Texas Insider

AUSTIN – The North East Texas area workforce will benefit from a $163,845 job-training grant from the Skills Development Fund that the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers. International Paper Co. has partnered with Texarkana College to provide the training.

The grant will be used to upgrade skills of 196 workers, including general mechanics, project engineers, financial analysts, senior technicians, assistant operators and others. Upon completion of training, workers will receive an average hourly wage of $32.18.

AUSTIN – This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Texas Department of Agriculture, a chance to shine a spotlight on the proud past and prosperous future of our vital agricultural industry and its diverse influence on our global economy.
 
“Texas agriculture has a grand heritage. We are taking this special moment in time to recognize and honor the farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses that built Texas and the important role the Texas Department of Agriculture has played in shaping our state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. “Our centennial celebration will also look ahead as the agriculture industry continues to evolve and create food, fiber and jobs for the people of Texas and the world.”  

Washington – In an attempt to become a “different kind of Republican” Mike Huckabee is quickly becoming the candidate of Big Government on education.

The only candidate to grovel before the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly in July, Huckabee often boasts about a 2005 law he signed as governor requiring Arkansas schools to offer art and music classes, and appears hell-bent on taking his interventionist, big-government beliefs to the national level. 

Labor Day is approaching, and all signs point to a Texas that is filled with economic opportunities; however, job hunting often can be an arduous and disappointing experience.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is doing everything it can to  keep Texans working by using a well-designed Web site to offer more than statistical information and unemployment figures.    

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry appointed H.S. Buddy Garcia of Austin as presiding officer of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The TCEQ establishes, oversees and implements clean air, clean water and other environmental policies for the state of Texas.
 
Garcia was appointed to the TCEQ in January and most recently served as Texas Deputy Secretary of State where he was one of the state’s top ambassadors and leaders in efforts to promote new economic development.

AUSTIN – According to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), individuals who worked in Atascosa, Liberty, Refugio, San Patricio, Taylor and Upshur counties who lost work or earnings due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding between June 16, 2007, and August 3, 2007, have until Monday, September 24, 2007, to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-1709-DR.

Individuals who worked in the following counties may apply for DUA:

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made the following statement today after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released the latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report on security in Iraq:

“This report confirms that the counter-insurgency strategy developed by General Petraeus is working.  Our troops are taking the fight to al-Qaeda in Iraq and they are winning.