Profiles in Power highlights public officials nationwide who are improving their communities through their dedication, enthusiasm, creativity and experience. This week’s profile is Thomas Graham, executive director of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. My career highlights and education: I actually began my career in state government here at TABC in 2005. Starting as an auditor […]
With the passage of Senate Bill 1 by the Texas House of Representatives, the $337 billion Texas state budget for the 2026-27 biennium now moves into Conference Committee negotiations, the final hurdle before becoming law. After nearly 15 hours of debate on April 11, the House approved its version of the budget with a decisive […]
The University of Missouri is moving ahead with a state-of-the-art nuclear research reactor that will secure America’s domestic supply of critical medical isotopes and advance cancer treatment capabilities. The university recently signed a $10 million agreement to begin design studies for the project, NextGen MURR. The overall initiative is reported to cost approximately $1 billion, […]
Three new pieces of legislation in Arkansas were recently signed into law, which the state said represent a $575 million investment into its water infrastructure. The new legislation includes Act 736, allowing more private entities to convert to public water authorities, which enables them to apply for additional state funding. Act 812 establishes the Water […]
The Trump administration wants to bring more artificial intelligence into K-12 classrooms across the U.S. The administration is preparing a draft executive order, titled “Advancing artificial intelligence education for American youth,” intended to ensure American students develop AI literacy skills. The global race for AI dominance continues to intensify, with China’s education ministry recently announcing […]
New York has plans to modernize its electrical grid, improving reliability and streamlining clean energy integration. Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $12 million funding opportunity through the Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) program, which will support projects to upgrade the state’s aging energy transmission and distribution system to accommodate increasing renewable capacity and keep the power […]
Maryland lawmakers wrapped up their 2025 Legislative session in April, passing 94 bills before adjourning. The state went into session in January, prioritizing bills that would address energy needs, economic growth support, health care and the state budget’s $3 billion deficit. A trio of energy reform bills was passed that endorse the state’s efforts to […]