies and organizations will be reimbursed with federal funds for feeding Texas children during the summer break
January 22, 2025 – AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting sponsor applications for its 2025 Summer Meal Programs. These programs connect eligible organizations with federal funds to sponsor meal sites that serve healthy meals for Texas children 18 years old and younger when school cafeterias are closed for summer.
“Every year, TDA partners with schools, cities, churches, and other organizations to ensure kids who may not always get enough to eat have meals and snacks during the summer,” Commissioner Miller said. “In partnership with TDA, these sponsors provide the good nutrition kids need to enjoy an active summer that readies them for success when the new academic year begins.”
TDA works to address childhood hunger during the summer by partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to administer two federally funded Summer Meal Programs. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides schools, nonprofit summer camps, governmental entities, and other nonprofit organizations with the opportunity to serve meals to children across Texas. Schools operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) have the option of participating in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) or SFSP, allowing them to continue meal service after the academic year ends.
TDA is seeking to partner with sponsoring organizations to serve meals across the state in areas of need, including rural areas, areas with a concentration of migrant workers, and areas where more than 50 percent of children are eligible for free or reduced-price NSLP meals. In 2025, TDA aims to reach children in rural areas who haven’t previously participated in Summer Meal Programs due to transportation barriers by allowing eligible sponsors in those areas to apply to distribute nutritious meals outside of the typically required group settings and meal service times.
Meals will be provided to individuals aged 18 and under without charge. Adults over the age of 18 are eligible for summer meals if they are determined by a state educational agency or local public educational agency to have a mental or physical disability and who participate in a public or nonprofit private school program established for people with mental or physical disabilities.
All meal sites must be sponsored by an organization that has a contract with TDA and has taken TDA-provided training. Approved SSO and SFSP sponsors, operating in accordance with federal and state regulations, will be reimbursed for meals served to children. Schools applying to operate SSO use the NSLP New Applicants page on SquareMeals.org, and sponsors applying to operate SFSP use the SFSP New Applicants page on SquareMeals.org.
The SFSP application deadline for new sponsors and those requiring a more thorough review is April 15, 2025. All other returning SFSP sponsors must apply by May 1, 2025. The deadline for all SSO applications is May 31, 2025. TDA will provide guidance to sponsors currently operating and those who plan to apply to operate one of the summer nutrition programs as soon as more information is available.
For more information about TDA’s Summer Meal Programs and its other nutrition programs, please visit SquareMeals.org.
Preparing for Winter Storms is Crucial to Ensure the Safety of Individuals by Mario Villarino
January 22, 2025 – Preparing for winter storms is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals, livestock, and property. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offers comprehensive resources to help Texans effectively prepare for and respond to winter weather events.
Key Preparedness Steps:
1. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of weather forecasts and heed advisories from local authorities. Reliable information can be accessed through the National Weather Service and local news outlets.
2. Home Preparation: Ensure your home is well-insulated to retain heat. Seal any drafts around windows and doors. Protect pipes from freezing by insulating them and allowing faucets to drip during extreme cold. Have your heating systems inspected and maintain a safe alternative heating source, such as a fireplace or portable heater.
3. Emergency Supplies: Stock a minimum three-day supply of non-perishable food and bottled water. Keep an adequate supply of essential medications and a first-aid kit. Prepare for potential outages with flashlights, batteries, and, if possible, a generator.
4. Vehicle Preparedness: Ensure your vehicle is serviced and equipped with antifreeze. Carry essentials such as blankets, a flashlight, food, water, and a shovel in your vehicle.
5. Livestock and Pets: Provide adequate shelter to protect animals from wind, snow, and ice. Ensure access to unfrozen water sources. Stock sufficient feed, considering that animals may require additional energy during cold weather.
For more detailed information and resources, visit the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Disaster Preparedness & Recovery page. Additionally, the Disaster Assessment & Recovery (DAR) unit offers valuable insights into community resiliency and disaster response efforts.
By taking these proactive measures, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with winter storms and ensure a safer environment for yourself, your family, and your community.
Check Out the Latest Episode of Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey and Cooper Lake’s Aron Maib
In this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Cooper Lake State Park Supervisor Aron Maib. The two discussed the upcoming “Kids’ Trout Fishing Day” January 25th, 2025, the park’s need for volunteers, the “Skins and Skulls” event, and much more. Take a look at this episode and learn what Cooper Lake State Park has instore for you!
With Trump In Office, Texas Scrambles to Install More Border Buoys
On January 20, 2025, immediately following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Texas expanded its border security measures by installing additional buoys along the Rio Grande. Governor Greg Abbott shared footage of these new buoys being deployed, emphasizing the state’s commitment to curbing illegal immigration.
This action aligns with President Trump’s reinstated immigration policies, which include declaring a national emergency at the southern border, resuming border wall construction, and reintroducing the “Remain in Mexico” policy. These measures aim to strengthen border security and reduce unauthorized crossings.
The deployment of buoys has been a contentious issue. In 2023, the Biden administration sued Texas, arguing that the floating barriers violated federal law. While a district court initially sided with the federal government, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals later overruled this decision. With the change in administration, it remains to be seen how federal-state dynamics regarding border security will evolve.
Governor Abbott’s proactive approach reflects Texas’s determination to address border challenges directly. By expanding the buoy barrier, the state seeks to deter illegal crossings and enhance overall border security in collaboration with federal initiatives.
OPINION: New Horse Protection Act Rule: More Harm Than Good?
An Editorial by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller
January 21, 2025 – The Biden Administration’s new Horse Protection Act (HPA) rule might sound like a good idea on paper, but let me tell you—it’s a disaster in practice. This rule isn’t about protecting horses; it’s about federal bureaucrats grabbing more control over an industry they clearly don’t understand. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new rule is so absurd that it makes using fly spray on a horse a potential violation. That’s not a joke—they can’t be serious!
The HPA was enacted in 1970 with good intentions—to regulate the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and to outlaw the showing, sale, auction, exhibition, or transport of sored horses. Soring is the intentional infliction of pain on a horse’s legs or hooves using chemicals, devices, or other harmful methods to force an exaggerated, high-stepping gait. This is common in competitive show circuits for breeds like Tennessee Walking Horses and racking horses.
“The term `sore’ when used to describe a horse means that:
(A) An irritating or blistering agent has been applied, internally or externally, by a person to any limb of a horse,
(B) Any burn, cut, or laceration has been inflicted by a person on any limb of a horse,
(C) Any tack, nail, screw, or chemical agent has been injected by a person into or used by a person on any limb of a horse, or
(D) Any other substance or device [1]
has been used by a person on any limb of a horse or a person has engaged in a practice involving a horse, and, as a result of such application, infliction, injection, use, or practice, such horse suffers, or can reasonably be expected to suffer, physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness when walking, trotting, or otherwise moving, except that such term does not include such an application, infliction, injection, use, or practice in connection with the therapeutic treatment of a horse by or under the supervision of a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State in which such treatment was given.”
Due to my heavy involvement in the equine industry, I know firsthand the importance of protecting this sector and these animals. But we’ve got to do it with practical, enforceable regulations. The new HPA rule will devastate the equine community, especially breeders, trainers, and horse owners in Texas and nationwide.
Anyone who’s ever owned a horse—whether for work, hobby, or show—knows we treat these animals better than most folks treat their favorite family members. For Texans, horses are more than just animals. They’re part of our families, our livelihoods, and a driving force of our economy.
If the HPA rule change is implemented, horse owners will have many headaches. The rules would ban anything that might cause irritation. Even a minor rub from a bell boot or sore muscles from training could be labeled as intentional soring. Before long, every 4-H horse event, barrel race, cutting, rodeo, horse show, trail ride, reining event, and team penning could face burdensome regulations.
Event organizers would have to provide advance notice and hire USDA-approved veterinarians or vet techs to inspect every horse and reinspect the class winner. Even something as simple as applying show sheen to a horse’s coat could result in disqualification.
This new rule doesn’t just target owners—they drag in haulers, trainers, vendors, and sponsors, making everyone liable. Horses would need to be blemish-free, undergo invasive inspections, and face strict shipping regulations. Even basic therapeutic treatments would require a vet’s oversight, and winners in the ring would face mandatory reinspection. It’s government overreach at its worst, and this isn’t even the complete list of what they’re pushing.
Soring is an issue that is largely specific to the state of Tennessee, so I question why the national equine industry must suffer under smothering regulations that overrule what should be dealt with at the state level. I’ll tell you. They are trying to rewrite the rules to expand the definition of “soring” so broadly that it could rope in nearly the entire horse industry. Animal rights extremists just won’t quit. The new HPA rule is a direct result of their meddling. Believe it or not, the USDA’s lead veterinarian, Dr. Aaron Rhyner, had the gall to suggest that even the simple act of riding a horse could somehow be considered “soring.”
The USDA’s new rule forcing the equine industry to hire, train, and implement inspectors—that we have to pay for—at every event classified as a horse show is impossible. They don’t have the funding or resources. They also promise to hire qualified industry-experienced veterinarians, which we know is a role that is currently seeing staffing shortages already. What will they be forced to do instead? Send inspectors—most of whom lack fundamental knowledge about horses or rural life—to tell us how to care for our animals? Give me a break!
Here’s the bigger picture: This government overreach won’t stop with horses. If we don’t push back now, what’s next? Farmers, ranchers, and eventually, pet owners will all be in the USDA’s crosshairs. Today, it’s the equine industry. It could be your cattle, pets, or way of life tomorrow.
The bottom line is that these new rules won’t protect horses. They’ll devastate the equine industry, punish responsible horse owners, and destroy rural communities across the nation. Instead of promoting animal welfare, the USDA imposes senseless regulations that will do more harm than good.
It’s time to rein in these runaway bureaucrats and restore some common sense to Washington, D.C. It is my hope that the incoming Trump Administration will withdraw this new rule.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Biden During the Administration’s Final Hours to Stop Unlawful Ban on Offshore Drilling
January 21, 2025 – Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the Biden Administration during its final hours to prevent President Joe Biden’s unlawful restriction of offshore drilling in violation of federal law. W&T Offshore, Inc, joined Attorney General Paxton in the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas Lufkin Division.
On January 6, President Biden unlawfully attempted to indefinitely extend the withdrawal of some offshore drilling sites under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The law, however, does not permit presidents to unilaterally prevent the economic development of these areas in perpetuity without any limitation whatsoever. President Biden’s actions exceed his statutory authority and will make America less energy secure.
Attorney General Paxton has sued Biden, asking the court to enjoin the sweeping withdrawals and prevent them from taking effect. This lawsuit represents the 106th lawsuit Attorney General Paxton has filed against the Biden Administration in opposition to its frequent violations of the Constitution and the rule of law. As of today, Attorney General Paxton has won more than three out of every four lawsuits filed against Biden.
“In 2021, I became the first State Attorney General to sue Biden just three days into his failed administration. Now, I will be the last AG to sue Biden on his way out of Washington,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The past four years saw the repeated, intentional effort by Biden and his deep state cronies to subvert our laws, destabilize our nation, and undermine our freedoms. I worked tirelessly to stop these attempts and won time and time again. Soon, when President Trump takes the oath of office, we can begin to undo the damage done.”
