Tribpedia: Texas Veterans Commission

Tribpedia

The Texas Veterans Commission was created in 1927 as the State Services Office to assist veterans of Indian wars, Spanish-American War and World War I. The agency is run by a five-member board, which appoints the commission's executive director. The current board includes Chairwoman Karen S. Rankin, of San Antonio; Vice Chairman T.P. O'Mahoney, of Dallas; Secretary ...

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Bills Aim to Help Universities Fund Veteran Program

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, speaks on the Senate floor against the state budget on third reading on May 4, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, speaks on the Senate floor against the state budget on third reading on May 4, 2011.

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, filed companion bills to allocate state funding for education programs that exempt veterans or their dependents from tuition payments. University chancellors testified in favor of financial support in a hearing last week. 

Veterans salute during the Pledge of Allegiance at the 112th annual VFW Convention in San Antonio on August 29, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Veterans salute during the Pledge of Allegiance at the 112th annual VFW Convention in San Antonio on August 29, 2011.

Dewhurst Tells Committee to Study Veterans' Issues

With Veterans Day approaching, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Thursday asked the Veterans Affairs and Military Installations Committee to consider several issues, including the status of mental health services for veterans and ways to improve employment services.

Bill Neiman, owner of Native American Seed, at his seed-cleaning facility in Junction, TX, Jan. 18, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Callie Richmond
Bill Neiman, owner of Native American Seed, at his seed-cleaning facility in Junction, TX, Jan. 18, 2011.

Native Grasses Take Root (Again) in Texas

From the highways of Texas to the San Jacinto Battleground, state agencies now aim to maximize the use of native grasses rather than opting for whatever was cheapest or fastest-growing, as they did decades ago.

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Preserving WWII Internment Sites in Texas

  • by Matt Largey
Sixty-nine years ago, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor compelled the U.S. to join World War II — and led to the internment of thousands of Japanese, German and Italian Americans. As Matt Largey of KUT News reports, researchers are now trying to preserve and memorialize those sites in Texas.
Enlarge photo by: Sandi Halley

Courthouse Fixers Scramble for Funds

Since 1999, dozens of county courthouses — some dating to the 19th century — have been spruced up with the help of state funding, and workers have uncovered old artwork or other historic features. But advocates fear that the renovation program will be yet another casualty of the coming biennial budget shortfall.

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Texas Troops Head to Iraq As Draw-down Begins

  • by Erika Aguilar
President Obama is in El Paso today, visiting Fort Bliss before tonight's White House address on the draw-down in Iraq. Against that backdrop, about 800 men and women of 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard will ship out for Fort Lewis, Washington, to prepare for a nine-month tour in Iraq and the role they'll play in bringing the U.S. presence there to a close by December 2011. Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports.
Enlarge credit: Jacob Villanueva

Latino Count in Census Lacks Along the Border

More than 373,000 Texans went uncounted by the 2000 census, resulting in a loss of $1 billion in federal funds. With eight of the nation's 50 hardest-to-count counties right here in our state, the coming 2010 census is a cause for concern — and an apparent lack of attention by elected officials is making matters worse.