Texas Government Insider
2025 Archive
Saluting Texas Lone Stars – Kelly Keel
Kelly Keel - Executive Director, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Public career highlights and education: My career at TCEQ started 23 years ago and I’ve served in several capacities throughout the agency. Prior to my current position, I was the Director of...
Bobby Jenkins, Jr. appointed as presiding officer of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority
Robert “Bobby” Jenkins, Jr. has been appointed as the presiding officer of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. His term will end Feb. 1, 2027. The authority is a subdivision that enables transportation, planning and project delivery leaders to collaborate...
Texas research institutions may face major medical funding cuts under new NIH policy
Research institutions across Texas could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding under a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy. Medical research, especially in the biomedical field, stands as the most vulnerable to an updated policy that would...
TWDB provides $53 million for water system improvements and water loss prevention
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will deliver $52.8 million to supplement local funds for water system improvement and loss projects. A total of 10 projects will receive the largest partition of the funding - $34.8 million – to execute and complete water loss...
Coppersmith, Halman reappointed to Board of Department of Information Resources
On Feb. 7, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Walter “Frank” Coppersmith, III and Keith Halman would retain their positions with the Board of the Department of Information Resources (DIR). Both were reappointed with terms ending Feb. 1, 2031. DIR is responsible for...
El Paso University Medical Center allocates $400 million to expand healthcare centers, improve access
The University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) will spend $396.6 million to build new healthcare centers and clinics, expanding access to lifesaving care. The funds will support several initiatives designed to better serve the people of El Paso, including the...
Brian Gardner leaves Dallas to accept deputy CIO position with Austin
After a seven-year stint with the city of Dallas, Brian Gardner has accepted a new role with the city of Austin as deputy chief information officer (CIO). He brings more than 33 years of executive leadership and IT experience in both public and private sectors to the...
Pflugerville to begin $146M expansion of water treatment plant
The Pflugerville City Council approved a $146 million contract to expand the city's surface water treatment plant with construction set to begin in 2023 and an estimated completion in 2026. The plant upgrade will increase water capacity and address damage caused by...