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Schools Complain To Legislators That They Are UnderfundedBy Lou Duggan“ W ith regard to the funding,” Governor Greg Abbott told Austin’s KXAN TV during an exclusive interview last month, “know this — we’re going to finish this session with an all-time record high of funding for public schools, an all-time record high for teacher pay raises. We will ensure that public schools are going to be able to compete against school choice, but importantly, school choice will inject competition into the education process to ensure that both public schools, as well as private schools, will be achieving the best. Know this one key fact, and that is, in Florida, they have the largest school choice program in America, and yet they also have the No. 1 public school system in the United States.You can achieve both, and that’s what Texas wants to do.”However, Texas Scorecard’s “Real News for Real Texans” also reported last month that school superintendent salaries continue to climb in Texas, even as school officials across the state claim their districts are “underfunded.”Texas Scorecard reports weekly news on issues before the current State Legislature. They cited Texas Education Agency (TEA) “data for the 2024-25 school year (that) shows eleven superintendents receive taxpayer- funded salaries that top $400,000—more than the president of the United States. Another ninety superintendents make $300,000 or more. Those numbers are on the rise.”“These lucrative salaries are supplemented by benefits such as allowances for cars, phones, and housing, along with large pension contributions,” Texas Scorecard states. “Superintendents often get hefty bonuses as well. All are provided at taxpayers’ expense.”“Each superintendent’s compensation is set by locally elected school board trustees,” Texas Scorecard added. “The salaries show no correlation to the number of students enrolled in a district or students’ academic performance. While superintendents’ salaries are rising, students’ academic performance continues to fall, leaving taxpayers to wonder if they are getting their money’s worth.”Area Initiates Increased Efforts To Counter Human TraffickingTBy Lou Dugganexas continues to battle humantrafficking, with San Antoniobeing a key focus due to its major highway corridors that facilitate trafficking. The Texas Department of Public Safety recovered 446 victims and arrested 874 suspects on trafficking charges in 2024.San Antonio remains a hotspot. Authorities continue to urge Texans to be alert to trafficking indicators and report suspicious activity.Last month local San Antonio media reported increased efforts to combathuman trafficking, especially during Men’s NCAA Final Four event. Authorities were emphasizing vigilance, as such large events often attract criminal activity. A national billboard campaign had been launched to raise awareness, and local organizations and crisis centers were on high alert.Also, another major arrest occurred on the city’s West Side, where fifteen people were detained in connection with a human trafficking operation. Homeland Security and local police identified a suspected safe house used for trafficking.Additionally, three massage parlors in the area have been closed due to suspected human trafficking. Investigations revealed unlicensed employees living on-site and possibly engaging in illegal activities.If you see or suspect human trafficking in progress call 911 or if it is not a life- threatening situation, call non-emergency SAPD at 210-207-7273. In Comal County anonymous tips about human trafficking can be submitted to Comal County Crime Stoppers: 830-620-8477 or 1-800-640-8422.A Series On AIMBy Lou Dugganicrosoft Corp. announcedAI in Texas Creates Demand for Electricity and Wateranother $1.4 billion investmentin data centers west of San Antonio, where the technology company has put together more than 1,400 acres of land. And the company also committed to building four data centers in Irving, Texas, as part of a larger presence that includes three additional data centers by QTS Realty TrustLLC.Apple recently announced that it is takinganother step in the artificial intelligence race, as it plans to build a quarter-million- square-foot factory in Houston, Texas, by 2026. At the facility, Apple will assemble servers that go into data centers to power Apple Intelligence, its current AI model.A joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, known as “Stargate,” already has ten data centers under construction in Texas.Other major technology companies, including Google and Amazon Web Services (AWS), have also announced plans for new data center facilities in Texas.Electricity DemandThe growth of data centers in Texas comes as state legislators attempt to balance such economic growth while ensuring there is enough electricity to power both these centers and the needs of residents and businesses. Large data centers can require 100 MW or more each. In comparison, one megawatt can power approximately 250 homes during a hot summer day.Last Energy, a nuclear technology company, plans to build thirty micronuclear reactors in Haskell County, Texas, to meet the growing energy demands of data centers. These small nuclear reactors provide six hundred megawatts of electricity, offering a dependable and low-carbon solution to Texas’s growing energy needs. The modular, factory-built design of microreactors allows for quick deployment and scalability.Micronuclear reactors face regulatory and public scrutiny, and there are concerns about the potential for radioactive waste. However, proponents argue that nuclear energy can help move Texas toward a cleaner future, energy independence, and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.Financial ImpactThe data center industry in Texas has significantly contributed to the state’s economy. Such centers were responsible for $1.9 billion in economic output across Texas in 2022. The new Apple factory and jobs are part of the company’s plans to spend $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. The Stargate partnership in Abilene plans to invest up to $500 billion in AI-related infrastructure.Job CreationThe data center industry in Texas directly employed 59,560 people in 2022, a 41% increase from 42,290 direct jobs in 2018. Apple will be looking to add about 20,000 research and development jobs across the United States. Stargate is expected to create at least fifty-seven full-time positions in Abilene with an average annual salary of $57,600.Impact on WaterData centers require substantial amounts of water for cooling purposes. A single data center can consume up to five million gallons of drinking water per day,enough to supply thousands of households or farms.The increasing number of data centers exacerbates water consumption faced by communities, especially in water-stressed areas. This can lead to conflicts over water usage and strain on local water supplies. Data centers also indirectly consume water through the electricity they require to operate. And the generation of this electricity often involves significant water use.Given the ongoing drought conditions and water supply challenges in Texas, the expansion of data centers could further stress the state’s water resources.10www.heloteshighlights.comMay 2025